37. He said what?

She could feel her cheeks burning so profusely, her gaze cast downwards. She was sitting there like a scolded child under their scrutinising stares, feeling so embarrassed and uncomfortable. She had told them a million times that she was feeling better now, what did they want more?

Not to mention that the sight of Julian standing there, pacing like a restless lion made her feel even more squirmish. She could remember what he'd told her. Before she fainted. That had actually been the cause of it. She was still reeling, even now. Utterly astounded. Reduced into an almost delirious state. She couldn't believe what he'd said. No, she refused to. He didn't mean that. She refused to believe so. Maybe she got it wrong. Maybe he'd only meant that he wanted to have her again. That had to be it.

But if so, why was he looking at her like that now? She wondered as soon as her gaze stealthily rose to have another peek, noticing that look in his eyes. That hint of longing, and pain. That secretly coveting look. That simmering want.

She blinked, quickly looking away.

"Before you go, I'd like to have a word with you in my study," Connie announced as soon as she returned into the salon with Gemma in tow. The latter consciously avoiding to gaze in Julian's general direction, even performing cross signs from time to time. It made her bite back an amused giggle. Poor Gemma. She must've had a mini heart-attack when she saw him in this house, in the flesh.

"Regarding your payment," Connie hastily added with a rather forced smile, throwing the girls a quick and subtle glance before her eyes returned to Julian. The male only giving her a solemn nod.

He motioned for her to lead the way, the older woman only throwing one last calculating look in the girls' direction. Before she turned and walked away, closely followed by Julian.

Lydia watched as Lucy immediately sprang into action, hurrying to get rid of her high-heels.

"What are you doing?" Her brows furrowed, regarding her with mild curiosity.

"That bitch is up to something. I need to know what it is," The girl replied with a determined frown, carelessly throwing her heels under the couch.

"Are you coming or what?"

She didn't need to be told a second time. Lydia scrambled to get rid of hers as well, already aware of what they were about to do. They were going to tip-toe around the house and then listen on Connie's door.

That certain thought made her heart beat harder. And not because of the fear of getting caught. She was rather worried about what she might hear, seeing as she had already discovered some concerning things from Julian's past. What if there was more? What if he was actually working for his mobster mom like Lucy was suspecting? What if he really was that dangerous? Could she take it? Could she actually stomach that information, after everything that happened between them? Was she going to want him less after that? She could only hope so. She was already hurting so much as it was. Maybe she needed this reprieve. This one frightening and unappealing thing about him. Maybe this way, she could finally start distancing herself from him. Forget about how good he'd made her feel. How sexy and wanted, and oh-so-incredibly satisfied.

She gulped. No. This had to stop. She couldn't go on like this. She had to put an end to it. Once and for all.

She followed Lucy around the house as they silently made their way to the door in question. Pausing just a few steps away.

The door was slightly ajar, fortunately.

They threw each other a look. And with a few more silent steps they approached, careful enough to remain concealed.

"Come on, I know that you didn't come all the way here to see me, Julian. Just spit it out," Connie spoke first. There was no more laughter in her tone. No hint of that earlier joyful attitude.

"She needs to move it," Julian replied. Curt and brief.

The girls' gazes met.

"Again?" Connie sounded incredulous.

Another pause.

"Fucking hell!"

Lucy's brows raised at the sound of her mother talking like that. So vulgar and uninhibited. She'd never spoken like that before. Not in front of her anyway.

"I swear, she's gonna get my ass busted one day,"

A moment of silence followed.

"When?"

"In three days," The young male replied. His voice still devoid of any emotion.

What the hell were they talking about? What were they planning to move, exactly?

"Done,"

"And what the fuck happened to your hand anyway?" The older woman asked after a moment.

"An unfortunate accident," That had Lydia wincing a little. Remembering that shattering sound and his angry curse this morning after she'd ran away from him.

"Well, you better not tell me that that *unfortunate accident* managed to break your bones again. I need you there, Julian. At the pageant," she rebuked.

"It didn't. I will be there. I promise. There's something now that needs my safe-guarding. Something that I really care about. She's set her eyes on it. And I will not let her get her claws in it. Not this time," he swore, the tiniest hint of anger lacing his tone. The girls' gazes met again. Questioning.

Something? ...or was it more like someone?

**

Both girls lied in Lucy's bed, still awake even after so many hours since the evening had ended. Since Connie's special guest had left. They absently stared at the ceiling, each lost within their own thoughts. One still reeling after the discovery of a completely different and dark aspect of her mother's life whilst the other fretted. Lydia felt so scared now. After hearing all that dubious talk. It made her feel so unsafe. She didn't like the way that it sounded. So shady and mysterious. That coldness in his tone.

"What did he do?"

She blinked, startled out of her thoughts.

"Huh, what?"

"Before you fainted. What did he say? What did he do to you? You didn't get to tell me," Lucy explained with a hint of impatience, turning her head to stare at Lydia.

"Oh," Lydia felt her cheeks turn warm as she dared remember. It sounded so crazy in her mind, even now. How could he say that? Why did he though? He surely couldn't mean that. No. It was impossible. It was all in her jumbled mind. It was all in her head and she was just about to prove it. Lucy would surely agree on that. That it was all in her mind. Too crazy to sound right. So she proceed to tell her. What they did only three days ago, in her room. What followed. Their little fight, if she could even call it like that. And lastly, those seven damned words.

"Wait wait wait, wait, HE SAID  WHAT?!?"