Chapter 14
His embrace was warm. I leaned against his chest, hearing his steady, powerful heartbeat.
I glimpsed Raine stumbling after us, ignoring Jade behind him.
Then the pain became too intense to keep my eyes open. I only felt Julian setting me down, carefully removing my sock, then cold water rushing over the burn. Initially, the pain intensified before gradually subsiding.
I slowly opened my eyes to see Julian’s sharply defined jawline. He stared at my reddened foot with dark, intense eyes while my arms still circled his neck.
The scene felt intimate. I awkwardly released my hold and thanked him.
His arm beneath my knees trembled slightly, startling me into grabbing him again.
“Hold tight. Be careful not to fall.”
From the doorway, Raine’s eyes grew razor–sharp, as if trying to dissect the scene.
Through clenched teeth, he said: “How attentive you are to your niece, Uncle Julian. Though perhaps a bit too
attentive?”
Without turning around, Julian responded deliberately: “I have only one niece. And this is my private room. Please
leave.”
Raine’s face turned ashen, but he eventually turned and left.
After repeatedly confirming I was okay, Julian finally lifted me from the bathroom counter. Then he carried me to the edge of his bed.
Realizing this was his bedroom, I suddenly felt uncomfortable and tried to stand.
But he firmly pressed my shoulders: “Sit still. Don’t move.”
Placing my foot on his knee, he dried it with a towel, then gently applied burn ointment with a cotton swab.
His touch was so light I barely felt any pain.
From this angle looking down at him, I could even see the crown of his head through his thick hair.
Somehow finding courage, I asked: “Uncle Julian, do you dislike me?”
His hands paused, though he didn’t look up: “Why would you think that?”
I considered my words: “When Mr. Storm made me his adopted granddaughter, you seemed to object.”
He chuckled softly, the sound rich as jade: “My old man is too cunning. My objection wasn’t about disliking you.”
10.20
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Secretly Dating Mu Prothor’s REC
Until Hie Hotter Rival Stole the Spotlight
8.4%
Chapter 14
I was shocked to hear Julian describe his father so irreverently, my jaw nearly dropping.
Emboldened by his candor, I continued: “At Jade’s welcome party, were you watching me in the garden?”
He remained silent. Only after finishing with the medication and setting my foot down did he speak:
“Yes, I saw you.”
Though I’d suspected it, my heart still skipped a beat.
“Then… you know about my relationship with Raine?”
At the mention of Raine’s name, his expression darkened slightly, his voice deepening:
“Yes.”
“Then Jade…?”
He stood up, tapping my forehead lightly with his knuckle.
“Still worried about others? Jade won’t fall for him. It’s entirely one–sided.”
I nodded.
After he left to fetch Maddox, I realized just how intimate our interaction had been.
Whoa, Julian Storm was truly perplexing.
Since Maddox couldn’t carry me with his injured arm, Julian carried me downstairs, where Maddox supported me
to our car.
When going downstairs, Raine sat on the sofa, his eyes tracking my every movement without any attempt to hide his
interest.
Had he lost his mind? He was the one who insisted on keeping everything secret.
I glared at him.
Maddox noticed my expression and asked curiously: “Why are you looking at him like that? Is it because Raine accidentally burned you?”
I replied spitefully: “Exactly, brother. I can’t stand to see him now. My foot hurts just looking at him. Could you please not bring him to our house for a while?”
Maddox nodded thoughtfully.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.