Chapter 49 Unpleasant
Seeing how confused Adeline looked after he declared that he was going to be a man hopelessly in love with the woman of his dreams, Julian let out a soft chuckle, the sound easy and almost teasing. He didn’t look embarrassed or unsure of himself in the slightest. If anything, he looked entertained by her reaction, like he had expected it and was enjoying it more than he should.
Adeline, on the other hand, sat there staring at him with her brows slightly drawn together, still trying to figure out if he was serious or if he was just playing some kind of game that she had not yet caught onto. The way he said it had been so calm, so natural, that for a second, it had almost sounded real, and that alone was enough to make her uncomfortable.
Julian shook his head lightly when he noticed the way she was looking at him. “You don’t have to look so startled,” he said, his tone calm as he leaned back slightly in his seat. His gaze flicked briefly toward the side mirror and then toward the street behind them before returning to her. “There are a few nosy reporters hanging around,” he added casually. “So I figured I should give them something to see. Might as well make sure they have no doubts about how real this is.”
Adeline blinked once, her confusion slowly shifting into understanding as his words sank in. She turned her head slightly, her eyes moving toward the side window as if she were trying to spot them, and that was when it finally clicked. The way he had kissed her without warning, the way he was smiling like this was all some kind of performance, even the way he was dressed, everything suddenly made sense. He wasn’t just acting randomly, he was putting on a show.
She let out a breath, leaning back slightly in her seat as she turned her attention back to him. “You could have given me a heads up,” she said, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. “I would have reacted better instead of looking like I had no idea what was going on.”
Julian didn’t seem bothered by her complaint. He simply shrugged, his lips still curved into that same easy smile. “I didn’t think you needed one,” he replied. “And your reaction was just fine.”
Before she could respond again, he reached forward and started the car, the engine coming to life smoothly as he settled back into his seat. “Now,” he continued, glancing at her briefly, “we need to get moving. I already booked an appointment, and I don’t want us to miss it.”
Adeline’s brows furrowed again at that, her curiosity returning almost immediately. “An appointment?” she repeated. “Where are we going?”
Julian didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted the car into gear and pulled out onto the road, his movements calm and controlled. Adeline watched him for a second, waiting for him to say something, but when he didn’t, her patience wore thin.
“Are you really not going to tell me where you’re taking me?” she asked, her tone more serious now. “Because I’m not exactly comfortable with not knowing where I’m going.”
Julian glanced at her then, giving her a look that was clearly unimpressed. “Is this the first time you’ve been in a car with me and had no idea where we were going?” he asked.
Adeline opened her mouth to respond, but the words didn’t come out. She paused, thinking back for a moment, and realized that it wasn’t the first time. That alone made it harder for her to argue, and Julian seemed to notice that immediately.
“Exactly,” he said, turning his attention back to the road. “And the same way I haven’t harmed you before is the same way I’m not going to harm you now. So you really have nothing to worry about.”
Adeline crossed her arms lightly, her gaze shifting away from him as she looked out the window. “The difference is your attitude,” she said after a moment. “You’re acting… strange. That’s what’s unsettling.”
Julian let out a chuckle at that, the sound low and relaxed. “I already told you,” he said. “I’m just being extra because I’m playing a role. You don’t need to overthink it.”
She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stayed quiet, her eyes still fixed on the passing streets as she considered his words. She didn’t like the idea of not being in control of the situation, but at the same time, there wasn’t much she could do about it now. He clearly had something planned, and no matter how many times she asked, he wasn’t going to tell her anything until they got there.
“Just buckle up,” Julian added, glancing at her again briefly. “You’re going to absolutely love this.”
That only made her more skeptical, but she didn’t argue again. Instead, she reached for her seatbelt and fastened it, letting out a small breath as she settled back into her seat. If he wanted to keep it a surprise, then fine. She would let him. There was no point in wasting her energy trying to force an answer out of him.
The car moved smoothly through the city, the sound of the engine blending with the hum of the road. For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly relaxed either. It was the kind of silence that came from two people thinking their own thoughts, each one aware of the other but not quite sure what to say.
After a few minutes, Adeline leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long before her breathing evened out slightly, giving the impression that she had fallen asleep. In reality, she was just trying to rest her mind, letting the quiet of the drive settle her thoughts. The movement of the car, combined with the steady rhythm of the road, made it easy to relax, and for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the stillness.
Julian noticed it almost immediately, his gaze flicking toward her briefly before returning to the road. He didn’t say anything, but the faintest hint of a smile appeared on his lips. Whether she was actually asleep or just pretending, he didn’t question it. Instead, he simply kept driving, his focus steady as he followed the route he had already planned out.
Time passed quietly, the city slowly changing around them as they moved further from the busy center. Eventually, the car began to slow down, and Julian guided it into a parking space before turning off the engine. The sudden stillness made the silence feel more heavy, and he glanced toward Adeline again.
“Adeline,” he said, his voice calm as he reached over slightly to tap her lightly on the arm. “We’re here.”
Her eyes opened slowly, as if she had truly been asleep, and for a second, she looked slightly disoriented. She blinked a couple of times, sitting up a little straighter as she looked around, her gaze moving from the inside of the car to the window beside her.
“What…” she started, her voice still a little soft from the way she had just woken up, but the words caught in her throat as soon as she focused on what was in front of her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The building in front of them was large and elegant, with wide glass windows that displayed rows of white dresses inside. The delicate designs and the overall appearance of the place made it very clear what it was.
It wasn’t just any store, it was a wedding dress shop.
Adeline turned her head slowly, her expression shifting into one of clear confusion as she looked back at Julian. For a moment, she didn’t say anything. She just stared at him, as if she were trying to make sure she wasn’t misunderstanding what she was seeing.
Julian, on the other hand, looked completely pleased with himself. The moment she turned to him, his grin widened, his excitement obvious in the way he leaned slightly toward her.
“Ta-da!” he said, his tone almost playful, as if he had just revealed something amazing.
Adeline continued to stare at him, her confusion only deepening as she processed the situation. Of all the places she had expected him to take her, this had not even crossed her mind, and judging by the look on her face, this was far from the kind of surprise she had been hoping for.