Chapter 186
Nora's POV
Morning light filtered through the curtains, soft and golden. I woke slowly, aware of warmth at my back and the heavy weight of Julian's arm around my waist, holding me against him.
I tried to shift. But my legs protested immediately, sore and unsteady. My whole body felt like I'd run a marathon.
He has no sense of restraint, I thought, equal parts annoyed and flustered.
I turned my head just enough to glare at him. He was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way it never was during the day.
I bit his arm. Hard.
His eyes snapped open, silver and alert, then softened when he saw me. A slow, lazy smile curved his mouth. "Good morning."
"You're impossible," I muttered, but there was no heat in it.
He pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair.
"Come with me today."
I blinked, my brain still foggy. "What?"
"Home," he said quietly. "To meet my family."
My heart stuttered. "Your family? Now?"
"I've already arranged it."
Julian's voice was steady, matter-of-fact, like he was discussing tomorrow's weather instead of dropping a bomb that made my heart race.
I pushed myself up against the headboard, pulling the sheet higher. "Julian, this is too sudden. I can't just—I can't meet your parents looking like this—"
He caught my hand mid-gesture. "Nora, breathe. I've taken care of the clothes. You just need to let your family know you'll be away for a few days." He smiled. "I want them to meet you sooner rather than later."
The weight of those words settled over me. This wasn't a casual suggestion. This was Julian crossing a line, pulling me into the most private part of his world.
I swallowed hard. "Okay."
---
An hour later, I was standing in Julian's walk-in closet, staring at a light blue shirt and cream casual pants. It looked natural without being too deliberate, and happened to fit perfectly.
I called Aunt Marianne as I got dressed, keeping my voice steady. "It's just a quick trip. Julian wants me to meet his family."
There was a pause on the other end, then a soft laugh. "Oh, honey. That man doesn't do anything 'quick.' But I'm happy for you. Just... be yourself, alright? And call me when you get back."
"I will." I hung up, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed both familiar and foreign—poised, put-together, but with nerves written all over her face.
Julian appeared in the doorway, already dressed in a white linen shirt. His gaze swept over me, and something warm flickered in his eyes. "Perfect."
"I don't feel perfect," I admitted. "I feel like I'm about to meet the president."
He crossed the room and cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones. "They're just people, Nora. They'll love you because I love you."
I wanted to believe that. I really did.
---
The private jet was smaller than I expected but no less luxurious. Julian guided me to a leather seat by the window, then settled beside me, his hand finding mine as the engines roared to life.
I watched Silverton shrink beneath us. My stomach churned, and not just from the altitude.
"Are you nervous?" Julian asked, his voice low.
I turned to look at him. "Honestly? Terrified."
He smiled faintly. "Good. That means you care."
"What if they hate me?"
"They won't." He lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "If they don't like you, we'll only come this once."
I exhaled shakily, leaning my head against his shoulder. "Okay."
The flight wasn't long, but it felt like an eternity. When we finally descended toward Aetheria, I pressed my face to the window, watching the capital unfold below—wide boulevards, gleaming buildings, and clusters of private estates tucked behind high walls.
We landed at a private airstrip, where a black SUV was already waiting. A driver in a crisp uniform opened the door for us, and Julian helped me inside.
As we drove through the city, I couldn't stop staring. Aetheria was nothing like Silverton or Blackwood. Everything here was pristine. The kind of place that existed in a different orbit from the rest of the country.
"You grew up here," I said, more to myself than to him.
"Not entirely." Julian's voice was neutral, but there was something guarded in his expression. "It's not as perfect as it looks."
The SUV turned into a gated district, passing through multiple security checkpoints. Armed guards, scanning equipment. My pulse quickened with each layer we passed.
Finally, the vehicle slowed in front of a sprawling estate. The main house was a three-story manor with classical architecture, radiating a quiet authority that made my breath catch.
Standing at the top of the front steps was a woman in her early fifties, elegant and composed. Her silver-gray eyes—so much like Julian's—tracked our approach.
Julian squeezed my hand. "That's my mother."
She walked down the steps as the driver opened my door. Julian got out first, then extended his hand to help me down.
I tried to steady my breathing as she approached. Up close, she was even more striking—her posture perfect, her expression warm but assessing.
"You must be Nora," she said with a smile. "Julian's told me so much about you. He even sent photos. Though I have to say, you're even lovelier in person."
I blinked, caught off guard by the genuine warmth in her tone. "Mrs. Sterling, it's an honor to meet you. Thank you for having me."
"Please, call me Diana." She reached out and took my hand, her grip firm but kind. "And don't be nervous, dear."
She looped her arm through mine, guiding me toward the entrance. "Come inside. His father's still handling business, but he'll join us for dinner."
I glanced back at Julian, who gave me an encouraging nod. Then I let Diana lead me into the house, my heart pounding with every step.