Chapter 5 Something New

When they arrived at the residence, Julian looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms. He gave Clark a few brief instructions about work before lifting her effortlessly and carrying her out of the car.

Once inside, he gently placed her on the bed. As he started to withdraw his hands from her neck and waist, Rosalind suddenly turned and pressed his hands back into place.

"Meow..."

A sweet, clear cat's meow echoed abruptly. Julian's back stiffened, and a shiver ran down his spine. He instinctively pulled Rosalind closer, his eyes flashing with a hint of panic as he clutched her.

Outside the room, a white cat's silhouette moved past.

Rosalind, drowsy and half-awake, instinctively touched his back and murmured, "Julian..."

"Hmm?"

Julian steadied himself, noticing the stillness. He lifted his head, his eyes locked on the alluringly serene woman in his arms.

Though her vision was somewhat blurred, Rosalind clearly remembered Julian's stern profile. Perhaps influenced by the alcohol, she found herself reaching up to touch his face. Her lips curved into a soft, enchanting smile, like a rose blooming in the breeze.

Julian felt a sudden jolt in his chest. He grasped her delicate, warm hand, his gaze sharpening with intensity. His throat tightened, and driven by an impulsive urge, he leaned down and kissed her soft, red lips.

The kiss stole Rosalind's breath away. Her eyes fluttered open slightly, her entire body tensing in surprise.

Seeing that she didn't resist, Julian's eyes narrowed slightly. He slowly closed his eyes, tightened his grip on her hand, and let it fall vertically, while his other hand fumbled to unfasten her buttons...

On that long, rainy night, something new began-something neither of them had ever experienced before. The chill in the air mingled with the faint warmth of early summer, creating an atmosphere that was both unsettling and intimate, like the world itself was holding its breath.

...

The next morning, the rain had stopped. Under the sunshine, the entire city looked clean and clear, full of vitality. The morning breeze swayed the curtains, and Rosalind opened her eyes. As she propped herself up, a dull ache spread through her body, making her feel as if she were falling apart.

"Awake?" A familiar, deep voice asked.

Rosalind turned to see the man just coming out of the walk-in closet, fastening his cuffs. His handsome face wore a faint smile, and his eyes, no longer as cold and fierce as before, had softened, giving him a refined and refreshing aura.

Images of the previous night flickered in her mind, and she felt a sudden pang of embarrassment and awkwardness. As she tried to get out of bed, she noticed her clothes were missing. She pulled the covers over herself again and glanced at the time.

"It's already past eight. Why haven't you left yet?" She asked, sounding justified and even a bit annoyed.

Even though they were now married, and such things were to be expected, she had drunk too much last night. It wasn't about being pretentious; she just felt inexplicably ashamed of being taken advantage of.

"There's a press conference in the afternoon, so there's no rush this morning." The man smiled softly, bending down to pick up her clothes and toss them to her.

Rosalind caught her clothes and hastily draped them in front of her. She eyed the bathroom door and quickly made her way there, pulling the covers off.

Julian put his hand in his pants pocket, smiling lightly. It was ironic that she was now giving him the cold shoulder when she had been the one to seduce him last night.

But since he had woken up, he felt strangely light and refreshed, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

An hour later, Rosalind was dressed in a white V-neck blouse and a black pencil skirt, looking elegant and poised.

As she walked into the dining room, she saw the man sitting at the table, his tall figure relaxed in a posture reminiscent of an aristocrat. He was holding a tablet, seemingly engrossed in something.

"Good morning, madam," Darcy greeted her with a smile, pulling out a chair for her.

Hearing this, the man looked up, setting aside the tablet. "Come sit."

Rosalind suppressed her discomfort and walked over gracefully, sitting down and sipping her milk. "I need to go to the TV station later, but my car isn't ready. I'd like to borrow one of yours."

"The cars in the garage are all yours to choose from. The keys are in the drawer in the foyer," he said, pausing briefly. "I need to go out too, so I can drop you off on the way. I'm afraid you're not in the best shape to drive right now."

Rosalind paused her eating, lifting her gaze to take in his cheerful and spirited demeanor. She pursed her lips and deliberately looked behind him, exclaiming, "Snowball, what are you doing here?"

Julian's back stiffened, his grip on the spoon tightening. Then he saw Rosalind's red lips curve into a smile as she put down her half-eaten sandwich and stood up. "Just kidding. I'm done eating. Let's go."

Julian: "..."

This woman is really... asking for trouble. Looks like last night wasn't enough to teach her a lesson.

Darcy, standing aside, couldn't help but laugh, but she quickly stopped when she caught Julian's dark and intimidating gaze.

"Clean out a room in the basement and put her two cats in there."

Julian felt for the first time in his 28 years that he had been completely outmaneuvered by a woman. He slammed down his spoon, muttering this command before heading to the garage.

***