Annabelle knew that Kendrick didn’t like hearing about Young Master.
But if she kept hiding things from him, like she did last time when she went to meet him without telling him, it would only deepen the tension between them. She didn’t have anything to hide, so she decided to just lay it out there. Of course, if he didn’t want to hear it, that was fine too.
Kendrick took her hand, his tone calm. "Go ahead, what’s going on with your Young Master?"
His slightly teasing tone didn’t sound particularly upset, which eased Annabelle's worry.
So she continued.
She explained that last time at the amusement park, when Young Master gave her some medicine again, she felt grateful. He had told her that next month was his birthday, and if she really wanted to thank him, she could join him for a birthday dinner. Young Master rarely asked anything of her. In the past, he had saved her life and taught her medical knowledge, so this sm
Several hours earlier, after Julissa and Annabelle parted ways, Julissa was about to take the subway home when she received a call from her boyfriend, Zane.He wanted to invite her to a midnight movie.It was something Julissa had once told him—she dreamed of watching a late-night movie with the person she loved, then walking home together under the moonlight. Her inner romantic had always longed to do this, but it had never come to fruition. It seemed Zane remembered her words.Since Dr. Carter was free that evening and Julissa had just finished shopping, she was still in the mood for a bit of fun. She immediately agreed.The cinema was in another shopping district, so Julissa decided to take a taxi.As she stood by the roadside trying to hail a cab, all the cars were occupied. Just as she was starting to freeze, a black Maybach pulled up in front of her.The window on the passenger side rolled down, and she saw Scott sitting in the d
Julissa was taken aback by Scott's question. She hadn't expected him to say something like that. Laughing awkwardly, she replied, "Women are more emotional, you wouldn't understand."Her excitement had nothing to do with the date—it was because her period had come. That meant she wasn’t pregnant, and that's why she was so relieved.Scott gave her a faint smile but didn’t comment.How could he not understand?The last time, he had accidentally seen her HCG test result, and it was clear to him that she had been worried about an unplanned pregnancy.Now that her period had arrived, it meant she wasn’t pregnant. That sense of relief explained her happiness.He had thought about what would have happened if they really had a child that night. Of course, he would want to keep it. He had even considered which room in the house would become the baby’s nursery.The only concern was whether Julissa could accept the
Julissa was momentarily stunned under Scott’s intense gaze.In her mind, Scott and she came from completely different worlds, people who would never cross paths. The fact that they had a superior-subordinate relationship was already a strange thing in itself.Scott liking her? That was impossible.She cursed her own romantic thoughts, quickly straightened her reasoning, and said seriously, “Yes, I understand. Mr. Nichols is a considerate leader who cares for his employees. So when you noticed I wasn’t feeling well, you personally made sure I got home safely. You’re truly the best boss I’ve ever had.”After saying that, she flashed him a grateful smile.But for some reason, she felt like Scott’s face darkened. It looked almost frightening, as though he was in a really bad mood.Could it be… that she had flattered him too much?Scott suddenly curled his lips into a slight smile and replie
Julissa was instantly petrified.Any man with normal thinking would surely misunderstand if he saw his girlfriend’s male superior at her place, taking care of her period cramps, right?Mr. Nichols really had no tact…Just as she was feeling extremely anxious, the doorbell rang.Julissa froze with a jolt. The doctor was here so quickly!It had only been ten minutes since he sent the message.Julissa quickly sat up, grabbed Scott's hand without a second thought, and rushed to her bedroom.She only had one thought in her mind—hide Scott first.This Mr. Nichols was clueless, self-centered, and sharp-tongued. If he met Doctor Carter, there was no way things would go well.She shoved Scott into the bedroom and said, "Mr. Nichols, please bear with it for a moment. Don't come out, okay? Please!"Scott remained expressionless, pressing his lips together."We're just colleagues. There's nothing sha
At that moment, the elevator arrived, and Zane stepped inside. "You should go back, it's cold in the hallway."He never looked at her once as the elevator doors closed.The cold wind from the hallway blew in, causing Julissa to shiver. She tightened her clothes and walked back home, still in a daze.She glanced once more at the cup of brown sugar water in the kitchen and frowned. There, on the counter, was a men's wristwatch!It was Scott's watch. Did he intentionally leave it there?Whether he meant to or not, Zane must have seen the watch and guessed that there was another man in her house.All of this was because of him, and now it had caused a misunderstanding between her and Doctor Carter.Doctor Carter must now think she was a huge flirt.Fuming, Julissa stormed into her bedroom, only to find Scott lying on her bed, seemingly asleep.Looking at the man on her bed, she inwardly complained. Even when asleep, he still
When Julissa woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to go to the bathroom, she realized she was already in her bed.She sat up and scratched her head, feeling a bit confused.Wasn’t she in the living room earlier? How did she end up in bed?Had Scott left?She got out of bed to use the bathroom and called out toward the other room, "Mr. Nichols?"The room was pitch black, and there was no answer.She walked into the kitchen and glanced at the cupboard. The watch was gone.She checked the entryway next, and the shoes under the shoe rack were also gone.It seemed he had already left. He must have carried her to bed after she fell asleep, then left afterward.There was an inexplicable feeling of disappointment.But soon, that feeling was replaced by the sharp pang of stomach pain as she drowsily made her way to the bathroom.Afterward, she returned to bed, ready to fall back asleep. But after lyin
Julissa was close to tears. Although half of her salary was being deducted, she still had 50,000 left, but it felt like being sliced open—it was painful."This is just inhuman..." she muttered under her breath."Even if it's for the money, you better start coming to work on time from now on!" Linda said with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. "Mr. Nichols wants some coffee, go make him a cup, and don't mess up again."Julissa quickly agreed and, after putting down her things, headed to the breakroom.Linda watched her leave, feeling helpless. The new rules that had been implemented were something Scott had come up with on the spot, and they were only directed at the executive assistant, effectively targeting Julissa for not being present.Was this really his way of pursuing a woman? Linda couldn’t help but think that Scott’s emotional intelligence was lacking.Meanwhile, Julissa took out her favorite instant coffee from
Julissa froze for a second. Was Scott teasing her?Sure enough, men who were usually so reserved had a hidden mischievous side.Wasn’t this a form of workplace harassment, though?She decided to play dumb—after all, Scott was her employer now, her "bread and butter.""I was just looking at that painting," she said, taking a step back and subtly pulling her arm away.Scott casually slipped his hands into his pockets, unfazed."Well then, come up and have a closer look."He started up the stairs first, and Julissa, reluctantly, followed him.As she walked behind him, heading toward his bedroom, the feeling of being “taken advantage of” intensified.He had already shown a flirtatious side before, and now it seemed like he had finally decided to make his move. Was this the moment he was going to take advantage of her?What if someone walked in and caught them? The office door wasn’t locke
Scott looked down at her, eyes gleaming with a smile. He did look like a man who had gotten what he wanted—but more than that, he looked fulfilled, as if life itself had reached a perfect state.“Are you hungry?” he asked.Julissa had just had some intense ‘exercise’ and didn’t have much appetite. She shook her head.“Tired?” he asked again.“A little.”Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright like a mischievous fairy who’d just stolen a magical elixir—Scott couldn’t take his eyes off her. The desire in his gaze deepened.He flipped over, hovering above his little fairy. “Then… how about one more round?”…They started on the couch and ended in the bedroom.After this round, Julissa was completely wiped out, lying boneless on the bed. She no longer looked like a fairy who stole elixirs—more like someone who’d had her spirit energy drained.“Really tired?” asked a certain CEO with exaggerated concern.Julissa gave him a weak, death-glare.The man scratched his head and chuckled sheepis
Seeing the bright, playful light in her eyes, Scott instantly understood her answer. A slow smile spread across his face, and he didn't bother to banter anymore. With a swift, fluid motion, he lifted her into his arms, cradling her close to his body. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine, and she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness wash over her.He kissed her deeply. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the intensity of their connection. The bedroom suddenly felt too far away, so they stopped in the living room, where the sofa beckoned with its wide, soft cushions.As Scott gently laid her down on the sofa, Julissa felt a surge of panic. That one time in the past—her memory was too fuzzy. She could barely recall anything. This felt much more like her first time.And when Scott took off his shirt, revealing his healthy tan skin and well-defined muscles, Julissa realized—it was really happening. She was unbelievably nervous. Her mind raced with a t
Julissa's heart raced as she met Scott's gaze. She knew exactly what he was asking, and the weight of his question pressed down on her. In the past, she would have replied without hesitation: Of course not! But now, the balance in her heart had already tipped. She knew how much she liked Scott. She also knew she longed for a deeper, more intimate connection with him. The thought of being closer to him, of sharing that level of intimacy, was both thrilling and terrifying.However, there was a promise she couldn't ignore. She had made a blood oath to her mom! She’d sworn that if she ever slept with Scott before marriage, she would lose her sense of taste and never enjoy food again. The memory of that promise was a heavy burden, and the fear of losing something so fundamental to her daily life was daunting. If that really came true, what joy would be left in the rest of her life?Scott looked at her, a bit anxious. His eyes searched hers, seeking an answer. “Why that expression? Are you
Julissa was on the verge of tears. She wanted to get up but, considering the state she was in, she felt too embarrassed. She forced out two words: “I’m fine.”Scott held her by the shoulders, helped her up from the ground, and pulled her into his arms.Because she was wearing so little, she shivered from the cold. Scott held her even tighter.Julissa buried her flushed face into his chest, feeling the chill of his body but also catching the fresh, masculine scent from his embrace.“Why did you suddenly show up…” she asked quietly.Scott gently ran his hand down her smooth back. “I’ve been following you the whole way. You didn’t notice?”Julissa looked up at him. “If you were following me, didn’t you see how heavy that jar I was carrying was? Why didn’t you help me?”Her little complaint sounded more like she was being coquettish.Scott replied, “It was something your mom gave you. Of course, you had to carry it yourself.”Julissa shot him a look, smiling.So petty—still jealous?“I di
Scott agreed so easily that Julissa couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment.But there was nothing she could say, so she sulkily repeated,“Then go ahead and move back home.”For the rest of the workday, Julissa remained in a listless, melancholic state.When it was finally time to leave, she clocked out as usual and headed to the elevator with Mr. Nichols.She pressed the button for the first floor.Scott, meanwhile, pressed B2—the underground parking level.Julissa really wanted to cancel her floor selection and go with him, but she held herself back.When the elevator reached the first floor, she turned to look at Scott.“Then… I’ll get going first…”The CEO smiled and said,“See you tomorrow, Miss Hickman.”She gave him another glance, puffed out her cheeks, then walked out of the elevator with her head down.Since her apartment was close to the office, she could just walk home.Clutching a jar of salted eggs in her arms, Julissa trudged down the sidewalk. The jar felt rid
Julissa suddenly heard her name mentioned and instantly sat up straight.Please, please, let Mr. Nichols not say I was eavesdropping… That would be so embarrassing…Thankfully, Scott wasn’t that blunt.“Julissa’s busy downstairs,” he replied.“Did you need something from her?”“Not really,” Yvette said. “I came to see her a while ago and said some inappropriate things. I feel really sorry about it. I was hoping to apologize in person, but since she’s busy, could you please pass along my apology?”“Sure, I’ll let her know.”Hearing this, Julissa finally felt a sense of relief.She understood Senior Yvette better now. And she understood Scott even more.All her worries had been unnecessary—Scott had clearly known exactly what he was doing all along.As for Senior Yvette’s feelings toward him, they were just a projection of her longing for happiness after a failed marriage—nothing more.Thankfully, she had figured it out in the end.Julissa stopped listening to the rest of the conversati
“It’s alright, I’m not busy right now,” Scott said.“Come sit over here.”Julissa kept her ears trained on the sounds outside.She could tell that Senior Yvette and Scott had moved over to the sofa area and sat down.Then she heard Senior Yvette speak first:“This is the key to your family house. Julian gave it to me before. He’s not in Elfhedge right now, so I’ll return it to you.”“You’ve decided to go back to Tokyo?”“Yeah. My parents have forgiven me, but after all these years apart, living together again feels… awkward—for all of us. I can already imagine, pretty soon they’ll start trying to set me up with someone again. But I just want some peace and quiet for now, so I’ve decided to go back to Tokyo. I’m used to life there anyway.”Scott paused for a couple of seconds.“As long as you’re sure.”Yvette continued:“Oh, and… you helped me hire a lawyer, paid for my treatments—it was a lot. I went through all the expenses and put the total in this card. The PIN is the last six digi
After hanging up the phone, Scott turned to Julissa and said,“Don’t leave yet. Yvette is here. Go wait in the lounge for a bit.”Julissa paused for a moment.Letting her stay in the lounge… wasn't that basically asking her to listen in on their conversation?“If I’m in there, I’ll hear everything you say. Is that okay?”Scott walked up to her and gave her cheek a gentle pinch.“It’s because I don’t want you overthinking things that I’m letting you stay and listen.”Julissa rubbed her cheek, muttering lightly,“Well, you’re the one letting me hear it—don’t blame me for eavesdropping later.”“Mm, I’m letting you,” Scott nodded with a soft smile, looking at her like she was a little kid.Julissa didn’t care about that look.Honestly, she did feel a bit uneasy about how close Senior Yvette and Scott seemed. So if she could listen to their conversation, why not?With light steps, she walked into the lounge and gently closed the door behind her, leaving it slightly ajar.Ever since Yvette
Scott chuckled helplessly. “The perfumer remembers the formula. If you like it, I’ll have her make a few more bottles for you to keep. You can have as much as you want in the future.”Only then did Julissa relax.She had thought it was a one-of-a-kind custom blend, something Scott had specially commissioned—a limited edition, gone once used up.“You should’ve said that earlier, Mr. Nichols. I was worried I’d run out.”Scott smiled faintly, reaching up to pinch her soft earlobe. His voice dropped low: “And the clothes—did you wear them?”Julissa’s cheeks flushed. She gave a sly grin: “Not telling you.”Scott’s lips curled slightly. This little woman had gotten bolder and bolder. Did she really not realize how dangerous she always was around him?“Then I’ll see for myself.” As he spoke, his arm tightened slightly.Julissa found herself pressed against him, and what really made her heart race was that his hand had already landed on the second button of her blouse.His fingers toyed