As soon as Joseph finished speaking, he felt the pressure surrounding him vanish instantly. Looking at Jared again, he couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but he sensed a hint of kindness in the boss's eyes."Kindly" might not be the most appropriate word to describe it, but given the situation, Joseph struggled to find any other word that fits.Was it because he had called Julia "madam"?After leaving the hotel, Julia opened the car door and said, "Brother, get in the car, and I'll take you back to the hospital."Conrad furrowed his brow and looked at Jared."Julia, is he your boyfriend?"Jared's gaze shifted to Julia, waiting to see how she would respond. Would she reveal their true identities and tell Conrad that they were married?Just as Jared half-squinted his eyes in anticipation, Julia spoke up and said, "He and I are just ordinary friends."Upon hearing this, Jared's sunny expression instantly turned cloudy, with a lingering haze between his eyebrows and eyes."Are
"It's okay, it's okay now," Jared gently patted Julia's back with his big palm, his voice as soft and soothing as possible.Julia, who was held in his arms, felt bewildered about the man's behavior, unable to comprehend the situation.However, that wasn't the main concern at the moment.The real issue was that they were still in a public market! This man seemed oblivious to the surroundings, hugging her so intimately. Didn't he notice all the people staring at them?The curious and gossipy looks from onlookers made Julia cringe. Some were even taking out their phones to capture photos and videos.These uncles and aunties at the vegetable market may not be young, but their interest in gossip is as strong as that of young people!Julia even imagined these nosy onlookers posting videos on social media with titles like "Young couple openly intimate in the vegetable market."With this in mind, Julia quickly withdrew from Jared's arms, took his hand, and hurriedly left the market.Back in t
Jared was slightly taken aback, his expression becoming somewhat elusive as he glanced up at the kitchen door.Observing her brother's reaction, Shiloh's face revealed a look of extreme shock. Could it be that his brother liked Julia?"Brother, she's not as simple as she seems," Shiloh warned.Jared nodded and responded, "I know. If she were too simple, I wouldn't be interested."Shiloh was left dumbfounded by his brother's nonchalant reply."But she might have other intentions towards you," Shiloh persisted.Jared replied casually, "Then let her have them. Can't I afford to support her?"Shiloh's eyes widened in disbelief. "And what if she tries to harm your life?""Who would want to harm your brother's life?" Julia emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of vegetables.Shiloh glared at her rudely and said, "You."Jared's face creased with displeasure at his brother's rudeness."Me?" Julia smiled, setting the dishes she had cooked on the table. "You seem to have a low opinion of me
The flavor, mingled with the essence of the sauce's aroma, saturates the duck offal, leaving behind a lingering fragrance on the palate and an endless aftertaste. The taste is so exceptional that it evokes a profound emotional response!Initially, he grappled with a minor hesitation deep within his heart. Perhaps he contemplated critiquing the dishes as unappetizing, irrespective of their true taste. Such a declaration could drive Julia to part ways with his brother.However, the idea of doing so felt tremendously ungrateful.Realization dawned upon him! He was resolute now because the dishes crafted by Julia were genuinely mouthwatering!"How does it taste?" Julia's unwavering confidence in her culinary skills resonated with her question.Shiloh lowered his head slightly; his cheeks tinged with a blush he tried to suppress. After a tentative bite, he looked up at Julia, his determination evident as he gritted his teeth. "Julia."Julia experienced a moment of surprise. Her comment to
As Cameron stole a glance, her eyes seemed poised to leap from their sockets.What had she witnessed? Jared and Julia shared a gaze – that was understandable. But the proximity between them was nearly intimate enough for a kiss.And they were still looking - still gazing! It felt unending!Cameron's frustration surged, her visible resentment screaming "jealousy."After a moment of tense pause, Cameron mustered a strained smile and approached Julia."I've heard that Julia is quite the pianist. Would I be privileged enough to hear you play a piece?"Jared's gaze turned cold, directing an icy beam at Cameron.As his chilly look bore into her, a pang of jealousy shot down Cameron's spine, gripping her in its hold.If her glare could incinerate, she would've reduced Julia to ashes!Shiloh, observing the unfolding situation, recognized that Cameron was purposely trying to provoke Julia.While he acknowledged Julia's attractiveness, he also understood that Cameron possessed a superior talent
"If I told you I'm self-taught, would you believe it?" Julia posed the question, a slight curve gracing her lips as she looked at Jared.In truth, she wasn't fabricating. Her piano skills were just one example – many of her talents were honed through self-guided learning. With an IQ exceeding 300, swift learning was almost second nature to her."It's fine if you don't want to disclose it," Jared replied calmly. Even before her piano performance, he had glimpsed her medical prowess on more than one occasion, leading him to suspect a connection to the fabled Divine Doctor. Nonetheless, he recognized her reluctance to share these facets of her life, and he knew that pressing further would be futile.Julia's lips curled into a playful smile. "Well, I'm being truthful. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."Ten minutes later, they arrived home. As Julia stepped out of the car, she noticed Jared remained seated, unmoving."Why aren't you getting out?""I have something to attend to.
Darn it!She was caught red-handed!Julia clutched the man's shirt with an overwhelming sense of nervousness.Should she run for it?No, that wasn't an option. She wasn't the same independent Julia from her previous life. She had someone to worry about now, someone she couldn't leave behind.Conrad, she couldn't afford to be careless.Escaping was out of the question. In her current situation, fleeing wouldn't provide any comfort. And besides, she had a valid reason for being here.But finding a suitable reason for breaking into a man's room in the middle of the night and getting caught was a challenge in itself.As Julia grappled with the problem, Jared approached her."Look up at me."His voice echoed above her, sending a shiver down her spine. Should she meet his gaze?Not looking up would make her appear guilty. But what if he reads something from her face?Before she could decide, Jared's hand gently lifted her chin, tilting her small face upward to meet his gaze.Caught off guar
Julia rose to her feet immediately, withdrawing her hand from the man's large palm, and regarded Jared in astonishment."I told you I won't engage in any inappropriate actions. You're just going to sleep here," Jared clarified.His motive behind this was to test whether sharing a bed with someone could help alleviate his insomnia. He had been seeking an opportunity to verify this hypothesis, and since the last time he had spent the night with Julia, his insomnia had worsened considerably. He feared that this would have detrimental effects on his health if it persisted.As these thoughts swirled in Jared's mind, Julia took a few steps back, each retreat accompanied by a growing sense of unease.Jared felt a pang of displeasure at Julia's behavior. Was he so fearsome, a predator she needed to escape?"It seems like you've misunderstood something. I genuinely don't have any romantic intentions toward you," Julia began, observing the swift change in Jared's demeanor."What do you mean? Yo