Chapter 208

Sophia Sullivan froze.

Julian Winston raised an eyebrow. "He is the boss."

After all that, it turned out to be someone she knew.

She hung up and sighed, resigned to her fate as she dialed Sebastian Evans's number.

That day, when she said, "You're too calculating, let's keep our distance," she wasn't joking.

A fox is too cunning. One moment of carelessness, and you fall into its trap.

The safest solution Sophia could think of was simple.

Stay away.

But right after saying that, she was the one reaching out.

It was truly embarrassing.

…

Julian put away his phone and looked at Olivia Lopez sleeping soundly on the bed. His anger instantly flared.

"Who was it that said they'd be on time? Not a minute late?"

"And the result? I'm here, and you're still asleep! I waited forty minutes, Olivia Lopez! Does your conscience not hurt at all?"

The person on the bed rolled over and continued sleeping.

Julian was fuming.

He walked to the bedside. "Did you go out partying again last night?"

His eyes scanned every corner of the room.

Luckily, there were no signs of a man.

Suddenly, his gaze halted.

There were two water glasses on the nightstand.

A furious, inexplicable heat surged in Julian's chest.

"O—liv—ia—Lopez!"

A pillow flew over, hitting him squarely on the head.

Olivia sat up, her face full of irritation. "What's all the noise? Wait if you can, if not, get out!"

No one was allowed to disturb her sleep.

Julian laughed in anger. "And you have the nerve to be righteous?"

"Get out!"

Julian almost lost it.

Fine! He'd go! Who was afraid of who!

He turned to leave but suddenly stopped.

"Dammit—"

Julian cursed under his breath.

Half an hour later, Olivia finally woke up.

She yawned, casually smoothing her messy hair, looking lazy and content.

Her movements suddenly paused. "...Why are you still here?"

Julian sat on the sofa opposite, speaking quietly. "Leave, and let my mom meet thin air?"

A week ago, Julian's mother had invited Olivia over for the weekend.

Olivia had readily agreed.

Today was the weekend.

Yesterday, Julian called to confirm. Olivia was busy and tossed out a sentence: "Nine tomorrow morning. Be a minute late, just you wait."

And the result?

He was on time. She was fast asleep.

Olivia looked blank. "...Did I say nine o'clock?"

Julian sneered. "Need me to play the recording?"

He started reaching for his phone.

"You're sick, recording phone calls?"

"Better safe than sorry. See? It came in handy."

Olivia: "..." So sarcastic.

"Fine, I forgot... Wait, how did you get into my house?" She realized it belatedly.

Julian: "I typed in the password."

"How do you know my password?"

"That night at the bar, you told me yourself. Forgot?"

"Did I?"

"Of course! Bad temper, bad memory. What's wrong with you?"

Olivia threw another pillow at him. "Shut up!"

Julian tilted his head to avoid it, his movements practiced.

Olivia reached for another pillow—

"Don't bother looking, it's here." Julian patted behind him.

Olivia was stunned. "How did you get that?"

Julian: "..." Bad memory, confirmed.

"Miss, this is the second pillow. You're welcome."

"...Oh."

A little awkward.

Olivia: "What time is it now?"

"...Ten-thirty." Still poking his sore spot.

"No rush. Taking time to dress up nicely to meet the future mother-in-law is normal, right?"

"..."

"Get me a—"

Julian finished her sentence: "Water, right?"

He picked up a glass from the vanity, already filled with water.

"Drink up, then get ready to go!"

Olivia took the glass. It was warm to the touch. "Warm water?"

"Yeah!"

Don't all girls drink warm water?

Olivia: "Get me a glass of ice water."

"Drinking something ice-cold first thing in the morning? Can you handle that?" Even though he drank ice-cold stuff himself.

But she was a woman!

"What's wrong with being a woman?" Olivia rolled her eyes. "Who says women have to drink warm water? Ridiculous!"

"All my..." Uh!

"Ex-girlfriends?" Olivia finished with a smile.

Julian: "..."

"Idiot!"

"Why do you always curse?"

"Did your ex-girlfriends drink bubble tea? Eat sushi? Like ice-cold cocktails?"

"...Why are you asking?"

"Aren't all those things ice-cold or cool? Did they eat them?"

Uh!

Julian was stumped.

Olivia stretched, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. "Is drinking warm water the badge of a good woman? Well, I don't like it. So what?"

Julian said quietly, "So you're not a good woman."

"Want a beating?"

He instinctively stepped back.

"Go get the ice water. I'm changing clothes. Those two glasses on the nightstand are from a few days ago; I forgot to put them away. Take them to the kitchen; the housekeeper will wash them."

Julian: "Both glasses are yours?"

"Of course! Who else? A ghost?"

"Heh... Wait, I'll go get the water!"

Olivia: "...?"

Why is he giggling over getting water?

By the time Julian returned with the ice water, Olivia had already changed.

She stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, the curtains wide open.

Sunlight poured in, covering the wooden floor in gold dust.

The woman stood in the golden light, a blue ankle-length dress hugging her curves. Hearing his footsteps, she turned to look.

Backlit, light and shadow played across her figure, creating a stark contrast.

Like an immortal, yet also a temptress.

For a moment, Julian's breath caught.

He stood frozen, clearly hearing his own abnormal heartbeat.

Thump-thump…

Once, twice…