Chapter 13

JULIAN went out of the villa early that morning to grab some breakfast. When he walked past the living room, Prudence was still sound asleep, or so he thought. Thirty minutes had passed since he went out, and she joined him. Prudence was wearing a frown when she sat down across from him. Of course, he knew why. For the second time, he left her.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” she asked nonchalantly as she poured tea into her cup.
He raised a brow and leaned against his seat afterward.
“Do you really expect me to wake you up?” he countered.
It was Prudence’s turn to raise a brow at him. She put it down immediately and replaced it with a smile that he didn’t like.
“Of course.” She tilted her head to the side. “Your father wants us to get to know each other more through this trip. How can we when you’re always leaving your fiancée behind?”
He clasped his hands above the table and smirked.
“Did you know you made it sound like I’m the bad guy here?”
“Were you not?” Prudence sneered.
He knew she didn’t say that to tease him; she meant it halfway. But he would let it pass… for now. He might scare her away if he confronted her early. What he was planning to do was to get closer to his prey and corner her when she least expected it. Julian must move discreetly, so he could gather as much information and evidence as he needed.
“Fine.” He let out a sigh. “I’m the bad guy for leaving you behind. But what could I do, hmm?”
Prudence’s forehead formed a deep knot.
“D-do about what?” she asked, puzzled.
“I don’t have the heart to wake you up after I saw you sleeping soundly.”
Julian did his best to suppress his laugh when he saw her lip twitch. Prudence scoffed afterward and shook her head. It must be out of disbelief, he thought.
“Really, huh?” She picked up her cup and brought it to her mouth. “I didn’t expect you to be this… sweet.”
“Understanding, rather,” he countered. Julian poured tea into his cup for the third time. He would most likely stop after finishing his second cup, but it kinda felt like he needed to drink more at that moment.
“Haa! Yet you let your fiancée sleep on the sofa.” She looked at her intently as though she was reading him.
But Julian was always quick to hide her emotions. He never let his guard down in front of anyone because he knew vulnerability would make him weak.
“The bed is big for the two of us, yet you didn’t want to share,” he told her with a low tone.
“What are you implying?”
“That we share the bed this evening.” Julian tapped his fingers above the table in the rhythm of his favorite tune on the piano. “It’s the only option for you, darling. You can’t expect me to give up the comfortable bed when I’ve been living like a prince in the comfort of my mansion for more than two decades.”
“What the…”
“So, will you join me to bed tonight, or you’d rather keep sleeping on the sofa?”
“J-Julian…” She shut her eyes tightly and opened them again to scowl at him. “Are you serious about this?”
“Hm.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Is there any reason for me to joke about this? Why? Have you never shared a bed with Chase before?”
“Not even once.”
So, it turned out his assumption was correct. His brother had never bedded his fiancé, and he could only wonder why when Chase had a thing about women all those times. Was he playing the good guy with Prudence? Well, in his case, he wouldn’t.
“Ah, before I forget… one of my friends is also here. He saw me earlier and invited me to join him for lunch.”
“And? How come your affair with your friend concerns me now?”
“It will be your concern from now on. I told Daniel I was on vacation with my fiancée. You must come with me.”
“Ah, so you want me now as your trophy fiancée?” Prudence rolled her eyes.
“Don’t you dare roll those eyes at me again.” His jaw clenched.
“And why?”
Julian rose from his seat.
“Just heed my warning, and you’ll be safe.”
“What?” Prudence sounded annoyed.
He turned around upon feeling her hand grasp his arm.
“Yes?”
“I’m not done talking to you—”
“Ah… I thought Chase had trained you well. But it seems that he didn’t.”
“W-what do you mean?”
He lightly pressed the tip of her chin and met her gaze.
“Well… I was raised in a patriarchal family. The men have ruled the Whitewood clan ever since. You should obey me if you don’t want to be punished.” Julian leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “So don’t you ever roll those eyes on me again, Prudence.”
Julian moved away from her and saw her mouth drop out of shock. There… he hoped it was enough to put Prudence in the right place. His brother had been too soft with her, which Julian thought wasn’t a good thing.

IT was already ten in the morning when Ace noticed that Sybil hadn’t eaten the breakfast he had left on the table. He prepared early and went out to check the happenings at the diner after last night’s fire incident. On the other hand, Sonja was still asleep in the bedroom after coming home at dawn.
He found Sybil in the backyard garden, pulling off the weeds from the plots. She glanced in his direction so he knew he had seen her. However, she didn’t greet him nor speak a single word, and Ace wasn’t dumbed that she had been silent since last night when they got home. He didn’t like that. Seeing Sybil act that way made him feel uneasy and worried about her.
He took a deep breath and strode toward her.
“You haven’t eaten breakfast. Do you know what time it is already?”
She raised her head, wincing.
“I think it’s about ten in the morning.”
Ace propped his hands on his waist.
“Right. So, you better stand up, wash your hands, and eat!” he scolded her.
Sybil’s forehead creased.
“You know you don’t have to scold me,” she said in a low tone.
“I wouldn’t if you’re moving your ass out of here.” He gestured at the backdoor. “Go inside, now.”
She brushed off the soil from her hands and stood up.
“How about you?”
“I’ve already eaten before I leave.” Ace went behind her and gently pushed her.
“Is Sonja still sleeping?” Sybil asked when they got in.
“Yes.” He started taking off the covers. “Didn’t you know she came home at dawn?”
“I know. But she doesn’t usually stay in bed this long even though she went to bed late.” Sybil washed her hands in the sink. “Perhaps she’s exhausted.”
“I think so.” He pulled a chair for Sybil. “Sit here, and I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”
“I want coffee this time, please…” she said as she settled on the chair.
“Okay.”
He started brewing coffee, and she went silent again.
“Is there something wrong?” Ace couldn’t help but ask.
“E-eh?”
He pulled the chair across from her and sat there.
“I’m worried about you. You’re not usually this silent.” Ace reached for her hand. “If you need someone to talk to about anything… I’m just here. I promise I’ll listen even in the most absurd thing.”
Sybil laughed afterward, and he felt a little relieved hearing her laugh like that.
“I’m fine, Ace. You don’t have to worry too much about me. It’s just that… Sonja and I have something to—”
Sybil cut her sentence when Sonja suddenly appeared in the kitchen.
“Oh, you’re awake. Come and join Sybil.”
He left his seat and strode to the kitchen counter to get the coffee that he had brewed a while ago.
“Ace, can you leave us for a while?” Sonja said the moment he returned to the table. “Sybil and I need to talk… in private.”