Chapter 33

“THE Young Master has arrived,” the butler announced as she and Julian walked inside the dining hall.
They sauntered straight to Cynthia’s seat. Julian was the first to greet his mama, and Prudence followed after handing over the gift that Julian bought, but she took the credit. Well, that was what he said anyway, and she was just following his orders.
Cynthia opened the gift, and a satisfied smile flashed afterward. She then held her hand and squeezed it gently.
“Thank you so much, Prudence. I do like this brag very, very much, but I couldn’t find the time to leave the house since my dear Chase—” Cynthia choked and couldn’t finish her sentence. “Anyway, have a seat, you two.”
The butler gestured at the empty seats on the other side of the table. Julian ushered her there. He acted like a gentleman and pulled a chair for her.
“Thank you,” she said as she sat down.
And she didn’t know if Julian was just exaggerating things in front of his family by putting on a show. He even put the table napkin on her lap. Again, she thanked him for doing that.
“It seems you two got closer than last time we had dinner.” Francis’s remark made everyone turn in his direction. “I can see that the stiffness in you, Prudence, is now… gone.”
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Julian’s sister, Ruth, smirking. She wasn’t sure what that was for. All she knew was that… there was this building tension between them because of that.
“Well, I think it’s only normal since we are… just starting back then,” Julian countered. “Isn’t this what you want? Prudence and I to get closer.”
Francis flashed a satisfied smile.
“Yes, of course. This will make our lives a little easier, don’t you think? Harmony is one of our family’s virtues, after all.”
“I’m not quite sure if we do have harmony in this family,” Ruth chimed in.”
“Ruth,” Julian called out to his sister with a firm tone. “Keep your thoughts to yourself and let us have dinner in peace—”
“Oh, come on, Julian!” His sister sneered and turned to her with a scowl. “Don’t get me started, please—”
Francis slammed his hands on the table, making his daughter halt talking.
“Ruth, if you don’t have anything good to say, then may I suggest that you leave this table.”
“Everyone… please.” Cynthia gestured both her hands outwardly. “This is my birthday dinner, and you guys are ruining it in front of our guest—”
“Doesn’t she know that this family’s rotten, and it reeks—”
“Ruth! Could you just shut that foul mouth?” Francis snapped. He then rose from his seat and slammed the napkin on the table. “Let’s just call this a night.”
Prudence remained in her seat and watched Julian’s father walk away from the dining hall. She didn’t expect that evening to turn that way. After a few moments, Cynthia stood up and followed her husband, leaving them behind.
“Look what you’ve done!” Julian snarled at his sister afterward. “What were you thinking?”
An arrogant smirk was Ruth’s response.
Prudence saw how his expression turned grim, and she had foreseen what would happen next. She held his clenched fist and squeezed it lightly.
“Can you please take me home now?” she told Julian.
But he didn’t move an inch and remained looking at his sister with his lips firmly pressed.
“Go on, brother. Take that whore home,” Ruth said mockingly.
It made Julian even more furious.
“What the fuck did you call her?”
“Whore.” His sister cocked her head to the side. “Perhaps slut sounds even better—”
“Enough.” Julian’s tone was cold; it gave her goosebumps.
“Let’s go, Julian.” Prudence decided to stand up. She pulled him up, but he didn’t move.
“What the hell is wrong with you, huh, Ruth?”
His sister turned in her direction.
“My evening was ruined because she is here. This whore is such an eyesore for me—”
“If you don’t stop calling her names, I will punch that foul mouth of yours and make it bleed until you beg her for forgiveness—”
“I don’t know why you are suddenly so protective of her when she is not yours, to begin with.” Ruth held her head up high and folded her arms over her chest. “I will never accept her as part of this family whether this wedding pushes through. Well, I hope not.”
“What?!” Julian finally stood up.
He was about to rush to his sister, but she grasped him by the arm.
“Don’t…” She took a deep breath. “Julian, I beg you. Please… just take me home.”
“You heard her, brother. Take that slut out of this house.”
Ruth gave her a once-over before leaving the dining hall.
Julian’s anger was still evident with the clenching of his jaw. His emotions didn’t subside even though his sister had already left. He turned to her afterward, caressed her arms, and looked at her apologetically.
“I’m so sorry about that….”
“You don’t have to be sorry when it’s not your fault.” She cupped his cheek. “Take me home now.”

“I BET you are hungry,” Prudence said when Julian’s car pulled into her garage. “Would you like to come in? Though I don’t have any decent meal inside right now. But I think I still have some instant noodles left in my cupboard.”
She got off his car, and Julian followed.
“A drink will do. Something hard, if you have any,” he said upon entering the house.
“I have a bottle of malt whisky stored. Don’t worry.”
Prudence sauntered to the minibar at a corner and filled two glasses with liquor. She immediately handed one to Julian.
“Thanks.” He plopped down on the sofa and took a couple of sips. “Are you okay?”
Prudence joined her on the sofa afterward.
He looked at her with sad eyes. And she could clearly see his emotions at that moment. Something so surprising because he was never that vulnerable in front of her.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” She finished her drink in one go and put the glass down on the coffee table. “I can get over it tomorrow or perhaps later.”
“Ruth must’ve turned crazy. I’m sure father wouldn’t let this one slide.”
Julian finished his drink as well and put the glass down. He then stood up.
“Let’s call this a night and forget about what happened. I will see you again tomorrow at dinner.”
Prudence didn’t know what had gotten into her when she suddenly held his hand and pulled him back to his seat.
“Why are you so mad at your sister for disrespecting me?”
Julian heaved a sigh.
“Because what she did was wrong.”
But she could sense there was more to it, so she mustered her courage and asked him.
“By any chance, do you have feelings for me?” She saw an intense emotion cross his eyes, but he quickly hid it. However, Prudence had confirmed her hunch. “Julian, come on… I’m waiting for your answer—”
Instead of answering, he took her to his lap and kissed her. She felt his growing arousal underneath his pants, poking her between her thighs. It ignited the fire inside her, worsening her desire and making her crazy. Prudence knew she was about to lose control over her sanity… She could feel herself slowly losing grip as he deepened the kiss. Julian’s kisses were drowning her… consuming her… every part of her body his hand caressed was burning, leaving her craving for more. She had never felt that before… No one had ever made her feel so much desire that she wanted to explode. Prudence tilted her head back when he pulled the zipper of her dress down, revealing her bare chest in front of him. Julian then met her gaze, and his eyes were silently asking for permission. A soft moan was her response. The next thing she knew, his tongue was swirling around one of her crowns. She immediately wrapped her fingers around his hair when she felt the building sensation down there. It made her temperature rise, making her want him more than before… The feeling wasn’t just sensual; it was rather primal.
If Julian would take her now, she would gladly surrender…
“Oh, Prudence…” he whispered before lying her down on the sofa.
Now that she was beneath him, she could feel his warmth even more.
“I won’t force myself on you if you don’t—”
“Take me, Julian… please….” Her plea almost sounded like a whisper, making him smile.