Chapter 42

SYBIL let out a moan when she felt something tickling her neck. She immediately opened her eyes and saw Chase snuggling with her as he continued kissing her on the neck.
“What is the use of your room if you are going to sleep here every night?” she jested as she turned to his side.
“Oh, Sybil… you don’t know how much I have missed you….”
Sybil cupped his cheek and looked at his face, appreciating every detail. No wonder she couldn’t forget about him even for a second when he left her. She had memorized every single mole and freckle on that handsome face.
“Your stubbles are growing… no wonder it tickles.” She wondered if he was that busy to forget about shaving. Or perhaps he didn’t care at all because she wasn’t with her in the past few days. “Would you like me to shave that?”
“Later on,” he whispered. “Let’s stay like this for a while.
Her gaze reverted to the clock hanging by the wall.
“Oh, gosh… it’s already ten in the morning!” she blurted out. Sybil was about to sit up, but his legs and arms prevented her from doing so.
“You were exhausted from the flight yesterday, weren’t you? It’s okay to stay in bed late. We will just tell the servant to serve us breakfast here in your room.”
“But—”
“What? I’m one of the masters of this house, Sybil, and you are under my wing. Nothing would dare talk ill about you here.”
She heaved a deep sigh.
“It’s that… I’m worried that I might give your family a bad impression of me. You know there is this saying that goes… first impression last.”
“Let me give you a piece of advice to survive.” He lightly pinched the tip of her chin. “One of the things that you should start to master now that you are living in this house is the art of not giving a fuck about what you hear and what they say about you.”
“Eh?” Her forehead creased.
“Just follow my advice, and I guarantee you will survive this war’s first phase.”
“War… I didn’t come with you to engage in a family war or something—”
“I know. That would never be your intention. However, my family would.” Chase’s expression softened. “And as promised, I will defend you no matter what.”
He planted a kiss on her forehead.
“So, when will I meet your family?”
“Why don’t you come with me today? I’m going to pick up Mama and Ruth at the retreat house.”
“Would that be okay?” she winced.
“It will. I promise…”
Her wince turned into a smile.
“Okay. Let’s get you shaved now.” He groaned and kept her pinned on the bed. “Ace…”
“Do you prefer calling me by that name?”
“Don’t you like it, hmm?”
“I like it… It sounds like an endearment. Keep calling me that.”
“Yeah, right. You are really an ace anyway.”
A boyish smile curved on his lips.

PRUDENCE got out of bed with a terrible headache. She couldn’t sleep last night because she was with her mother, which she didn’t like. She would never love the idea of having her around, so living with her under one roof creeped her out. However, she had to bear it for a while because her secretary was still looking for a place for her mother.
Cupping her throbbing head, she sauntered to the kitchen. To her surprise, her mother was already awake early and preparing breakfast.
“Oh, you are awake. Great. Join me for breakfast. I made your favorite blueberry pancake—”
“No, thanks. I don’t eat breakfast,” she said nonchalantly. “Just coffee.”
Her mother sat down after putting the plates on the table.
“That is bad… Not eating breakfast is bad. Don’t you know that it’s the most important meal of the day—”
“Enough,” she said in a low tone. “Don’t you think it’s funny that you tell me this when I’m already old enough? I can take care of myself. And I don’t think you really do care for me.” She sneered.
“I know you hate me,” her mother countered.
Prudence’s hand clenched hard against the kettle’s handle. She abruptly turned to face her.
“What? Do you hear yourself? You abandoned me—”
“I didn’t literally abandon you.”
Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t know how small her mother’s brain was, that she didn’t know the meaning of abandonment.
“You left me in the orphanage!” she snapped. “You never came back!”
“Because I don’t have the capability to support you! I was broke after your father left us. He abandoned us for money and power, which of course, you don’t remember because you were too young back then.” Her mother started eating. “If you don’t want to eat, then join me at the table at least.”
Prudence was about to say something when the doorbell suddenly rang. Nice timing, she thought. However, who could that guest be? She wasn’t expecting anyone.
She rushed to the door and opened it.
“Hey,” said Julian the moment the door swung open.
“J-Julian!”
“Can I come in?” he asked, peeking inside.
She shut her eyes and went out instead. Her mother was inside the house, and she didn’t want her to see him.
“Is there something wrong?” His forehead creased. “Are you that mad at me that you don’t want me to enter your house?”
“N-no.” She shook her head. “It’s just… uhm… I’m taking out some spoiled food from the fridge, and the entire house stinks, so… Why are you here, by the way?”
Julian pocketed his hands and stared at him with sad eyes. It was quite a surprise that his expression was like that.
“I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Your fault,” Prudence countered. “You’re not even returning my calls. What happened?”
But his response wasn’t words but a tight hug and kisses full of yearning.
They were panting when Julian ended the kiss.
“Whoa… that was… something.” Prudence met his gaze again.
“There is something you should know,” he said afterward.
Her heart started racing. Suddenly, she was anxious about what it could be.
“W-what is it?”
“Nothing official has been decided yet, so I’m not sure what would happen. But for now, I want to give you a heads-up. Prudence, my brother’s back….”
Her mouth dropped open. She was too stunned to speak.