Chapter 117: Stepbrother's Love

I gaped up at Julian over his handful of words. So did the old man. So did other people surrounding us. So did my mom and Gabriel. Except for Grace. That hoe just snorted.

“Sukia didn’t have many dresses, so I chose the one that would look the most beautiful on her.” a charming smile crossed his naturally pink lips. “The others were ripped and dirty. I wanted her to look the best she can.” Julian then looked down at me. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

The old man awkwardly cleared his throat. Julian had made him look like a straight-up fool. “Oh, um, yes! Yes, she does.” He then looked down at me. There was an apologetic look in his eyes, fueled by embarrassment. “You look enchanting tonight.”

*Enchanting? Shit, talk about an overdoing.*

“Uh… thanks…” I grumbled while taking a step closer to Julian without realizing it. It was as if my body had moved on its own when I was near him. That little action probably made things look a little weirder between us since it was common knowledge that we were step-siblings.

Half of the chatter in the room went quiet when the people who were looking down upon me quickly pretended to mind their own business in fear of looking like idiots too. I spotted my mother sigh with relief when the situation was handled like a snap of the fingers. That’s Julian for ya.

The silence stretched on between the man and my stepbrother for a couple more seconds before Julian spoke up again, that handsome smile still on his face. “I’d also like you to apologize.”

Both me and the old man looked at Julian with wide, shocked eyes. Wait. What? What the fuck?

“A–apologize?”

“You didn’t come here to start a conversation with my stepsister. You came here to belittle her. Correct?” though Julian’s expression didn’t change, I did see that familiar flicker of a dark blue flame.

*What the fuck are you DOINGGGG?!?* I wanted to scream, but I bit my tongue. Attention was being brought back to us and, for the first time, I wanted a confrontation to be avoided and tell him it was not worth it. But in a way, I already knew that we were both more alike than I wanted to admit. Like me; he wasn’t about to back down.

The old man’s lips pursed as he looked away sharply. He’s been caught.

“Well?”

He clearly was doing his best to not look like a bigger fool than what he already did, but Julian’s pressure was intimidating. “...I’m sorry for my rudeness, Ms. Arlee.”

“Uh-huh,” I grumbled again while shooting him a sassy glare. I hated needing help from Julian, but if I did this my way, then a table would flip and champagne would take flight.

“Have a good evening.” Julian’s tone still gave away nothing, but I knew him well enough that I could tell he was pretty fucking annoyed by how that dude was treating me.

*Still so overprotective…*

His arm still remained hooked around my waist as he led me away. The people who were looking at me with scorn didn’t dare swap a glance with me now, but a few others peeked at us curiously. The way his hand was on me had to have been very misleading. I cleared my throat and gave an urgent whisper to Julian. “Do you mind taking your hand off of me?? You’re getting us weird looks! What if our parents see?!”

“They have no reason to expect anything.” His expression still gave away nothing as he briefly greeted people he knew with that handsome smile of his while we walked.

His nonchalant attitude was starting to get on my nerves. “What?? Julian, you can’t be serious! You’re–”

“Just enjoy the party, Suki.” Julian finally looked down at me and I expected to see newly born annoyance in his gorgeous blue eyes, but they turned gentle with affection. “I’ll take care of everything. I’ll take care of you.”

He gave me that same speech since day one, how the man was so determined to take care of me as if I was some wounded animal taken off the streets, hit by a stupid car or something. It was frustrating but at the same time… I hated myself for feeling this way, but it made me feel more at ease. No matter how far Julian takes things with me, no matter how many times he’s rough with me, even now after he done knocked my ass up, I knew deep down that he would protect me from anything and everything.

*Because the dumbass is madly in love with me…*

Old music that you would hear at a ball began to play, and I saw couples dancing in what used to be the dining room. In the middle of it all, I saw my mom dancing with Gabriel. The man wore that standard black and white suit. Meanwhile, Mom glowed brighter than any other woman in the room. Her bright ginger hair was up in a neat bun and her long, laced white dress glided across the floor without touching it. Her smile was brighter than the sun and her summer leaf-green eyes sparkled like the stars. Pure happiness. I haven’t seen her that happy in… fuck, I can’t even remember. I know it was before Dad died. And Gabriel put that smile back on her face.

*Do I make her smile like that too…?*

Deep down, I doubted it. I still felt like I only brought her trouble, worry, and sadness. And sometimes I feel like a reminder of the past, a reminder that Dad is gone.

My depressive thoughts must’ve reflected on my face because Julian’s arm squeezed my waist more firmly as he pulled me toward the dining room that was currently being used as a fancy dancefloor.

“Wh–what the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I almost stumbled over my heels, but thankfully Julian’s grip was strong enough to keep me steady. He didn’t answer me, instead he turned to face me once we joined the other dancing couples. He adjusted his arm around my waist as he lightly grasped my small hand. Before I knew it, we were dancing again. I could feel my face blushing up a storm to the point I was getting a headache. “Julian!” I whispered a hiss under my breath as I hesitantly looked around. I already knew that every set of eyes in the mansion were all on the two of us.

*Oh, my fucking hell.*

“Dancing.” he nonchalantly answered as if it were no big deal.

“No shit, smartass. Did you forget who you’re dancing with?!” unlike him, I still kept my voice hushed, but the panic was probably clear as day on my face.

“Look at me.” even though his voice remained soft, it still sounded like a command. Not having much of a choice, I reluctantly looked up at him. This was the first time I was taking a good look at him. The suit he wore looked similar to his father’s, but with darker colors, and there was a red rose in the pocket of his jacket. His ashy blonde hair was neatly swept backward, showing off all of his handsome features on his slender face. How could somebody look so goddamn perfect? It honestly made me feel self-conscious at times. And that’s saying something.

The moment my olive green eyes met his bright blue ones, I quickly looked down at the floor just as fast. “What do you want? I’m getting nauseous again and my feet are starting to hurt– ah!” I gave a startled squeak when he pulled me closer to his chest.

“You’re making excuses.” He leaned down, murmuring in my ear, his voice lovelier than this music. “Relax and trust me.”

*Trust you?*

Those words were foreign. Me? Trust people? Crazy bastard must’ve forgotten who he’s dealing with! But… the familiar warmth radiating from his chest and the graze of his hand on my back made it difficult for me to summon enough willpower to resist. I wanted to stay here forever.

When did I become such a fucking weakling? Fuck, what if Amy was here? What would she think?

*Is Mom looking?*

The haunting questions gave me the strength to rip free by pushing on his chest. At the same time, the music ended and everyone clapped, signaling that the dance came to an end and it wouldn’t look completely odd by how I moved from Julian. I didn’t look at his face, his expression might make my will falter.

With quick strides, I left the crowd and went to the bathroom. My nausea was threatening me something fierce.

*Fucking hell!*

Right before I could puke, I heard a knock on the door. “For fuck’s sake…”

When I swung the door, my nausea spiked when Julian barged in and locked the door behind himself.