Chapter 2

"The echo of his mocking voice rang in her ears, to the point that she needed moments to absorb what he had said: 'Mr. Julian, did your brother just mock me, for you to come now and complete the mockery?'"

On the other end of the phone was 'Julian,' Kael's older brother. When 'Laura' was at the beginning of her relationship with 'Kael,' 'Julian' never once gave her a friendly look.

'Julian' said in a sarcastic tone: "You’ve been insulted once, aren't you afraid of a second time? This doesn't look like you; you are always reckless and don't care about the consequences."

'Laura' had a sharp temperament and could not bear a challenge. She rushed to say recklessly: "I will come, and who fears whom? But even if I come, the registration office has been closed for a long time!"

'Julian' answered her coldly: "That is none of your concern."

Twenty minutes later, 'Laura' returned to stand before the registration office, where 'Julian' stood with dignity, with his well-built physique and breathtaking handsomeness, surrounded by an aura of power and control that made his brother 'Kael' look like a beginner student beside him.

"You actually dared and came." 'Julian' said with a faint smile and a gaze carrying mysterious cunning.

Before his strong presence, 'Laura''s audacity over the phone faded, becoming calmer and more tense. "There's no use in coming, the doors are already closed."

'Julian' looked toward the doors behind her, and said in a low voice: "Do you really want to make the marriage contract? Have you thought it through?"

'Laura' replied stubbornly: "You're not afraid, so why should I be?" She thought to herself that the fear should be his, for he was her ex-lover's brother.

"You have true courage." He caught a sparkle in her eyes that he liked, so he grasped her wrist and pulled her inside.

'Laura' froze in her place... Were they really going to do it? She suddenly stopped, so 'Julian' turned to her, raising his eyebrows: "What? Have you backed out?"

'Laura' hesitated a little: "Why do you want to marry me?" She knew he didn't love her.

'Julian' chuckled: "We have to get married, don't we? Instead of wasting time searching for someone else, why not choose an option that pleases the family?"

She asked no more; the two families shared an old friendship, and his parents and father valued her greatly, so his logic was logical.

...

In less than ten minutes, they emerged with the marriage certificate in hand. While she was staring at the document in astonishment, 'Julian' said in a cold tone: "There's no use in regretting now, because even if you want a divorce, you have to wait a whole month."

What a bad omen! Laura turned to look at him sarcastically: "I hope you don't regret it, Mr. Julian."

As she was walking down the stairs, 'Julian' suddenly pulled her into his chest. She was very close, inhaling the refreshing cedarwood scent that emanated from him, which made her heart beat wildly.

"Where are you going?" he asked her in his husky voice.

'Laura' tried to regain her balance: "Home, of course."

"Do you intend to leave your husband right after the marriage contract?" He bent his head, watching her trembling eyelashes and her face that flushed with a bashful blush. That moment was a mix of tenderness and sharpness.

"...I forgot."

His eyes met hers, she didn't notice the depth in his gaze. 'Julian' looked away calmly and said: "Follow me."

...

In 'Julian''s luxurious villa overlooking the city hills, elegance filled every corner.

'Laura' asked with confusion: "What is this?"

He answered briefly: "The marital home. You will live here."

"And what about you?" The question slipped from her mouth without thinking.

He raised an eyebrow and said in a stinging tone: "Has astonishment struck you so much that you forgot the meaning of a marital home?"

He meant, of course, that he would live with her here. 'Laura' felt embarrassed; he was still as she had known him ten years ago: a sharp tongue and an unbearable biting style!

...

After 'Julian' gave his instructions to the maid to take care of her, he went upstairs. 'Laura' breathed a sigh of relief; his presence was nerve-wracking.

'Laura' discovered that the villa was huge and equipped with everything, and she learned that 'Julian' had returned from abroad only in the morning. She wondered... how did she know she was let down on the very same day? Was his marriage to her revenge for an event that happened three years ago?

'Laura' fell asleep on the living room sofa out of sheer exhaustion, only to wake up to movement beside her. 'Julian' was there.

"What are you doing?" 'Laura' said, protecting herself.

He pulled his hand away from the blanket and said coldly: "Rest assured, I am not hungry for your slender body."

Fire ignited in 'Laura''s heart: "I'm not a child, I've grown up!" She tried to prove it in a reckless way, but she stopped at the last moment. Oh God, she was about to do something crazy!

'Julian' laughed lightly: "Why did you stop? Are you afraid I'll find out you're not that skilled?"

'Laura' impulsively pushed him away from her dress, but he pulled her back onto the sofa with his strong body.

"Laura..." he whispered in an attractive voice, "Didn't you have the courage to marry me? Don't you have the courage to do something more?"

He leaned over her, placing his hand around her, and in a moment of recklessness, she found herself pulling his tie and kissing him forcefully.

It was a clumsy kiss, but charged with challenge.

'Julian''s expression turned dark, and he whispered in a raspy voice: "Do you realize what you're doing?"

"Of course... I'll punish you."

'Julian' returned her kiss with depth and passion, and whispered in her ear: "Why don't we finish what we started three years ago?"

---

'Laura' froze in her place, and her heart raced. When 'Julian' leaned down to kiss her, her body trembled involuntarily.

'Julian' realized her reaction, so he stopped immediately, and his deep eyes were overcome with a look of self-control. "What? Were you scared?"

'Laura' couldn't process the situation, so 'Julian' stroked her nose with his finger and said with a sarcastic smile: "I'm just joking with you, don't take it too seriously."

The weight of his body lifted from her, and he stood up, heading toward the bathroom. 'Laura' breathed a sigh of relief, but her face was still burning with shyness. In the past, 'Julian' used to treat her with extreme sternness, like an old man in a young man's body, which made this situation feel very strange and confusing. Especially since there was an embarrassing incident that happened between them three years ago... She tried to banish those thoughts from her head.

After he came out of the bathroom, 'Laura' gathered her strength and went to wash up. She spent an hour and a half taking care of her skin, thinking he would have fallen asleep. But as soon as she came out, 'Julian' surprised her with his sarcastic voice: "I thought you were going to live in there!"

'Laura' was used to his sharp tongue, so she stood at the edge of the bed and asked cautiously: "Where... where do I sleep?"

'Julian' raised his eyebrows in feigned astonishment: "Did we get legally and properly married? Then, have you ever seen a legal couple sleeping in separate rooms?"

'Laura' was silenced, and found nothing to say.

"Come here." 'Julian' pointed to a spot beside him.

As soon as she lay down, he whispered in her ear in a playful tone: "My dear wife, the bed is warm and waiting for you."