CHAPTER 379: CHAPTER 379: SUCH HUMILIATION

Julius Shaw stared at the flawless back in front of him, his eyes dark and brooding.

He recalled the frenzy of that day.

It was as if he was drawn by a hallucinogenic poisonous flower, unconsciously reaching out towards that stretch of alabaster.

Just as he was about to touch it.

Nancy Allen quickly draped on a white cross-collared undershirt.

Julius Shaw bent down, tying the silk ribbon around Nancy Allen’s waist.

Nancy was stiff, neither resisting nor retreating.

When Nancy walked out of the fitting room after getting dressed, everyone could only see Nancy’s pale face.

The makeup artist was startled, thinking the lady’s health seemed really poor! Just changing an outfit made her look faint.

The makeup artist, wearing a mask and gloves, began applying makeup to Nancy.

Her complexion was whiter than the foundation she had prepared, not needing much foundation, just a thin base and light makeup to make her look more spirited.

She was already very beautiful, with no need for excessive embellishment.

From a short distance away, among those sneaking glances, someone couldn’t help but remark.

"What exactly is our makeup artist drawing on this lady’s beautiful face?"

"Goddess, I’m too ugly to sleep."

When the makeup, outfit, and hairstyle were all done, Nancy’s frail body still felt exhausted, although the makeup artist’s skills were quite good. The light pink blush made her look more spirited.

Julius Shaw and Sophie Allen had also changed their clothes.

The moment she saw Nancy, Sophie’s eyes lit up, speaking sweetly, "Mom looks so beautiful, like a fairy, like the fairy."

Whenever Nancy saw Sophie, the indifference on her face would slightly soften, revealing a hint of gentleness as she said in a soft voice, "Sophie is also very pretty."

After exchanging a few compliments with her mother, Sophie suddenly felt she was neglecting Mr. Shaw next to her.

So she turned back and complimented, "Mr. Shaw, you’re as handsome as Arthur Hunter!"

However, this compliment didn’t make Julius Shaw happy; instead, his expression turned even more somber.

In the legendary myth, the fairy stole the elixir, leaving Arthur Hunter behind to ascend to the moon and become immortal.

Arthur Hunter was the one abandoned.

Seeing Julius’s bad mood, Sophie hesitantly asked, "Mr. Shaw, did I say something wrong?"

Julius felt that everyone, except Nancy, was vexing.

But at this moment, he didn’t want to disrupt the upcoming photoshoot, so he coldly said, "No, prepare to take photos."

The three of them walked into the studio and began shooting.

The photographer grew more and more excited as he shot, feeling this family was stunning from every angle, looking great no matter how he took the photos.

Yet, as he kept shooting, the photographer noticed something amiss.

The lady, from start to finish, never smiled, appearing like a puppet, merely posing without any emotion.

No matter how he shot, regardless of the beauty in the frame, such a family photo felt somewhat incongruous.

This photographer was specially invited by the studio, a renowned photographer.

Mainly concerned that subpar photos would be scorned by Young Master Shaw.

Now, though Young Master Shaw didn’t show disdain, the photographer himself felt unsettled.

The photographer couldn’t resist, timidly saying, "Please, Madam, just a little... a slight smile."

Nancy remained expressionless.

Julius looked at Nancy.

Nancy stiffly pulled her mouth into a smile.

The photographer was inwardly tormented; this smile was obviously forced, worse than not smiling.

Aiming for perfection, the photographer gritted his teeth and said.

"Young Master, please lift the little princess."

"Yes, just like that, Madam, move a bit closer."

"Young Master and Madam, sit facing each other, yes, harmony and understanding."

The photographer thought that the distance was causing the lack of emotion; if they were closer, it wouldn’t look like this.

But with the two sitting close, and Young Master Shaw obliging his requests amicably, the lady’s expression only grew colder.

This made the photographer suspect that the relationship between these two wasn’t as harmonious as rumored; perhaps the fairy-like lady didn’t like Young Master Shaw, the man all women in Riverwood City desired to marry.

The photographer decided to take a gamble. If he couldn’t capture a good photo of this handsome couple and their child, it would ruin his reputation.

He gently coaxed, "Little one, rest for a bit, go eat some fruit, okay?"

Sophie looked at Nancy, and upon receiving a nod from her mother, agreed. The photographer immediately had her taken away.

With the child present, it was certainly inconvenient; alone, the two would genuinely reveal themselves.

Smiling, the photographer continued directing, "Young Master, please hug Madam."

With the child gone, the photographer’s instructions grew bolder and more intimate.

Nancy’s body remained stiff, like a puppet without emotions, silent and unresisting.

"Young Master, hold Madam, and she can tiptoe for a kissing pose."

For the first time, Nancy’s gaze, always calm and devoid of expression, coldly settled on the photographer.

The chill in her eyes made the photographer shiver.

Did he say something wrong?

Given Young Master Shaw’s level of affection for his wife, there was no need to think too much — it was better to offend Young Master Shaw than this lady.

So the photographer reconsidered and corrected, "Young Master, you should lean down to kiss Madam."

The photographer reasoned that the suggestion for the lady to initiate might have upset her modesty.

Having Young Master lead should fix it.

Nancy’s expression remained cold, her whole demeanor radiating resistance, but Julius’s hand, like an iron vice, gripped her waist, pulling her into his embrace with force, denying her any retreat, before he lowered his head to kiss her.

His kiss was fiery and possessive, allowing no refusal.

In that kiss, Nancy felt suffocated by humiliation, enduring the relentless kiss of Godfery Shaw’s younger brother.

If Godfery Shaw saw this scene, would he not be heartbroken?

Probably even more than she was now.

Nancy’s endurance, her lack of resistance, crumbled in an instant, and she couldn’t help but raise a hand to push Julius away.

But Julius’s strength could not be easily dispelled by Nancy; feeling her resistance, his kiss grew increasingly fierce, as if he intended to engulf her whole.

The photographer’s eyes lit up, instantly inspired — this was the quintessential forceful love of a wealthy family’s young master!

Although he still failed to capture the warmth and affection, capturing this intense emotional clash was also quite good.

Nancy was deprived of breath until she was nearly suffocating; only then did Julius release her.

"Nancy, never push me away."

This was a plea.

But to Nancy, it felt like a threat.

Enduring pain and humiliation, she replied, "Okay."

In the subsequent set of photos, it seemed that her energy had been entirely sapped by that kiss, leaving her languid and powerless.

The photographer dared not continue recklessly, fearing mishaps, and wrapped up quickly.

By the time they returned to the Imperial Garden, Nancy was nearly too weary to stand.

For an ordinary person, going through the cycle of makeup, outfit changes, and photoshoots would be exhausting, let alone someone with Nancy’s condition.

She was utterly drained; today, she didn’t want to dine, to force down the revulsion of swallowing food.

She longed to rest.

Weakly, Nancy told Julius, "I don’t want dinner tonight, I’m too tired and want to rest."

Julius bluntly refused, "You didn’t eat lunch properly; you must have dinner."