CHAPTER 821: CHAPTER 821: REACHING FOR HER LITTLE HAND

Sleep...

Did she ever sleep with him?

How does he not know?

Clearly, she hasn’t.

Their intimate moments were few; she was unwilling. Every time he touched her, she would tense up, turn pale, feel cold all over, and put on a look as if she had been violated.

He also didn’t dare truly touch her. Once a man loses control over his desires, it’s quite dangerous. He didn’t dare let himself get lost in her.

Once the gates of desire are opened, they can’t be shut.

He was smiling, and this smile was so... wicked. Cecilia Pence had already sensitively noticed the unusual vibe between this pair of fake siblings, and she instantly felt surrounded by danger, but she still smiled on the outside, "Justin, Leah is still young. I’m really afraid she’ll go down the wrong path. After all, many pretty girls nowadays would seduce men to secure themselves a long-term meal ticket..."

"What are you trying to say?" At this moment, Justin Xavier suddenly interrupted her.

Cecilia turned her head and met his cold black eyes; he was looking at her now.

His expression was calm, his gaze serene, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be two dangerous and terrifying little abysses in his eyes, ready to swallow one whole if not careful.

"I..."

"Miss Pence, my mother likes you very much, and I’m willing to marry you. As long as you stay quiet and don’t stir up trouble, adhere to your duties, you can become Mrs. Xavier. So, in the future, think before you speak, even if you see something, close your eyes. Do you understand?"

"..." Cecilia’s heart instantly sank into the abyss. What... what is he implying?

He harbors those kinds of illicit thoughts about his sister, and now that his fiancée caught on, he doesn’t try to cover it up but dares to be so blatant!

Justin Xavier calmly retracted his gaze at this moment; a melodious ringtone sounded. It was a call from his secretary.

Justin Xavier pressed the button to answer, "Hello."

The secretary’s voice quickly came through, "President, your father has arrived in Aethelgard, and he is going to see... Miss Thorne."

What?

Justin Xavier quickly furrowed his thick brows, a shadow covering his handsome brow line. Without saying a word, he directly hung up the call.

Cecilia also sensed the sudden coldness in his aura and immediately asked with concern, "Justin, what happened?"

The next second, harsh braking sounds rang out. Justin Xavier parked by the roadside, then spat out two indifferent words, "Get out!"

What?

He wants her to get out?

Cecilia glanced around. They were on the highway, and he wanted to leave her at the highway exit!

At that moment, Justin Xavier turned his head, and a sharp, cold gaze casually fell upon her, "What, do you want me to invite you to get out?"

"..." Cecilia’s face turned pale, her eyes reddened. She clenched her fists, then opened the car door and got out. "Justin, I..."

Justin Xavier stepped on the gas, and the Aston Martin roared off at rocket speed.

Cecilia was left choking on dust. She was so angry she was about to lose her mind. She was also curious about what could have made the usually calm and self-restrained Justin Xavier’s face change so quickly.

...

Serena had visited Leah Thorne for a while before heading back. Leah had taken a milk and rose petal bath and then came out wearing a spaghetti strap nightgown.

At this moment, a "ding-dong" sounded, and her apartment doorbell rang.

Who could that be?

Leah casually grabbed a black coat and put it on, then opened the apartment door to find Justin Xavier’s father, Hugh Xavier, outside.

Leah’s feelings towards Hugh Xavier were very complex. Back then, her dad and mom both died in a car accident, and her brother went missing overnight. Suddenly, Leah became an orphan, and it was then that Hugh Xavier appeared, bringing her to the Xavier family.

Leah was very grateful to Hugh Xavier. For a long time, this Xavier uncle took on the role of her father, but she soon faced Mrs. Xavier’s sharp verbal abuse, saying that she and her mother were vixens and that she would grow up to climb into Hugh Xavier’s bed.

Because of this, Leah felt awkward around Hugh Xavier, and as she grew up, she distanced herself from him more and more.

Now, she didn’t expect Hugh Xavier to visit her.

"Uncle Xavier, why are you here?"

Hugh Xavier looked at Leah with affection, "Leah, I happened to be in Aethelgard for some business, so I came to see you too. These years, you haven’t come back home or reached out to me on your own; I worry about you."

"Uncle Xavier, I’m doing well; you don’t have to worry."

Hugh Xavier glanced inside the apartment, "Leah, is there anyone else in your apartment? Let’s go inside and talk."

Leah had grown up; regardless of what Hugh Xavier thought of her, being alone together was inappropriate, "Uncle Xavier, my friend is inside. Tonight is not convenient."

Hugh Xavier nodded, "Leah, it’s still the same words. Your mom and I were associates from the old days. I brought you home to treat you as my daughter, but my wife..."

As he spoke, Hugh Xavier let out a heavy sigh, "Child, I feel guilty for how you’ve suffered all these years."

Leah felt a tremor pass through her rows of neatly brushed lashes, "Uncle Xavier, you haven’t let me down. I’m very grateful to you."

"Leah, I..." Hugh Xavier hesitated, his face full of sorrow, then slowly extended his hand to grab Leah’s small hand.

Before he could, a low laugh suddenly reached his ear, "Dad, why didn’t you let me know you were coming to Aethelgard?"

Leah looked up and immediately saw Justin Xavier.

Justin had arrived, now standing tall and imposingly in the dimly lit corner ahead. The light there was sparse, his impeccable handsome face hidden in shadows, giving off an air of mystery.

He had arrived in haste, his broad shoulders draped in cold frost, and though he was smiling, the chill in that smile was bone-deep.

--A daily story snippet by Lucille Willow

The following morning, Jude Crawford arrived at the company. The receptionist quickly approached, "President, these are all the gifts sent by those socialites yesterday; how would you like to handle them?"

Jude took a look at the mountain of gifts, all from international luxury brands, and without expression, started to walk away, "Throw them all out."

"Yes, President."

Then Jude suddenly spotted a delicate tote bag and inexplicably stopped walking.

"President, this gift was sent to you by a girl, and this girl was very beautiful. She waited for you the entire day yesterday and only left late at night," the receptionist said, handing over the tote bag.

Jude took out the gift inside; it was a... star jar.

Inside were colorful stars that she had folded for him with her own hands.

There was also a note. Jude took it out; there was a charming little bell attached to it. The spring breeze outside gently prompted the bell to emit a clear, pleasant chime. The note had a line of tiny, handwritten words: On the seventh of July in the Hall of Longevity, wishing you a happy birthday, eternal happiness~

Isabelle Willow wished the 18-year-old Jude Crawford a happy birthday and eternal happiness~

The light boat in the vast sea, she returns from far away. May this life bring a ten-mile spring breeze to smooth all his past afflictions and let him be happy.