CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: DAD IS HERE

"Two lunatics, I’m too tired to argue with you two!"

He cursed and swore as he tried to leave, but something held his shoulder, dragging him back.

He turned around to see what pulled him, but couldn’t see anything there. He stared at Paige Sterling in terror, as if he’d seen a ghost, "You, you, you..."

Paige asked grimly, "Who did you just call a lunatic? Go on, say it again."

The man shook his head, genuinely afraid for a moment, especially when he saw Paige smile; goosebumps rose all over his body.

"It’s me, I’m sick, I’m sick, I’m a lunatic..."

Paige looked at him with disdain, "Did lunatics owe you anything? Why do you insult them?"

The man looked hopeless, "Heroine, you’ve already vented your anger on me, what more do you want?"

"You insulted my man, apologize to him."

Julian Hawthorne’s lips slightly curved up; my man, those three words sounded damn sweet.

Especially since Paige was defending him in front of others.

Mr. Hawthorne didn’t feel embarrassed at all for being protected by a woman. Instead, he felt a strong sense of pride.

The man quickly compromised, "Fine, I apologize."

The man bowed towards Julian, "I’m sorry."

Paige waved her hand, "Alright, you can go now."

The man sighed with relief and was about to leave when Julian shook Paige’s hand playfully, "What about your car?"

The man’s heart sank, damn, how could a guy be so petty?

Paige asked, "Do you want him to pay for damages?"

The man’s heart skipped another beat as he heard Julian say, "He just said guys like me could never get a girl to like me."

Then he put on a hurt expression.

The man’s eyes widened; who the hell said that?

Paige squinted her eyes, "He’s blind, why bother with him? I like you quite a lot, don’t I?"

Julian’s eyes lit up instantly, looking at Paige so intently that it even made Paige shiver a little, as if her inhibitions fueled by alcohol were starting to settle down.

She immediately withdrew her hand from Julian’s grasp, pointing randomly into the distance, "I want to eat that."

Julian glanced over and saw it was a cotton candy stand.

He lost interest in that man and turned to Paige, "You wait in the car; I’ll get it for you."

Paige nodded and got into the car.

The man, seeing this, quickly slipped away for fear Julian might bring up compensation again.

Julian bought a pink heart-shaped cotton candy and got in the car.

Paige reached out to grab it, but he playfully pulled his hand back.

He looked at Paige like a big bad wolf coaxing Little Red Riding Hood, "Say what you said earlier again, and I’ll give it to you."

Paige huffed twice, "I forgot, just give it to me."

Julian shook his head, "Say it, then you’ll get it."

"Julian Hawthorne, you’re so annoying," Paige got impatient, "Are you giving it to me or not?"

Julian wouldn’t give it, so Paige got up to grab it.

The space in the car wasn’t big, so she lunged towards Julian, not realizing how close they were getting.

But Julian stiffened as her body inadvertently brushed against his.

Paige didn’t notice anything unusual and bit into the cotton candy right by Julian’s hand.

She bit off too much, leaving some on her lips, with a strand dangling there that her tongue couldn’t quite reach.

Right then, Julian gently used his fingers to flick that strand of cotton candy into his own mouth.

Sweet and sugary, it had him feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

He licked his fingers somewhat hungrily.

Paige stared at him with a dazed expression, feeling like Julian was testing her patience late at night.

Julian noticed her gaze and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Paige withdrew her gaze, "Drive quickly, I want to go home and sleep."

The word ’home’ made Julian cheerful again. Now, in Paige’s eyes, that house was also her home.

Their shared home.

By the time they got home, Paige was nearly asleep, her body soft and unwilling to get out of the car.

Julian gently asked by her ear, "Should I carry you in?"

Paige murmured in agreement.

Julian got out, went to the passenger side, and bent over to carry Paige out.

Paige nuzzled into his embrace.

Once in the bedroom, Julian laid Paige on the bed and went to close the curtains.

Seeing Paige curling on the bed without even taking off her shoes, he bent down to remove her shoes for her.

Paige’s skin was very fair, her feet small, her toes endearingly chubby.

As Julian’s hand accidentally brushed against her toes, they curled a little.

Julian sighed, quickly tucking Paige’s foot under the blanket to stop himself from getting any inappropriate ideas.

But just as he was about to leave, Paige suddenly stretched her foot out, hooking it around his thigh.

He turned to look at Paige and saw her eyes gazing intently at him.

"Julian, do you want to stay?"

Julian’s eyes darkened, "Paige, what do you mean?"

Paige licked her lips, "I..."

Before she could finish, a familiar voice rang out.

"Beau, Daddy’s here to see you, how did you make such a mess of this place?"

Paige, "...!!" all her jumbled thoughts immediately vanished in fright.

Previously, for convenience, Julian installed a door between their homes, and Jared Sullivan’s voice came through that door.

She sprang out of bed in an instant, any lethargy cured.

"My dad’s here, I have to go!"

Julian held Paige’s hand, his eyes fixed on her, not willing to let go without a definite answer today.

"Be good, I’ll come to your office tomorrow."

Only then did Julian release her, but as Paige left she added, "My dad seems to have some bias against you, don’t let him know we’re living together, alright? I’m going."

What does she mean, some bias?

What’s wrong with him?

Jared was just passing by near Silverstream Bay, so he decided to drop and check on Paige.

Paige had mentioned earlier that her house was messy and asked him not to come over, and Jared hadn’t expected it to be this cluttered.

Even though Paige had transferred extra materials to the company, she’d left some at her place. Lately, she’d been staying at Julian’s and had forgotten to have the robot tidy up, so materials were piled up everywhere, leaving Jared barely able to find his footing.

When he saw Paige come out of the bedroom, Jared quickly said, "Let me hire a maid for you; look at your place..."

"No need, Dad, I have a robot. It’ll tidy up."

Jared still worried, "Is your room this messy too?"