Chapter 3 Have Fun With Your Sweetheart

Julius stood behind Jemima, his face radiating an intimidating coldness. Jemima noticed the stares of the group and glanced back. So, he's also here. Immediately after, she turned back around, her gaze falling on the short-haired girl sitting in the corner of the couch. Earlier, when she had come over, the girl had one leg crossed over the other and was idly twirling her hair around her finger with a smug expression on her face. However, by this time, the girl was no longer smiling. Her face was filled with such intense displeasure it was as if she wanted to kill her. It seems they've come to meet with friends. Judging from their conversation, this isn't the first or even the second time they've done this. They've reached a point where they're openly pairing off, with no intention of hiding it. Julius took a step forward. The group of people, as if released from their binds, began to say something to explain. “Jemima, I'm sorry. We were just talking nonsense. Once we got started, we couldn't stop, and it just got more and more ridiculous...” “Jemima, Julius has nothing to do with Ms. Goodwin.” “Jemima, please don't take it seriously.” Julius took Jemima by the wrist, intending to lead her away. Jemima spun around and splashed her drink right onto his face. The room was as silent as the grave. Everyone watched in uneasy silence, marveling at her audacity. The next moment, they heard her soft voice, warm and smiling, say, “Go ahead and have fun with your sweetheart. I won't interrupt your good time any longer.” As she spoke, she lowered her head to pry his hand off. Julius grimaced. He picked her up, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and strode out. The room full of people remained silent. In the corridor, Jemima struggled fiercely as she clung onto Julius' back. The elevator arrived just at that moment. As he stepped in and turned around, she caught sight of a pair of high-quality black leather shoes. His long, straight legs were perfectly outlined in black suit pants. His fair, slender hands hung at his sides, each finger as elegant and elongated as a pianist's. The atmosphere was serene yet awkward. As she stepped out of the elevator, Jemima found herself unable to resist lifting her gaze. She met a pair of deep, piercing eyes glancing down at her. She covered her face and lowered her head again. Outside the club, Julius tossed Jemima into the back seat of the car, then climbed in himself. Jemima felt dizzy as she struggled to get up. She had been hung upside down for too long and then tossed into the car. She felt as though she was on the brink of a concussion. Julius grabbed a wet wipe from a storage box in his car to clean his face. With a keen eye, Jemima noticed an object behind a tissue box that looked suspiciously like a condom. The man questioned, “What are you doing here? To catch me red-handed?” Jemima opened the car door, intending to get out. The car was too dirty. “Jemima!” Julius pulled her back in frustration. “Where do you think you're going? Is this ever going to end?” Jemima's breathing became somewhat labored. She pinched the center of her palm. “I want to go home.” Julius called over Ronan, who was standing at the entrance of the club, to drive. Throughout the journey, they did not say a word. Jemima tried to sit as far away from him as possible, her face pale and looking as if she might vomit at any moment. Once they arrived home, she immediately got out of the car. After gulping down a full glass of ice water in the kitchen, she finally caught her breath. When she stepped out, Julius was seated in the living room. She made her way over and took a seat. Another suffocating silence fell between them until Julius finally broke it. “I was there for a business meeting,” he began, frustration lacing his tone. “Your dramatic entrance at the club was quite the spectacle. Don't you feel foolish, making a scene like that? You looked like a shrew.” “Is there anything else to say?” Jemima responded calmly. “If you wish to have a long-lasting relationship with me, then put aside these unnecessary suspicions. I don't have the time to constantly cater to your emotions.” “All right, anything else?” Julius furrowed his brows. “Jemima, do you realize how annoying you're being right now?” Jemima rose to her feet, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. Soon, you won't be annoyed anymore. She went upstairs. Julius found himself growing increasingly agitated by her smile. After sitting in the living room for a while, he went upstairs and returned to his room, only to find that she had already gone to sleep. He took a shower and lay down next to her. In the darkness, Jemima turned her body away from him, shifting slightly. She made sure not to touch him, not even a bit. Julius turned to her, pulling her forcefully from the edge of the bed into his arms, his movements tinged with a hint of anger. His tall, robust frame exerted just enough strength to hold her so tightly that she couldn't move. She spent the night with her body rigid. In the morning, Jemima prepared breakfast only for herself. Julius descended from upstairs, observing her sitting alone, nibbling on a piece of bread. He was about to leave but changed direction and headed toward the dining area. Leaning in close to her ear, he softened his voice and said, “Let's go out to sea for a couple of days this weekend. Just the two of us.” Jemima hummed in agreement as she sipped her milk. Unsurprisingly, the day before the weekend, Julius cancelled on her again, claiming he had to make a trip to Hoglein. Jemima's heart didn't stir at all. Perhaps he hadn't realized how long it had been since they last shared a meal together or truly spent quality time with each other. He had warned her not to entertain thoughts of divorce, but in reality, he treated her as if she were invisible. Even if she were to disappear one day, he wouldn't care in the slightest. That weekend, she carefully selected her share of books from the shelf and packed them into her luggage to bring to her new home first. While she was arranging the books, Amanda, who rarely called her, rang her up. Jemima picked up the call and greeted politely, “Hello, Ms. Earlston.” With an air of arrogance, Amanda said, “Let's meet up once more. Regarding the matter we discussed earlier, let's put it in writing.” “Is it necessary?” “If I say it is, then it is.” “All right, I'll come by in the afternoon.” “Come over at noon.” “Okay,” Jemima agreed, considering she had nothing much to do. On the other end of the phone, Amanda joyfully watched from the second floor as Nadine Goodwin strolled in the garden with Julius. She was determined to show Jemima what true destiny looked like, and who her son's real soulmate was.