ving sex, and Julien wondered

behavior, thought she

at a loss

. She quickly turned Julien's face away, snatched

ir, Julien raised an

up her phone from the floor. It was a

caught sight of him lying naked on the bed. Start

n front of Julien did

om the floor, clutching them under her arm as she shuff

nly posture, but his smile soon faded,

call, Julien was partially dressed, leaning against th

the world. As he smoked, glancing at Kelsey with half-li

me then: cynical, defiant, exuding an air of arrogant

en beckoned her over with a ca

re," he

ng, reached Kelsey's ears, snappin

ached wit

rapped his arm around her,

leisurely exhaling smoke rings while

last night, worried something might have happened to me.

nonchalantly, as if the ques

and then, gently gripping Kelsey's chin, drew her i

ion shifted to o

nothing but dizziness and found

ulien had kissed her post-smoking, sh

g Kelsey realized she would have to gradually adjus

back to reality by Julien's unexpected p

onded, her aston

en's eyebrows arched, a hint of di

ow could it be? I'm just a bit sur

? I think it's the right time

get married?" he

nsing an underlying rea

t not genuinely intend to obtain

by the news of anot

e smiled and a

him for life overshadowed any r

structed, "Go home and get your

ied, a touch of sur

is seriousness, but she

she said, making a mov

d her back onto the bed, kissing her. "Ther

erself at a lo

month since Kelsey la

but her parents chose to rescue Elodie first. That decision h

g the fare, Kelsey proceeded to ma

return, a servant hur

morning." The ser

lied with a slight nod and

ng Kelsey in her tracks. She hesita

y couldn't help but regard her with a puzzled

at her before speaking. "Mrs. Lawson and Miss Elodi

on, Kelsey nodded. "I'll us

headed straight for th

nt couldn't help but gaze aft

of the second son of the Lawson family would have

t out, it would su

d grown accustomed

to a dinner party after her return, Kelsey had caused an incident that left Louise feeling humiliated

ocuments, Kelsey p

she crossed paths with Elod

by Kelsey's parents afte

amed herself for losing her daught

an orphanage and adopted a girl who bore a slight resemblance to Kelsey. He hop

lodie as if she were her long-lost daughter,

d to favor Elodie, her adopted daughter. Perhaps it wa

lodie surpassed that for

d to Elodie, which led to Louise's disdain for her own fles

m a luxury brand's summer collection, and sporting heels c

e—a simple T-shirt and unbranded blue jeans that look

tire, a hint of disgust briefl

with a friendly smile and greet