Chapter 251:

Julie’s POV

He walked out of the room, and I scrambled to follow him, my heart drumming a frantic beat against my ribs. Did he find out? Did he know I went out last night with Max and Carlos? I couldn’t even find the words to speak; I just stumbled after him, watching his broad back as if it were a mountain about to collapse right over my head.

When we reached his room and I stepped inside, I asked in a faint, trembling voice, "Robert... is there a problem?"

He turned around slowly, his piercing eyes boring into me. "Did you do something to cause a problem?" he asked in a cryptic tone.

Oh God! Was he really asking me, or did he already know the truth and just wanted to see if I’d lie? A chill swept through my limbs, but I chose to push forward with denial. "No... I haven’t done anything," I said, trying to keep my expression steady.

"You have," he said with terrifying calmness, stepping closer.

The blood froze in my veins. He knows. He definitely knows! But suddenly, he reached out and yanked me by the waist, pulling me so hard that my body slammed against his hard chest. He hissed into my ear in a husky voice, "You’ve made me miss you so much that I couldn’t think of anything but you."

I stared at him, stunned. A massive wave of relief washed over me; his intensity wasn’t because of my lie, but because of longing. I gave a nervous smile, trying to catch my breath. "Oh... really?"

He nodded, still holding me tight. "Yes."

Then, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, square, blue velvet box. My knees began to shake. Is this a wedding ring? Is he going to propose right now? My mind raced was he really doing this so soon? Was this why he took me to his mother’s grave? To introduce me to her as the girl who would become his wife?

"Robert..." I breathed, filled with excitement and confusion.

"I know our relationship only started a short while ago," he said in a calm, steady voice.

Very short, I thought to myself.

"But I want to ask you..." he continued, looking deep into my eyes.

Before he could finish, I cut him off, overwhelmed by the moment. "I accept!"

He stopped talking and looked at me with genuine surprise. A slight, mocking smile touched his lips. "I haven’t asked yet."

Stop it, Julie! I scolded myself. Why are you so eager?

"Do you accept being..." Robert started again, watching my embarrassment with a smirk.

"Yes, I accept!" I blurted out again.

Robert let out a sigh of mock-impatience. "Julie, I haven’t finished my sentence yet."

Damn it, Julie! Shut up and let him finish! I lowered my head in shame. "Sorry. Go on."

He took my chin and tilted it up so our eyes met. "Do you accept being by my side? Being with me?"

I blinked, confused. "What does that mean?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I want you with me, Julie," he said, running his thumb over my lip. "I want to see you when I wake up. I want to hear your voice, always."

What did that mean? I didn’t understand. Was he also unable to say "marry me," just as he couldn’t say "I love you"? "Yes, Robert," I said, my heart pounding. "I want that."

He opened the velvet box. It wasn’t a ring; it was a delicate gold necklace with a dainty butterfly in the center, encrusted with shimmering pink stones. "Do you like it?" he asked quietly.

I had imagined a ring, but the beauty of the necklace made me forget my slight disappointment. "I love it," I said in awe.

"Turn around. I’ll put it on you."

I turned immediately, lifting my hair to expose my neck. I felt the cold metal touch my skin and his thick fingers precisely closing the clasp. I turned back to him with a wide smile. "Thank you."

I had let my imagination run wild thinking he’d marry me. He broke my trance by saying, "I got you something else."

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

He pointed to an elegant black box tied with a deep red satin ribbon. "Is this for me?" I smiled.

"Open it."

I walked to the box with excited steps, slowly untying the red ribbon. When I lifted the lid, my eyes widened in shock. It was a piece of lingerie in coal-black. But it wasn’t an ordinary piece; it was incredibly bold, made of sheer lace that hid very little, with thin silk strings crisscrossing around the waist and chest in an erotic, geometric design. it looked like a silken shackle designed to shamelessly highlight every curve of the body.

I looked at the provocative black piece in my hands. "What is this?" I whispered.

"It’s for you to wear tonight," he replied in a deep voice full of promise.

I swallowed hard. "Now?" I asked nervously.

"Yes," he said in a tone that brokered no argument.

I nodded. "Fine... I’ll go to the bathroom and put it on."

I took the box and went into the bathroom. With trembling fingers, I began to put on those complicated black strings. When I stood before the mirror, I gasped at what I saw.

The lingerie wrapped around my body like a web of temptation, highlighting my assets in a very daring way, the thin strings pressing softly into my skin. I adjusted my hair as it fell over my shoulders, cursing myself for not wearing any makeup; my features looked completely natural and innocent compared to this scandalous outfit.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. I walked out with hesitant steps, my eyes glued to the floor from sheer embarrassment. The moment Robert saw me, he froze. Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of his breath, which had suddenly grown heavy. His eyes scanned every inch of my body in total shock, as if he were observing a living sculpture.

I forced myself to look up at him, feeling my body heat rise under his hungry gaze. "How do I look?" I asked in a wavering voice.