CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 121 - 119: Come Back with Me 2

Julian propped himself up against the headboard, watching her with narrowed eyes but saying nothing. Growing anxious, she asked him again, "Did you or did you not see my ring?"

He finally deigned to speak, his face full of disdain. "That tacky ring? So what if it’s gone? If you want one, I’ll buy you a new, better-looking one!"

She retorted, displeased, "This isn’t about whether I like it or if it’s pretty!"

The way she cherished it infuriated him. He snapped, "This is about the person who gave it to you, isn’t it? Because Sean Donovan gave it to you, that’s why you’re treasuring it so much? If he gave you a piece of scrap iron, you’d probably treat it like a treasure too, wouldn’t you?"

His attitude said it all. Naomi didn’t want to argue with him over something like this, so she just looked at him and asked, "You took it?"

He snorted. "So what if I did? You’re not allowed to wear it!"

"You—"

She was so angered by his domineering yet incredibly childish behavior that she was at a loss for words. She held out her hand. "Give it back!"

"I won’t!"

After tossing out that reply, he threw back the covers and got out of bed. Naomi had wanted to press the issue, but when she saw him swaggering around in front of her in just his underwear without a shred of shame, she had no choice but to look away and curse angrily, "You’ve gone too far!"

’That was a gift from someone else. Even if he doesn’t want me to wear it, he shouldn’t just confiscate it and refuse to give it back. How am I supposed to explain this to Sean?’

As she finished getting dressed, she glanced at the expensive crystal clock on the table and let out a startled cry.

"Crap, I’m going to be late for work!"

He calmly pulled on his trousers.

"I already requested time off for you."

"Time off?"

she asked, confused, as he ambled over to the closet to pick out a shirt.

"Yeah. We’re going back to Thailos today. I requested a week of vacation for you."

"What? Back to Thailos?"

She froze for a moment, then grabbed a pillow from the bed and hurled it at him, shouting angrily, "Julian Donovan, you’ve gone too far! What right do you have to just arrange my life for me!"

’I’d been planning to return to Thailos soon, but I wasn’t in such a rush that I had to go back today. Besides, when I go back is my decision! What gives him the right to decide for me!’

’Is my temper getting worse, or is he just going too far? Why do I get so angry so easily when I’m with him now?’

In truth, she didn’t realize that for a couple, the bickering and arguing was what a real life together looked like. Their previous way of treating each other with "frosty" respect was abnormal. He had never truly cared for her, so he never got involved in her life, while she, loving him from a place of subservience, had always given in to him.

The soft pillow was utterly harmless against his firm, lean body. He picked out a black silk shirt and began buttoning it up as he walked over to her. He stopped in front of her, his gaze fixed on her furious, pouting face.

"Don’t forget, you’re the one who came to me to negotiate. If you don’t coax me into a good mood, why would I ever give up on acquiring the Donovan Group?"

’He didn’t care if she called him shameless for using this as blackmail. He had to get her away from Sean Donovan right now. If he didn’t, he’d never have a chance to be alone with her and nurture their relationship. And for that, returning to Thailos was the best option.’

Naomi glared at him angrily. She had to admit, the black shirt highlighted his charisma, and his face was undeniably handsome and charming. But his personality was just the absolute worst!

But she couldn’t think of any other insults to use against him, so she could only stomp her foot.

"You... you’re despicable!"

With that, she turned and stomped into the bathroom to wash up.

Halfway there, she remembered what he’d said about requesting time off and turned back to ask him,

"Who did you talk to to get me the time off?"

’It couldn’t be Sean Donovan, could it? If he knew I spent the night here, what would he think?’

"Sean Donovan, of course. It’s most appropriate to ask the director directly, isn’t it?"

First thing that morning, Julian had called Sean Donovan and told him directly that he was taking her to Thailos for a week. The two had traded blows, both overt and subtle. ’But Sean probably isn’t in the mood to worry about her right now,’ he thought. ’He should be focusing all his energy on how to deal with my hostile takeover.’

The color drained from Naomi’s face. She turned back to grab her phone, only to find it was off. She shot an angry glare at a completely unconcerned Julian, hurriedly turned it on, and called Sean Donovan. Before she could even speak, Sean’s dejected voice came through the line.

"Anna... or should I call you Naomi?"

"You... how did you know?"

She was stunned. ’I never told Sean about my past. From the very beginning, I told him my name was Anna Quinn.’

Sean let out a bitter laugh. "After you told me your ex-husband had found you, I had someone do some digging. But I truly never expected your ex-husband to be Julian Donovan!"

"I’m sorry, Sean. I’m the one who dragged you into this!"

A wave of sadness washed over her. She didn’t know about the complicated history of grievances between Sean and Julian, so she had always assumed Julian’s attack on the Donovan Group was aimed at her. But to her surprise, Sean said,

"I’m the one who should be sorry."

"What do you mean?"

she asked, confused. Sean just said lightly,

"It’s nothing. You should go back to Thailos for now. It’s your hometown, after all. There are some things I’ll explain to you in detail when you get back."

"Okay, have a safe trip!"

Before she could say anything else, Sean hung up.

Her guilt deepened. Sean hadn’t mentioned last night at all, but she could hear the displeasure in his tone. He never normally sounded like that; he was always so gentle.

Julian stood there with his hands in his trouser pockets, watching her guilt-ridden expression. His tone was chilly as he said,

"If I told you that Sean Donovan knew about our relationship all along, and that he took you in precisely for that reason, would you believe me?"

Naomi was already in a foul mood, and Julian’s words made her explode with anger.

"Do you have to assume the worst about everyone?!"

She simply couldn’t reconcile the gentle Sean she knew with the dark, manipulative man Julian described. After saying her piece, she turned and walked straight into the bathroom.

Julian watched her angry retreat and recalled his phone call with Sean that morning. He had asked him,

"You knew who she was when you saved her three years ago, didn’t you? That’s why you deliberately took her in."

"Do you think she’ll believe you?"

Sean had replied with a cold laugh before hanging up.

And just as he’d predicted, she didn’t believe him.

Julian’s lips twisted into a self-mocking smile. ’Right now, my credibility with her is zero. I wonder when I’ll ever be able to get her to trust and depend on me completely, like she used to.’

When Naomi entered the bathroom and looked in the mirror, she was horrified to see her neck was covered in hickeys. Her undershirt was low-cut, and when she frantically pulled down the collar, she saw they were scattered all over her chest as well. She was about to explode with rage. ’So last night, while I was drunk, he went ahead and did whatever he wanted!’

Julian followed her in. She glared at him through the mirror as he nonchalantly took a new toothbrush and towel from a nearby cabinet for her. There was even face cream. And even though the cream was brand-new, she was still furious about what he’d done last night and deliberately sniped at him,

"So, you always keep these things on hand? I guess you must have women staying over often!"

He pretended not to hear the acidic sarcasm in her voice and just leaned against the counter, watching her.

"I remember you used to like this brand."

Ever since they had first met again, he had been stocking this place with things she would need. He was determined to win her back. In the future, he would bring her here to settle down in Wincastle, stay close to Jean Coleman, and live a peaceful, ordinary life.

She retorted irritably,

"Sorry, but I don’t use this brand anymore. How could a face like mine possibly use products meant for young girls!"

A sudden, dull ache spread through Julian’s chest. During the prime of her life, he hadn’t cherished her at all. She had been with him from the age of eighteen until they separated when she was twenty-four. She had given him six years of her life, and how had he treated her during that time?

He had once believed he didn’t love her. It was only after she left, when he found himself constantly reminiscing about their past, that he realized he had fallen for her long ago without ever being aware of it. Her considerate gentleness had slowly, imperceptibly, melted his cold, hard heart.