Chapter 178: Rage!!!
Julia’s repeated mentions of Carter’s name hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jared. Initially, he had let it slide, but now her active defense of him stirred something within him.
Unable to ignore it any longer, Jared abruptly stood up. His entire demeanor seemed to be engulfed in a fiery blaze, radiating intense heat.
Confused by his sudden movement, Julia gazed at him questioningly.
“You-” Julia began, but her words were cut off as Jared swiftly pressed her against the sofa.
In the wake of her shock, she managed to ask, “What’s gotten into you?”
Jared pressed his lips together, taking a deep breath to compose himself.
“Say my name,” he commanded firmly.
Caught off guard by his request, Julia could only stammer, “Ah?”
Internally, she wondered, ‘Why is he suddenly asking me to say his name? Everything was normal a moment ago, and now this request has made the atmosphere awkward and uncomfortable.’
“I don’t want to,” Julia refused, attempting to push Jared’s shoulder in an effort to break free from
his hold.
She assumed it would be simple to push him away. But to her surprise, he swiftly caught her hand, lowered it to her side, and then leaned in, invading her personal space with an intensity that left her breathless.
A barrage of fervent kisses left Julia dizzy, making her feel like the world was spinning around her. She even caught the scent of something pungent, resembling blood.
However, this was just the beginning. Jared’s hunger seemed insatiable. His large hand explored her body with an almost reckless fervor, like a wildfire consuming everything in its path. Julia couldn’t stand this sensation, and a deep sense of resentment grew within her heart. She despised the feeling of being forcibly held, handled roughly, and unable to break free. At that moment, Julia experienced an unfamiliar urge to cry. It wasn’t because she felt weak but rather due to a sense of injustice she couldn’t fathom. She struggled to comprehend why Jared was suddenly treating her with such brutality, devoid of any hint of tenderness.
This was unlike their previous encounters. Even if Jared had been inexperienced, he had always been gentle and considerate of her feelings. Yet now, it seemed as though he treated her not as a person but as an emotionless tool to satisfy some need.
As her emotions surged, Julia fiercely bit down on the man’s lips.
Jared winced in pain and loosened his grip slightly.
It only lasted half a second, as Jared’s entire being was consumed by jealousy right now. His mind was solely focused on finding a way to make Julia only pay attention to him.
This intense drive led him to resort to extreme methods. Only through this could he claim Julia as his own. He wanted to be the only one in her eyes and heart, even if just for this moment.
Driven by this possessive desire, his actions grew rougher and more forceful.
A cry
of pain escaped Julia’s lips, and a single tear rolled down her cheek inexplicably. Coincidentally, her tear landed on Jared’s lips.
Feeling the wetness, Jared’s movements abruptly halted. After a brief moment of astonishment, he gazed at Julia’s tear–streaked face. It was as if a knife had pierced his heart, leaving behind a
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mixture of guilt and pain.
Lifting his hand slowly, he used his slightly cool fingertips to gently wipe across Julia’s face.
However, Julia was filled with anger at the time. She brushed Jared’s hand away, turned her head, and refused to speak to him.
The tension in the living room was stifling, hanging heavily in the air like an oppressive weight.
After a brief standoff, Jared rose from the sofa. He concealed the hand that Julia had pushed away behind his back. He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his nails digging
into his palm.
Jared didn’t utter a word, and neither did Julia. Their silent gazes held a complex mix of emotions, with Julia intentionally avoiding his eyes.
Just then, Shiloh returned from outside and inadvertently stumbled upon the highly awkward scene. Startled, he nearly lost his footing. Desperate not to be noticed by the pair, he sneakily took two steps into the living room sideways, then hurriedly hid behind something.
Shiloh’s attention first landed on his older brother. ‘Why is his mouth bleeding?‘ He pondered inwardly.
His
gaze then shifted to Julia. Her lips appeared swollen, resembling sausages, and were stained with blood. Given these visual cues, Shiloh deduced that the two of them had just been engaged in a passionate kiss.
With this realization, Shiloh felt a wave of relief wash over him. He was glad he had returned a bit later; otherwise, he might have stumbled upon a far steamier scenario.
However, that wasn’t the main point. What concerned Shiloh was the palpable shift in the atmosphere. Something had clearly transpired between them, leaving an uncomfortable tension
in the room.
In an attempt to break the awkwardness, Shiloh revealed himself, clearing his throat. His gaze shifted between Julia and Jared as he asked, “What’s going on with you two? Are you having an argument?”
Julia only furrowed her brows in response, declining to say anything. After drawing a deep breath, she stood up and climbed upstairs. Throughout this process, she didn’t spare a second glance for Jared.
Jared, too, didn’t look at Julia. After a couple of silent moments, he turned around and walked out of the living room.
“Hey, bro, where are you going? Dinner’s almost ready,” Shiloh called out to his brother.
Upon hearing Shiloh’s voice, Julia halted in her tracks, but she didn’t turn around. Instead, she felt a suffocating sensation, her frustration mounting.
Jared’s low and icy voice came behind her, saying, “You guys go ahead and have dinner. I have something to take care of tonight and won’t be coming back.”
Julia’s frustration flared even more. She couldn’t help but curse inwardly, thinking, ‘Fine, if he doesn’t want to come back, I don’t care.‘
With quick strides, she headed upstairs, entered her room, and forcefully slammed the door shut, the sound echoing loudly.
Startled by the noise of the door, Jared’s steps faltered momentarily. He registered what had happened without looking back and felt a surge of annoyance. Although he had the urge to turn around, he resisted and took a deep breath. With determination, he continued walking away from
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the villa without glancing back.
In the living room, only Shiloh remained.
Scratching the back of his head, Shiloh began muttering to himself. “What’s going on? Weren’t they always getting along? Why are they suddenly having conflicts and showing affection so subtly?”
Sighing, he mumbled, “Now, what am I supposed to do?”
Just as Shiloh was grappling with these thoughts, Henry arrived without the former’s notice. The sound of Henry’s deep voice resonated through the space. “Jared? Jared? Are you home?” Henry’s voice reverberated, his hand clutching a bright red gift box.
With only a few steps, Henry spotted Shiloh standing alone in the living room. After scanning the area, Henry asked in confusion, “Huh? Where’s your brother?”
“He left,” Shiloh replied with a lackluster tone, appearing uninterested.
“Left? I spoke to him earlier, and he mentioned he was home,” Henry recounted, perplexed. Shiloh’s gaze shifted upstairs to Julia’s room, his brows furrowing in concern.
Observing his expression, Henry pondered for a moment before guessing, “Did the couple have a disagreement?”
Shiloh was taken aback. “How did you figure it out?” he asked, surprised.
While pouring himself a glass of water, Henry responded casually, “You don’t need to worry too much about this. Couples have their highs and lows. It’s unrealistic to expect them to be all lovey–dovey constantly. Those perfect stories are more like fairy tales put on display. Don’t worry, things will settle down eventually.”
Though Shiloh hadn’t been in a relationship himself, he found Henry’s words strangely reassuring.
Shiloh inquired, “What’s that?”
He was referring to the gift Henry had brought. He had noticed the package when Henry arrived,.- but his concerns about Julia and his brother had prevented him from paying it much attention. “Oh, this?” Henry raised the box and opened it. “Wedding candies and eggs. My wife is expecting triplets, and I’m overjoyed. I brought these ahead of time to share my happiness with you guys.” As he spoke, a wide grin spread across Henry’s face.
Shiloh’s mouth twitched with a speechless expression. He thought, ‘Sharing happiness? Are you sure you’re not here to flaunt your joy in front of us?‘
While Shiloh was grappling with his own thoughts, a sound suddenly emanated from the second floor.
Both Shiloh and Henry instinctively looked upstairs and spotted Julia emerging from her room with a bag in hand.
“Where are you off to?” Shiloh hurriedly inquired.
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Chapter 179: Jared Is
