Chapter 22: Breaking up
Passion ignited within Julia as her pupils expanded like blossoming flowers, and a surging electric thrill cascaded through her entire being.
He embraced her with a kiss, a learning curve of intimacy unfolding in their union.
She hadn’t merely brushed his lips; she had skimmed across them, her touch leaving a delicate impression.
Now, he held her closely, their connection lingering like a sweet ache.
Was it possible for a single kiss to set hearts ablaze and paint cheeks with a rosy hue?
His arms enfolded her, almost as if fate had molded them into one entity, and in this juxtaposition, a sense of profound longing took root.
A sense of loss, unfathomable, swept over her in this newfound connection. “You–you…” Naomi stammered, her emotions oscillating between anxiety and indignation, her face flushed with a mix of red and purple hues.
Julia tenderly nudged his shoulder, signaling an impending end to their charade. Reluctantly, Jared released his hold on her slender waist, his grip relinquishing her mouth but still lingering at her side.
Julia’s gaze dropped to her waist, a fleeting moment of consideration arising, only to be brushed aside as the gravity of their performance held her focus.
“Shall we?” Julia proposed, her voice a hushed invitation.
“Alright,” Jared agreed, their steps aligning in perfect harmony.
They turned and departed in seamless synchrony, leaving in their wake a seething blaze of jealousy in Naomi’s eyes, a fire threatening to consume her.
Jared, the coveted prize, remained the focal point of her determination.
And as fate would have it, at that very juncture, Neil made his entrance.
“I urged you to meet first, yet you resisted. Do you rue that choice now?” Neil’s voice, carried a note of knowing amusement.
“Dad, you have to help me! I must make him mine! Besides, you must be yearning to be Jared’s father–in–law, right?” Naomi implored, her desperation palpable.
“Rest assured, my dear daughter. I couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye to this matter,” Neil affirmed with unwavering confidence.
“Dad, do you have a plan?” Naomi inquired eagerly.
Neil’s eyes glinted with insight. “That marriage certificate may be nothing but a ruse. Remember, Jared is renowned for his distance from women. My analysis leads me to believe that his bringing that woman today was a calculated move to assert dominance and exact revenge for the humiliation you put him through.”
Naomi had entertained similar thoughts.
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“But what if it’s genuine? What if they truly possess a marriage certificate?”
“Whether it’s real or not becomes irrelevant. With your father’s ingenuity, can we not navigate this challenge?” Neil retorted with an air of assuredness.
Naomi’s heart swelled with hope. “Dad, please, share your plan.”
Neil’s grin was sly. “It’s not as simple, my dear. Imagine, we find a few disheveled souls, and we orchestrate an encounter where that girl… Do you think Jared’s pristine sensibilities would be drawn to someone so tarnished?”
“Dad, you’re brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?” Naomi marveled, envisioning the scene where Julia would be subjected to the indignity of harassment by the destitute. Let her struggle to reclaim her dignity–amidst a public spectacle, let her feel the sting of humiliation, and let her witness the man she adored being snatched away from her.
“Dad, ensure they’re truly repulsive, grotesque even,” Naomi pressed, her eyes gleaming with vindictive delight.
But the plan required more than that–it necessitated capturing the evidence, the very images and videos that would serve as a potent reminder for Jared.
“Achoo!” Julia sneezed, interrupting their scheme.
Who dared speak of her?
Stepping out of the car, Julia shivered involuntarily. Swift as a shadow, Jared removed his blazer and draped it over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Julia murmured, her heart warmed by his chivalrous gesture..
Shiloh’s sudden presence drew Julia’s attention, a questioning glance aimed at her
borrowed attire.
“Why must you always wear my brother’s clothes?” Shiloh inquired, his tone laced with bemusement.
Julia, undaunted, enfolded herself in the blazer, meeting Shiloh’s gaze with a playful spark in her eyes. “If I must brave the cold, wouldn’t your brother’s attire befit the occasion? It’s chilly outside, after all.”
In that moment, Shiloh comprehended her ploy–she hadn’t brought her own coat intentionally, a strategy to draw closer to his brother, disguised in borrowed layers. Resolute, Shiloh shrugged off his coat and extended it to Julia, a silent decree to relinquish his brother’s garment.
“Take mine instead. My brother’s attire is not yours to soil,” Shiloh stated, his voice firm, determined to safeguard his brother’s possessions.
As Julia accepted his proffered clothing, her eyes lingered on Shiloh’s casual ensemble, a reminder that comfort and protection could be found in the most unexpected of places.
“Gratitude was swept away in mid–air, as the garments Shiloh clutched were spirited
from his grasp by the swift intervention of Jared.
