Chapter 83

Light flooded the room in an instant, and the shadow that had loomed nearby transformed into something familiar.

Julian stood there with his brows drawn together,looking faintly annoyed. "It's just me."

Yvonne's scream died in her throat, and then relief washed over her. With a quiet huff, she muttered,"What on earth are you doing skulking around here?"

There he was, perched in the dim office all that time,so it was no wonder she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"I came earlier this afternoon," said Julian as he approached, holding out a glass of water while his gaze lingered on her.

Her throat dry, Yvonne accepted it, taking a cautious sip. Behind the rim of the cup, she whispered, "Thanks."

Meanwhile, her mind raced with questions. He'd come earlier this afternoon? That meant he must have been watching her napping. What if she had mumbled in her sleep or shifted in some ridiculous way?

While her mind churned, he slid a small plate into view. A neat slice of cake sat on it, sweet and inviting.

Almost as though reading her confusion, Julian explained, "I only stopped by to bring this. You were sleeping,so I stayed busy with some paperwork."

The implication eased her nerves-he hadn't been putting all his attention on her.

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, then studied the cake with a strange mix of gratitude and hesitation.

After a quiet pause, she teased, "You'd make a decent househusband,you know." Never before would she have pictured Julian not only preparing food for her but showing up with dessert as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The memory of his recent efforts made it difficult for her to cling to old grudges. Scooping up a spoonful of cake, she masked her unease with casualness and asked, "Doesn't this ever wear you down?"

It struck her as odd-a man as busy as Julian,pressured from every angle, still finding time to play the part of caretaker. Surely he must feel the strain.

"Of course not," Julian answered instantly, without the slightest pause.

Startled, Yvonne lifted her head, only to find his gaze already fixed on her. His eyes held a depth she couldn't quite unravel, layered with emotions he rarely let slip.

His voice dropped as he added, "I'm just trying to walk in your shoes, living the life you had for those three years." Her chest tightened, and a storm of memories crashed through her. She turned away, unwilling to let him see how shaken she was.

For three years, her entire world had spun around Julian. Her own identity seemed to dissolve as she existed only to meet his every need.

Mornings always began with her bustling in the kitchen, making breakfast he'd barely touch. Every day, she'd pack his meals and try to bring them to his office, but Julian never invited her upstairs. Morton was always sent down to collect them, and eventually, Morton-always polite-suggested she stop. The implication was clear: the meals never reached Julian and probably ended up tossed out.

The sting of it pressed hard against her throat, and she blinked quickly to stop the tears. Clearing her voice, she deflected with a question. "Why didn't you wake me when you arrived?"

Julian's lashes lowered as he murmured, "You finally looked like you were resting well." He remembered too well how easily her sleep could be disturbed. Even the slightest movement late at night would rouse her, no matter how quiet he tried to be.

So he'd left her undisturbed, selfishly enjoying the rare sight of her finally at ease. For once, he had wanted the afternoon to stay quiet.

A brief silence passed before Julian's tone shifted,tentative. "What do you think of this office?"

He almost sounded nervous, waiting for her approval.

Yvonne studied him, suspicion flickering in her eyes,then answered flatly, "It's not bad."

The faintest curve touched his lips, but he kept his expression guarded. "I'm glad. It was thrown together in a hurry, and plenty of things still need to be added."

Suspicion narrowed her gaze, and she studied him carefully. "So you're admitting you arranged this whole office for me?" A trace of panic crossed Julian's eyes, betraying him before he could compose an excuse.

The sharp crack of Yvonne's palm on the desk broke the moment. Her teeth clenched as she spat, "Don't pretend to be generous. Why don't you tell me the truth about that two-hundred-thousand budget?"