Chapter 234

Julie’s POV

The moment I saw Olivia, terror surged through me. No, I couldn’t let her find out he was my brother; that would destroy everything. I pulled away from Steve with lightning speed, forcing my features into a mask of normalcy despite my racing pulse.

"What are we doing? Nothing at all," I said, trying to sound casual. "This is my friend Steve. We’ve been friends since primary school!"

I saw the shock written all over Steve’s face he looked like he was about to blurt out the truth. Even Olivia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Friends since primary school? He looks much older than you!"

Damn this woman! She wouldn’t give me room to breathe. I countered with sudden, desperate brilliance: "That’s because I was gifted and skipped two grades. But Steve... well, he failed two grades because he was so slow. That’s how we ended up in the same class."

Steve stared at me in total disbelief. I continued the act, looking at him coldly. "Oh, Steve... admit it, you were quite the dimwit back then."

Olivia shook her head, unconvinced. "You two studied together? That’s truly strange."

I let out a hollow laugh, waving my hand as if recalling old memories. "Oh, if you only knew! There was this boy named Merlin who used to bully Steve constantly and make him the class laughingstock." I turned to Steve, who was struggling to find words. "Do you remember that?"

I laughed again, forced and brittle. "Oh, it was hilarious!"

"Yes... I remember," Steve said, his voice heavy with suppressed irritation.

Olivia broke the silence coldly. "Mr. Robert is looking for you."

My heart leaped with anxiety. "Is his father still there?"

"Yes."

Damn! That old man never gets tired. "Fine," I said curtly. I gave Steve a meaningful look. "It was good seeing you, Steve."

I hurried out of the office, exhaling in relief. Thank God I survived Olivia’s interrogation. I went straight to Robert’s room. He was awake and had shifted his position, sitting up against the headboard. Carlos was there, along with old Thomas, who was watching everything like a hawk.

"Good morning," I said quietly, approaching Robert. "Are you feeling better now?"

"I’m fine," he replied dryly. He made an authoritative gesture with his hand. "Sit."

As I sat on the edge of the bed, he locked his gaze onto mine. "What happened yesterday? Tell me."

I swallowed hard, glancing around the room. "Do I have to talk now?" I asked hesitantly.

He frowned. "Why? Is there a problem?"

I stole a glance at Thomas. "Yes, there is. I don’t want to talk right now."

Thomas cut in with a mocking laugh. "Are you shy now? You weren’t so shy a while ago when I found you glued to him in his bed!"

Robert’s body stiffened. "Father, that’s none of your business," he snapped.

I saw Carlos stand up abruptly, his expression shifting as if he were deeply annoyed. "I have to go now," he said shortly, walking out with long strides.

The moment he left, Thomas exploded. "Do you both want this girl? Have you lost your minds?"

I wanted to scream. Why was this old man bringing this up now? Why couldn’t he mind his own business? But Robert silenced him sternly. "Quiet, Father, or I’ll have to kick you out." He turned back to me with an intense look. "Julie, speak... why did you leave the club?"

I began to tell the story from the beginning, speaking slowly as I recalled the details. When I reached the part about James, Thomas jolted in his seat.

"Did you say James?" he asked, his voice booming.

"Yes," I said, startled.

"James is ’The Serpent’... he’s the only one I know by that name," Thomas said, his features tight with tension. "Is he blonde?"

I shook my head. "No, his hair is black with some gray, and he has gray eyes."

He asked for the address eagerly. When I told him, his face went pale, shock washing over his features. "That man is ’The Don’... the one who kidnapped you in the first place," he whispered.

It felt like a lightning strike. I stood up, refusing to believe it. "Impossible! That man was so kind. I told you, he saved me, took me to his home, bought me clothes, and treated me with respect... He can’t be The Don!"

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Thomas’s POV (Robert’s Father)

When I heard Julie’s words, I was genuinely shocked by Morgan’s behavior. Despite the fact that Julie looks strikingly like her mother almost a carbon copy and despite all the enmity with Violet, he had treated her with a strange kindness. It was as if his instinct told him she was his daughter, even if he had no idea she existed.

"He is The Don... but for some reason, he lied to you and saved you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Robert frowned, suspicion filling his eyes. "And why would The Don save Julie? I don’t understand!"

I shrugged with forced indifference. "I don’t know... ask him yourself."

But Robert didn’t back down. He locked his eyes onto mine, searching for the truth hidden behind my expression. "Father, you know Morgan. You know there’s a reason behind this... what is it?"

My body stiffened; the weight of the secret was heavy in my chest. I couldn’t tell him that Julie was the daughter of his arch-enemy. I couldn’t tell him that her mother was Violet the woman he swore to kill along with her entire bloodline.

"Robert... I don’t know," I said coldly, looking away.

"This is unbelievable!" Julie said, shaking her head. "He took me to his house and acted respectably... how could he be the kidnapper?"

"The Don doesn’t hurt women," Robert said, trying to find a logical explanation. "Maybe that’s why he returned you." Robert clenched his fist on the bedsheet while I remained lost in thought.

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Julie’s POV

I couldn’t wrap my head around it; it was all so confusing. Thomas , collecting himself. "I’m going now. Robert, take care of yourself." He turned to me with a sharp, hateful glare. "Stay away from my son."

I defiantly placed my hand over Robert’s, squeezing gently. "Don’t worry, Uncle," I said.

His face flushed with rage. "Don’t call me Uncle!"

"Alright, Uncle," I replied coolly.

He huffed in frustration, spinning his wheelchair around and rolling out of the room. When I turned to Robert, I found him smiling quietly. "What?" I asked, surprised.

"Nothing," he said, watching me.

"Tell me who shot you," I said, my eyes flashing with anger on his behalf. "I’ll kill him!"

"Carlos shot him," he replied flatly. "I don’t know if he’ll survive."

"I hope he doesn’t," I snapped.

He moved with difficulty. "I want to walk a bit."

"What? Is that even possible?" I gasped.

"Yes," he insisted.

I approached him to help, but in reality, I wasn’t doing much. His body was massive, his muscles rock-hard. With my small frame, I could barely move his wrist. "Robert, should I call Ron or someone else to help you up?"

"No, I’ll do it myself," he said sternly, leaning on my arm.

I could see he was in pain; the veins in his neck were bulging and his face went pale, but he was incredibly stubborn, keeping his expression stone-cold. Finally, he managed to stand. I gripped his arm and wrapped my hand around his waist, and we began to walk slowly through the room.

"Are you in pain?" I asked worriedly.

"I’m fine," he grunted.

After a few steps, I said, "That’s enough. You’ve walked plenty."

"I’m going to the bathroom," he said.

I walked with him until we reached the door. He looked at me with a mysterious glint. "Are you coming in with me?"

"Of course," I said naturally. "Do you think I’d leave you to fall?" I spoke as if he were leaning on me, when in truth, I was just an "accessory" in his hand compared to his physical strength.

We went in, and I carefully helped him lower his pants. Damn... the sight of his massive dick makes me wet instantly. I stepped back a little to give him space, feeling a heat rush to my face.

When he finished and washed his hands, we walked back very slowly until he reached the bed and sat down heavily.

I stood before him. "Do you need anything?"

"Yes," he said, his voice deep as he fixed his eyes on mine.

"Tell me what you want," I said eagerly. "Water, coffee, or what?"

He clamped his hand around my waist and pulled me toward him with such force that I ended up right between his thighs.

"I want to fuck you," he growled, his voice thick with desire.