CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 147 - 133: Softened Heart 2
After she got home, she called to hire a moving company and then began to pack. She sorted her clothes, Joy’s clothes, and all of Joy’s various toys and books into boxes. Since the movers were only responsible for transport, she had to do all the organizing herself. By dinnertime, she was so tired her back ached. She managed to make a quick meal for herself and Joy, then went right back to packing.
Eventually, she was so utterly spent that she collapsed onto the floor. ’Moving is no easy task. It didn’t look like I had that many things, so why does it seem like the more I pack, the more there is? If the rent here was always this cheap, I’d never want to move a second time.’
Joy, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa so as not to disturb her, climbed down and sat on the floor beside her. She reached out her little hands and thoughtfully massaged her mother’s shoulders. Even though the little one had barely any strength in her hands, Naomi Shaw’s eyes still reddened. She pulled Joy’s small hand to her lips and kissed it. "Thank you, my sweetie..."
’No matter how many bumps she’d hit on the road of love, she was truly grateful that fate had blessed her with two such thoughtful children. Dylan was a given, but even Joy, who she once thought had developmental issues, was so sensible and bright. She felt there was nothing she couldn’t endure now. It wasn’t Julian Donovan who made her grow; it was her two children who made her strong.’
Comforted by Joy, she no longer felt so tired. She got up, gave them both a bath, and then fell asleep holding Joy in her arms.
To her surprise, when she woke up the next day, she discovered a layer of snow outside. It was the first snowfall of the year. It wasn’t heavy, but the temperature had plummeted. The moment she opened the window, a blast of cold air hit her in the face. She felt very frustrated. ’Of all the days for it to snow, it had to be the day I’m moving.’ She called the moving company, but they said a little snow like this was no problem and they would proceed as scheduled. Only then did she feel relieved.
The moving company was punctual. Several workers started carrying her packed boxes out to the truck. Holding Joy, she stood outside the building’s entrance, watching the movers come and go. A sudden gust of wind whipped up a swirl of snowflakes from the ground, making her shiver uncontrollably. She quickly hugged Joy tighter and turned her back to the wind, shielding her daughter.
Since she had packed away all her clothes the night before, she couldn’t be bothered to open a box just to find her down jacket. She simply wore the same wool coat from yesterday, holding Joy wrapped tightly in her arms. She could have easily waited inside until they were done, but she felt unsafe staying in the apartment alone with several male movers.
A black Cadillac pulled up in front of the building. Dressed in casual clothes, Julian Donovan got out of the car, walked over, and stopped in front of her. She had no choice but to ask, "What are you doing here?"
"I’m here to help you move!"
His eyes held an indulgent smile. She was baffled. "How did you know I was moving?"
"What do you think?"
He tossed the question back at her, easily deflecting her inquiry. Just as she was about to say more, he noticed her shivering violently in the cold. He took off his own overcoat and draped it over her. "Take Joy and wait in the car. I’ll handle the rest!"
She was slender and he was tall, so his overcoat completely enveloped both her and Joy in her arms. The lingering warmth from his body instantly seeped into them, warming them up as they shivered. She glanced at him, standing in the cold wind wearing only a cashmere sweater, and felt a pang of guilt. "You don’t have to..."
"Do you have the heart to watch Joy freeze out here with you?"
He cut her off with a chiding tone before she could even finish. She instantly fell silent. He put an arm around her and guided her to the car. After settling her and Joy inside, he turned and headed back toward the apartment building.
Watching him in his thin sweater, she leaned out of the car and called after him, "Put your coat back on!"
"I’m not cold!"
He replied without looking back and disappeared into the building. She could only settle back into her seat. From the front passenger seat, Dylan’s happy voice rang out, "Mom!"
Naomi Shaw then realized Dylan was in the car as well. It hit her immediately how Julian Donovan knew she was moving. ’It must have been Dylan.’ Her expression soured a little as she asked, "Dylan, that wasn’t very nice. Why did you tell your father we were moving?"
"I wanted to help you, Mom, but I’m too little to be much help, so I had to ask Dad..."
Dylan’s little face crumpled, looking wronged. Naomi Shaw instantly lost the heart to stay angry with him. She reached out and patted his cheek. "Okay, okay, Mommy isn’t mad this time. But you have to remember, don’t do this again, alright?"
Dylan nodded happily.
With the heater running, it didn’t take long for Naomi Shaw and Joy to warm up. Naomi took off Julian Donovan’s overcoat. She glanced at the snowflakes fluttering outside, then bit her lip in hesitation before picking up the coat, intending to bring it to him. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
’She couldn’t have him catching a cold from helping her. If that happened, he would definitely hold her responsible. The way he was now, he was capable of anything.’
Just as she was about to open the car door, she saw Julian Donovan emerge carrying a stack of items—her computer and some other valuable, fragile things. A light dusting of snow settled on his broad shoulders, a stark contrast against his black sweater. She watched in a daze as he strode closer, and suddenly, her heart softened considerably.
Julian Donovan loaded the items into the trunk and turned to go back. Naomi Shaw quickly snapped out of her reverie, got out of the car, and called to him, "Hey, your coat!"
Julian Donovan turned back to her and stood there, his gaze fixed on her. His handsome face was expressionless, neither smiling nor angry, but a closer look would reveal an emotion in his eyes so intense it could drown a person.
The emotion in his eyes sent an inexplicable shiver of danger through Naomi Shaw. She took a step back, about to retreat into the car, but he closed the distance in a single stride. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his embrace and lowering his head to capture her lips. He pinned her between the car and his own body, kissing her with an overwhelming, tender passion.
Naomi Shaw was infuriated by his brazenness. She pushed at him in a fluster. ’The children are in the car! What would they think if they saw this?’ But his lips were sealed to hers, giving her no room to breathe. He suckled at her lips and used his tongue to part them, taking control with practiced ease, until she momentarily forgot about her children and kissed him back with her entire being.
Encircled in his arms, Naomi Shaw was completely enveloped by his warm, strong embrace. ’I can’t let him bewitch me,’ she thought, but she involuntarily relaxed her resistance, finally melting into his embrace as their lips and tongues tangled together.
