Nathaniel Fu's tall, commanding figure blocked Julian Fu's path."Julian, Celia is still asleep. Don't go in and disturb her."
Those few words made Julian freeze in place. His eyes reddened as he glared at Nathaniel."Uncle, when did you start seeing Celia? Why didn't you tell me?"
His voice trembled with anger."You think you're suitable for her? You're so much older, and you've had countless women outside. Why Celia?"
"She's my classmate—my girlfriend—and you still went after her! You knew how I felt about her, yet you stole your own nephew's girlfriend!"
Julian's voice cracked with grief. "I always respected you as my uncle, but this time… you stole the girl I love. Do you have no respect for me at all?"
Julian loved Celia with all his heart. To imagine the girl he cherished lying in the arms of the uncle he respected was unbearable. For a proud young man like him, the blow was devastating. Nathaniel knew it too—that was why, from the beginning, he had forbidden Celia and Julian from being together.
"Julian," Nathaniel said evenly, "Celia and I were already together before you two started dating."
"You only agreed to date her for a month, didn't you? Do you know why? Because of me. She was afraid I'd find out the scars on her face weren't real."
"Neither of us ever wanted to hurt you. You're innocent in all of this. It was never supposed to involve you."
Nathaniel spoke with his usual bluntness, cutting straight to the point. In his words, it was clear: he and Celia were the beginning of it all. Julian was the outsider who had stumbled into their story.
Julian's fists clenched at his sides. A moment ago, he had confronted Nathaniel with such conviction, but now his arguments seemed childish in comparison.
Yes… Celia never truly liked him.
Did she prefer men like his uncle—mature, steady, powerful?
Julian's voice cracked as he forced out, "Uncle, I love Celia. Can't you… give her to me?"
Nathaniel's lips pressed into a thin line.
Julian met his gaze. "Uncle, this is what you owe our family. I want Celia. Please… give her to me."
The air grew heavy, charged with tension. A suffocating silence pressed down on them.
Nathaniel finally turned away, striding to the floor-to-ceiling window. Only then did he notice the faint sting in his palm. He looked down—the white bandage was tied into a delicate bow.
For a CEO like him, the little bow looked almost laughably out of place.
And yet, she was still in his bed, her scent lingering on the sheets, her warmth imprinted on his skin. The taste of her was something that seeped into his very bones. How could he possibly let that go?
Nathaniel leaned forward, meeting Julian's eyes. His voice was low, resolute."Julian, you can have anything you want—but not my woman."
There was no compromise in his tone.
Julian's jaw tightened. "Then this will be the last time I call you Uncle. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Goodbye."
With that, he turned and walked away.
…
Celia was still lying in bed when the lounge door opened again. Nathaniel stepped in, carrying her clothes.
She sat up quickly. "Has Julian left?"
Nathaniel nodded. "Yes. He's gone."
"Did he say anything to you?"
Nathaniel's gaze lingered on her. "No. What do you expect us to say? That we should become enemies over you?"
"…."
Celia bit her lip, snatched the clothes from his hand, and retreated into the dressing room without another word.
Nathaniel watched her slender, graceful silhouette disappear behind the door. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Just then, his phone rang, a soft, melodic tone cutting through the silence. He glanced at the screen—
It was Rosalie.