Chapter 354

Julian's fingertips brushed lightly against the corner of his mouth.

The tender bruise still throbbed from Lucas's fist.

His mind swirled with unanswered questions.

Julian arranged fresh ingredients across the living room table, guiding Claire through each step.

The television hummed with late-night comedy, but their focus remained on the mixing bowls between them.

Claire curled comfortably on the sofa, her silk pajamas rustling as she tucked her legs beneath her.

Domestic tasks had never been her forte - cooking least of all.

She attempted to fold the batter before surrendering with a dramatic sigh.

"These are absolute perfection," she marveled, watching Julian pipe flawless swirls.

"How do you make everything look so effortless? I'd burn water if left unsupervised."

A flush crept up Julian's neck.

"Let me handle these things," he murmured. "Your only job is to enjoy them."

The oven timer chimed like a promise.

Julian Mercer gently bit his lower lip, his eyes lingering on Claire Dawson's face for several heartbeats, utterly mesmerized by her radiant smile.

When Claire caught him staring, Julian immediately looked away, pretending to focus on something else.

His pulse raced so violently he feared she might hear it.

Claire rested her chin on her palm, studying him with quiet amusement.

"Julian."

Her voice was soft but deliberate. "You do realize I'm pregnant, right? There's a new life growing inside me."

Julian stiffened, sensing the weight behind her words.

"I've been financing you—no, let's be precise, I've been supporting you—but only to irritate Lucas enough to make our divorce quick and painless."

She exhaled, her fingers tracing idle circles on the table. "This afternoon, I'm finalizing the divorce. Once it's done, I'll be free. And so will you."

Julian's breath hitched. "Claire, what are you saying? What do you mean I'll be free?"

"You've been staying here for weeks now. Some days, you're up before dawn just to make it to your university on time."

The life of a medical student was grueling, relentless.

Claire tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "You don’t owe me anything, Julian. This arrangement was never about you. It was about him."

Julian clenched his fists. "But I—"

"You're free," she repeated, softer this time. "No more obligations. No more debts. Just… go live your life."

The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words.

Julian swallowed hard.

Freedom had never felt so much like loss.

The breakfast was carefully arranged on the table, waiting for her to wake up and enjoy it.

Claire had noticed every single one of his thoughtful gestures.

She thought Julian was truly extraordinary. There was a vibrant energy about him, the kind only someone his age could radiate. Though he was three years younger than her, more often than not, it felt like he was the one looking after her.

At first, Claire hadn’t paid much attention to it. But over the past few days, she had started to sense something different in Julian’s gaze.

She had assumed their arrangement was purely transactional—mutual convenience with no strings attached. But now, she realized that in the three months they had lived together, Julian had developed genuine feelings for her.

Claire believed Julian deserved someone pure and untainted, not someone like her—divorced, carrying another man’s child, and tangled in a messy life.

“I’ll keep supporting you until you graduate. Your living expenses will still be transferred to your account on time. But starting tomorrow, you should move out.”

Julian froze, his expression blank, as if the words had struck him motionless.

“Claire.”

His voice was soft, hesitant.

“The stars at my university… aren’t they beautiful?”

A pause.

“Didn’t you say you loved watching them with me?”

Julian Mercer clearly had quite the reputation on campus. The moment they stepped onto the quad, several heads turned in his direction.

Claire Dawson wasn't surprised. With those striking features and that confident stride, of course he'd be popular among the college crowd. Julian carried himself with an effortless magnetism that drew eyes wherever he went.

A quiet thought nagged at her. "How does someone like him end up working at Eclipse Lounge to pay off family debts?" The contrast between his current poise and his past struggles didn't add up.

They sprawled across the manicured grass, watching stars blink into existence overhead. Claire fought to keep her eyes open, determined not to miss the meteor shower.

Then came the interruption.

A brunette with bold red lipstick sauntered over, zeroing in on Julian. "Julian Mercer," she purred, then flicked her gaze toward Claire. "Is this your sister?"

The question hung in the air like a challenge.