Nadia's POV

A tremor shook my body the moment I stood up from the couch.

Jeff stretched his hands to pull me back, but I flung them away, "Don't touch or talk to me." I glared at him; my lips were shaking as I spoke.

"Nicole is an adult and she can make certain decisions. It's been over six months since she has been trying to seduce me. I lost guard last night because I was feeling distressed about your disappearance." He sighed tiredly, scratching the back of his head.

Truly, I had lost my phone yesterday.

My heart squeezed in guilt. "That wasn't enough reason"

"It shouldn't be enough for you to have sex with Julian. He wouldn't allow any women on his bed but he willingly helped you just the day he came home after three years. "Jeff laid his hand on my trembling shoulder, his eyes roaming my face with concern.

My heart skipped at his statement, but I pretended to be unbothered, "It was a mistake that will never happen again; in fact, I will erase it from my memory, and you too..." I hardened my tone, "Don't touch my sister"

Jeff grinned as he raised his two hands in salutation. "Everything will be intact if you advise your sister to quit doing silly tricks. You should get ready by four in the evening"

"No, I need some time alone. I appreciate your effort" I said and turned back, walking towards the staircase while trying hard not to show any sign of discomfort.

I froze on the spot when Jeff murmured, "I am very sure he used protection"

I signed in relief and moved further towards Nicole's room. She opened the door after several knocking, her eyes were extremely swollen from crying. "Can I come in?" I asked.

"I will slam the door to your face if you don't speak up; I have not changed," She threatened, her two hands on her waist.

Trying to explain to her with maturity will only worsen the situation, "You need to stay away from the Blackwood brothers before things get out of hand. You took advantage of a grown-up man in his father's house," I grumbled bitterly.

Nicole bursts out a sarcastic laughter to the extent that I started feeling like a nuisance. "What?He told you that and you believed?..." She sniffed mockingly, "I don't care to ask how you know about us, but stay away from Jeff during your selection." She warned.

"What happened to your relationship with Julian? You seem very obsessed with him; I remember Jeff called me to say that you guys started dating just last month. It's a disgrace for a lady to be used by men anyhow!" I scolded worriedly, despite my headache.

"You have no right to advise me because you are just three freaking months older than me. It took your mother years to get pregnant, and our father had no choice but to fuck other women." She mocked.

"Our mothers both left us, but the difference is yours died during childbirth, while mine neglected me. Are you saying that I am filthy for having two brothers? Are you jealous? What if I tell you that I fucked their father in your room while you were away?" She taunted again, a devilish smirk lingered on her lips.

I staggered backward, my eyes sharpened in shock. "Is this a joke to you?!"

"A joke? Who jokes about something as paramount as that? I will always get what I want, and Wellington's properties aren't an exception" Nicole hissed irritatingly before slamming the door heavily.

I gasped in horror, staring at the empty passageway with my mouth hung in the air. I grabbed my hair painfully and screamed in agony.

My leg mistakenly slipped, making me fall on the floor. I was hardly breathing as tears gushed out of my eyes, "What have you done you useless fool!" I hit Nicole's room door continuously.

My pulse declined and I felt myself drowning in devastation.

Two maids rushed to my aid, and despite my situation, I was sensible enough to order them to take me to Julian's room, mainly because there was a high chance that he wouldn't be here, at least until I gained the strength to request for a new room arrangement.

God forbid me to stay in an environment where my stepsister and my late father's friend had fornicated. "Oh heavens, help me," I whimpered before going to shower, wearing Julian's old shirt and dozing off with the hope that things would miraculously get better when I woke up.

~~

I lifted my finger when I felt a figure unusually close to my face, a tiny memory of the day flashed through me, and I snapped my eyes open to meet a warm expression on Julian.

I could bet that he was staring at me while I was asleep, but he gave me another impression when he squeezed his face in irritation and shifted away.

"Your reaction to being in my room this morning was all pretense; you are not different from your sister," Julian insulted, but I was too weak to argue.

He isn't worth it.

"Sorry for intruding on your privacy..."

"What did you take?" He cut in, waving his hand to shut me up.

God, I felt the urge to punch him right in his face. Who the hell does he think he is?

Uncomfortable by his sudden question, I replied, "Your brother was so confident that you will use protection, so...I didn't take any pills" I bit my bottom lips.

The room fell into a deadly silence that made it sink in how foolish my reply sounded.

I dared to look at him, and my throat itched at the disappointment in his face. "Why would I want you to conceive my child in the first place? I wasn't even talking about contraceptives. Will you keep pondering on a one-night stand that occurred when we were not in our right senses?"

My eyebrows creased in confusion until I saw the covered tray of food on the lampstand and gulped in shame.

"You could have told me that you brought some food...I'm sorry" I apologized, my heart fluttering wildly at his sweet gesture.

"You told Jeff about what happened the night before? How sweet of you. Like...the food isn't yours, and get out of my room," He said rudely, a hint of deviousness in his tone.

Ouch! How can I forget he is a cold asshole.

My heart shattered into tiny pieces at his statement, and without replying, I dragged myself out of the bed; walking towards the door.

I paused when he revealed his abusive nature by saying, "If you are that confident in yourself, strip out of my shirt"

I didn't spare him a glance, nor did I walk to his balcony to pick up the clothes that I spread on the hanger. I pulled his shirt and flung it to his face, "You are a filthy bastard. It's obvious that you entertain yourself by bullying."

I walked out on him with my head held high, ignoring the goosebumps I felt as a result of his dark eyes roaming my naked body.