2/2 Chapter 127 Sydney's cheeks burned at the implication, and she avoided Julian's gaze. "I-I can just tell them your height and weight. They're experienced..." "Oh?" Julian hummed. He rose suddenly, crossed the room, and stopped in front of her, his amused smile sharp. "So, you know my height and weight?" "I..." Sydney faltered. That old wall of strangeness rose inside her again. 'Right... We've been strangers for years now. Eight whole years -nearly a third of our lives without crossing paths.' She hadn't bought him clothes or given him gifts in forever.
She no longer had any idea what his size was. 'Eight years... If Yoyo were still alive, it would already be grown. Julian himself has changed so much too, with broader shoulders and a stronger build,' she thought. Steeling herself, Sydney said, "If you tell me, then I'll know, Mr. Sterling." "No." Julian's voice was cool. "Clothes need to be tried on. Numbers alone won't cut it." 'Of course,' Sydney thought. For someone like him, custom-tailored suits were second nature. Letting her buy one off the rack was already a concession. She hesitated.
If he expected her to commission a handmade suit, that would be far beyond her budget. His suits usually started in the five-figure range, and the one he had lent her that night had been even more outrageous. But she knew the suit had been ruined because of her. "So what should I do?" she asked. Not wanting to take advantage, she offered, "If you tell me where you usually order your suits, I can go there and 11 "When will you go to the store?" he cut her off coldly. "Huh?" Sydney blurted. Was he saying she didn't need to spend that much? Relieved, she answered quickly, "I'm not sure yet.
Depends on the clinic's schedule." "Then tell me when you decide," Julian said. "What?" Sydney frowned, confused. "I'll go try it on myself," Julian explained flatly. His eyes narrowed slightly as if he didn't trust her taste either. Sydney reminded herself it was only a suit. She nodded. "Okay." After a pause, she looked up, nerves tightening. "And thank you. For that night at the hotel." 1/2 She had managed to knock Victor out, but if Julian hadn't arrived when he did, who knew what backup Penelope might have had waiting? Drugged and cornered, she might not have escaped.
Julian had saved her, yet she had embarrassed him. She braced for his mockery. Julian leaned against the desk, watching her in silence. Sydney's face was small and delicate, her features pure, though the slight upward tilt at the corners of her eyes hinted at something more alluring. However, her gaze was clear-clean. As long as she wanted to, no one would ever notice that dangerous edge. Julian tapped his fingers idly on the desk, his eyes narrowing. "So I only get thanks for the hotel incident?" That confirmed it for Sydney. He had been the one to cripple Victor.
She laughed softly and pointed at her bandaged forehead. "Mr. Sterling, next time you decide to help me settle a score, could you maybe... spare me in the crossfire?" Gods may fight, but mortals suffer. And she had been the unlucky mortal that time. Julian let out a sharp, incredulous laugh, his half-smile cutting. "You think I did it on a whim?" "Wasn't it?" Sydney's voice sounded calm, almost cool. All those years, whether she begged until her knees went numb or endured Victor sneaking into her room repeatedly, Julian hadn't spared her a glance.
And now, just like that, he had chosen to play avenger. Yes, it felt good to see Victor ruined, but she had nearly been ruined with him. She had thought about it over the past couple of days. Eloise had changed her mind at the last second and let her go, almost certainly because Julian had intervened. Eloise couldn't act for now, but the day Julian turned his back on Sydney again, every debt would return. Julian pressed his tongue against his cheek, anger straining his composure. He leaned forward until he was level with her, his gaze sharp. 2/2