Chapter 15

“That’s just…”

“It’s all nonsense. I don’t know where you get this information and use it, but what do you mean, no memory?”

As she spoke, Gabrielle felt her anger flare. She took a small breath to calm herself, then shot back.

“There hasn’t been any problem so far, and there won’t be any in the future. It just means those lost memories weren’t that important.”

Julian kept silent, as if someone had sewn his lips shut. Gabrielle thought that if she could split open this man’s head and see what was inside, she would gladly do it.

What could possibly be in there, that he could appear so shamelessly after hurting her so deeply, only to spout incomprehensible words?

“Let’s just be honest, the two of us.”

Maybe it was the wine, but heat crept up Gabrielle’s neck. She reached out and grabbed his tie.

“Gabrielle.”

Julian, startled, tried to stop her, but she covered his lips with hers. After a moment’s hesitation, Julian gripped the back of her head and kissed her deeply. Their rough kiss left both of them breathless. Julian lifted Gabrielle in his arms as if she were a princess and carried her up the stairs.

As soon as the bedroom door closed, Julian laid Gabrielle down on the bed. He slowly lowered his head, kissing her neck and collarbone, then gently nipped at her curves.

“Ah…”

He traced her sensitive spots with his tongue, teasing and swirling, repeating until she shivered.

Julian, like a puppy begging its master, nuzzled her cheek.

“Your chest is adorable.”

“…”

Gabrielle frowned and pushed Julian’s forehead away. He playfully bit her finger.

“See? It’s cute. Small, fits in one hand, and gets so firm when I touch it.”

He played with her n*pple with one finger, then with his other hand lifted her hips and pulled down her pants in one motion.

His hand pushed aside the fabric covering her and gently stroked her mound.

Julian lowered himself and ran his tongue along her.

“Mmm…”

Gabrielle moaned softly, lifting her legs over his shoulders.

Julian grinned at her encouragement, taking her into his mouth and swirling his tongue.

Pleasure climbed up from her lower belly, and Gabrielle gripped the sheets.

Her breath quickened, echoing through the room. She could feel herself getting wet.

After teasing her for a while, Julian looked up at Gabrielle, her face flushed with pleasure.

“You’re cute here too. You feel so much and make it so easy.”

“That… mouth… mm.”

Before she could finish, Julian’s fingers slipped inside her, making her arch her back.

Julian buried his face between her thighs, slipping his tongue inside.

“Mm…!”

His tongue explored gently, teasing her inner walls and the base of her sensitive spot.

“Ah, ah!”

It felt as though something invisible was stirring her brain. Gabrielle moaned as the sensations overwhelmed her.

“Ahh…!”

Pleasure crashed over her, spreading through her entire body. Her legs trembled and then fell limply onto the sheets.

“Gabrielle.”

Julian exhaled, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair. His lips glistened as he licked them, then sat up.

“Even if you hate me, you still like this, don’t you?”

He unbuckled his belt and pulled down his briefs. His thick, veined member pressed against her entrance, then slid in without hesitation.

“Ah!”

Gabrielle, breathing heavily, instinctively wrapped her arms around Julian’s back as he filled her deeply.

He entered all the way in one thrust, pressing against her womb.

With every movement, the swollen tip brushed her sensitive spot.

Julian held her tightly, nibbling her ear.

“You like my body, don’t you, Gabby?”

He whispered, gripping her slender waist with both hands.

With each thrust, Gabrielle’s hands clawed at his back before falling away.

“Ah… ahh, mm!”

Through her blurred vision, she saw his broad shoulders and sharply defined waist. Sweat glistened on his tightly packed abs.

Julian licked his lips, bent down, and took her red, swollen n*pple into his mouth.

He licked gently, then bit down.

“Mmm… ugh…!”

Gabrielle dug her nails into his arm.

Julian laughed, undeterred, rolling her n*pple with his tongue and thrusting deeper inside her.

“Ah…!”

The wet sounds grew louder, her belly burned with heat, and her toes curled.

Her body, already once at its peak, craved more.

Julian pressed all the way in, nudging her womb, and released his heat inside.

“Ah… ahh!”

Gabrielle shuddered through the org*sm, then closed her eyes as if fainting.

“Haa…”

Julian, breathing heavily, slowly withdrew. White fluid spilled out, trailing down her mound.

“Gabrielle.”

He flipped his trembling body over.

“Stay by my side.”

His member, revived quickly, pressed into her again as she lay face down. Her thighs shook with spasms. Gabrielle gripped the sheets. His large hand wrapped around hers, intertwining their fingers, holding her completely in his embrace.

* * *

Since the day of the shooting at the ballet performance, the city had become tense and uneasy.

Plainclothes police roamed among the citizens, stopping anyone suspicious for random checks right on the street.

Anyone who resisted or revealed their discomfort was promptly handcuffed and taken to the police station.

“It really doesn’t feel like we’re living in normal times anymore.”

“Right.”

Gabrielle agreed heavily with Hans, reading the newspaper delivered early that morning.

[The murdered figure was the deputy leader of the Peace Party, a pro-peace faction. Was the assassin a radical who wanted war?]

The person killed on the day of the ballet was no ordinary citizen.

He was the deputy leader of the Progressive Party, a prominent politician calling for peace and an end to the war, even considered a candidate for the next president.

The ruling and opposition parties blamed each other, claiming it was a plot by the pro-war conservatives or a staged act for slander.

Radio and newspapers fueled the fire, delivering provocative commentary and passionate debates day after day.

“At this rate, I’m afraid war could break out any moment.”

“That can’t happen.”

Gabrielle sighed, quietly looking out the window.

The city, once lively at this time of day, now had only leaves blowing down empty streets.

Everyone was keeping their heads down, afraid of being targeted by plainclothes police.

“Have you ever heard this rumor? I heard it once before.”

Lost in thought, Gabrielle turned at Hans’s whispered voice.

“In Keria, ever since the ceasefire, they’ve been gathering orphans and raising them to be spies and terrorists.”

“…No way.”

Just imagining it gave her chills. Gabrielle shook her head, unwilling to even consider it.

“It’s probably just a made-up story. How could anyone do that to another human being?”

“Right?”

Hans shrugged and smiled. Gabrielle hesitated, then changed the subject.

“How’s Mary doing?”

“She’s doing great.”

Gabrielle bit her lip, wanting to ask if she could stay in their spare room for a while.

She knew it was shameless to intrude on a newlywed couple, but Julian’s warnings kept circling in her mind.

She lived in a neighborhood with poor security, which made her even more anxious.

Julian hadn’t shown up much since then, so every time she came home, she locked the door and barricaded it with the table and chairs.

Otherwise, she couldn’t sleep peacefully.

“So, um… could I maybe…”

Gabrielle was about to ask, thinking that maybe a week would be enough to shake off her anxiety and restlessness, when Hans, not hearing her quiet voice, interrupted shyly.

“Actually, Gabby, we… we’re having a baby.”

“A baby?”

Gabrielle’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.

“Yeah. We got checked yesterday. Mary’s just entering her sixth week.”

Hans added quickly, his face excited.

“It’s still early, so we have to be extra careful. I’m doing all the housework. I hope the baby looks like Mary.”

Gabrielle was stunned for a moment, then smiled brightly as she collected herself.

“Congratulations! Please tell Mary I’m happy for her too.”

“Thanks.”

Hans replied shyly, then asked,

“But, do you have something else to say? You look like you do.”

“It’s nothing.”