Chapter 102: Kissed Her...

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Kissed Her...

Keith Sterling, caught completely off guard, got a faceful of their PDA and whined miserably, "I can’t go on like this! How come no one ever gets me any gifts? Do us single people have no rights?!"

Sienna Everett: "..."

Sienna suddenly remembered something and looked at Julian beside her. "Oh, right, your birthday’s coming up soon."

Julian raised an eyebrow in surprise, his voice a lazy drawl. "Well, isn’t that something. You actually remembered my birthday."

The moment Keith Sterling scented gossip, he stopped his whining and whipped his head around to look at Sienna.

Sienna’s cheeks grew warm. "...Of course I remember!"

’We celebrated his birthday every year when we were kids. I couldn’t forget it even if I tried!’

Eager for more gossip, Keith immediately asked, his eyes shining like a thousand-watt bulb, "So, how are you planning to celebrate your husband’s birthday this year?"

The tips of Sienna’s ears went hot, and she shot him a glare. "None of your business."

Later that afternoon, their grandfather came to visit the younger generation.

Leaning on his cane, Howard Forrester’s face lit up the moment he saw Sienna. "Sierra, my dear! Grandpa finally had some free time to come see you today. And I suppose I’ll check in on Julian, too, while I’m at it!"

Julian, the biological grandson who was merely an afterthought: "..."

Keith came running from the kitchen. "Grandpa, I’m here too!"

Howard Forrester beamed. "Wonderful, wonderful! You’re all here!"

Howard Forrester stayed for dinner, joining the three younger ones at Veridian Gardens.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm and cheerful.

As Keith ate a piece of food his grandfather had placed on his plate, he reflected, ’Now this feels like a real home. A place like the Everett household is no place for a human being. The sooner Sierra got out of that hellhole, the better.’

A few flashes of lightning were followed by the BOOM of rolling thunder.

A torrential downpour began.

Keith looked at the heavy rain outside and suggested, "Grandpa, you should just stay at Veridian Gardens tonight. Don’t go back to the old estate. I’ll stay too!"

"A little rain would be one thing, but with this thunder and downpour, it isn’t safe for the driver to be on the road."

The old man was convinced and agreed to stay the night at Veridian Gardens.

When it was time for bed, the old man made a point to watch and was deeply gratified to see his grandson and granddaughter-in-law enter the master bedroom together, no longer sleeping in separate rooms.

Inside the master bedroom.

Sienna closed the door and let out a soft sigh. ’Forced to sleep with Julian again,’ she thought. ’I’d better not take advantage of him this time.’

’Tonight, I absolutely cannot roll into his arms again.’

Sienna showered first. Afterwards, she lay on the bed and dealt with some messages on her phone.

Hearing the bathroom door open, Sienna looked up.

The man emerged from the bathroom, his hair still wet. Glistening droplets of water rolled from the tips of his black hair, tracing the line of his neck and sliding over his sharp, sexy collarbones, exuding an air of tantalizing restraint.

Once he had toweled his hair dry, Sienna put down her phone and crooked a finger at him. "Come here."

Hearing this, Julian leisurely raised an eyebrow.

’She was the first person to ever beckon him over like that.’

The man let out a low chuckle, his expression full of indulgence. He walked over and looked down at her, his voice a light, lazy drawl laced with amusement. "Sierra, not pretending to be asleep this time?"

Sienna: "..."

Sienna retorted stubbornly, "I wasn’t pretending to be asleep last time, either! I wanted to ask you what you want for your birthday this year."

Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her in silence.

Sienna slowly burrowed back under the covers until only her little head was peeking out. Her small hands clutched the edge of the blanket as she looked up at him with wide, dewy eyes.

"I just mean... you can tell me what gift you want. That way, I can prepare it in advance and avoid getting you something you won’t like."

The man seemed to consider it seriously. "What I want?"

Sienna nodded eagerly. "Whatever you want, just say it. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied!"

The words had barely left her mouth when a shadow fell over her.

The man leaned down, his cool lips capturing hers...