Free Web NovelChapter 60: Chapter 60: Sorry, I Was Too Rough (Part 1)
Justin Sullivan lowered his head, his gaze falling on her wrist, which was red from his grip. A flicker of heartache crossed his dark eyes.
Ignoring Hayley Sullivan’s presence, he moved closer to her with concern, just as he had every time Georgia had gotten hurt in the past, wanting to examine her wrist.
This time, however, Georgia dodged his hand.
Justin Sullivan froze, stunned. When he looked up, Georgia’s gaze was averted, refusing to meet his.
He gave a wry smile. Gazing again at the wrist he had reddened, he said bitterly, "I’m sorry. I was too rough."
"...It’s fine."
Hayley Sullivan stood in the doorway, staring at them.
Georgia didn’t dare look up to meet Justin Sullivan’s eyes. She tucked the wrist he’d grabbed behind her back, standing frozen in place.
Hayley Sullivan grew anxious. She couldn’t let something new spark between Justin and Georgia in this short time.
A smile immediately spread across her face. "Georgia, hurry and come in for dinner! Your father is home today."
Georgia had been about to leave, but after this run-in with Justin Sullivan, leaving now would be an admission that she was running away from him.
She lifted her head and gave Justin Sullivan a placid smile. "Uncle, I’m heading inside."
’That "Uncle" would now be "Uncle" for the rest of their lives.’
Head down, Georgia quickly brushed past Justin Sullivan and walked into the house.
As she passed Hayley Sullivan, she heard her warning voice, "I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas about Jean!"
Georgia couldn’t even pretend not to care. ’From now on, I really won’t let myself have any feelings for Justin Sullivan.’
’I have to learn to slowly rein in my heart.’ frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
However, just as she’d managed to escape Justin Sullivan, Elliot Sheridan was waiting for her up ahead.
It was as if it had all been planned; Justin Sullivan and Elliot Sheridan had both appeared before her at the same time.
And there was no escape.
Amanda Thorne called Georgia into the living room and had her sit down, right across from Elliot Sheridan.
Whenever she looked up, she would see Elliot Sheridan’s handsome, aristocratic face.
He wore a navy-blue suit that made him seem even more cold and stern.
His long legs were crossed as he leaned lazily against the sofa, a lit cigarette held between two fingers.
’They look like a perfect match.’
’Amanda had clearly called me over just to show him off.’
’And I didn’t need to think twice about what—or who—she was showing off.’
Before dinner began, Georgia sat on the sofa, as stiff and silent as a block of wood.
She had no interest in their conversation. When her eyes began to ache from staring at one spot for too long, she would just find a new one.
Throughout this time, she felt Elliot Sheridan’s gaze fixed on her.
’My head was down, so I couldn’t be sure. Maybe it’s just my imagination.’
’But what if it is real?’
’Isn’t he afraid Amanda will get jealous?’
When dinner began, Georgia took a seat at the far end of the table, next to Amanda.
After his earlier encounter with Georgia at the door, Justin Sullivan had disappeared somewhere.
He had made several phone calls before rushing back just as dinner was being served.
Georgia gave him a curious glance; it looked like his jacket was missing.
She didn’t think too much of it and lowered her head as she took her seat.
The moment Georgia lowered her head, Justin Sullivan’s eyes turned to her.
A glimmer had just appeared in his eyes, but it slowly faded as he watched her lower her head. freewёbnoνel.com
He thought back to their encounter at the door earlier. ’If I hadn’t bumped into her, I probably wouldn’t have seen her at all tonight.’
The Thorne family had prepared this whole feast specifically to welcome Justin Sullivan back, but to everyone’s surprise, Elliot Sheridan had also shown up.
For Jared Thorne, this was a doubly joyous occasion.
Georgia glanced at Justin Sullivan, who was seated next to Jared Thorne. His expression was cool and distant.
The two men were conversing in low voices, but she was sitting too far away to hear.
As she drew her gaze back, her eyes accidentally met Elliot Sheridan’s from across the table.
The man’s eyes were narrowed, radiating a dangerous aura. It was the exact same look he had when he was angry.
She didn’t know why. She’d never been this nervous, not even around Justin Sullivan, the man she had secretly loved for six years. But now, a single glance from Elliot Sheridan was enough to completely unnerve her.
As if caught doing something wrong, she quickly lowered her head.
Her fingers tightened, clenching her chopsticks so hard her knuckles turned white.
Her heart, more traitorous than she could have imagined, began to pound violently in her chest.
’I really, truly hate this side of myself.’
’No matter what Elliot does, I’m always affected by him.’
After dinner ended, Georgia glanced at the three men sitting in the living room.
She turned and headed outside. That one chilling look from Elliot during dinner had given her indigestion.
The Thorne Residence was an old house, and as such, it had a large courtyard.
The moonlight tonight was beautiful, filtering through the dense trees and casting dappled shadows on the ground.
She took a deep breath. Just as she was about to go for a walk, she heard a faint, weak cry.
Unsure what it was, her curiosity piqued, she followed the sound, searching for its source.
The sound seemed to be coming from beneath a tree.
A cool breeze swept overhead, the strong wind making the leaves RUSTLE.
A leaf fell onto her head, startling her so much she almost cried out.
She reached up, felt it was just a leaf, and let out a sigh of relief.
She patted her chest and took a breath. ’Just scaring myself.’
The weak cry reached her ears again, and Georgia took out her phone.
She turned on the flashlight and aimed the beam at the base of the tree as she approached.
The light was bright. When it hit the ground, Georgia saw that it was a tiny kitten.
She immediately dropped her guard, approached it softly, and crouched down.
The kitten was tiny, looking like it had only been born a few days ago. The little thing’s fur hadn’t fully grown in, and its eyes were still closed.
The kitten was so small it must have been looking for its mother, letting out constant, soft mews.
Because it was so young and probably cold, its cries were very weak, hardly sounding like a cat at all.
’Kittens don’t leave their mothers in the first few days. Who could have brought it here?’
Of all animals, Georgia loved cats the most.
’She thought they were the most adorable creatures in the world.’
Having never handled such a tiny kitten before, Georgia was nervous. She didn’t dare to be too forceful, afraid she might hurt its small body.
It was so small that her palm was more than big enough to hold it.
The kitten wouldn’t stay still in her palm. It stretched out its sharp little claws, scrambling constantly as if trying to escape.
At the same time, its mews grew louder.
Georgia gently cradled the kitten against her chest, letting it feel her warmth.
The kitten began to nuzzle against her clothes. It was probably hungry.
’A newborn kitten like this definitely needs milk.’
As Georgia held the kitten, about to stand up, her eyes suddenly fell on a piece of clothing on the ground.
Someone had probably wrapped the kitten in it to keep it warm.
She picked up the garment, shaking off the dirt. When she saw the logo, she froze.
It looked like the same brand as Justin Sullivan’s clothes.
’When he had rushed back earlier, he wasn’t wearing his jacket.’
’So, does that mean Justin Sullivan brought this kitten here?’
She looked down at the mewling kitten in her arms and held it a little tighter.
She had just stood up, not yet having time to turn, when a gentle voice sounded from behind her.
"Georgia, could you adopt this little kitten?"
The sound of Justin Sullivan’s voice made Georgia jump and take a large step backward.
Her back hit the tree trunk, her eyes wide with shock.
"Georgia, this kitten has been through a lot," Justin Sullivan said mournfully. "Its mother was hit by a car and died. All of its siblings starved. It’s the only one that was strong enough to survive."
