Free Web NovelChapter 13: Dangerous alliance I
Julian froze.
Of all the things he expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them.
For a long second, the room went quiet. He studied her face.
"Boyfriend?" he repeated slowly.
Lyvana’s grip tightened around the glass. Now that the words were out, they sounded reckless even to her ears. But she didn’t take them back.
"Yes," she said. "Just... temporarily."
His brow lifted slightly.
"I’m in."
She blinked. "What?"
"I agree," he said calmly. "I’ll do it."
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "You didn’t even ask what that would involve." freёwebnovel.com
"So tell me," he said softly.
She told him about her grandmother, the inheritance and the pressure. The man she was supposed to marry — and the betrayal she had uncovered.
Julian listened without interrupting, his expression unreadable. When she finished, he turned to her.
"So you know about the affair," he said.
Lyvana nodded. "I’m not about to tie myself to a man like that. So... do we have a deal?"
"What’s in it for me?"
"Half of my trust fund," she said without hesitation.
The bluntness made him smirk. She must really want to rid herself of Mark if she was willing to give up half her inheritance. That thought pleased him more than he expected.
A slow, amused smile curved his lips. If only she knew how much he was actually worth...
"We have a deal," he said smoothly. "I’ll be the perfect boyfriend."
Lyvana grinned, stepping forward and throwing her arms around him. She felt him stiffen immediately, the undeniable bulge of his hardness pressing against her. A shiver ran through her. Maybe hugging him while naked under the silk hadn’t been the brightest idea.
She took two steps back.
"I think we should set some boundaries," she said.
He chuckled, though he didn’t move to close the space she had just vacated. The air between them was still charged, humming with the sudden friction of that contact.
"Boundaries," he repeated, his voice regaining that polished, effortless edge. "Probably wise. Though I’d suggest starting with a robe."
Lyvana felt the heat climb her neck, but she kept her chin up.
"First. No touching unless we’re in public and the ’role’ requires it. Hand-holding, maybe an arm around the waist. That’s it."
He arched a single, elegant eyebrow.
"And behind closed doors?"
"Behind closed doors, we are business partners," she insisted. Although the silk felt thinner against her skin than it had a minute ago. "Second. You don’t ask about my private affairs, and I don’t ask about yours. We keep it strictly to the script."
He took a slow step toward her, watching the way her breath hitched. He stopped right in front of her, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips before meeting her eyes again.
"A reasonable request," he murmured. "But you’re forgetting the most important rule, Lyvana."
"What’s that?" she breathed.
"Don’t fall in love with the help," he said with a wink that was far too charming to be legal. "It complicates the exit strategy."
Just then the door opened and an older looking man stepped in.
"Ah, I see the Miss finally woke up."
The man stepped into the room carrying a black leather medical bag, his presence easing the tension Julian had been building. He was silver-haired with keen eyes tucked behind his spectacles.
"Dr. Aris," Julian said, his posture shifting from predatory to professional in a heartbeat.
He stepped back from Lyvana, giving the doctor space, though he didn’t go far. He remained standing at the foot of the bed like her guardian.
Lyvana sat on the bed.
"A nasty business, this," the doctor murmured, pulling a small penlight from his pocket. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
He offered Lyvana a gentle, reassuring smile.
"I’m Dr. Aris. I’ve been looking after you through the night. Do you feel any nausea, Miss? Any blurred vision or a metallic taste in your mouth?"
"Just... a headache," Lyvana whispered. "And my head feels a bit heavy."
"To be expected," Dr. Aris replied. He moved closer, clicking on the light to check her pupils. "The sedative they used was crude, but fast-acting. You’re lucky Mr. Blackwood intervened when he did. Another few minutes of the drug in your system without a counter-agent, and we’d be talking about permanent neurological tremors."
Lyvana’s blood ran cold. She glanced at Julian, who was watching the doctor with a focused, grim intensity. He hadn’t just saved her from a scandal; he had saved her from a chemical lobotomy.
The doctor reached for her neck, gently turning it over to inspect the small, bruised puncture mark where the needle had entered. "The site is healing well. No signs of infection."
He then checked her pulse, his brow furrowing slightly. "Heart rate is a bit elevated. Are you in any pain?"
"No," Lyvana said, her eyes flicking toward Julian and then back to the doctor. "Just... a lot to process."
"I imagine so." Dr. Aris packed his light away and turned to Julian. "She’s physically stable, Julian. But she needs rest and high-protein meals for the next twenty-four hours to flush the toxins. No alcohol, and certainly no more excitement."
Julian’s eyes glinted with a dark humor. "I think the ’no excitement’ part might be difficult, Doctor. We have a busy schedule."
Dr. Aris sighed, snapping his bag shut. "I’ve known you long enough to know you don’t listen to medical advice if it interferes with your plans. Just see that she eats."
As the doctor headed toward the door, he paused and looked back at Lyvana. "You’re in capable hands, Miss Montclair. Perhaps the most capable hands in this city. Try to get some real sleep."
Once the door clicked shut, the silence returned. Julian didn’t move. He stood there, against the dark wood of the room, looking at her as if she were a puzzle he had finally decided to solve.
"You heard the man," Julian said, his voice dropping. "You need to eat. And then, we’re going to talk about exactly how we’re going to introduce your new ’boyfriend’ to your grandmother."
