Chapter 452

Julian, as it turned out, was thinking exactly the same thing as his parents. He went straight to find Lily.

Since the villa was his own property, he wasn’t as strict with her anymore. She only wore an ankle monitor, and the entire bedroom was her activity zone. Meals were brought to her by a housekeeper, left outside the door. Julian had made it very clear: just drop off the food, nothing more. There should be no questions and interactions.

The housekeeper was a quiet, obedient woman. Julian paid her well, and she simply did her job – left the meals and walked away without asking anything. She was diligent and disciplined.

When Julian arrived, she happened to be placing a meal tray at the door. Seeing him, she jumped in surprise.

“Sir, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“What, am I that frightening?” Julian narrowed his eyes, sensing something off.

“No, no, I was just caught off guard. You usually don’t show up around this time.”

Seeing her practically bowing to the floor, Julian let it slide.

“Alright. Go on, then.”

“Yes, right away.”

She didn’t hesitate. The moment she got his permission, she took off like she’d been granted a pardon. Watching her go, Julian felt his suspicions ease. A woman like that wouldn’t have the guts to cross him even if someone handed her the courage.

He picked up the tray and stepped inside.

Hearing movement at the door, Lily didn’t react. She simply sat on the bed, dressed in next to nothing. Still, at least she had a place to sleep now. When she saw Julian enter, she wasn’t the least bit surprised. In fact, she was unusually calm. Julian found that reaction a little unexpected.

After all, Lily had never been like this before. Whenever she saw him, her first reaction was to bare her teeth, full of defiance. She never held back her opinions – if she wasn’t cursing him out, she was already kicking him. She noticed Julian’s surprised expression and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

What a joke. She played nice for once, and he didn’t even know how to handle it. Clearly, Julian had a twisted taste. Everything he did went against what most people would call normal.

Julian, however, didn’t seem to care about the look in her eyes. He simply smiled and said, “Alright, drop the attitude. Come have something to eat.”

“If I were really hungry, I would’ve eaten all this already before you even showed up,” Lily replied bluntly, not sparing him the courtesy.

Julian’s face froze, the hand holding the chopsticks tightening. At the Waltons’, Grace had scolded him. Then Tessa lectured him. At home, all he heard was his parents bickering. Why was it that even here – this space that was supposed to belong entirely to him – Lily still dared to talk back?

His temper started to flare, a faint redness creeping into the corners of his eyes. Lily had been a little afraid at first. But the longer she watched him, the more amused she became.

Then, all of a sudden, she laughed. Her laughter caught Julian off guard, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to react.

“What are you laughing at?” he asked coldly.

Lily didn’t hold back. “I’m laughing at you because you’re a coward. You’re nothing. That’s why you come here to vent. It’s because you’ve been beaten down out there.” The thought alone made her want to laugh again. This man only knew how to act tough in front of her.