Chapter 254: Chapter 254: The Lily of the Valley
In the late afternoon, as the sunset dyed the city sky in a warm orange-yellow hue, the two of them began preparing for their date.
In the spacious dressing room, Julian Sterling stood before the neatly arranged rows of clothes, his fingers gliding lightly over each fold of fabric. He decided to skip Ethan Caldwell’s familiar stiff suits. Instead, he took out a dark grey turtleneck sweater coordinated with a long black wool coat.
When Ethan Caldwell donned this outfit on his body, the daily coldness and majesty of a CEO seemed to be replaced by a rugged, warm, and exceptionally charismatic appearance.
In return, Ethan Caldwell also personally chose a wonderfully soft milky-white sweater for Julian Sterling. The man stepped closer, carefully helping Julian Sterling adjust his collar, and then wrapped a striped scarf around the young man’s neck.
The man’s movements were extremely slow and meticulous, the back of his hand occasionally brushed against the skin under Julian Sterling’s chin, bringing along a slight roughness that caused Julian’s heartbeat to flutter softly.
The luxurious car rolled smoothly on the bustling, brightly lit city streets. The scenery outside the window drifted by slowly, reflecting in Julian Sterling’s clear eyes. Suddenly, the vehicle gradually decelerated and then pulled over to the curb.
“Sit here and wait for me for a moment.” Ethan Caldwell unfastened his seatbelt, turning to speak softly to Julian before pushing the door open and stepping out of the car.
Julian Sterling looked curiously at Ethan’s tall back through the glass window.
Only a few minutes later, the man returned, bringing with him a gust of the chilly evening air. In his hands was a fresh bouquet of flowers that had been exquisitely wrapped.
It was not the vibrant red roses commonly seen on dates, but a pure white bouquet of Lily of the Valley. The tiny, bell-shaped blossoms drooped down, emitting a pure, sweet, and wonderfully pleasant fragrance.
“For you.” Ethan Caldwell presented the bouquet in front of Julian Sterling, his profound gaze seemingly shining even brighter than the streetlights outside.
Julian Sterling was momentarily stunned as he accepted the bouquet.
Lily of the Valley was his favorite flower, it carried the meaning of the return of happiness. In his previous world, he had always been solitary, burying his head in work, and no one had ever gifted him this kind of flower.
A bittersweet sensation welled up in his chest, yet on the surface, Julian Sterling still tried to conceal his emotion. He embraced the bouquet in his arms, curling the corners of his lips to tease : “Since when did our CEO Caldwell learn to be so romantic? Suddenly going out to buy flowers for me, did you ask Helen Lloyd for advice?”
Ethan Caldwell did not appear the least bit flustered in the face of Julian’s teasing. He reached out, gently stroking the strands of hair falling over Julian Sterling’s forehead, his voice remarkably serious and sincere: “Today is our date, after all. There are indeed many things I have never tried before, nor am I well-versed in these romantic matters, but I will learn them gradually. As long as it is something that makes you happy, I am entirely willing to learn.”
That rustic statement devoid of any flowery rhetoric struck hard at Julian Sterling’s heart, causing his breathing to seemingly stagnate for a second. He lowered his head to look at the pure white blossoms, the corners of his lips involuntarily blooming into a radiant smile as he obediently nodded.
Arriving at the cinema, true to the rumors, this area was extremely crowded.
Throngs of people bustled back and forth, talking and laughing animatedly. Ethan Caldwell instinctively stretched out his sturdy arm to embrace Julian Sterling’s waist, carefully shielding the young man into his embrace to prevent him from being bumped into by others. This absolute protection brought Julian Sterling a profoundly solid sense of security.
Because it was a date, Ethan Caldwell purchased tickets for a couple’s seat located in the most secluded and private position at the very top of the screening room. The movie they watched was a romantic cinematic piece. In the dark space of the theater, there was only the flickering light reflecting from the screen, creating an incredibly ambiguous atmosphere.
Julian Sterling hugged the box of sweet caramel popcorn on his lap, occasionally grabbing a handful and tossing it into his mouth.
When he reached out to get the popcorn, his fingers accidentally touched the slender fingers of Ethan Caldwell, which were also placed inside the box. Instead of retracting them, the man directly flipped his palm upwards, fully grasping Julian Sterling’s slightly cold hand, interweaving their ten fingers tightly together, and placing them on his own thigh. Julian Sterling trembled slightly, he did not withdraw his hand, simply allowing the warmth from Ethan’s palm to transmit over to his own body.
It seemed that this was the second time they had watched a movie together at the cinema. The first time still held much awkwardness, and within Julian Sterling’s heart at that time, there were many more heavy calculations than there were now. Only this time did he possess a relaxed mindset, carefully watching the plot of the film.
On the screen at this moment, the male and female leads, after so many misunderstandings, finally realized their feelings for each other. They rushed towards one another, exchanging a passionate kiss under the pouring rain. The music in the cinema soared high, brimming with emotion.
Ethan Caldwell suddenly tilted his head, leaning in close to Julian Sterling’s ear. The scorching breath carrying a faint scent of mint exhaled against Julian’s sensitive earlobe, and Ethan’s deep, hoarse voice rang out with immense allure: “Jules…”
Julian Sterling turned his head around, and right at that split second, his lips brushed against the man’s lips. Not missing the opportunity, Ethan Caldwell raised his hand to support the back of Julian’s neck, blocking off every path of retreat, and lowered his head to conquer those soft lips.
The initial kiss was merely a gentle, probing touch, but very soon after, upon sensing Julian Sterling’s obedient cooperation, it instantaneously transformed into a scorching deep kiss.
The man gently bit and sucked on Julian Sterling’s lower lip, his flexible tongue prying apart the half-opened teeth, advancing into the warm oral cavity to sweep through every corner. Julian Sterling half-closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling continuously.
He smelled the familiar masculine fragrance of Ethan Caldwell enveloping all of his senses. The sweet taste of the caramel popcorn seemed to melt between the two pairs of lips that were intertwining and refusing to part.
Ethan Caldwell’s hand slid into Julian Sterling’s soft hair, lightly rubbing the nape of his neck, causing Julian to let out a soft, sobbing moan from his throat. That tiny sound was like kindling, incinerating the very last shred of the man’s rationality. Ethan Caldwell tightened his embrace, pulling the young man’s body to press tightly against his own chest, and the kiss became increasingly intense and carried a much higher degree of possessiveness.
The breathing of both of them gradually became hurried, blending together in the darkness of the cinema corner. All the sounds and images of the movie out there seemed to have been completely isolated. The current world was left with only the continuous beating of two hearts pressed close, burning fiercely and deeply intoxicated within the erupting love.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep
Chapters
- Chapter 348: The Bloodstained Chessboard
- Chapter 347: Echoes from the Past (2)
- Chapter 346: Echoes from the Past
- Chapter 345: The Origin of Sin
- Chapter 344: Secrets Beneath the Floorboards
- Chapter 343: What is the real?
- Chapter 342: The Price of Immortality
- Chapter 341: The Eden Project (2)
- Chapter 340: The Eden Project
- Chapter 339: A Lingering Promise
- Chapter 338: A Desperate Entanglement
- Chapter 337: Confessions and Intertwined Memories
- Chapter 336: The Death of Julian Sterling
- Chapter 335: The Biological Puppet
- Chapter 334: The Mechanical Brainwaves
- Chapter 333: The Hidden Motives
- Chapter 332: Baiting the Trap
- Chapter 331: Invisible Threats
- Chapter 330: The Reality of Romance
- Chapter 329: A Clingy Lover
- Chapter 328: The Wordless Message
- Chapter 327: The Cruel Truth of CORE
- Chapter 326: The Trap Within a Trap
- Chapter 325: CORE
- Chapter 324: A Decade of Torment
- Chapter 323: A Decade of Agony (2)
- Chapter 322: A Decade of Agony
- Chapter 321: Anomalies in Time
- Chapter 320: The Undercurrents of St. Lawrence
- Chapter 319: The Bloodline of Madness
- Chapter 318: Gathering in the Shadows
- Chapter 317: The Aftermath of Passion
- Chapter 316: The Limit of Endurance (R21)
- Chapter 315: The Searing Touch of Wax (R21)
- Chapter 314: Stubborn Provocation
- Chapter 313: A Drop of Torment (R21)
- Chapter 312: Shattered Senses (R21)
- Chapter 311: No safe word (R21)
- Chapter 310: The Sweet Punishment (R21)
- Chapter 309: Unbearable Torment (R21)
- Chapter 308: A Torturous Pleasure (R21)
- Chapter 307: The Allure of the Silver Chain (R21)
- Chapter 306: A Lingering Effect
- Chapter 305: Embracing the Spoiled Life
- Chapter 304: A Lifelong Promise
- Chapter 303: A Gamble of the Heart
- Chapter 302: Unspoken Sentiments
- Chapter 301: Clearing the Air
- Chapter 300: The Interrogation and the Riverside Villa
- Chapter 299: A Sweet Display
- Chapter 298: Midnight Strategies
- Chapter 297: The Tides of Public Opinion (2)
- Chapter 296: The Tides of Public Opinion
- Chapter 295: Crossing the Line (R18)
- Chapter 294: Unspoken Agreement (R18)
- Chapter 293: Restless Night (R18)
- Chapter 292: Lingering Heat (R18)
- Chapter 291: Overwhelming Tides (R18)
- Chapter 290: Unfinished Business
- Chapter 289: A Complete Farce
- Chapter 288: The Legitimate Spouse
- Chapter 287: The Unmuzzled Dogs
- Chapter 286: The Tables Turned
- Chapter 285: Manipulating Public Opinion
- Chapter 284: The Live Stream Escalation
- Chapter 283: The Uninvited Intruders
- Chapter 282: The Storm of Public Opinion (2)
- Chapter 281: The Storm of Public Opinion
- Chapter 280: The Surging Tides of Desire (R18)
- Chapter 279: R18
- Chapter 278: The Approaching Storm
- Chapter 277: A Swift Arrival
- Chapter 276: A Makeshift Solution
- Chapter 275: A Desperate Call
- Chapter 274: Intercepted in the Garage
- Chapter 273: The Disguise
- Chapter 272: The Urgent News
- Chapter 271: The Hidden Camera
- Chapter 270: Kensington City
- Chapter 269: The Calm Before the Storm
- Chapter 268: The Real Battlefield
- Chapter 267: Shifting the Narrative
- Chapter 266: The Media War
- Chapter 265: The Preemptive Strike
- Chapter 264: The Unseen Trap
- Chapter 263: Ethan Caldwell really is a bastard!
- Chapter 262: Putting on an Act
- Chapter 261: Dating "Someone Else"
- Chapter 260: The Snake Reveals Itself
- Chapter 259: Flies and Mosquitoes Amidst the Battle
- Chapter 258: The Kissing Photo in the Movie Theater
- Chapter 257: Morning Conversation
- Chapter 256: Absolute Authority
- Chapter 255: A Sweet Night Out
- Chapter 254: The Lily of the Valley
- Chapter 253: The Anchor
- Chapter 252: Ordinary Smoke and Fire
- Chapter 251: Coaxing
- Chapter 250: The Variable of Destiny
- Chapter 249: "I Am His Husband"
- Chapter 248: If You Want to Die, Let Us Die Together
- Chapter 247: A Thug in Pink Makeup
- Chapter 246: Is the Victim at Fault?
- Chapter 245: Malice in the Lecture Hall
- Chapter 244: A funeral dirge that they dedicated to their own lives
- Chapter 243: The Uncontrollable Ferment
- Chapter 242: I will drag you down to death with me
- Chapter 241: Talking about the post
- Chapter 240: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole
- Chapter 239: Public Opinion
- Chapter 238: The Forum Storm
- Chapter 237: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
- Chapter 236: A Well-Rehearsed Act
- Chapter 235: The Compensation Date
- Chapter 234: The Dividend Agreement
- Chapter 233: 20% Shares
- Chapter 232: The Teary-Eyed Doll
- Chapter 231: The Future Handed Over
- Chapter 230: Always Someone Better
- Chapter 229: A Talented But Arrogant Individual
- Chapter 228: Compensatory Crab Porridge
- Chapter 227: Fiercer
- Chapter 226: The Drenched Brush
- Chapter 225: A Picture of Eroticism
- Chapter 224: Painting the Tide of Passion
- Chapter 223: A Sketch Upon Bare Flesh
- Chapter 222: The New "Usage" of the Painting Brushes
- Chapter 221: The Energy-Infused Glazed Tiles
- Chapter 220: The Perfect Act
- Chapter 219: A Sweet Wound
- Chapter 218: Self-sacrificing Stratagem
- Chapter 217: The Nemesis of the Lilac
- Chapter 216: Coaxing
- Chapter 215: The Invisible Trap
- Chapter 214: A Strange Fragrance
- Chapter 213: Vigilance
- Chapter 212: Strange Face
- Chapter 211: The Gamble of Affection
- Chapter 210: The Special "Assistant"
- Chapter 209: The Perfect Play
- Chapter 208: Acknowledging the Identity
- Chapter 207: The True Nature of the Despicable
- Chapter 206: A High-Class Face-Slapping
- Chapter 205: Rats Clad in Silk
- Chapter 204: Fine Fabrics and Filthy People
- Chapter 203: Stepping Over the Line
- Chapter 202: The Runner-Up
- Chapter 201: The Newly Rich Youngest Son
- Chapter 200: The Background of the Troublemaker
- Chapter 199: Malicious Glances
- Chapter 198: Enrollment
- Chapter 197: Drowning in the Storm
- Chapter 196: Trapped in the Heat of Desire
- Chapter 195: Overwhelming Surrender
- Chapter 194: Shattered Defenses
- Chapter 193: The Starlit Surrender
- Chapter 192: Wilderness and Want
- Chapter 191: Leaving at the Climax
- Chapter 190: The Weight of Forever
- Chapter 189: A Vow Beneath the Stars
- Chapter 188: The Silence of the Stars
- Chapter 187: The Golden River Beneath the Stars (2)
- Chapter 186: The Golden River Beneath the Stars
- Chapter 185: The Echo of a Broken Soul
- Chapter 184: The Weight of a Soul
- Chapter 183: Starlit Regrets
- Chapter 182: The Art of Negotiation
- Chapter 181: The Puppeteer’s Strings
- Chapter 180: The Cold-Blooded Operative
- Chapter 179: The Script of a Tragedy
- Chapter 178: The Camouflage of Absurdity
- Chapter 177: A Symphony of Neon and Speed
- Chapter 176: The Price of Indulgence
- Chapter 175: The Aftermath of Surrender
- Chapter 174: A Compromise of Dignity
- Chapter 173: Sweet Torture
- Chapter 172: A Cruel Game of Endurance
- Chapter 171: A Sweet, Agonizing Torment
- Chapter 170: The Fantasy of Fruition
- Chapter 169: Depths of Desire
- Chapter 168: A Taste of Depravity
- Chapter 167: The Residue of Madness
- Chapter 166: The City Beneath Their Feet
- Chapter 165: A Breath-Taking View
- Chapter 164: The Art of Possession - R18
- Chapter 163: The Mark of Possession - R18
- Chapter 162: Stimulant - R18
- Chapter 161: The Intoxicating Scent of Jealousy
- Chapter 160: Talking with Ethan’s friends
- Chapter 159: The Unveiling of Hidden Gems
- Chapter 158: Circles of Power
- Chapter 157: The Inner Circle
- Chapter 156: The Weight of Privilege
- Chapter 155: Shadows Behind the Golden Light
- Chapter 154: The Invisible Lines of a New Empire
- Chapter 153: The Shadow King
- Chapter 152: A Cup of Ambition
- Chapter 151: An Invitation to the Inner Circle
- Chapter 150: A Morning Knot
- Chapter 149: A Palette of Warmth
- Chapter 148: The Murky Waters of Saint Lawrence (2)
- Chapter 147: The Murky Waters of Saint Lawrence
- Chapter 146: The Fox and the Hunter
- Chapter 145: The Rules of the Game
- Chapter 144: The Butterfly Effect
- Chapter 143: The Dangerous Warmth of Domesticity
- Chapter 142: The Cold Floor
- Chapter 141: The Reflection in the Glass
- Chapter 140: The Elusive Shadow
- Chapter 139: The Shadow Strategist
- Chapter 138: The Unintended Audience
- Chapter 137: The Most Potent Weapon
- Chapter 136: The Pincer Attack
- Chapter 135: The Art of Manipulation
- Chapter 134: Stirring the Muddy Waters
- Chapter 133: The Bait in the Shadows
- Chapter 132: Talking with Lucas
- Chapter 131: The Price of Indulgent Nights
- Chapter 130: The Covenant of Equality
- Chapter 129: Unconditional Surrender
- Chapter 128: The Boundary of Pride
- Chapter 127: The Next Day
- Chapter 126: The Breaking Point
- Chapter 125: A Torturous Resonance
- Chapter 124: The Chilling Intrusion
- Chapter 123: The Gentle Cleansing
- Chapter 122: The Shattered Reflection
- Chapter 121: The Reflection
- Chapter 120: Reflections of Vain Regret
- Chapter 119: The Symphony of Silver Bells
- Chapter 118: The Predator Unbound
- Chapter 117: The Tantalizing Vibration
- Chapter 116: The Golden String
- Chapter 115: Turning the Tables
- Chapter 114: A Tender Embrace
- Chapter 113: The Flogger’s Caress
- Chapter 112: Edge of Control
- Chapter 111: The Tremors of Sweet Torture
- Chapter 110: A Lesson Etched in Pleasure
- Chapter 109: Sweet Torment
- Chapter 108: Bound and Exposed
- Chapter 107: The Pervert You Love
- Chapter 106: The Melody of Punishment
- Chapter 105: Settling the Score
- Chapter 104: The Predator Wakes
- Chapter 103: ATHERIA: Legacy of the Stars
- Chapter 102: The Negotiation
- Chapter 101: The Price of Starlight
- Chapter 100: The Resonance of Memory
- Chapter 99: The Hollow Echo of Perfection
- Chapter 98: The Architecture of Ambition
- Chapter 97: The Halo of Centaurus
- Chapter 96: A Starlit Legacy
- Chapter 95: A Brewing Storm
- Chapter 94: Hidden Agendas
- Chapter 93: The Woman in the Shadows
- Chapter 92: The Hidden Shadow
- Chapter 91: A Calculated Test
- Chapter 90: The Discarded Tool
- Chapter 89: The Harsh Truth
- Chapter 88: The Taste of Despair
- Chapter 87: The Mastermind
- Chapter 86: The Aftermath
- Chapter 85: The Reclusive Doctor
- Chapter 84: A Rose Crushed in Passion
- Chapter 83: Blatant Provocation
- Chapter 82: A Child of Our Own?
- Chapter 81: Can You Get Pregnant?
- Chapter 80: Awakening of Affection
- Chapter 79: Unending Heat
- Chapter 78: Sinking into Desire
- Chapter 77: The Feverish Entanglement
- Chapter 76: The Only Cure
- Chapter 75: Feverish Instincts
- Chapter 74: A Desperate Escape
- Chapter 73: A Web of Deceit
- Chapter 72: The Abduction
- Chapter 71: The Trap and the Countermove
- Chapter 70: A Scripted Reunion
- Chapter 69: A Calculated Encounter
- Chapter 68: Laying the Groundwork
- Chapter 67: Is It Worth It?
- Chapter 66: The Ferocious Sea of Pleasure
- Chapter 65: An Intimate Compromise
- Chapter 64: Shirt Garters
- Chapter 63: Gentle Aftermath
- Chapter 62: The Hidden Ambitions
- Chapter 61: Unraveling the Scheme
- Chapter 60: Hidden Depths
- Chapter 59: The Strategic Presentation
- Chapter 58: The Meeting and the Market Strategy
- Chapter 57: The Most Beautiful Appearance
- Chapter 56: The Gamble
- Chapter 55: The Aftermath
- Chapter 54: Melting Ice
- Chapter 53: Cold Punishment
- Chapter 52: The Staircase Punishment
- Chapter 51: Consequences of the Tonic
- Chapter 50: Sweet Torture
- Chapter 49: The Sheep’s Eye Ring
- Chapter 48: The Red Rope
- Chapter 47: Afternoon Indulgence
- Chapter 46: A Nourishing Scheme
- Chapter 45: A Meal to Capture the Heart
- Chapter 44: The Spectator
- Chapter 43: A Fox in Sheep’s Clothing
- Chapter 42: The Sterling Family’s Scheme
- Chapter 41: Schemes at the Dinner Table
- Chapter 40: Hidden Agendas
- Chapter 39: A Free Show
- Chapter 38: Comrades in Arms
- Chapter 37: The Perfect Plan
- Chapter 36: Little Jules
- Chapter 35: The Gossip of the Cole Family
- Chapter 34: Consequences of Indulgence
- Chapter 33: Reflections of Desire (R18)
- Chapter 32: Bathroom Indulgence (R18)
- Chapter 31: Sweet Torture
- Chapter 30: Impulsive Indulgence
- Chapter 29: Hidden Motives
- Chapter 28: The Ebony Lounge
- Chapter 27: Hidden Connections and Lingering Resentment
- Chapter 26: The Morning After and Hidden Agendas
- Chapter 25: Relentless (R18)
- Chapter 24: Passionate Indulgence in the Bathroom (R18)
- Chapter 23: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
- Chapter 22: The Best Revenge
- Chapter 21: White Moonlight and Vermilion Mark
- Chapter 20: Bare soul
- Chapter 19: Building a Foundation
- Chapter 18: Morning Heat (R18)
- Chapter 17: The Back-up Plan
- Chapter 16: Testing Boundaries
- Chapter 15: R18
- Chapter 14: Indulgence (R18)
- Chapter 13: The First Time (R18)
- Chapter 12: The Wedding Night
- Chapter 11: The Confrontation in the Garden
- Chapter 10: My Family’s Affairs
- Chapter 9: The Quiet Union
- Chapter 8: A Potential Partner
- Chapter 7: The First Kiss
- Chapter 6: The Sunday Date
- Chapter 5: Faint Starlight
- Chapter 4: A Promise of Freedom
- Chapter 3: The Warmth Of His Hand
- Chapter 2: The First Encounter
- Chapter 1: The Transmigration and The Arranged Marriage