<h4>Chapter 166: Confession</h4>


    Natalie headed to the kitchen to grab the water jug for the bedroom, but—


    "What... who cleaned it?" she eximed, surprised by the sight of the spotless kitchen. It looked as if it had never seen a mess before. She clearly remembered the chaos she had left behind while cooking—the sttered soup and cluttered counters. Now, there wasn’t a single trace of it.


    Justin stood beside her, humming in approval as he observed the pristine kitchen.


    She turned to him. "Did you send someone to clean this?"


    "Ryan was enough," Justin replied coolly, already heading toward the bedroom.


    Natalie nced around in disbelief, noting even the trash had been emptied and everything was neatly arranged. She picked up the already-filled water jug and followed him while thinking.


    "Ryan? How could you ask your bodyguard—one trained like him—to do chores like this?" she asked, unable to picture the towering, broad-shouldered man meticulously scrubbing her kitchen.


    Justin gave a nonchnt shrug as he entered the bedroom. "If I, the richest and most powerful man in the country, can do it, why can’t he?"


    Natalie was reminded of the time Justin had cleaned her kitchen himself—and to her surprise, he’d done a wless job. She would have given him a 10/10.


    Setting the water jug on the table, she said, "Well, don’t do that again. I’d feel bad letting someone like you handle things like that."


    "Those are basic skills of survival. If he one can’t take care of their own home and needs, how can they even handle the matters outside?" Justin replied casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, if my woman can do it, why can’t I?"


    Natalie fell silent, her gaze dropping as she avoided looking at him.


    "We should sleep early," she mumbled, heading toward her side of the bed.


    But Justin caught her hand, gently stopping her. "We need to talk."


    Without turning, she replied, "It’ste. Maybe tomorrow."


    "It won’t take long," Justin insisted, his gaze fixed on her back.


    Natalie finally turned to face him. He released her hand, guiding her to sit at the edge of the bed. He took a step back, leaning casually against the desk behind him, both hands tucked into the pockets of his pants.


    "Why are you avoiding me after we kissed in the kitchen?" he asked bluntly. ying with words and going round and round was not his style.


    Natalie took a slow breath to steady herself, her gaze lowered. "I think... we should keep some distance."


    "Hmm?"


    She fidgeted with her fingers, struggling to find the right words. After everything that had happened between themst night, followed by another intimate moment in the kitchen, asking for space felt hypocritical.


    "You are together stuck here due to my grandpa, but despite that I ept your presence around, even sharing a bed with you. But at the same time, we both know this isn’t real. It won’tst. Once we find Aiden Handrix—my husband, your lookalike—you’ll go back to your world, and I’ll return to mine. There’s no reason to get too close."


    Silence fell between them as Justin studied her face, watching every flicker of emotion. His unwavering gaze made her fidget even more, anxiety prickling beneath her skin.


    When he didn’t respond, her nerves tightened, and she dared not look at him.


    "So you think I will leave you just like others left you, especially that idiot Ivan?" Justin finally asked, his deep voice calm andposed, but she could feel he was not happy to hear what she thought.


    Natalie didn’t reply.


    "You think, I am just ying with you as we are together and I have nothing better to do," he asked, maintaining hisposure. "You think I will leave you after I find Aiden Handrix.... But do you really believe in your own thoughts?"


    Natalie was taken aback by his words. Did she really believe Justin would leave her? She wasn’t sure—or maybe she was just too afraid to face the answer.


    "I... I just want to keep my distance," she whispered. "So it’ll be easier to go back to being alone... to my usual life."


    Justin pushed away from the desk and closed the distance between them. He leaned down and gently tilted her chin up with his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. His dark, intense eyes locked with hers.


    You won’t be living alone ever."


    Natalie blinked a few times, his gaze, his words felt assuring andforting. She hated to live alone, that’s why she never strongly rejected Justin’s presence in her home.


    "When I told you you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life," he said, his voice low and unwavering, "did you think I was joking?"


    "Huh?" was all Natalie could manage, her mind a swirl of confusion. His presence was so overwhelming that it left her feeling muddled and off bnce.


    "Natalie Ford," Justin said, his voice low and deliberate, "never in my life have I called anyone ’my woman.’ You are the first—and I n for you to be thest. And trust me, my ns never fail. Do you understand what I mean and what my intentions are?"


    Natalie swallowed hard. That was as close to a full-blown confession as anyone could get—but could she trust him? What guarantee did she have that he wouldn’t leave her? Ivan, who had been by her side since childhood, hadn’t hesitated for a moment before walking away. How could she be sure that this man, whom she had known for barely a month, wouldn’t do the same?


    Justin’s sharp gaze seemed to cut through her thoughts, reading her doubts as if they were written across her face.


    "I know you’re still hurting from your past rtionship," he said, his voice gentler now. "It’s hard to trust when the people you cared for weren’t kind to you. But I’m not like them, Natalie. I never go back on my word." His gaze held hers, unwavering. "I’ll wait for you—for as long as it takes—until you can trust mepletely. We’re not in a rush. I want you to fall for me, and I’ll give you all the time in the world. You’re the only woman I’ve ever been willing to wait for."