Chapter 1851


    In the office sat a woman in a simple tee and jeans, gripping her jacket tightly around her shoulders.


    Yulia nced at the jacket for a moment, then turned to an assistant nearby. "How do we handle


    this?"


    "We''ve taken care of everything. The other party will settle it privately."


    Yulia nodded. "How much?"


    "Five grand."


    "Alright. Can I take him with me now?"


    "Once the paperwork''s done, he''s all yours."d2


    With another nod, Yulia walked out of the office.


    The staff exchanged surprised looks. "She didn''t even ask what happened?"


    "Who knows?"


    Nathan stumbled out, d only in a crumpled ck shirt from a night of heavy drinking, his head


    pounding. He staggered slightly, his face the picture of exhaustion. Spotting Yulia leaning against


    the car door, he approached her. The smell of alcohol hung on him, mixed with the scents of smoke


    and cologne.


    Yulia stood up and opened the car door, her expression cool. "Get in. You can shower and change


    at home, maybe catch some more sleep?"


    Nathan, leaning on the door, looked at Yulia with bloodshot eyes. "How considerate."


    Yulia pursed her lips, walking past him. "Get in."


    Nathan''s grip on the car door turned his knuckles white.


    "Nathan!" A woman''s urgent voice came from behind them. Yulia, about to get in on the other side,


    looked back.


    She faced the police station entrance, where a slender figure hurried toward them. Yulia had a good


    memory, especially for someone she''d just seen. It was the woman from the office.


    Yulia watched her approach, noting the coat she offered. Her gaze fell to her own hand resting on


    the car door, paused, then she pulled it open forcefully.


    "Nathan, thank you forst night. This is your jacket."


    Nathan nced at the clothes in front of him, his suit jacket. He furrowed his brow. He looked up,


    his expression a mix of confusion and recognition.


    The woman seemed startled, quickly saying, "I... should I wash it before giving it back? It''s a bit


    soiled."


    Yulia, having opened the car door, sat down in the driver''s seat.


    Nathan turned, his eyes cold. "Clean it and give it back to me."


    "But how do I return it to you?" she asked.


    Nathan sat down in the passenger seat and through the still-open door, replied, "Meet me at the bar


    tonight. I''ll get it then."


    The woman nodded meekly. "Okay."


    Yulia started the car, and Nathan shut the door.


    They drove off. The car ride was silent, the atmosphere heavy with Nathan''s growing anger.


    "Nothing to say?" he finally snapped.


    It was just the two of them, and Yulia couldn''t pretend not to hear. She looked straight ahead,


    pausing before slowly saying, "What did you promise Anyast night? She was upset with me for a


    long timest night, but wouldn''t tell me where you were taking her. She said it was a secret


    between you two."


    Nathan''s mood was dark. He said nothing, and neither did Yulia until they reached their building and


    exited the car in silence, Nathan striding ahead into the apartment.


    Yulia followed at her own pace, eventually taking a separate elevator after Nathan.


    Nathan entered the apartment first. Soon, Anya came running with a Barbie doll in hand, looking up


    excitedly at Nathan. Her joy turned to hurt, and she pouted, turning her back on him.


    Carly followed, greeting him, but Nathan didn''t respond or acknowledge Anya, heading straight


    upstairs.


    Anya waited for an apology that never came, and tears welled up in her eyes.


    Carly bent down tofort her, but Anya only cried harder. "Nathan''s mean..."


    "Don''t cry, Anya, my little angel."


    Carly was frantic, knowing Anya was usually so well-behaved and would only cry like this if truly


    upset.


    The door opened, and Yulia entered, sighing softly when she saw Anya crying. She dropped her


    bag, slipped off her shoes, and lifted Anya into her arms.


    Carly exined, "Mr. Nathan just came back. He didn''t look good, and didn''t say a word to Anya. He


    just went upstairs."


    Yulia nodded, "It''s fine."


    Since Yulia didn''t want to talk more, Carly headed to the kitchen.


    Yulia sat with Anya on the sofa, drying her tears. "What''s wrong, Anya?"


    Anya sobbed, "Nathan ignored me."


    "He''s tired. Didn''t you see how dirty his clothes were? He needs to rest. Once he''s rested, he''ll


    apologize to you."


    Anya huped, "But what did Nathan dost night to get so tired?"


    Yulia pressed her lips together, pausing before admitting, "I don''t know."


    Anya stopped crying and climbed the stairs to find Nathan.


    Nathan had showered quickly. When he emerged, he found Anya on his bed, pouting. "I forgive


    you," she suddenly dered.


    Nathan, expressionless, dried his hair and looked down at her. "What did I do that you need to


    forgive me?"


    "Come on, you totally promised you''d take me out yesterday. You''re a liar, and lying is just wrong."


    "Thanks for the reminder," he said dryly, tossing the towel aside. He scooped her up, set her gently


    on the floor, and crawled under the covers. "Have fun. I need to catch some z''s."


    But Anya wasn''t having it. She climbed over to the other side, pulled the duvet off Nathan''s head,


    and nted a kiss on his forehead.


    His eyes fluttered open, bloodshot and weary. "What''s the big idea?"


    Anya pouted, "Yulipop said you''ve been super busy and tired. Told me to give you afort kiss


    when you got back."


    When Nathan fell silent, Anya straddled his belly to get a better look at him, "I''ll tuck you in, okay?


    Then after your nap, you''ll take me out, deal?"


    Nathan let out a chuckle, "I knew there was too much mischief in you to be that sweet. Off you go, I


    don''t need a bedtime story. I can sleep just fine by myself."


    Anya crossed her arms and huffed, puffing out her cheeks. With an indignant snort, she turned and


    stomped away.


    "Wait a second."


    Nathan''s voice stopped her in her tracks, and she looked back. "Yeah?"


    He cleared his throat. "Did your mom say anything elsest night?"


    Anya thought for a moment and then shook her head, "Nope, that''s it."


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Nathan''s face darkened, and he pulled the duvet over his head in resignation.


    --


    He thought that was the end of it, but the rumor mill had other ideas. Before long, the story had


    blown up online.


    Nathan used to be a regr on the entertainment news circuit, and with the Harper family''s current


    buzz, the story''s heat skyrocketed in no time. Soon enough, everyone knew about Nathan''s bar


    fight over a woman, and even the details of Yulia bailing him out were public knowledge.


    Ronald''s call came shortly after the news broke.


    Yulia was in the kitchen, observing Carly whip up lunch, when Anya, who had been watching


    cartoons in the living room, answered the phone. Chattering happily with Ronald, she brought the


    phone over to Yulia.


    "Yulipop, Mister Ronald''s on the line."


    With a sigh, Yulia took the phone. "Hello?"


    "Seen the news?"


    "What news?"


    "Nathan''s bar brawl over some gal is the talk of the town, and so is you springing him from jail. It


    won''t be long before your rtionship is out in the open too. You really nning to just let it drag


    on?"


    Yulia furrowed her brow.


    Ronald pressed on, "Yulia, this is a domino effect. Everyone''s watching, waiting to find out why you


    two got hitched so suddenly. They won''t even spare Anya. She''s innocent. Are you sure you want to


    expose her to this circus?"