Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother - Chapter 354

Chapter 354: Not Jealous, But A Considerate Wife
Late at night, Natalie was in a deep sleep. All of a sudden, she felt a comforting and familiar warmth next to her. Instinctively, she turned to her side and buried her face against the firm chest of a man, her hand wrapping around his waist.

“You’re back?” she mumbled in her sleepy voice.

He wrapped his arms around her and hummed softly.

“I missed you,” she whispered, snuggling closer to him in comfort.

“I missed you as well,” he murmured, inhaling the sweet scent lingering in her freshly washed hair. “Happy second marriage anniversary.”

She moved her head back and looked up at him with sleepy eyes. “Happy wedding anniversary.”

He gently caressed her hair as he gazed at her lovingly. “I know this shouldn’t be the way—since we didn’t even realize we were married. But soon, I’ll make sure to give you a beautiful and proper wedding.”

She hummed in response. “Not a big one—just with people close to us.”

“However you like it,” he agreed warmly.

She smiled softly and said, “I have a gift for you… for us.”

He raised a brow. “A gift?”

“Let me get it,” she said, sitting up. She turned on the bedside lamp and pulled out a small, beautifully wrapped box from the drawer.

Facing him, she opened the box and held it out to him. “I bought these a while ago, but it seems like today is the perfect day.”

Justin looked at the pair of rings nestled inside as he listened to her words.

“I don’t want you walking around without a ring,” she said, her voice turning playful. “Wherever you go, I see women lusting after you. Wearing a ring will save you the trouble of dealing with annoying women.”

She acted as if she were doing him a great favor—completely thoughtful and selfless.

Justin smirked lightly and looked at her. “I never faced any trouble, but it seems like someone is just being possessive.”

Natalie cleared her throat awkwardly. “I… was just trying to be helpful. Didn’t you notice at the farewell banquet in Belvorn how every woman had her eyes on you? Oh, and for your information, Howard Everthorn wants to hook up Charlotte with you.”

Justin scoffed. “He must be high on something to think that way.”

“It’s not their fault. You are the one who’s created such a mysterious aura around yourself, along with that ridiculously successful career,” Natalie countered. “That’s why you need to make sure to wear this ring to keep such troubles away in case you meet such people. Understood?”

Justin smiled lightly and hummed. “Understood. My wife is truly so thoughtful to think this far ahead and save me from all that trouble.”

Natalie could clearly hear the teasing in his words, but she didn’t want to admit she was jealous.

“Do you want to wear it or not?” she asked impatiently. “If not, I’ll just return them.”

Before she could get more upset, he quickly pulled out one ring from the box. “Let me put it on you first.”

Happily, she offered him her hand, but to her surprise, he slid the ring onto her forefinger instead of her ring finger.

She gave him a questioning look, only to hear him say, “When we have our proper wedding, that ring will go on your ring finger. For now, this will do.”

She nodded, agreeing with a soft smile. “But you have to wear it on your ring finger.”

He simply smiled, fully aware that this woman could get adorably jealous. “Put it on me then.”

She took the other ring from the box and slid it onto his ring finger, declaring, “Perfect!”

Justin admired the ring for a moment—because it was given by her. A different emotion gripped his heart as he realized just how much she now accepted him as her husband, even if their marriage had started off unconventionally.

To think, it was not even a proper marriage.

He looked at her, meeting her sparkling, delighted gaze. “This scenario could be even more perfect.”

“Hmm? How?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Without warning, he gently pushed her back onto the bed and hovered over her. “It’s our wedding anniversary… shouldn’t we celebrate it properly?”

His intense gaze and the playful smirk on his lips told her exactly what he meant.

“Last night wasn’t enough?” she whispered, though her heart was already racing.

“Nothing is ever enough when it comes to you,” he said in a low, husky voice, his lips brushing against hers before capturing them in a deep, passionate kiss full of longing.

Later, all Natalie knew was that she was completely lost in the sea of pleasure he brought her to — making her wonder if this man ever got tired of loving her. Eventually, she surrendered to a deep, peaceful sleep, completely spent and utterly content.

—–

Meanwhile, at the villa where Caryn was staying, though it was midnight, she couldn’t get a wink of sleep. The lights in her room were still on—something that didn’t go unnoticed by Eric, who always checked on Caryn in the middle of the night.

He entered the room, already expecting to see her awake, only to find Caryn sitting by the window in her chair, staring out at the starry sky.

“Why are you still awake?” he asked.

At first, she frowned at his arrival, then answered in an annoyed tone, “People tend to stay awake when they can’t sleep.”

He caught the sarcasm in her words but replied in a playful tone, “Well, good to see that even after so many years, James Harper can still give you sleepless nights.”

She glared at him. “Aren’t you too old to make such nasty comments?”

“People seem young and energetic enough at this age to kiss each other right after meeting again for the first time in years,” he shot back with a smirk. “So, do I really need to consider my age before saying something like that?”

She gritted her teeth at the reminder of how James had kissed her—and how she couldn’t even react. “Get lost,” she snapped.

“I’m not staying here with a sulky woman either,” Eric commented dryly. “Just wanted to remind you it’s not good for you to stay up late in your current condition.”

“You can take your nanny issues somewhere else,” she spat, her voice sharp. “Now leave me alone.”

“After you get in bed,” Eric replied stubbornly. “Or, I might just call James Harper and scold him for being the reason you can’t sleep anymore.”

She opened her mouth to fire back, but Eric cut her off. “I have his number. He gave it to me before leaving, told me to contact him if needed. And it seems like now is the time.”

“You dare,” she growled, standing up from the chair. With slow, careful steps—since her legs still lacked strength—she walked to the bed. “Now get lost.”

Instead, Eric walked over, pulled the sheets over her, and tucked her in. “Don’t catch a cold.”

In response, she closed her eyes, refusing to say another word.

Making sure she was comfortable, Eric finally left the room and closed the door quietly behind him. Even if the world flips upside down, her stubbornness will never change.

—-