Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Undergarments

Natalie awkwardly cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “These are just clothes. We’re adults; no need to feel shy about it. Don’t we all watch ads on TV?”

“True,” he remarked coolly, seemingly challenging her to follow through.

Determined to push past her embarrassment, she reached for the items, but Justin’s hands moved faster. “I don’t like when someone else touches my private clothes,” with that, he moved to place them in the drawer of the wardrobe.

She felt a surge of irritation. Was he seriously acting like she was eager to handle his clothes? This jerk!

But when Justin’s hand reached for the drawer, a flash of panic shot through Natalie. She darted in front of him, blocking his access to the drawer.

He raised a brow, only to hear her say, “Wait! I need to empty it first.”

Justin stepped back, amused, as he watched her quickly turn around and start pulling out the contents of the drawer. She tried to do it as discreetly as possible, hastily shifting her belongings to the next drawer on her side of the wardrobe.

But in her rush, one of her bras slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, landing in full view of the very man she had been trying so hard to keep it from.

Natalie froze, mortified, as Justin’s eyes inevitably fell on the item.

Her gaze met Justin’s, who offered her a look that was both bored and amused.

“Can’t you look away?” she frowned, quickly picking up her bra.

“Didn’t someone just say we’re adults and that we even watch ads on TV?”

“I don’t like it when someone looks at my private clothes,” she shot back, using the smilar words he had used earlier about his own clothes.

“One needs to have better choice of clothes for someone to even want to look at them,” he countered smoothly.

‘This jerk, is he insulting my clothes?’ she bite back her retort and hastily stuffed her lingerie into the drawer, making space for him as she glanced at the sealed packs of his undergarments. “Your choice seems to be lacking as well, Mr Harper.”

He looked at the two packs in his hands. “They’re packed. Maybe if you took a closer look, you’d change your opinion,” he said, beginning to unseal one of the packs.

“No. Stop. I’m not interested,” she protested, trying to keep her composure.

“I was just trying to satisfy your curiosity,” he continued to unseal the pack.

Natalie quickly snatched the two packs from him, not willing to know his choice in undergarments and stuffed them into his drawer. Her hands were trembling as if she had touched something forbidden.

Her flustered behaviour only amused him further. ‘So easy to tease her,’ he thought, thoroughly enjoying how easily she was thrown off balance.

She turned back to him, her back resting against the wardrobe shelf. Shaking away any embarrassment, she folded her hands in front of her chest like a boss, as if ready to confront the man in front of her.

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that you were coming? And why would my grandpa call you instead of me? Even if he did, why didn’t you let me know immediately?”

Justin remained unfazed, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his tone sarcastic, “Someone seems to have switched off their phone and enjoyed cutting off from the world, leaving a poor old man to worry for her.”

Natalie’s eyes widened as she realized something. She hurried to her desk in the bedroom and checked her cell phone—it was turned off. She remembered now; after her grandmother’s call, she had turned it off to enjoy some peace and quiet but had forgotten to turn it back on. It all made sense now. Unable to reach her, her grandpa must have called Justin and insisted he come check on her. Justin had no choice but to agree.

“When he said he wished to come to your—” Justin paused, correcting himself, “—according to him, our home, I couldn’t tell him I didn’t know where my wife lives. That would have been truly embarrassing for me even if it’s all an act.”

“You could have asked John to inform me in advance instead of showing up at my door like this,” she snapped, glaring at him for arriving at the last possible moment.

“What did you do to scare away a big man like him that he said he don’t dare approach you without your permission?” Justin remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice, while his mind had something else going on in it, ‘I could have but then where is the fun in that?’

Natalie realized what he was referring to—she had indeed warned John not to show up in front of her unless necessary. She sighed, “Since when are your men obedient to me? Would he listen if I asked him to stop keeping watch on me?”

“Keeping watch on you from a distance isn’t disturbing you,” Justin countered smoothly. “And instead of complaining, maybe someone should learn to show some gratitude. I had to cancel an important meeting to be here on time.”

Natalie realized he had a point. “Thank you,” she said, her tone more genuine.

“No problem.”

For a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissipate, and Natalie felt a sense of relief, thinking they might finally be able to get along peacefully.

“Looks like everything is set before Grandpa arrives,” she finally felt relaxed.

“Not yet,” Justin replied as he walked toward her, his sudden proximity making her instinctively press her back against the wardrobe. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice tinged with alarm.

“What do you think?” he murmured, moving even closer, trapping her between his body and wardrobe.

She could catch the familiar, comforting scent of him which enveloped her senses, causing her heart to skip a beat. “You… don’t you dare…”

He stepped back with a smirk, holding a shirt he had grabbed from the wardrobe. “Dare what? Do you want to hang my clothes to dry? I don’t mind if you do.”

Her face flushed, she frowned at herself realizing she was one to suggest his clothes should be hung to dry as well to make it look real that they stayed together.

Annoyed with herself for overreacting, she quickly tried to hide her embarrassment. “Do it yourself. I’m not your servant,” she snapped, and stormed out of the bedroom.

Shaking his head, a smile playing on his lips, Justin made his way to the drying area of the apartment and hung his clothes.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Natalie sat on the sofa, trying to clear her head while internally berating herself.

‘You idiot. You’ve always been strong—why are you so foolish and weak when it comes to this man? Is it because he’s rich and handsome? Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve dealt with plenty of men like him before. He’s not that special. Stay strong, don’t let him cloud your judgment. If he crosses the line, just kick him where it counts so he knows who’s in charge. He might be a rich CEO at his home, but this is your home, and you need to set the rules.’

Justin finished hanging his clothes and returned to the living room, noticing the intense look on her face as she sat deep in thought.

‘What’s she plotting now?’