The air in the room thickened to an unbearable standstill.
Julian's outstretched hand curled slightly before he casually dropped it back to his side.
He lowered his eyelashes, masking the fleeting flash of disappointment in his eyes. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to its usual warm, composed state.
"Don't overthink it, Scarlett," he said softly, his tone perfectly reassuring. "Stellan and I were just messing around. We'll be more mindful of our boundaries."
Stellan snapped out of his daze, taking a deep breath. "Sorry. We crossed a line."
Seeing them both back down, Scarlett let out a silent breath of relief.
She asked gently, "Stellan, could you please handle the site visit for me?"
"And Julian, would you mind coming with me to the hospital? If you're busy, I can just ask my mom to—"
The near-argument between them had been a wake-up call. She needed to establish clearer boundaries.
But it was easier said than done. Stellan was the bodyguard assigned by her brother to protect her, making daily contact unavoidable.
And Julian wasn't just her business partner; he was her lead investor. They had to work closely together.
Scarlett felt a headache coming on.
She had never been the center of male attention growing up, and yet here she was, post-divorce, practically drowning in it.
What was she supposed to do?
Maybe it was best to put some distance between herself and Julian, keeping their interactions strictly professional to avoid taking up too much of his personal time.
Before she could finish her thought, Julian cut in, his voice carrying a subtle urgency.
"I'll go with you. Your mom hasn't been feeling well; she should rest at home."
"Besides, Dawn is getting bigger and heavier. It'll be easier on you if I hold her, and she likes me anyway."
As if on cue, little Dawn tilted her head back, giggled adorably at Julian, and wiped a trail of drool onto his hand.

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