Her Divorce, His Downfall (Sophia and Damian) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Their combined weight pressed deeply into the sofa, legs flush against each other. Sophia found herself completely enveloped in the potent, masculine scent emanating from the older man.

Every muscle in her body tensed, her nerves stretched taut to the breaking point.

She shifted restlessly, utterly unable to settle. Had Julian been punched so hard by Damian that he’d lost his senses?

Edging away slightly, she was startled when Julian’s arm pulled her back, drawing her even closer against him.

“Come here. You’re about to fall off the couch.”

“Julian, you…” Sophia managed, voice strained, still not daring to move. “Are you drunk? Should I call Kevin to bring something for you?”

Kevin, the son of the butler Ford, was a medical school graduate and the resident physician for the Hall family,

Julian remembered him–they’d played together as children.

When Julian left, Kevin was around Damian’s age. He hadn’t realized the boy had stayed on to work at the estate after Anßhing his studies.

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“It’s too late. Don’t bother him.” Julian refused flatly.

After a pause, his voice came out rough. “Just let me lean on you for a bit. My head won’t hurt so much then.”

Sophia looked up at him, surprised.

It occurred to her then: Julian had likely spent the entire evening at a demanding social function, drinking heavily, followed by that high–stakes confrontation with Damian in the study. He was exhausted.

And all of it was for her. He could have stayed peacefully in Northern Europe, untouched by her troubles.

Yet here he was, navigating these treacherous waters on her behalf. In the end, she was the one who had dragged him into this mess.

“Alright.”

Sophia finally conceded, abandoning the thought of fetching help and letting him rest against her shoulder.

A wave of guilt washed over her.

“I’m sorry, Julian. I’m sorry for dragging you into this. Just rest now,” she murmured.

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She remained perfectly still, allowing Julian to lean on her.

Soon, the steady rhythm of his breathing filled the space beside her ear.

After about ten minutes, her overly straight posture began to ache, and a deep weariness crept in, making her head nod with drowsiness.

The night had been a marathon–the intense pressure of the gala, followed by the exhausting entanglement with Damian.

Sophia was utterly spent, fighting a losing battle against sleep.

The next moment, a pair of warm, steady hands gathered her up, pulling her into a secure embrace.

Julian settled her comfortably onto his lap.

Looking down, he found his girl already fast asleep, seemingly without a care in the world.

Her long lashes cast soft shadows, a slight smile touched her lips, and her breathing was light and even.

Her arms had unconsciously wound around his waist as she slept soundly.

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Julian gazed at her, his heart hammering wildly against his ribs.

He could hear his own ragged breaths, the sound of his throat working.

For a long while, he simply held her, his arms encircling her waist tightly.

Then, bending his head, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before burying his face in the curve of her neck, murmuring in a low voice.

“Goodnight, my little princess.”

*****

The next morning, in the living room of the Anderson Manor’s villa for the second branch, Isabelle, recently discharged after recovering from her broken ribs, sat fuming on the sofa.

Still, she was stubbornly refusing to go on another arranged date.

Rhea and Michael were doing their best to placate her, urging her not to be so willful and to meet a few more eligible bachelors from good families to see if any sparked her interest.

Isabelle was sick to death of their pressure.

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Originally, she had thought that with Sophia out of the picture, Damian’s heart was hers for the taking, which was why she’d so readily broken off her engagement to Connor.

Who could have predicted Olivia would appear, or that Isabelle herself would get drunk that night and be caught by Sebastian?

To make matters worse, in a reckless attempt to get back at Damian, she’d attacked Sebastian in a self–destructive fit, ending up with broken ribs and Damian’s complete fury.

Now, she’d managed to thoroughly offend three men: Damian, Connor, and Sebastian.

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