Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 73

There were high-end evening gowns, beautiful everyday dresses, athletic wear, casual outfits, pajamas, loungewear...

A dizzying array of shoes: stilettos, flats, casual sneakers, pristine white tennis shoes...

And an entire collection of custom, high-end jewelry...

A sneaking suspicion crept into her mind. She pulled open one of the massive velvet-lined drawers beneath the wardrobe, and sure enough... it was fully stocked with lingerie of every kind.

Her cheeks burned hot. She didn't even dare to look at Julius.

How did a grown man know all about this? Let alone know her exact sizes?

Julius just smiled. "What are you so shy about? We're married."

She knew they were married, but it was purely contractual. A marriage in name only. Why would he go to all this trouble for her?

He absolutely did not have to do any of this!

Unable to hold back, she blurted out, "Why did you prepare all of this for me?"

"Stella, every instinct in me told me to do this for you. Whatever Chloe Hawthorne stole from you, I'll replace it. Whatever your father failed to give you, I will provide. From now on, you have me. No one will ever bully you again."

A miserable childhood takes a lifetime to heal, and he wanted more than anything to be the one to heal hers.

Stella's eyes welled with tears.

It had been so many years since anyone had cared for her with such tender attention to detail.

Shortly after her grandfather took her away from the Hawthorne family, he had disappeared. She had lived in that massive villa up in the mountains, and while she was fed, clothed, and looked after, it simply wasn't the same as feeling truly cherished.

Julius pulled her gently into his arms. "Don't cry. I'll be by your side for every season from now on."

Stella buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "Don't be this good to me. When we get divorced, I won't be used to living without it."

"I'm far superior to other men. I'm stronger, I treat you well, I have an incredible physique, and I'm brilliant at making money. I'm the ultimate bachelor that every woman in the city would kill to marry. Where else are you going to find a man this high-quality?"

"You are so shameless. Who brags about themselves like that?"

Julius grabbed her hand and pressed it flat against his chest. "I'm just stating facts. Feel that. The chest, the abs. Are you telling me you don't like it?"

She had secretly copped a feel more than a few times while she was asleep. She always thought he was completely unaware, but the truth was, he waited for her to fall asleep every single night before closing his own eyes.

Just so he could spend a little extra time watching her sleep.

That was how he knew she wasn't just greedy for money—she definitely had a soft spot for his body, too.

He never imagined the day would come when the almighty CEO of Blackwood Group would have to resort to using his abs to seduce his own wife!

Stella actually let her hand linger. The solid wall of muscle beneath her palm was undeniable. Honestly, Julius's body really was spectacular.