Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 426

Madeline found the private room and hesitated outside for a second before she finally pushed the door open.

Inside, it was quiet and neat, nothing like the noisy, messy scene she had pictured in her head. Her eyes darted around until they landed on the man slumped on the sofa.

Julian was sprawled there with his eyes squeezed shut. The table in front of him was covered with empty bottles. He looked like he was completely wasted.

Madeline’s heart picked up speed. She walked over, but her foot nudged an empty bottle on the floor. She froze, her pulse pounding, but Julian didn’t react at all.

She softened her steps and moved closer. Reaching out, she gently poked his arm and whispered, “Julian?”

All at once, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

His eyes snapped open, cold and piercing right through her. He stared so hard it was like he was trying to figure out if she was real or just another hallucination.

A shiver ran through Madeline.

Then Julian let go of her, anger swirling in his eyes. “Get out.”

He was seeing things again.

Lately, everyone reminded him of Madeline.

But his Madeline was gone.

She’d been missing for two months. He couldn’t find her, no matter what he did.

She wasn’t coming back. She’d never forgive him.

“Go. All of you, just go!”

Julian suddenly exploded.

Madeline’s eyes trembled. He shoved her away, grabbed another bottle, and drank straight from it, taking two rough swallows.

With a loud crash, the bottle hit the floor and shattered.

He braced his elbows on his knees and hung his head. The air around him felt icy and heavy.

Madeline’s chest tightened. Now she understood why Noah and Oliver had been so anxious. Julian looked destroyed, like a man with no soul left.

She had never seen him like this. And he didn’t even seem to realize it was really her.

She stood there for a long moment, then wet her dry lips and finally spoke. “Julian, I came to tell you something. I’m not dead. I’m back. You don’t need to look for me anymore.”

She glanced down at the broken glass. “You should stop drinking so much. I’ll call Miles to take you home.”

She pulled out her phone and stepped toward the door, ready to make the call.

“I’m sorry…”

The rough, broken sound of his voice stopped her.

“Madeline…”

“I’m sorry…”

Dream or not, he wasn’t letting her go this time.

“Don’t leave, okay? Please…”

“I… mmm—”

Before she could finish, he scooped her up and pressed her down onto the sofa, his mouth finding hers again in a wild, desperate kiss.

He kissed her like he never wanted to stop, wanted to pull her right into his body.

Madeline’s face turned bright red. The room was so quiet, she could hear the wet sounds of his kisses echoing in the air.

Something about this felt wrong. She had just come back today. All she wanted was to let him know she was safe so he’d stop looking for her. She hadn’t planned on getting swept up like this.

She pushed Julian away as hard as she could and scrambled off the sofa. For a second, his eyes looked crushed, like he’d just lost everything. He looked up at her, his voice small and shaky. “Stay with me a little longer. Please?”

This dream was ending way too fast.

Way too fast.

“Sober up,” Madeline said, opening the door and walking out.

Julian’s lips curled into a sad smile.

She still left. Even in his dreams, he couldn’t make her stay.