Julian Sterling looked up at Ethan Caldwell, pouted, and shifted to the side. The movement was a bit too vigorous, causing him to bare his teeth in a wince; he had clearly aggravated the sore spot on his behind.
Ethan saw this and shook his head with a smile, not wanting to say anything to his sulking little wife. He also climbed onto the bed and opened his laptop, intending to get some work done, but was drawn to a red plus sign notification on the screen.
Ethan glanced at Julian, and seeing that the boy didn't even deign to look at him, he chuckled and opened the notification to read it. The smile remained on his face, but his gaze had grown significantly colder.
A moment later, Ethan draped his arm around Julian, coaxing him: "Babe, let me tell you some good news. Don't be mad at me anymore, okay?"
"Let's see how valuable your news is."
"Oh, Patrick Lane just messaged me. He said he's successfully invited someone from Iris Visuals for you." Ethan looked at Julian and raised an eyebrow. "Guess who it is?"
"How many people does Iris Visuals have? How would I know?"
"Ah, I thought you knew." Ethan's tone sounded terribly disappointed.
Julian glanced at him in confusion, only to receive a question from Ethan: "Seraphina Cole - do you know her?"
Julian thought for a moment, then frowned, asking back: "Don't tell me it's someone from the Cole family?"
"That's right." Ethan turned his laptop so Julian could see, his mouse scrolling across the screen to open a profile. Displayed was a photo of a relatively young woman, only about twenty years old, with shoulder-length hair and an arrogant smile on her lips. Ethan's voice rang in his ear again: "Seraphina Cole, twenty-nine years old this year, the youngest daughter of Conrad Cole from the other side of town. She's renowned as a world-class painter. Outwardly, she has no relationship with the Cole family, and the people over there don't mention this young lady either. Seraphina Cole certainly hasn't publicized her identity."
"Patrick said that initially, she just said she would ask other colleagues, but when she heard it was to teach you, she changed her mind and wanted to take the job herself." Ethan's voice shifted slightly, teasing him: "And you say you don't know her? I don't have enough money to hire a lady of the Cole family, a key figure of Iris Visuals, to come teach you."
Julian ignored the teasing, frowning in suspicion. The "Julian" of the past knew Seraphina Cole?
How could he possibly know someone of that caliber?
The Cole family was no ordinary clan; their roots in Saint Lawrence City ran deep. Even the Caldwell family had to yield to them somewhat, let alone the Sterling family. An untalented biological son, existing in a family that was like a grain of sand in the eyes of the Coles - how could he know this eldest miss?
Moreover, why was Seraphina Cole's relationship with the Cole family not public?
While Julian was pondering, Ethan was observing him. He could clearly see the confusion on the boy's face was not feigned. In truth, Ethan also couldn't understand how Julian could know Seraphina Cole; with her status, she didn't just befriend anyone.
It wasn't that Seraphina was arrogant, but fundamentally, someone like her shouldn't have any connection to the Sterling family or Julian. Unless, during his time of "feigning stupidity," he had crossed paths with her. But if that were the case, why did Julian ask him to find someone from Iris Visuals? Couldn't he have just asked Seraphina directly?
Seeing Julian's baffled expression now, even Ethan was slightly in the dark about the whole situation.
"Ethan, why doesn't Seraphina acknowledge the Cole family?"
Ethan raised his eyebrows: "I'm not clear on that either. Technically, Seraphina belongs to the previous generation; she was a child of Conrad Cole's old age, so he spoiled her rotten. But about five years ago, for some unknown reason, she packed her bags and left home, and hasn't been in contact since."
After explaining, Ethan asked him again: "Do you really not know her?"
"If you hadn't shown me the photo, I wouldn't even know who she was." Julian glanced at him and pouted. "When can I meet her?"
"Tomorrow." Ethan checked his phone. "Patrick said Seraphina is relatively free tomorrow afternoon. Call me when you finish studying, and I'll drive you."
"Don't you have work?"
"Taking a half-day off won't hurt."
Julian shot Ethan another glance, then shifted away to continue browsing on his laptop. Seeing this, Ethan smiled, kissed his cheek, then reached out to rub his back while handling his own work.
Despite being tormented all night, he had an appointment with Lucas Hill today, so no matter how tired Julian was, he couldn't stay in bed forever. Around noon, he chose a simple outfit: a short-sleeved T-shirt paired with blue jeans, with a hoodie thrown over the top. Julian stood before the mirror, ruffling his hair, looking at the immature face reflected in the glass.
Sometimes, he was startled to see "himself" in the mirror. This person didn't look like him, and this soft, weak appearance didn't match his personality.
Julian - the crown prince of Azure Caine - was a decisive and sharp person. Although he didn't have rugged, sharp-edged features, in the past, few dared to look him straight in the eye. Perhaps it was due to holding power for so long, but Julian had always exuded an oppressive aura that made it hard for people to breathe, especially with the sternness that always sat between his brows.
Julian had always thought every CEO was like that because his father in his previous life was the same. It wasn't until later, when Julian transmigrated here, that he saw the difference. Richard Sterling always looked at his two sons, Edward and Aaron, with a gentle face. Ethan Caldwell was cold but didn't have that cruel, oppressive air. Grandpa Arthur was probably the one who created an image closest to the CEO in Julian's mind - majestic and powerful. But upon getting close, he saw that the man always carried the benevolent, kind air of a grandfather; strict, yet very intimate.
It was completely different from the feeling in his past life.
Julian reached out, touching the eyes of the person in the mirror. He saw gloom and sorrow in them. But Julian knew those were not his eyes. Even if the appearance changed, a person's eyes would always reflect their soul.
Even if Julian was softer now, even if he accepted lying beneath someone else, the arrogance and sharpness in his eyes could never be hidden.
He realized that the gloom came from the lingering residual consciousness of the other "Julian."
"Are you unwilling to accept this? Do you hate that this fate is unfair, stripping you of everything?" Julian mumbled while looking at the person in the mirror. "I can't help you win back the affection of the Sterling family, but I can trample them underfoot for you."
"Why linger for such stinking mud?"
Julian stood there in a daze for a long time before turning away. Just as he was about to step out of the room, he looked back and saw that the almond eyes in the reflection had suddenly become deep and abyssal.
Julian felt as if an invisible fire had flared up, wrapping around him, and his ears were filled with resentful screaming.
He blinked, and when he looked again, there were only a pair of beautiful, seductive eyes.
Julian blinked a few more times, then walked out and closed the door.
Sometimes he wondered: Aaron Sterling was so young; could the entire Sterling family really not realize his schemes? If one argued that Edward was young, naive, and impulsive, failing to notice, then fine. But what about Richard and Catherine Sterling? They were adults. Did they really not know what Aaron had done? Especially Richard - after so many years in the business world, if he were so easily deceived, the Sterling Corporation would have collapsed long ago.
If they could raise an Edward who didn't know right from wrong and was arrogant and conceited, why couldn't they raise a son who was scheming and cunning?
Ultimately, Aaron also needed accomplices to accomplish everything. Being driven to death by his own biological parents - how could he not be filled with hate?
Julian reached up to touch the corner of his eye and smirked. Rest assured, I will make them pay a heavy price.
He walked downstairs.
"Do you need me to take you?" Ethan saw him leaving, put down his work, and asked.
"No need, the driver can take me." Julian walked down, picked up the small backpack placed on his chair, and turned to look at Ethan. "Goodbye, Ethan. I'll be back in the evening."
Ethan waved goodbye, then suddenly asked: "Want to eat anything specific? I'll ask the auntie to cook."
"Anything is fine, just don't make porridge again." Julian glanced at Ethan with profound meaning. His precious husband had fed him nothing but porridge all day. "How about some spicy stir-fried shrimp? I'm suddenly craving it."
"Boiled shrimp it is. You can eat spicy food another day." Ethan said as his gaze swept over Julian's tight buttocks, earning a sharp glare from Julian in return.
He laughed as he watched Julian leave the house, then stopped laughing. He picked up his phone and sent a message to a number not saved in his contacts.