Chapter 357

Eleanor's face drained of color as she stumbled forward, crashing straight into the man's arms. Julian lowered his gaze, a chill settling in his chest. His long lashes trembled faintly.

The dampness from her clothes seeped through his thin silk shirt, mingling with the warmth of his skin. His breathing grew ragged as his arms instinctively tightened around her.

"Eleanor?" Julian's voice was low and rough.

Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut, fingers digging into his crisp lapel without a word.

Julian suppressed a quiet chuckle. "Did I hurt you?" he murmured.

She pressed her forehead against his chest and shook her head.

A pang of tenderness twisted inside him.

The two security guards, witnessing Julian's sudden appearance, stiffened immediately. They bowed deeply, voices trembling. "Good evening, Mr. Montgomery!"

"What's going on here?" Julian asked lazily, still holding Eleanor close.

"Oh, it's nothing serious, just a small misunderstanding," the previously aggressive guard stammered, forcing a smile. "This young lady is a fan of Ms. Isabella Laurent, and she tried to enter without an invitation. We were just doing our job—"

"So, you thought manhandling her was part of your job?" Julian's expression darkened.

"N-No! We were just preventing unauthorized entry," the guard backpedaled, unwilling to admit they'd bullied a defenseless girl.

Julian smirked, then leaned down to whisper in Eleanor's ear, "Want me to teach them a lesson?"

Eleanor, still avoiding his gaze, hesitated before giving a tiny nod—then quickly shook her head.

Julian chuckled, slipping his phone from his wine-red velvet jacket and dialing Nathan's number.

"Nathan, mind if I discipline your employees?" The two guards exchanged panicked looks.

After a brief pause, Julian stroked Eleanor's damp hair soothingly. "Good. I'll handle it."

Hanging up, he steadied Eleanor on her feet and flicked his wrist. Instantly, the Montgomery family's elite bodyguards closed in, encircling the two trembling hotel guards.

Eleanor blinked in confusion as Julian slipped his hands into his pockets and strolled forward with a smirk. The Montgomery guards shifted seamlessly, blocking her view.

A sharp cry pierced the air.

A pained groan followed.

The circle of guards was impenetrable, but the sounds of struggle made Eleanor flinch.

Finally, Julian stepped back, coldly observing the two battered men now kneeling before him. He accepted a handkerchief from one of his men and wiped the blood from his knuckles.

"If you can't even recognize a Blackwood, what use are your eyes?"

The guards trembled, their gazes darting to Eleanor before they kowtowed violently.

"Ms. Blackwood, please forgive us! We were blind! Spare us!"

In Crestview, everyone knew the Montgomerys had ties to both legitimate and shadowy dealings. Crossing them meant ruin.

"I'll settle this myself. No need to trouble your boss," Julian drawled.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the bloodied handkerchief onto their faces.

"Leave Blackwood Industries and get out of Crestview. If I ever see you here again, you won't be walking away."

"Thank you, Mr. Montgomery! Thank you!"

Sobbing, the two were dragged away by the Montgomery guards.

Eleanor bit her lip, frozen in place.

Julian approached her again, bending slightly to meet her eyes with a playful glint.

"Eleanor, you're full of surprises. Even your own family's employees didn’t recognize you."

She took a small step back, murmuring softly, "Did you have to go that far?"