Chapter 400

Julian led Eleanor into another secluded VIP room.

Inside, several escorts were drinking with three wealthy young men—Julian's closest friends from Crestview.

When Eleanor saw strangers embracing each other, her cheeks burned crimson. She ducked her head so low she might as well have been an ostrich burying itself in the sand. Julian tugged her inside.

The moment they entered, his friends erupted into wolf whistles and cheers.

"Ooh! Mrs. Montgomery, you must be something special to have tamed our brother!"

Eleanor froze. Her face flamed even hotter.

"Shut up!" Julian snapped. "This is—"

He had been about to introduce her as Leonard Blackwood’s youngest daughter, but Nathan’s warning flashed in his mind. He quickly corrected himself. "This is my sister. Keep your filthy thoughts to yourselves!"

"Julian, that teddy bear hunt of hers must’ve cost a fortune," one friend teased. "A year of free drinks at VELVET? That’s easily hundreds of thousands—maybe even millions if she parties every night. You could’ve bought her a warehouse of teddy bears with that kind of money."

None of Julian’s friends believed this was purely platonic.

Women flocked to Julian, but he never spoiled any of them like this. Clearly, he had feelings for Eleanor.

"That bear was a gift from my first love. It means everything to us. What do you know?" Julian rolled his eyes, exasperated.

"First love?" Eleanor gasped. "You mean my sister-in-law?"

"Yes. I was in love with Evelyn once. She was my first love." Julian admitted it without hesitation, a faint smile on his lips.

Even though Evelyn had rejected him harshly, he still considered it an honor to have loved such an extraordinary woman.

Eleanor shrieked in horror. "No, no, no! You can’t like her! She belongs to my second brother! You can’t steal her!"

She clenched her fists, her expression fiercely protective. "Aren’t you friends with him? How could you betray him like this? If you take her away, I’ll never speak to you again!"

The room fell silent—then burst into laughter.

Eleanor’s face burned. She curled her toes and twisted the hem of her shirt, mortified.

Julian didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. Seeing her embarrassment, he shot his friends a warning glare.

Instantly, the room went quiet.

"Eleanor," Julian murmured, bending slightly to ruffle her hair. "I didn’t expect you to be so fiercely loyal."

Her hair was impossibly soft beneath his fingers. He smirked. "If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous."

"Jealous? I don’t taste sour," she said seriously.

Julian was speechless.

The gap between their worlds had never been clearer.

And yet, she had completely captivated him.

While the staff at VELVET scoured the club for the missing teddy bear, Julian and his friends drank inside. Eleanor stood alone on the terrace, gripping the railing, silently praying for her bear’s safe return.

"Found it!"

A woman’s triumphant shout echoed through the club as she leaped onto the stage, brandishing the teddy bear high.

"Where the hell was it?" someone yelled.

"Inside the toilet tank—in the men’s bathroom!"

The men in the room instinctively covered their crotches, impressed by her dedication.

Eleanor jumped in delight, beaming like a child.

"Money really does move mountains," Julian mused, stepping onto the terrace with a cigarette between his lips. The ember glowed faintly in the dim light. "If I offered enough, they’d probably eat dirt with a smile."

"I’m going to get my bear!"

Eleanor tried to slip past him, but Julian blocked her path effortlessly.

After the car accident, he had vowed never to let her run from him again.

"Not so fast," he said, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. "It’s soaked. My assistant will dry it before giving it back."

Eleanor kept her gaze lowered, too flustered to meet his hypnotic eyes. "Th-Thank you…"

"Congratulations to our winner!" Natalia announced, taking the bear from the woman. "You’ve earned free VIP access to VELVET for a year!"

The woman screamed in excitement while the crowd buzzed with envy.

VELVET was the most exclusive club in Crestview. A year of free entry was like winning the lottery.

Julian flicked his cigarette and signaled Natalia.

She grinned. "And as a thank-you for helping Mr. Montgomery’s sister, all tabs tonight are on him!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.