Chapter 20: Too Much Force

"I'm not his girlfriend," Willow waved her hands to explain. "He's my uncle."

"My apologies," the sales assistant bowed. "Miss Kingston, I didn't clarify the situation beforehand."

She had watched the man pick out clothes for the woman and discuss her bust size; it felt too intimate, not like an uncle and niece.

The age gap didn't seem that large, either.

Hearing her words, Willow uncomfortably twisted her fingers. "I... my last name isn't Kingston..."

The sales assistant was surprised. An uncle and niece who didn't share a last name?

She maintained her smile. "Do you take your mother's surname?"

Before Willow could speak, Julian spoke first. "We share no blood relation."

"Uncle Julian?"

Willow snapped her head toward the man.

The words sounded straightforward, but upon closer thought, they seemed to carry infinite ambiguity.

An uncle and niece with no blood relation living together was bound to spark the imagination.

Sure enough, the assistant’s expression changed instantly.

"I... please rest assured, I have been professionally trained and will not disclose a guest's privacy."

Willow was internally losing her mind.

If she had known, she wouldn't have explained.

Even "girlfriend" would have been better.

Now she was likely being viewed as some part of a twisted fantasy.

Julian continued picking out clothes.

"This piece is too revealing and too short; you could barely manage to wear it at home..."

"Uncle Julian!" Willow couldn't listen any longer. She stepped beside him, stood on her tiptoes, and firmly covered his lips with her palm. Her almond eyes were trembling violently. "Did you take the wrong medicine at the hospital?"

Was this really her uncle?

Julian’s gaze fell on her face.

It was as calm and indifferent as usual.

However, there was a dark surge swirling in the depths of his eyes.

Her sweet scent filled his nostrils, and the warmth of her palm pressed against him.

His thin lips moved slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed along with the motion.

He called her name in a low voice: "Willow..."

Willow felt the sensation against her palm.

It was her uncle’s lips.

They were very soft.

His breath was very hot.

It felt... it felt as if he were kissing her hand...

As this absurd thought popped into her head, she instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

But the man caught her wrist first.

Unlike his previous gentleness, he was now showing a sense of dominance, even adding a fair amount of strength to his grip.

"Uncle Julian, don't," Willow’s cheeks were burning red. "There are other people here..."

The sales assistant took the hint and turned around.

She shouldn't be in the room; she should be on the roof.

Julian looked at the girl’s panicked state, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"So, you aren't using the formal 'You' anymore?"

"Huh?" Willow blinked, failing to understand.

"Willow," Julian looked at her with deep, dark eyes, "I am not a monster. You don't need to distance yourself from me."

Willow opened her mouth, wanting to say something in rebuttal, but she couldn't find the words.

She was indeed deliberately keeping her distance from Julian.

Otherwise, her mind would keep wandering.

Julian let go of her hand. "Kid, don't let your mind wander so much."

Looking down at the red mark on her wrist, he frowned slightly.

Willow’s skin was too tender; the slightest touch made it very obvious.

He should have controlled himself.

But when she got too close to him, his body would lose control.

The man quickly apologized: "Sorry, I used too much force."

Willow shook her head. "I'm fine."

For some reason, she felt those words sounded familiar, as if she had heard them somewhere before.

Before she could recall, Julian had taken it upon himself to keep all the clothes.

Willow watched as the assistant organized the clothes into the walk-in closet, placing them side-by-side with Julian’s.

A strange sensation welled up in her heart.

A tingling, numbing feeling.

Like an electric shock.

...

Julian picked out the outfit for their visit to the Kingston Estate.

A cream-white autumn dress—obedient and sweet, very suitable for meeting elders.

Because of the earlier measurement incident, she didn't want to sit in the passenger seat. Without waiting for the man to speak, she ducked into the back seat first.

"Uncle Julian, I like sitting in the back."

Julian looked at her through the rearview mirror. "I saw the size chart for your school’s custom dance costumes."

As the lead dancer, Willow’s costume was different from the others.

She had been told to measure herself carefully before filling it out.

She had been very meticulous, even buying a new ruler to avoid any mistakes.

After filling it out, she had happened to leave it on the table during breakfast.

She hadn't expected Julian to see it and remember it.

Even so, it was still embarrassing.

She puffed out her cheeks and weakly expressed her dissatisfaction: "I want to sit here."

Julian let out a small chuckle.

He didn't force her further and started the car toward the Kingston Estate.

An hour later, the car stopped.

Willow stepped out, and a memory suddenly flashed through her mind.

She remembered where she had heard her uncle say "too much force" before.

It was in bed.

When she was feeling overwhelmed and crying as she accused him.

He had leaned close to her ear: "Sorry, I used too much..."

Thinking of this, Willow covered her face and hurried toward the manor.

She didn't cast a single glance at the man behind her.

Grandpa Sterling heard the commotion and came out of the house. He was overjoyed to see Willow: "Willa."

"Grandpa Sterling."

Seeing the old man, Willow hurried to meet him and handed over the gift. "This is for you; I hope you like it."

"Oh, look at you! You didn't have to bring anything."

Grandpa Sterling took the gift and opened it. He loved the prayer beads so much that he put them on his wrist immediately. "The girl is still the most thoughtful one. Look at your uncle—no sense of devotion, I don't even see him twice a year."

He was sixty-seven years old and traveled frequently, so his body was very robust. He led Willow inside with a brisk pace. "I originally wanted to pick you up, but Julian said it would be inconvenient for an old man like me to go to your place, so I let him bring you over. How is the stay? He hasn't been bullying you, has he?"

"No, Uncle Julian is quite good to me."

Willow spoke the truth.

He really did take care of her.

Grandpa Sterling didn't believe it. He knew his son's cold temperament better than anyone. He said skeptically, "Really? Don't hide anything from me."

Willow nodded. "I'm telling the truth."

"Dad," Julian walked in from outside. "It's late. Let's eat. Don't let Willow go hungry."

"Right, right," Grandpa Sterling instructed the butler, then pointed at Julian. "Finally, you've said something sensible."

Just as they were about to head to the dining room, he seemed to notice something. He stopped in his tracks, looking at Julian and then at Willow.

He said in surprise, "You two, these clothes..."