Chapter 25: I Didn't See Clearly

You can't get out?

Julian Kingston was slightly stunned.

Could it be that she had seen his body and felt... something?

Tying his bathrobe loosely, he walked slowly toward her.

Just as he was about to reach out and touch her, Willow turned around, holding the door handle in her hands, her head lowered in utter helplessness.

"Uncle Julian, the handle... I didn't mean to..."

The man fell silent.

Willow hadn't heard him speak, and her heart was pounding with anxiety.

The handle had snapped off completely, leaving nothing to grip.

They might be trapped in here for a long time; they would have to call someone to open the door.

"It’s fine," Julian said, his voice slightly raspy. He pressed his temple, forcing down the agitation within him. "I'll call someone to come over."

He took the handle from the girl's hands and set it aside.

Willow nodded carefully. Only when she caught a glimpse of Julian’s bathrobe hem did she feel safe enough to look up. "I'm sorr—"

The words caught in her throat at the sight before her.

Previously, through the steam-covered glass, her view had been blurred.

But now, everything was crystal clear.

The man’s bathrobe was worn far too loosely, exposing a broad expanse of his chest.

His defined eight-pack abs were dotted with stray droplets of water that hadn't been wiped dry.

Unlike the boys at school, he possessed an incredible sense of raw tension.

He looked brimming with vitality.

It had been a while since she last saw him like this; he was as handsome as ever.

"What are you looking at?"

Julian’s voice from above snapped Willow back to reality.

She buried her face in the clothes she was holding, her skin burning hot.

She murmured muffledly, "I'm sorry, Uncle Julian. I didn't mean to break the handle."

"That’s it?"

She felt the need to apologize for that?

Julian felt helpless.

What did breaking something matter?

She could tear this whole place down for all he cared.

But Willow misunderstood his meaning.

She thought Julian was saying she had done more than just one thing wrong.

Besides the door handle, there was the fact that she had looked at him just now—and for quite a long time.

If you make a mistake, you have to admit it.

Despite being dying of embarrassment, she spoke up: "Also, I shouldn't have been peeking at you just now."

"It's fine."

The man's voice was flat, as if he truly didn't mind.

Uncle Julian really was a good man.

Willow hesitantly lifted her face.

The next moment, she heard him continue: "Haven't you seen it all before anyway?"

Willow: !!!

What did he mean by "before"?

Was he referring to looking through the glass, or that night much earlier...

She instinctively wanted to deny it:

"Un—Uncle Julian, I didn't... I didn't see clearly."

"Mm?" Julian frowned, his hand pausing as he reached for his phone. "Then do you want to take a better look?"

As he spoke, he reached for his belt.

Seeing this, Willow’s brain flooded with blood. Words were no longer enough to express her panic; she acted directly.

"Slow down..."

Julian’s warning came too late.

Willow lunged at him with fierce, desperate strength.

Caught off guard by the push, he took two steps back.

Combined with the wet tiles under his feet, he fell hard onto the floor.

The girl ended up sitting right on his abs, her face a mask of shock, still clutching the belt of his bathrobe in her hand.

It took her a long moment to process the situation before she blurted out:

"Uncle Julian, why aren't you wearing anything underneath?"

Julian: "...I didn't bring any."

He had checked her class schedule and hadn't expected Willow to return at this time.

He had spent the morning processing some medicine and, fearing the hospital smell would bother Willow, planned to shower before picking her up from school.

Since the shower in the guest room he was staying in had some issues, he had used the master bathroom.

The master bathroom was right next to the walk-in closet, so he hadn't bothered to bring clothes in with him.

After receiving the man's answer, Willow realized what she had just said.

She tried to wave her hands in explanation, but the bathrobe belt fluttered before her eyes.

It was a blatant reminder of the absurd thing she had just done.

Overwhelmed by guilt, she clumsily crumpled the belt into a ball and hid it behind her back, as if that could erase the fact that she had ripped it off him.

Just as Julian was about to speak, Grandpa Sterling’s voice suddenly echoed from outside.

"Julian! I brought some things for Willa. Where are you? Didn't you just say on the phone you were home?" He paused, then said crossly, "Showering again?"

"Grandpa Sterling?"

Hearing him, Willow’s heart jumped into her throat. She scrambled frantically, using both hands and feet to crawl off Julian.

She absolutely could not be caught!

In her desperation, her hands brushed haphazardly across the man’s body.

The reaction Julian had just suppressed flared up again.

"Don't move," he said, hooking his arm around Willow’s waist to steady her. "I'll handle this."