Chapter 25

• The tiresome day at the office due to the overly long impromptu board meeting had a gruelling effect on Julian. Arriving at the manor a few hours after dinner time, he barely registered the butler's greeting as he sauntered in. Deciding against going upstairs to his room, he plopped down on a couch in the living room, his eyes closed.
• He felt his hand tremble again, as they had been doing all morning, but he clenched his fists and willed them to stop. Just when he felt his shoulders loosening a little, he heard footsteps. The familiar click-clack of his mother's heels stopped in front of him, and he peeled his eyes open to look up at her.
• A permanent scowl was etched on her face, an expression she'd reserved just for him. He'd never seen her use that kind of affection on her precious younger son before.