Chapter 316: Shocked Friend

After tiring his dear wife once more with his unending desires and letting her rest, Justin was busy working in the evening.

Noah entered the study and informed him about the arrival of two guests.

Justin frowned, left the study, and spotted Rowan and Morris waiting for him while sitting on the sofa. Both of them arrived uninformed, uninvited.

"What are you two doing here?" Justin asked as he stood there looking at the two coldly, his hands tucked in the pockets of his pants. "And how did you find my place?"

"Rowan dragged me here," Morris replied calmly and made himself more comfortable in his seat, as if ready to entertain himself with the banter between Rowan and Justin.

Rowan frowned at Morris. "I just asked you to join me. Didn’t force you at all. Stop pretending already." Then he looked at Justin. "You are in my city, Justin. You don’t really think I can’t find anything about you, do you?"

Justin stood there, unaffected. "Now that you’ve seen my place, you can go back."

"Dream on," Rowan replied, leaning back lazily on the sofa. "You didn’t even invite us for a housewarming party. What kind of friend are you? I have even prepared a gift for you." He signalled towards the huge gift box placed on the table.

"I don’t need to conduct such useless formalities that invite annoyance into my peaceful place," Justin countered.

Rowan looked at Morris. "He’s calling us an annoyance."

"He’s referring to you only," Morris replied. "I am here for some work."

"What work? You didn’t tell me," Rowan complained.

"Something personal. You don’t need to know," Morris answered.

Rowan looked back at Justin. "Alright, now that we’re here, are you really going to kick your best friends out? Be a good host and serve us some drinks." Without waiting for Justin’s reply, Rowan looked at Noah. "A fine wine will do, and—"

"Bring them tea or juice," Justin interrupted coldly. "No alcohol for scoundrels in my home."

"Who are you calling a scoundrel?" Rowan asked.

"Do I need to point it out?" Justin countered. "Drink tea and leave."

"Alright, at least you’re not kicking us out," Rowan relented.

"Not us. Just you," Morris commented.

Rowan glared at him. "Would it hurt you to stop showing that Justin is biased toward you?"

Justin settled opposite the two, his one leg folded over other and one hand resting on the handrest, while Noah had already instructed the butler.

As the tea arrived and they talked, Rowan asked, "Justin, you must have received the invitation to attend the Belvorn Royal family event."

"Do you even need to ask?"

"I was just asking if you’re going to dodge it like you always do, just to keep your identity secret," Rowan said.

"I haven’t decided yet," Justin replied.

"I suggest this year you should attend it. It’ll be exciting with the presence of the Ford family daughters. I wonder what live drama we’ll get to see there. Those two sisters and that family have been keeping the news alive and interesting these days."

Justin simply passed him an impassive gaze.

Rowan looked at Morris. "That Natalie Ford is your sister’s friend."

"So?" Morris asked.

"I mean, you never stopped your sister from being with Natalie Ford, even when she had a bad reputation. You’re a generous brother."

Morris sipped his tea quietly and said, "She is not how the news portrays her. She is a good person."

"Oh, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to her."

Justin’s hand tightened around his cup, almost ready to smash it on Rowan’s head, but before he could, he heard Morris.

"She is like a sister to me since she’s Mia’s friend. Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t want to die. I won’t be saving you again."

Rowan chuckled. "Who would kill me? You? Or that Natalie Ford?"

"I bet you don’t want to know," Morris said as he focused on drinking his tea.

Rowan looked at Justin. "Harper, a while back, you were asking me about Natalie Ford. Now, I’m sure, with all this news, you know her better and would stay away from her."

"Why would I do so?" Justin asked.

"I mean, these days, she’s proven herself to be different. In fact, a very capable person. She’s proved the rumors about her wrong, and I sympathize with how everyone misunderstood her. But she’s always surrounded by some scandal, so it’s better to stay away from her."

Justin tapped his finger on the armrest as he sat like a king. "What if I don’t mind it?"

Rowan narrowed his eyes at him. "Harper, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to her. You simply can’t."

"Why?"

"Don’t you know she’s married? And she’s also backed by some rich man... I don’t want to say sugar daddy, but you should understand. Don’t go after a woman like her. It won’t be good for your image, which you’ve maintained till now..."

Justin stood up from his place and walked away.

"Hmm? Where are you going?" Rowan exclaimed. "I’m talking to you... Oh... what..."

Rowan saw a woman in her pajamas descending the stairs. She seemed to have just woken up, still drowsy, her hair unkempt, and rubbing her eyes.

Justin went to her and caressed her cheek. "Are you awake?" He proceeded to fix her messy hair with utmost care.

She hummed in a sleepy voice. "I’m hungry, so I came to eat something."

Justin pecked her forehead—she looked adorable like this—and led her toward the dining table. He instructed the butler to prepare something for her while he poured water into a glass and offered it to her.

Rowan, utterly shocked, turned to Morris. "Is it just me, or are you seeing the same thing?"

"Maybe take a closer look," Morris suggested with a playful smirk.

Rowan looked at Natalie and Justin once more. The way Justin lovingly treated her—fixing her hair, kissing her forehead, serving her water, and even preparing to feed her—left him speechless.