My father sold me to the Mafia King

Chapter 395

Julie’s point of view

I curled my lips in exhaustion, saying in a weary voice: "Please... let’s postpone this cursed argument until tomorrow. I’m exhausted."

Mike nodded slowly, moving toward the exit. "We will talk about this in detail tomorrow, Steve."

Steve flung the door open with cold hostility, stating without a shred of warmth: "You can leave now, Mike."

Mike walked out, his head bowed. Steve slammed the door shut behind him with a violent force that echoed through the house, then turned and marched toward me with heavy strides. He anchored his pupils onto my face, demanding in an authoritative tone:

"What the hell is the meaning of this absolute chaos going on here?!"

I let out a bored sigh, smoothing down my pajamas, and replied flatly: "Nothing happened... He just confessed his feelings and his love for me, that’s all."

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, asking firmly: "And you... what exactly do you want, Julie?"

I twisted my lips with bold indifference, stating in a flat tone: "Steve... you already know me. I don’t love any of these men."

A cynical smile played on his lips. He said in a breathless murmur: "Except for Robert, of course."

The moment that cursed name hit my ears, a raging fury ignited in my chest. I ground my teeth, shouting with sharp hostility: "Don’t you dare mention his filthy name to me ever again!"

He took a step closer, staring intensely into my eyes, pressing: "Julie... are you seriously going to play these games with me? Do you think I’m such an idiot brother that I can’t clearly see you’re still completely in love with him?!"

I cried out in frustration, denying it fiercely: "That is absolutely not true!"

He insisted softly: "Yes, it is, sister."

I spun away stubbornly, snapping in irritation: "I’m going to sleep right now!"

I hurried to my room with breathless strides, slamming the door shut with a light bang behind me. Moving mechanically toward the wooden wardrobe, I opened it and pulled out a handkerchief. Unfolding it, my trembling fingers lifted the golden butterfly necklace that Robert had gifted me once upon a time.

For the first time since taking it off four whole years ago, I raised my hands and fastened it tightly around my neck. The moment the pink butterfly rested warmly against my skin, my heart began to pound with a violent, electric force that nearly punctured my ribs. A frantic, trembling beat clearly declared that it desperately wanted Robert, that it still beat for him alone despite all the destruction and the men surrounding me.

A soft knock broke through my thoughts. The door slowly clicked open and Steve entered, his face painted with regret. He looked at me with deep affection, whispering: "Are you upset with me, Julie?"

I quickly wiped away a rogue tear, answering quietly: "No, Steve... I’m not upset."

He opened his broad arms with a warm smile: "Come here then, my stubborn little sister."

I took two steps forward, throwing myself into his embrace with all my vulnerability and pain as his massive arms locked tightly around me. He sighed softly, caressing my back as he teased: "It seems you have quite a few admirers, my dear sister."

I playfully thumped his back in annoyance, letting out a weak, faint chuckle: "Stop this nonsense, Steve."

He let out a breathless laugh, whispering: "It seems my cursed fate in this life is to constantly listen to men confessing how madly in love they are with my sister."

I thumped his back again with my fist: "Shut up already, damn you."

He slowly pulled away from the embrace, saying: "I’m going to get some sleep."

I grabbed the hem of his shirt with a strange, almost childlike pleading, looking into his eyes as I whispered in a cracked voice: "Sleep next to me in my room tonight, please."

He knit his brows in confusion, scanning my face with concern: "Is something wrong, Julie? Is something bothering you?"

I shook my head slowly: "Nothing’s wrong... I just really need you next to me tonight to feel safe."

He smiled warmly, whispering: "Alright, Julie... as you wish."

We moved together toward the small bed, lying down as I rested my heavy, racing head on his broad, warm chest. Feeling his steady breathing, I whispered softly: "You know what, Steve?"

He rested his hand gently on my head, asking: "What is it, sweetheart?"

I sighed deeply, whispering with soft melancholy: "Ever since I was little, I never once felt like you were just an older brother who is only four years older than me."

He asked curiously with a faint smile: "And what was I to you then?"

I tightened my grip on his shirt, whispering: "You were exactly like a father to me... and although I don’t even know what real fatherhood feels like, you have always been that for me, in every single detail and through all your protection."

Touched by my words, he gently pressed his palm against my hair, whispering in a trembling voice: "And I have always considered you my little girl, the only daughter I will protect with my life."

I whispered heavily, surrender-yielding to exhaustion: "I love you so much, Steve."

He replied in a choked, warm voice: "And I love you too, Julie."

At that exact moment, I stubbornly decided to completely shut down my mind, refusing to think about a single soul. Not Jake and his brutality, nor Mike and his pain, nor even Robert with his cursed scars. I simply wanted to sleep to escape this non-stop hell. I closed my eyes tightly, surrendering entirely to the deep, heavy sleep that slowly began to weave its web around me.

Suddenly, and without a single warning!

A terrifying crash shattered the stillness of the night, shaking the very foundation of the entire wooden house. My bedroom door was violently kicked open with a brutal force that nearly ripped it from its hinges, slamming against the wall with a deafening bang!

My body jolted in hysterical panic. Steve woke up in a flash, pushing his torso up off the bed with tensed muscles and wide, shocked eyes.

My eyes bulged in absolute disbelief, and the blood froze solid in my veins as my gaze landed on the silhouette of a terrifyingly tall, massive figure standing steady at the threshold. His broad frame sliced through the dim light with a raw brutality and absolute authority I knew inch by inch.

I swallowed hard, my limbs cold as death. My terrified gaze clashed with his pitch-black eyes, and a breathless, choked whisper escaped my lips, slicing through the freezing air:

"Robert...!"