Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Praise And Reward From A Husband

Justin adjusted the blanket over Julia and walked out of the room with Natalie, closing the door softly behind him.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Hmm," she nodded, but he was already holding her hand, inspecting the small cuts on the back of her palm—likely caused when they shattered the car’s glass. "Doesn’t look like it to me."

"It’s nothing," Natalie tried to pull her hand away, but Justin held it firmly, his gaze turning serious. She stayed silent as he guided her to the master bedroom. He made her sit on the bed, then went to the chest of drawers and pulled out a first aid kit.

"How did that end up here..."

"I brought it, knowing you have a knack of getting hurt all the time," he replied, settling on the bed beside her.

He opened the kit and gestured for her hand. Although displeased by his words, she complied. Justin carefully began disinfecting the tiny scratches, expecting her to flinch at the sting, but Natalie remained calm, as if she felt nothing at all.

"Most people would react to that sting," he commented.

"I’ve been taking care of my own wounds since I was a kid," she answered quietly.

Justin looked at her, but there was no feeling of hurt in her eyes, as if she was used to the loneliness she had been feeling since young.

He knew that feeling well, as he had been nothing but lonely all his life and had been haunted by some strange nightmares.

"Was it bearable? The loneliness?" he asked, focusing on applying ointment to each scratch gently and carefully.

"You get used to it over the time....that..." she trailed off.

"...now it feels strange to have people around," he finished what she couldn’t put into words.

Natalie could only nod silently, but he spoke again. "I know that feeling all too well."

"You were lonely, too? But you have such a good grandmother—and maybe other family members as well."

"Everyone has their own different struggles," he replied.

Natalie watched his serious expression. It might have been the first time they were discussing something so personal.

Justin finished applying the ointment to her hand. "Now you have me. You won’t feel lonely anymore."

His words touched her heart. She wanted to remind him that he wasn’t her real husband and that this would all end eventually, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Instead, a different thought crossed her mind.

"I’m sorry for forgetting our deal and not going to the police station to file a complaint. Tomorrow I’ll—"

"There’s no need," he interrupted her firmly, his gaze reassuring. "I have more reliable ways of handling it. You don’t have to worry."

His determined look silenced her questions, but she couldn’t help asking, "After we find him, what happens next?"

"There won’t be a next for him," Justin replied coldly, his gaze and tone sending shivers down her spine.

"We need to know why he did it," she insisted softly.

"We will," he said, then added, "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

Natalie shook her head.

"Good. Then all that’s left is your praise and your reward."

Her eyes widened, and her mind silently screamed, Rest? What do you mean by ’the rest’? But no words came out of her mouth.