My husband is coming home

Julia Avery stared into the man's light blue eyes, those blue depths filled with an irresistible allure.

From his eyes, she knew she was in trouble.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's find somewhere else," she said, feeling helpless.

At the coffee shop:

Silence. Silence. And more silence...

Julia Avery narrowed her eyes, glaring at the man sitting across from her, as if she could bore holes into him with her gaze.

Royce Butler, on the other hand, leisurely sipped his coffee.

Just a while ago in the library, he was eager to know why Julia Avery wanted to have a child, but now he remained silent.

It seemed he expected Julia to speak eventually, especially since he had leverage over her.

"What did I ever do to you? Why are you treating me like this?" Julia finally broke the silence.

Royce let out a cold chuckle, took another sip of his coffee, and slowly placed the cup back on the table. "Just curious."

Julia couldn't help but roll her eyes. "If I tell you, will you delete the photos?"

"No problem."

Julia sighed deeply. "I'm married."

Royce Butler wasn't surprised at all by what he heard. Of course, he knew she was married—he was her husband!

"Oh, your man can't satisfy you?" he asked with a smirk.

Julia Avery lowered her head shyly. "You slept with me last night... you should know, it was my first time, so my husband and I..."

"Then why do you want to have a baby?"

Royce asked, his curiosity piqued. Julia pondered for a moment. "A fortune teller said our family needs a child to ward off bad luck. So, I have to get pregnant within a year."

Royce scrutinized Julia's clear, bright eyes. Despite their clarity, he still found her explanation a bit dubious.

"You believe in that superstitious nonsense?"

"Believe it or not, it's up to you," she replied.

"To ward off bad luck? Is someone in your family dying?"

As soon as Royce uttered the word "dying," Julia slammed her hand on the table, her face turning pale with anger. "Shut up!"

Royce instinctively looked at Julia. She seemed so delicate and fragile, but in that moment, he saw a stubborn strength in her eyes.

Julia realized she had overreacted to the word "dying" and quickly turned her head away.

"Anyway, it's very important to me. I have to have a baby within a year," she insisted.

"Then why don't you ask your husband?" Royce questioned.

"My husband?" Julia turned back to him, looking incredulous. "That bald old man? I don't even know if he can have kids!"

"Bald old man?"

Royce Butler instinctively touched his head. He wasn't bald at all! His hair was healthy and handsome! Why would she say that?

Thinking back, on the day of the marriage registration, he had gone golfing with Lionel Gonzalez.

His secretary, Dorian, and the family butler, Ignatius, had handled the paperwork. Ignatius, who was in his fifties and indeed bald, must have been mistaken for him.

Julia Avery knocked on the table, snapping Royce Butler back to reality. "If I told you that I haven't seen my husband even once in the year we've been married, would you believe me?"

Royce Butler certainly believed her. If she had seen him, they wouldn't be sitting here talking.

"That's hard to believe," he replied, feigning skepticism.

Julia Avery shook her head. "I knew you wouldn't believe me, but it's true. I haven't seen him. I don't even know his name. On our wedding day, I just filled out my part of the paperwork and signed. Just as I was about to see what my husband's name was, that annoying secretary snatched the marriage certificate away."

Royce Butler silently thought, "Well done, Dorian."

"Oh."

"And then, they dumped me in a villa and left me alone."

"Oh, and why would they do that?" Royce Butler asked, pretending not to know the answer.

Julia Avery pinched her chin thoughtfully. "I guess he might be too ugly and afraid for me to see him. Or maybe he's impotent and doesn't want to embarrass himself. Or perhaps he just wants to use me to ward off bad luck."

Royce Butler felt extremely uncomfortable hearing this, but he couldn't refute it. After all, he had a devilishly handsome face and was strong and enduring. How could he be impotent?

"There might be other reasons," Royce Butler said with a forced laugh.

"So, I'm really in a tough spot. Please let me go," Julia Avery immediately grabbed Royce Butler's hand, looking at him with pitiful eyes, tears almost spilling out. As a professionally trained actress, she had mastered this skill.

Seeing her pitiful expression, Royce Butler's heart skipped a beat. This little girl was truly endearing.

"I've told you everything. Can you delete the photos now?" Julia Avery pleaded.

Royce Butler coughed twice. "I can delete them, but you have to agree to one condition."

Julia Avery's face changed instantly. "Don't push your luck. I told you everything you wanted to know. You promised to delete them once I did!"

Royce Butler waved his phone. "I have the upper hand here. I know you didn't tell the whole truth, but I'm no longer interested."

"You—" Julia Avery gritted her teeth. This man was really difficult to deal with. "Fine, what's your condition? Tell me!"

Royce Butler smirked. "Let me sleep with you one more time."

"You shameless pig!" Julia Avery wanted to slap that handsome face of his.

"I'm shameless? You're a married woman going out to sleep with other men. Aren't you shameless? I'm not married. What's wrong with me looking for women?"

"You—"

Julia Avery was on the verge of losing her mind. She regretted her decisions so deeply it felt like her insides were twisting.

People always said you couldn't trust a pretty woman, but a handsome man was even worse!

"Anyway, you've already cheated on your husband once. What's one more time?"

Royce Butler glanced at Julia with a smirk.

He wanted to see if she dared to cheat on her husband again!

"No way! I have principles. The only reason I slept with you was because I had no choice. It was to have a baby!"

"Does it make a difference? Besides, what if you didn't get pregnant? We might as well try again tonight. Who knows, it might work this time." Royce Butler winked.

Julia bit her lip.

Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to do it a second time. Her conscience wouldn't allow it.

"Take your time to think. I'm in no rush," Royce Butler said, leaning back on the couch and sipping his coffee.

Time ticked away, second by second. Julia's mind was in turmoil.

If Royce Butler didn't delete those photos, and they got out, her life would be ruined.

If she were just an ordinary person, it might not matter as much. But she was aiming to become an actress, and those photos could destroy her career.

But if she slept with Royce Butler again, her conscience would never forgive her.

After all, she was trying to have a baby because...

"I..."

Just as Julia Avery was about to speak, her phone rang urgently.

"Let me take this call first." Julia pressed the answer button. "Hello, what did you say? My husband is coming home?"

Royce Butler let out a soft chuckle. Of all times to tell her it wouldn't work, they had to call her at such a critical moment.

Julia Avery hung up the phone. "I need to go home right now! We'll discuss our matter later. Until we reach an agreement, I hope you don't spread my photos around.

Otherwise, I'll sue you. We'll both go down together if it comes to that."

With that, Julia Avery headed for the door but stopped halfway and came back. She quickly scribbled her phone number on a piece of paper. "Here's my number. We'll be in touch. Now, give me yours."

Royce Butler glanced at the string of numbers and then dialed it on his phone to verify its authenticity. Julia Avery saw her phone screen light up with the incoming call and nodded. "Alright, I'm leaving now."

She hurried out the door and didn't come back this time.

Royce Butler sighed. "What's the rush?

You'll still end up in my bed tonight."

Prism City Villa District

Speaking of this villa district, it was quite well-known in Zenith City. When it was first being developed, the real estate company had marketed it as a villa garden within the city,' which caught a lot of attention.

Prism City was conveniently located, situated in the outer ring area. It had easy access to the highway for trips out of town and a direct expressway to the city center.

The villas were built in a Western style, making them a unique sight in the city.

However, after the villas were built and many were sold, rumors started spreading about the place being haunted. Several families reported strange occurrences, and some elderly folks claimed the area used to be a graveyard.

The haunting stories grew more intense, and gradually, people who had moved in started moving out. Prospective buyers lost interest as well.

The villa complex had slowly fallen into disrepair, resembling a ghost town. Initially, when Julia Avery heard she had to live there, she was totally against it.

First, she didn't have enough money to rent a place, and second, she needed to make sure her brother knew she was married, which meant she had to live outside.

So, she reluctantly moved in. But after a year of living there without anything strange happening, she gradually forgot about her initial reluctance.

As soon as she walked through the door, Julia saw Zoey, the young maid her husband had arranged for her, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, munching on sunflower seeds with the TV blaring loudly. It seemed like Zoey was more the lady of the house than a maid.

Julia sat down next to her. "You mentioned on the phone..."

"Yes, yes, aren't you thrilled? You've been alone for a year, and now finally, your dry spell is over," Zoey interrupted, spitting out sunflower seed shells with a look of disdain.

"Why is he suddenly coming back?" Julia asked, annoyed by Zoey's arrogance. At first, she was infuriated by Zoey's lazy attitude, acting more like the mistress of the house than a maid.

But Julia knew Zoey was just a local girl who claimed she used to serve the master well, living comfortably before coming here to suffer.

Julia couldn't be bothered to argue with her, especially since she didn't come back often. They each lived their own lives, so she let it slide.

"How should I know? This is Mr. Butler's house. He can come back whenever he wants! Did you really think this place was yours?" Zoey spat out another sunflower seed shell and glanced at Julia.

"Let me make one thing clear," Zoey said, her tone turning serious. "I've been doing my best to serve you here. Don't you dare take that for granted."

Zoey's voice was high-pitched and shrill, making anyone who heard it get goosebumps. "Diligent and devoted?" she sneered. "Tell me, have you ever cooked a meal for me?"

Julia Avery rolled her eyes and let out a cold snort. "And how would I know when you're coming back or not? Don't forget, I have dirt on you too. "

"Oh really? What dirt?" Julia asked, genuinely curious.

Zoey let out a cold laugh. "You only sleep here two nights a week. Where do you go the rest of the time? As a married woman, staying out all night, I wonder what Mr. Butler would think about that."

Julia Avery chuckled. Zoey was acting all high and mighty, but Julia couldn't be bothered to argue with her. She turned and headed upstairs.

"Hey, just a reminder," Zoey called after her.

"Be careful around Mr. Butler. He has a bad temper, and if you accidentally make him angry, it might come back to bite me."

Julia paused for a moment, then continued up the stairs. Sitting in her bedroom, she felt uneasy. What could that old man be coming back for? He had ignored her for a year, and now suddenly he wanted to return?

Could it be that he wanted... her body?

The thought made Julia feel disgusted. The image of that bald, sixty-something-year-old man pressing down on her made her skin crawl.

But she couldn't refuse him. After all, they were legally married. If he wanted to touch her, it was within his rights.

What should she do?

By the time evening rolled around, there was still no sign of the old man returning. Instead, Julia Avery was greeted with a dinner prepared by Zoey.

It was the first time Zoey had ever cooked dinner for her, and the taste was quite mediocre. Julia barely ate a few bites.

"Did your husband mention what time he'd be back on the phone?" Julia asked.

Zoey, munching on her food, replied, "Mr. Butler is always swamped with work.

There's no telling when he'll be back. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Not wanting to continue the conversation with Zoey, Julia went straight upstairs.

She waited until 10 PM. Having not slept well the previous night, she was already feeling sleepy by 9 PM. She yawned and checked the time.

Don't old people usually go to bed early? It's so late already; he probably won't come.

She took a quick shower and went straight to bed.

At 10:30 PM, a Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of Villa 18 in Prism City.

Royce Butler stepped out of the car, the sapphire earring in his left ear gleaming under the moonlight.

Just as he was about to step into the house, he paused, removed the earring, and handed it to Dorian.

"President Butler, should I wait here for you, or...?" Dorian asked, considering the possibility that Royce might stay the night here.

"Wait here for me," Royce Butler said curtly before heading inside.

As soon as Royce Butler stepped through the door, Zoey darted over like a flash. She had been eagerly waiting for his return, full of energy.

"Sir, you're back! Would you like something to eat? Can I make you something?" Zoey asked, her face beaming with a fawning smile.

Back when she worked in Royce Butler's crystal garden, she was just a lowly maid who cleaned the outside, rarely getting a chance to see Royce Butler himself.

Royce Butler glanced down at her, his eyebrows knitting together. "No need. Where is Mrs. Butler?"