Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted-Chapter 123: My Hand Touched Uncle’s Certain Part

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: My Hand Touched Uncle’s Certain Part

With a loud "boom," my mind seemed to explode, and I stood there in disbelief for a long time.

I said, "Aren’t you in Aurelia spending New Year’s with your family? How are you at my doorstep?"

Julian Sinclair didn’t answer my question; instead, his tone became slightly heavier: "So, Zoe Ellison, where exactly are you right now?"

The cold wind carried tonight’s grievances over, and my nose tingled as all the calm I had been maintaining collapsed instantly.

I sniffed, my voice uncontrollably carrying a sobbing tone: "On the way back from The Kendall Family, haven’t caught a cab yet. Sharon... is with me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Julian Sinclair gave a clear instruction: "Send me your location, stand still with Sharon, and wait for me, don’t wander off."

Until the call ended, I stayed frozen in place, clutching my phone tightly.

Countless questions swirled in my mind.

Julian Sinclair should have been in Aurelia with Madam Sinclair and family, how could he suddenly be here? Didn’t he need to spend New Year’s with his family? These thoughts went back and forth in my head, making it feel surreal, like a dream.

Yet after this call, I felt much more at ease.

I followed his instructions, sent my location, and held Sharon Hawthorne’s hand under the streetlight.

The little girl was very sensible, obediently leaning beside me.

While waiting for a car, she cautiously asked, "Auntie Ellison, are you Doris’s dad’s wife?"

I was taken aback and said, "I used to be."

"Oh." Sharon nodded with a somewhat understanding look and asked, "Then who is Doris’s real mom, you or that lady?"

I smiled and said, "What do you think?"

Sharon tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, "It should be you! That lady stopped loving Doris after having a little brother and always ignores her. You said if it’s a biological mom, she wouldn’t favor one over the other. Right?"

Under the streetlight, tiny stars seemed to twinkle in Sharon’s eyes, perhaps reminding her of her own circumstances.

After Mrs. Hawthorne had her biological daughter, Sharon too was the one discarded.

I squatted down and gently hugged her, saying, "Sharon, if you’re unhappy at The Hawthorne Family, you can always stay here with Auntie. Then Auntie will have another daughter."

Sharon couldn’t help but confirm, "But Auntie, if you have your own daughter, will you still like me? Will you abandon me too?"

My heart was filled with tenderness and pity.

She was originally taken from the orphanage by Mason and Mrs. Hawthorne, and before enjoying the warmth of a home for long, she was abandoned again.

Although I knew that I had no right to claim custody of her, after all, her guardianship wasn’t with me.

But to make her feel more secure, I said, "Auntie will never abandon you."

Sharon leaned against me and said, "Auntie, when I go back, I want to learn taekwondo. Is that okay?"

"Why?"

I looked at her puzzled.

Sharon said earnestly, "So that if anyone bullies you in the future, I can protect you!"

I choked up and said, "Auntie doesn’t need you to protect her, just be a happy and carefree child. Grown-up matters... you wouldn’t understand yet."

...

Sharon and I waited in place for about half an hour before blinding headlights pierced the night, and a silver Bentley slowly stopped in front of us.

I stared at the familiar license plate, feeling a surge of excitement inside.

When Sharon saw Julian Sinclair getting out of the car, she bounced up excitedly: "Uncle Sinclair!"

In the night, his gray coat made him look even taller and more imposing.

He first bent down to pick up Sharon, then turned to look at me, frowning tightly: "Why do you look like a frostbitten eggplant on New Year’s Eve? What happened?"

Looking at his face so close, tears hanging in my eyes nearly fell.

Just then, a blinding light suddenly shot from a distance, dazzling us to the point that we couldn’t open our eyes.

Looking against the light, I saw Timothy Xavier’s Maybach parked not far away.

The car door opened, and Timothy Xavier stepped out first.

When he realized Julian Sinclair was standing next to me, the anxiety on his face instantly froze.

Timothy’s pupils narrowed slightly, and his tone carried a trace of anger: "Why are you here? What are you doing here?"

Just after his words fell, Sophia Kendall and Serena Sawyer also got out of the back seat.

Even more shocked than Timothy was Sophia Kendall.

After all, she would never have imagined that on New Year’s Eve, her nominal brother would be with her daughter-in-law.

Perhaps in their imagination, at this moment, I should be walking in embarrassment with Sharon on this road far from the city center.

Sophia Kendall questioned Julian Sinclair in exasperation: "I heard you went back to Aurelia a few days ago. Now you’re back in Veridia, but instead of seeing your mother, you’re with my daughter-in-law. What do you mean by this?"

Julian Sinclair’s lips curved slightly into a smirk, and he said, "Exactly what you think it means."

Sophia Kendall’s eyes widened.

Serena Sawyer stared at Julian and me, eyes filled with shock and unwillingness.

She probably didn’t expect I would be so close to Julian Sinclair, even letting him appear specially during the New Year.

Timothy Xavier quickly suppressed his anger, striding towards me and grasping my wrist without hesitation.

He looked at Julian Sinclair and said in a firm tone, "It’s good you’re here! President Sinclair, this young girl from the Hawthorne family is of unknown origin. I don’t agree with my wife continuing to foster her. If it’s convenient for you, take her away and settle her for now. I will contact the Hawthorne family for follow-up arrangements."

After speaking, he began dragging me towards the car: "Zoe, get in the car with me, we can talk about this at home."

"Let go!"

I forcefully shook off his hand, and my wrist was already red.

I stepped back a few paces, standing next to Julian Sinclair, and said, "Timothy Xavier, are you still asleep? Who’s your wife?"

Timothy Xavier sneered and said, "This uncle beside you is a law expert. He should know that having a marriage certificate legally makes you a husband and wife, right?"

At this point, he stared at me and said, "Zoe Ellison, you’d better obediently come back with me now. Otherwise, don’t ever think about getting a divorce in this lifetime!"

I directly pulled out my phone, opened the camera and pointed it at him, saying, "Go on, say into the camera ’I, Zoe Ellison, am your wife, Timothy Xavier’! And while you’re at it, explain what role this pregnant Serena Sawyer beside you holds in your life?"

Julian Sinclair stood silently by, with Sharon already placed inside his car.

He neither stopped me nor stepped in to help, as if he knew I could handle this by myself.

However, his gaze was firmly fixed on Timothy Xavier, as cold as ice.

Timothy Xavier clearly did not expect me to be so unyielding, especially in front of Julian Sinclair.

His face turned livid, and he lowered his voice, gritting his teeth, "Zoe Ellison, do you have to make things so embarrassing? Why is it always this undignified?"

I retorted, "When your family bullied Sharon just now, why didn’t you care about dignity? Now, you suddenly want to save face?"

Timothy Xavier was left speechless by my words.

Sophia Kendall wanted to step in to argue, but was silenced by a cold look from Julian Sinclair. She opened her mouth but dared not speak.

I no longer looked at their awkward expressions, and turned to open the car door of Julian Sinclair’s car.

Julian Sinclair went around to the driver’s seat and got in.

As the car started, I glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of Timothy Xavier’s livid face and Sophia Kendall’s angry expression, and the grievances I had bottled up all night finally eased a little.

...

Meanwhile.

Watching the taillights of Julian Sinclair’s car fade into the night, Sophia Kendall couldn’t hold back her curses.

The cold wind made her voice tremble, but it was full of venom: "Zoe Ellison, that bitch! When did she hook up with Julian Sinclair? She really has no shame, thinking she can use Julian Sinclair to suppress our Xavier family!"

Serena Sawyer glanced secretly at Timothy Xavier’s tense profile, deliberately softening her voice, saying, "Timothy, Miss Ellison used to claim you were cheating, yet she herself is tangled up with Julian Sinclair. Moreover, Julian Sinclair is much older than Miss Ellison, yet he could still be interested. Maybe he has some perverted hobbies. If they really get together in the future, will Julian Sinclair do anything to Doris..."

Before she finished speaking, it was enough to hit Timothy Xavier’s soft spot.

Timothy Xavier clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, saying, "I will never let Julian Sinclair lay a finger on Doris. As long as I refuse to agree to the divorce, no matter how close Zoe Ellison gets to him, what can she do? Who is Julian Sinclair anyway? Would he be willing to be the other man?"

After speaking, he no longer looked at Sophia Kendall and Serena Sawyer, directly opening the passenger-side car door and getting in.

In the backseat, Doris was sound asleep, her little face rubbing against the cushion, completely unaware of the outside turmoil.

Seeing his daughter, the fierceness in Timothy Xavier’s eyes gradually softened.

Outside the car, Serena Sawyer and Sophia Kendall remained standing, distressed and worried.

Especially Serena Sawyer, upon hearing that Timothy Xavier was unwilling to divorce, felt her anxiety surging instantly.

Suddenly, she grabbed Sophia Kendall’s arm, her voice tinged with crying: "Mom, my belly looks like it will start showing soon. Many people outside are waiting to hear the good news about me and Timothy. If Timothy doesn’t get a divorce, how will others talk about me? I can’t remain in this improper status forever!"

Sophia Kendall patted her hand reassuringly, her gaze full of certain comfort: "Don’t worry! Timothy already doesn’t care about Zoe Ellison, he’s just stubbornly holding onto this to make her suffer. Once his anger subsides, he’ll surely legitimize your relationship."

Serena Sawyer still felt uneasy, her eyebrows knitted together, suddenly recalling something.

She said, "Mom, Zoe Ellison left with Julian Sinclair tonight, will they... will they make it official? If Zoe Ellison gets pregnant with Julian Sinclair’s child, marries into the Sinclair family using him, then we’ll have to face her all the time. How awkward would that be? If she bears a grudge against us, who knows how she’ll retaliate in the future!"

With this reminder, Sophia Kendall’s expression became heavy.

Soon after, Sophia Kendall sneered, her eyes full of disdain, "She, Zoe Ellison, wants to marry Julian Sinclair and become my equal? What a dream!"

With that, she pulled out her phone, her fingers swiftly scrolling across the screen, and dialed a number.

The call connected, and Sophia Kendall curved her lips slightly, saying, "Mom, there’s something I have to tell you."

...

An hour later, we finally got home.

When I turned on the lights, warm yellow lighting spilled out, and the lanterns and colorful streamers in the living room were all made by Sharon and me earlier.

The festive atmosphere suddenly wrapped around the chill in the air.

Julian Sinclair was sitting on the sofa, his usually upright posture now leaning back against the sofa, exuding a hint of laziness.

His long fingers rubbed his brow, with an almost imperceptible fatigue in his eyes.

Seeing this, I turned to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to him. Our fingers inadvertently touched, and we both paused for a moment.

I quickly withdrew my hand and awkwardly asked, "Are you very tired? You don’t look too well."

He took the glass but didn’t rush to drink, his thumb brushing the rim of the glass.

When he looked up at me, there was an indescribable look in his eyes: "I had lunch with the family and rushed to Veridia, drove over four hours to your place, knocked on the door for ages, and no one answered. Then I detoured to the Kendall Family’s area to find you. Do you think I’m tired?"

His tone was calm, with no trace of emotion.

But Julian Sinclair was never a man of many words, rarely uttering such long sentences in one go.

Especially with that slight softness at the end of his sentence, which strangely made me feel a bit like he was sulking.

I quickly shook my head to suppress this ridiculous idea.

He is Julian Sinclair, a man who can turn the tides in the business world, the decisive leader of The Sinclair Group. How could he possibly sulk with me?

I sat down on the single sofa opposite him, still unable to restrain from asking, "It’s New Year’s Eve, why did you suddenly come to Veridia? Is there an urgent matter here you need to handle?"

He took a sip of warm water, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he just said "yeah", his gaze landing on Sharon beside him, "I’m here to accompany Sharon for the New Year."

Sharon was surprised, asking with a beaming face: "Uncle Sinclair, my dad always says you’re busier than him and tells me not to always bug you. But I feel like you’re not that busy. My dad can’t even come home for the New Year, and yet you’re here to accompany me!"

Julian Sinclair chuckled, lightly tapping her tiny nose with his fingertip.

Then he turned to me and asked, "Is there anything to eat at home?"

I was taken aback for a moment, quickly getting up and heading to the kitchen, apologetically asking, "You haven’t eaten yet?"

He followed me into the kitchen, leaning against the door frame, and said flatly, "No, I haven’t eaten. What about you? Did you eat well with them?"

In reality, I didn’t eat well at the Kendall Family either.

Detecting the teasing tone, I changed the topic and asked, "What kind of dumplings do you want to eat?"

Julian Sinclair looked at the dumplings in the refrigerator and immediately recognized, "These weren’t made by one person, were they?"

I admired his observation skills, nodding, "My mom made the three-delicacy ones, and I made the celery and pork ones. But I recommend you try the three-delicacy ones, they’re deliciously made by my mom."

"I’ll have the ones you made."

He didn’t hesitate.

His deep gaze locked onto me, sincere and natural.

I quickly avoided his gaze, lowering my head to cook the dumplings.

The dumplings rolled in the boiling water a couple of times and soon floated to the surface.

I served them onto plates and sat down at the table as well.

After all, Sharon and I didn’t eat well at the Kendall Family, so we both took a plate each.

Sharon looked at the dumplings in front of her, and nostalgically said, "When my dad used to come back late after socializing, my mom and I would accompany him for supper."

My hand holding the chopsticks paused abruptly, and I immediately said to Sharon, "Finish eating your meal quickly, or the skit on the Spring Festival Gala will be over!"

Julian Sinclair must have noticed my embarrassment, and his thin lips curved slightly as he elegantly and nobly ate the dumplings in front of him.

I had been worried they wouldn’t suit his taste, but even though he didn’t gobble them down, he finished an entire plate.

As soon as he finished eating, I was about to clear the dishes, but my hand was suddenly held.

My body stiffened, the warmth of his hand causing my heart to race. I instinctively looked at him.

Julian Sinclair spoke in a low voice, "I’ll clean up. You go accompany Sharon and watch the Spring Festival Gala."

I didn’t bother to be polite, just replied, "Alright," withdrew my hand, and quickly ran to the sofa.

Sharon looked at the television skit and was laughing uncontrollably.

I, however, was distracted, as if the warmth of his touch still lingered on the back of my hand.

Until the sofa beside me slightly dipped, and Julian Sinclair sat down.

The sofa instantly felt crowded.

Sharon laughed until she was out of breath, then suddenly leaned over and rested on my shoulder.

When she bumped into me so suddenly, I lost my balance, and my whole body leaned toward Julian Sinclair.

He reached out and held my waist, the warmth of his palm penetrating through my clothes, stably supporting me.

I braced myself against his arm to sit up straight, and as I looked up, I met his eyes. His Adam’s apple moved slightly, as if he was holding something back.

Following his gaze, I suddenly realized my right hand was placed where it shouldn’t be.

Horrified, I quickly withdrew my hand, my face burning.

"S-sorry..."

I wished I could find a hole to crawl into.

Sharon continued to watch TV beside me, the little girl giggling foolishly, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere between Julian Sinclair and me.

Perhaps my sofa was too small, as I always felt like I was sitting so close to Julian Sinclair while watching TV that I might as well sit in his lap.

I felt that this situation was dangerous.

And given how late it was, Julian Sinclair showed no sign of leaving.

I was bracing myself to subtly remind him that it was getting late.

Just then, the countdown started on the TV, and it was already midnight!

There were sporadic sounds of fireworks outside the window.

Julian Sinclair suddenly asked, "Sharon, do you want to light fireworks?"

Sharon’s eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"

Then, she suddenly remembered something, sounding disappointed, "But... we didn’t buy any fireworks."

Julian Sinclair said, "I have some in my car."

Sharon was overjoyed and began to put on her coat, "Then let’s go!"

Julian Sinclair responded, but his gaze turned to me: "Are you coming?"

For some inexplicable reason, I nodded, realizing that I couldn’t seem to refuse him.

...

The neighborhood downstairs was already filled with people staying up late, laughter from both adults and children mingling with the crackling of fireworks, making a lively scene.

I looked up at Julian Sinclair beside me, suddenly distracted.

Never did I imagine that this year, I would be welcoming New Year’s with Julian Sinclair.

The sky was lit with fireworks while Sharon played with a sparkler nearby.

At this moment, Julian Sinclair took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to me, "Happy New Year."

I was slightly taken aback.

Ever since getting married, I hadn’t received a New Year red envelope. My parents thought I had grown up, and even I assumed that receiving red envelopes was a childhood tradition.

The red envelope from Julian Sinclair had a satin surface, delicate like a work of art, appearing meticulously prepared.

Warmth suddenly engulfed my eyes as I looked at him, my voice soft, "Why...are you giving me a red envelope?"

Julian Sinclair smiled slightly, "I want you to be happy."

I looked up at him, and at that moment, fireworks from an unknown source filled the night sky.

The tiny glitter fell on his shoulders, the warm light grazing over his brows and eyes.

The man’s eyes beneath his gold-rimmed glasses were extraordinarily deep, overlapping with his well-defined features.

Warmth spread boundlessly in my heart, making it tender and ineffectual.

I accepted the red envelope and softly said, "Thank you."

He looked away and nonchalantly asked, "Do you have any New Year’s wishes?"

I hesitated for a moment, asking, "Can you help me fulfill my wish?"

"I might consider it."

His gaze returned to me, ambiguous.

’Help me get a divorce,’ those four words almost escaped my lips.