CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 11: Longed-for Love

’But shouldn’t *she* be the one who couldn’t face *him*? He’d taken her first kiss, after all. And he’d done it while mistaking her for someone else.’

She sat down in her chair, a little dazed. Tyson glanced at her. "Why are your eyes so swollen?"

Annoyed that he’d noticed so easily, she shot Tyson an angry glare. "Maybe I was up all night crying over a TV show, okay?"

Tyson gave her a look but said nothing more, just lowering his head to eat. He had grown up with her; how could he not know what was on her mind? But all he could do was pretend he didn’t.

Julian Donovan appeared just as they were about to finish eating. He casually took his seat with a polite smile on his lips. "Sorry, I drank a bit too much last night and woke up late."

Ian Shaw said with a smile, "Julian, looks like you still need to work on your tolerance!"

"Yes, Father!"

As Julian replied, he glanced at Naomi, who was sitting opposite him with her head bowed so low it was almost in her bowl.

She was wearing a white, sleeveless dress today, revealing slender, pale arms that made her look fragile. She wore a pair of large, black-rimmed glasses on her small, delicate face, but no matter how low she ducked her head, he could still see her red, swollen eyes behind them.

Almost at the same moment Julian sat down, Naomi shot to her feet.

"I’m done. I’m heading to school. You guys take your time!"

"I’ll take you!"

Tyson got up with her, grabbed the car keys, and was about to head out when Julian rose at the perfect moment to stop him.

"I’ll take her."

Julian smiled faintly.

"I can use the drive to familiarize myself with the area. Even though the driving customs in Thailos and Syan are different, I don’t think it’ll be a problem."

Ian Shaw pondered for a moment before instructing, "Tyson, let Julian go then."

Tyson snorted and tossed the car keys to Julian. Keys in hand, Julian strode out. After saying her goodbyes to Ian Shaw and Tyson, Naomi followed him out. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

When they reached the car, Naomi didn’t dare look at him, keeping her head down as she slipped into the passenger seat. The sight of him was enough to bring back the memory of last night’s kiss, making her blush and her heart pound. Julian glanced at her—head lowered, hands twisting the straps of her bag—and a flicker of impatience crossed his brow. He started the car and they drove off.

The car ride was silent, except for Naomi’s quiet voice giving him directions to her school. Julian drove steadily while Naomi sat anxiously, staring out the window. ’If last night hadn’t happened, maybe I could have been more composed around him,’ she thought. ’But after what happened, that’s impossible.’

It wasn’t until the car stopped in front of her school that Naomi finally mustered the courage to look at him.

"Julian, thank you for driving me to school. Bye!"

With that, she grabbed her bag and made to get out of the car quickly.

"Naomi!"

He called out, stopping her. It was the first time he’d ever said her name. His voice was pleasant—deep, low, and magnetic. Just hearing him say her name made her heart tremble. Biting her lip, she turned back to look at him uneasily. She didn’t even know what was wrong with herself; she liked him so much, yet she was also afraid of him.