Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 977: J Love L

Justin Xavier didn’t even know what he was saying. A flood of emotions was repressed in his heart. He could only hold her, brush against her hair, and in a hoarse voice, tell her he was actually very sad...

The maid watched the scene unfold, once again struck with amazement. The man who was as fierce as a tiger and oblivious to romance a moment ago suddenly softened like a child.

Being abruptly informed that she had been pregnant, and he had been a father, truly saddened him.

He needed comfort.

He needed to be embraced.

Leah Thorne’s small hands hung by her sides without providing any response. She couldn’t even heal herself, so how could she have the strength to heal others?

Justin Xavier held her tightly, rubbing his face against her hair and her cheeks, much like a... small puppy. After getting his fill, he slowly released her, "Is it because the food is unappetizing? I’ll cook noodles for you, alright?"

"No." Leah turned to leave.

But Justin grabbed her, led her straight into the kitchen, and trapped her between the counter and his embrace, making her accompany him as he cooked.

As the eldest grandson of the Xavier family, Justin rarely set foot in the kitchen, his hands untouched by chores.

But back when Leah was still young, he had cooked noodles for her, and his noodle-making skills were quite impressive.

Rolling up his white shirt sleeves twice, he revealed muscular forearms and a luxurious steel watch on his wrist. Skillfully, he began to cook the noodles, stirring them with chopsticks as his other hand rested on Leah’s slender waist, slowly moving down to her flat belly.

Leah noticed his actions too. He used to particularly enjoy touching her slender waist, but now he loved touching her belly even more.

His hand was large, nearly covering her entire midsection, tracing gentle circles as he lovingly caressed it.

Leah felt resistant to this motion, "President Xavier, wake up, there’s no child in my belly now."

Justin’s large hand hesitated for a moment but soon resumed its usual action, "I treat you as my child, is that not allowed?"

"... I once begged you to touch my belly, but you refused. Now, there’s no need for such belated affection, which is worth even less than dirt."

Justin knew she was referring to an earlier event. That night, he desired her while she hesitated beneath him, asking him to touch her belly. He had lost patience and mentioned that there were plenty of women outside willing to bear his children.

He remembered how she looked at him with tear-streaked cheeks, sobbing, her lips trembling, weakly pleading, calling him brother, not to have children with other women.

Justin lowered his sharp gaze, his thin lips pressed against her cheek, his voice low and hoarse, "Leah, I’m sorry, I deeply apologize..."

Leah scoffed, "You think that saying sorry will have me say it’s okay? Don’t dream."

Justin kissed her cheek repeatedly, shifting the topic, "Leah, get some rest these days. I’m handling all the wedding preparations. You don’t need to worry, though we need to discuss the design and decoration of our marital home."

With that, he drew out a design sketch from his pocket, pointing with his finger, "Here’s the living room. Outside the living room is a large swimming pool. This is our room, and next door... I want to leave a nursery..."

Leah cut him off directly, "Is President Xavier giving me a heads-up so that you can have children with other women later?"

"I didn’t mean it that way..."

"Then what’s the meaning of showing a nursery to someone like me who’s infertile, President Xavier? Please kindly explain it to me."

Seeing her cold and lazy demeanor, Justin slightly furrowed his sharp brows, and the atmosphere between them suddenly dropped.

Just then, a melodic ringtone sounded, indicating an incoming call for Justin Xavier.

He showed no intention of answering it, not even sparing it a glance.

"President Xavier, why aren’t you answering your phone? Since you suddenly want to marry me, I would think your grandfather, your mother, and your father, who’s on vacation, would be anxiously blowing up your phone."

Justin didn’t deny it. Indeed, it was a call from the Xavier family, but he hadn’t answered a single one.

"Leah, I know you hate the Xavier family. Haven’t you always wanted to get back at them? Now is your best opportunity. Marry me, become Mrs. Xavier."

Leah admitted that his proposal was indeed tempting. Laura Xavier had once said she was just a mistress Justin Xavier supported outside, but now, Justin wanted to marry her.

The daughter of the Thorne family becoming the daughter-in-law of the Xavier family—Old Master Xavier, Hugh Xavier, and Laura Xavier would surely be infuriated to the point of smoking.

However, Leah slowly shook her head. She looked up at Justin with dark, alert eyes, "Do you think my revenge is over? No, this is just the beginning."

"Justin Xavier, I will not marry you. Don’t act on wishful thinking. I won’t wed you. I seek revenge, but not by sacrificing my happiness because you all aren’t worth it."

"I hope one day, after uncovering the truth, I can break free from this filthy mire, to bid farewell to everyone and everything of the past, and embrace the sun, living well from then on."

Justin Xavier now realized that her heart had already wandered far. She was eager to turn him into someone from the past, into a past event. Her future no longer included him.

...

In the middle of the night, Leah had already fallen asleep, while Justin Xavier lay beside her, wide awake, looking at her soft, alluring face cuddled in his arms, and holding her small hand.

On her small hand was the diamond ring he gave her. She was intent on taking the ring off without closely examining it. Had she done so, she would notice the tiny English letters JloveL carved on the inside of the ring band.

JL are the initials of their names, and love stands for his love, a deep affection he never spoke out loud.

Previously, she had asked him, Justin Xavier, do you love me?

I do.

How could he not love?

His love had arrived long before hers, dormant in places unknown to her, woven into his very bones, thriving tenaciously.

All the answers she sought were within this diamond ring.

Justin rose and went to the adjacent room, switching on a wall lamp. He began molding those tiny porcelain dolls.

Unbeknownst to him, when she was pregnant, he always felt it was a son.

A son of him and her.

It was strange. Despite always thinking he disliked children, now his mind was full of thoughts about their son’s image. He believed undoubtedly that their son resembled him, as if carved from the same mold, yet the son’s eyes would be like Leah’s—dark and bright, devoid of the Xavier family’s darkness and coldness, facing the sun wholeheartedly.

After completing their son, Justin molded one of Leah, then one of himself, linking them hand in hand as a family of three.