Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 478: Caryn’s Consent

She pushed him aside and moved away, only to have him pull her back. His hand caught hers in a firm grip as he drew her into a back hug, her slender back pressing against his solid torso.

She wanted to resist—she was still upset with him for not contacting her—but then she heard his calm and gentle voice.

"I just wanted to surprise you. If we had talked and you’d asked when I was returning, I wouldn’t have been able to lie. I didn’t expect you to get this angry, but I must say... I’m glad to see you this way. It means you missed me, that you care. But I promise, I won’t pull this stunt again or make you worry."

As he spoke, she finally relaxed in his arms and replied, "You better not."

He hummed softly in response and let her go, turning to fetch his clothes from the wardrobe.

Caryn stood still, catching the breath that had felt stuck in her chest. She walked over to the grand window, letting the cool evening breeze wash over her and calm the turmoil inside.

Meanwhile, James stood before the mirror. After a moment, he sighed and said, "I forgot to shave. I’ll be back in a while," before heading toward the bathroom.

Caryn noticed how tired he looked, the faint stubble on his face hinting at long hours and little rest. It must have been a hectic journey.

"Let it be," she said, her voice softer now.

James stopped and turned to look at her.

"You’re going to be a grandfather soon, still planning to look all young?" she said quietly, but there was a note of complaint beneath her calm tone. "So everyone can see how this woman—whose hair is almost a third gray—looks undeserving of you?"

James couldn’t help but smile. It was the first time she had spoken this way. Was she... insecure? Insecure about aging? About no longer being the young woman who once loved him so madly?

He gave up on the thought of shaving and instead walked over to her as she stood by the window. "So you don’t want me to shave and grow some beard?"

Caryn awkwardly shifted her gaze away from him and replied, "Those few gray hairs in your beard might let everyone know you’re old as well. I’m not the only one aging here."

front of her and pointed to the hair on his head. "See, I have gray hair

have," she said. "You still don’t look

having a competition over who has

Caryn didn’t reply.

But even with gray hair, I love you just as much as I always have. You’re still

and kissed her. Caryn didn’t resist—she had missed him just as much and had desperately waited

close she let him be. They had kissed before, but never had she

kiss, and

they finally pulled away, he whispered, "Now do

simply hummed, her face flushed. "You... must

dinner?" he

at this age how horny this man could get, but she didn’t

she stepped back and replied, "You need to eat a

push. He gave a soft hum, though a trace of disappointment

for dinner. Every now and then, Caryn glanced at him, wondering if he truly was disappointed. But he gave no indication—his face calm, his demeanor just

a walk afterward, talking about everything that had happened in his absence, catching up on news

under the sheets, turned

to his surprise, Caryn

her head on his arm and gently wrapped her

had never done this before—not on her own. It had always

pull away from him. He simply stared at the ceiling, thinking if he could truly sleep while she lay in his arms

neither of them spoke. The room felt oddly, overly silent—as though they could hear each other’s heartbeats. The air seemed unsettling, or perhaps it was just

it any longer. Taking her silence and closeness as some kind of permission, he moved over—only to

hard. It wasn’t difficult to guess what his intentions were. She parted her lips to say something but closed them again,

her eyes, he could see the unsaid consent she