"Stop fooling around. If you're going to eat it, just eat it already—so gross!"
Jodie rolled her eyes, took a step forward, and snatched the three cleansing pills from Veil's hand, stuffing them into her sister's mouth.
"Mmph! You're so annoying, sis!"
Julia pouted in protest, clearly upset.
She'd finally found a reason to snuggle up to her brother, and now her sister had ruined it!
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
With that, Julia stomped her feet—those long legs wrapped in white thigh-high stockings—and dashed upstairs.
She'd seen what happened to Joseph after he took the pills. There was no way she'd risk making a fool of herself in front of her brother. Better to hide in the bathroom ahead of time and prepare herself.
"You're not going to take yours?" Veil looked at Jodie, who had quietly put away her own cleansing pill.
"It's not like I need to take it right this second," she replied, a little irritated.
Stepping forward, she reached out to straighten the front of Veil's shirt, which Julia had messed up. "You know exactly what Julia's like, don't you? Couldn't you have at least tried to resist a little?"
Resist?
Why should he resist?
Veil looked confused. "Julia wasn't doing anything wrong. Honestly, she seemed to be enjoying herself. If that's what makes her happy, then it's fine with me. I can handle it."
Jodie gave his chest a light slap. "Playing innocent after getting spoiled—how typical."
Veil shrugged. "I barely get to see you, and when I do, you're all the way over there. Meanwhile, Julia's cuddled up in my arms. If I'm going to pamper someone, of course I'll pamper her."
That had layers.
Was he saying… he liked that?
Jodie's eyes shimmered as she stared at him for a long while. Then, after a quick glance toward the upstairs where Julia had vanished, she made a decision.
Without a word, she sat directly on Veil's lap, resting her head gently against his chest.
"So this is what you like, huh?" she murmured. "But don't get the wrong idea. It's not that I want to be close to you or anything… I just don't want Julia getting too attached. She's still young. If there's anything you need to… do—then just come to me instead."
Whoa.
Taking the hit for her little sister?
Was that even a thing?
But looking at Jodie's flushed cheeks as she nestled into his chest, Veil couldn't help but marvel.
The future queen of business… really was equal parts adorable and tsundere.
"Why are you always wearing dress shirts? They're not comfortable to lie on," Jodie complained softly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as she glanced up at Veil's neatly buttoned shirt.
Sure, it looked good on him and highlighted his figure—but it wasn't exactly pillow material.
"I think it's pretty nice. But if you want me to change next time, you'll have to agree to one condition," Veil said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"What condition?"
Despite pretending to sound indifferent, Jodie was clearly enchanted by the feeling of resting against him.
In Kosdy's house, she'd been met with cold stares and disdain. No matter how hard she worked, it never changed the fact that the illegitimate son held the family's favor.
All her efforts had felt like chasing smoke.
Only here, in Veil's arms, did she truly feel her own existence.
In this moment, she belonged to him—but also, finally, to herself.
Veil pulled out his phone. "I've come up with a house rule. From now on, there has to be a theme to what you wear each day."
Jodie narrowed her eyes suspiciously and glanced at the screen, flipping through the photos.
"One week's worth," Veil said patiently. "Just cycle through them. Got it?"
The corner of Jodie's mouth twitched. "You really are obsessed with stockings, huh?"
Every outfit in the photos was practically identical—except for the stockings.
Monday: black.
Tuesday: white.
Wednesday: fishnets.
Thursday: lace.
Friday: glossy.
Saturday: miniskirt with a thong.
Suddenly, Jodie noticed something missing.
"What about Sunday? You only showed me Monday through Saturday. Where's Sunday?"
Veil flicked her lightly on the forehead.
"You really can be sharp one moment and dense the next, can't you? You still can't guess?"