[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system":3,"chapter-villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-chapter-118":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},560706,810,"Chapter 118: Interrupted Moments","villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-chapter-118",118,"\u003Cp>Interrupted Moments\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian scratched his head awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh... that time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(I couldn’t stand it anymore. )\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(That Crane was so ugly that I just had to teach you a lesson. )\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen Valquin’s mouth twitched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that was what he had thought back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her painting had been ugly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, she felt a faint irritation bubbling in her chest. But the feeling faded almost immediately. Instead, a soft smile appeared on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what the misunderstanding had been back then, that moment had changed her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was still grateful to Julian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grateful for the unintentional help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grateful for the way he had unknowingly pulled her out of the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And grateful for how he had saved her brother... and the Valquin household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at him with gentle expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s paint together again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s been a long time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian immediately shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You paint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll just go for a stroll.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room felt strangely intimate, and he didn’t know how to deal with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gwen’s voice suddenly stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you hate me that much... for slapping you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was soft, but the emotion inside it was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen was looking at him with slightly reddened eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that expression made Julian feel strangely uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scratched his head again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not that I hate you, it’s just—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still trying to think of an excuse when he suddenly noticed her eyes growing even redder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears were forming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian immediately panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just need to use the bathroom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen sniffed softly and pointed toward the bathroom in the suite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use the one here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was slightly shaky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian stared at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way she looked right now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those slightly wet eyes and the faint pout on her lips—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was dangerously cute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dull poke, gentle but sharp inside his chest. The sensation lingered without force, more strange than painful. Softness gave it weight. Not a wound, yet not nothing either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, alright, I’ll go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arms lifted, palms up, fingers spread wide. A shrug formed without words. Helplessness hung in the air between his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t cry, or people will think I bullied you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before leaving -\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forward he moved without thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Softly, his fingers brushed the top of her hair. A quiet touch, slow and warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey... it’s okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right away, before pausing to reflect, he drew her close for a quick embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen held her body still, just for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a breath, her arms moved to circle his back. Slowly did they close behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about their closeness just fit, like it had always been that way. A quiet comfort moved between them without need for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheek rested lightly against his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One breath, then another, her hands stayed where they were. Stillness held her there, fingers curled without thought. A quiet second passed, maybe longer. The world waited while she lingered. Not yet, something inside said. Just not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gentle shape leaned into Julian, warm and close. A quiet moment settled between them, unspoken but clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint heat from her skin reached him. A quiet kind of closeness settled between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hint of scent still lingers where she passed. Soft traces float through the air without warning. That quiet smell returns when least expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in moments, he pushed away despite the urge to stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this embrace went on more...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fog crept through the air, sharp like warning signs. Tension built without a sound, heavy on every breath. Silence stretched, then snapped under pressure. A chill settled where warmth once stayed. Danger grew, quiet but certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips stuck out a little as he stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something caught Julian’s eye, so he chuckled, a bit uneasy. He shifted his weight, then looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silly girl, why are you pouting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That grin appeared, though it clearly didn’t belong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I really need to use the bathroom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen gave a slow nod before releasing her grip on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps quick on tile, Julian stepped inside the bathroom after one long inhale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rested his weight on the edge of the basin after stepping in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Being alone with a girl in a room... hugging her... that fragrance...)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(What the hell am I doing?)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He washed his hands quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(If she cried and ran out, my reputation would be finished.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(And if Mike finds out... that guy will definitely spread it everywhere.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After calming himself down, Julian walked back into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to his word, he sat beside Gwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s paint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen’s face brightened immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her smile looked almost childlike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if she had found something she had lost for many years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached for another paintbrush—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her foot caught on the leg of the easel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The easel wobbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen lost her balance and fell forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian reacted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed her arm and helped her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine... there’s a carpet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft carpet had cushioned the fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she tried to stand up—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly gasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp pain shot through her ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think... I twisted my ankle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Julian with pitiful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll help you to the sofa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gently lifted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen instinctively wrapped her arm around his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body was held in his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A princess carry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face turned slightly red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully placed her on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he stepped away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen felt a strange sense of loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly shook her head and looked down at her ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To check the injury properly, she needed to remove her stocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julian turned away slightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes kept drifting back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Damn... she’s taking them off right in front of me?)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(I can’t handle this... I really can’t.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(I’m still a kid, how can I watch this?)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while trying to look away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze kept drifting toward her long legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her stockings sliding slowly down her smooth skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gwen’s cheeks turned pink when she heard his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just removing stockings...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere in the hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike Valquin was having a terrible time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because three women had cornered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena Aurevale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca De Dominicis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Amara Ravenswood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where’s Julian?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca crossed her arms and stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her crimson eyes were sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had arrived late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After greeting Gary D’Aurelius, they learned Julian was already here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they couldn’t find him anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So naturally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cornered Mike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big brother said he had something to do and went out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He might come back later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was gentle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mike... you wouldn’t be lying to us, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amara folded her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know we can easily find out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca leaned forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you keep hiding him...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...maybe we should mention that nightclub incident to your father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike’s face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wouldn’t!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amara smiled sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, we absolutely would.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena nodded calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your father still thinks you’re a perfect son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca added softly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder what he’ll think when he hears about the five girls and the hotel suite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike immediately surrendered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright! Alright!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big brother seems to be chatting with my sister!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women immediately turned toward the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached the suite door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of them knocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s listen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena and Amara nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women pressed their ears against the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They heard soft sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mnhh... ahh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three women looked at each other in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pushed the door open and walked inside together.\u003C\u002Fp>",1336,"2026-05-30T15:14:55.252Z","2026-06-01T04:31:33.482Z",1,"novelbin.me","8294e7ec1470575d3f18103f1abfe8a8145ffaeaa904065b24c502ff6ee4d7ce","villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-chapter-119","villain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-chapter-117",232,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fvillain-of-fate-the-tyrant-system-cover.jpg"]