Chapter 8 It's Him

"Done! I've just sent your photo to my cousin. He said he's available tomorrow! Bring your birth certificate and meet him at the courthouse entrance at 9:00 am." "He's the kind of guy who values efficiency, haha!" Rosalie raised an eyebrow. Efficiency was something she appreciated. She couldn't afford any dragging or setbacks right now. The next morning arrived swiftly. With dawn's first light breaking, Rosalie stood at the courthouse entrance, her birth certificate clutched tightly in her hand. She wore a white dress layered with a beige knitted cardigan. Her long hair was loosely tied back, exposing the curve of her slender neck. Ursula hadn't been exaggerating about her cousin's efficiency. Right on the dot at 9:00 am, a tall figure appeared, framed by the glow of the morning light. He stood well over 6'2". Clad in a simple black T-shirt and cargo pants, his broad shoulders and narrow waist made for a striking silhouette. His long, straight legs only added to his commanding presence. As he came closer, Rosalie could finally make out his features. It was him—the firefighter who had carried her through the smoke just two nights ago. Now that he was out of his gear, his lean, sculpted build was even more noticeable. His strong jawline gave him a sharp, chiseled edge. His lips were drawn into a firm line, and his eyes were dark and unreadable. There was an undeniable masculinity to him, a rugged presence that seemed to fill the air around him. Rosalie's heartbeat faltered for a moment. Standing almost a head taller, he stopped in front of her, his shadow nearly swallowing her whole. "Rosalie?" More than his looks, it was his voice that captivated her. Tinged with a husky rasp, it sent an electric thrill straight through her ears. Rosalie steadied herself and nodded. "Yes, that's me. You're Ursula's cousin, right?" He gave a slight nod, his gaze briefly holding hers before shifting away. His voice was calm and even. "I'm Julian Yarwood." Rosalie was still a bit taken aback. Ursula's praise for her cousin suddenly made perfect sense. Rosalie pressed her lips together, her voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you for saving me two nights ago." If he hadn't been there, the fire would have consumed her, shutting the door on a second chance at life. "I was just doing my job," he said curtly. A lump rose in Rosalie's throat. His aloof demeanor was exactly what Ursula had warned her about. "Do you have your birth certificate?" Julian asked. "Yes," Rosalie said, instinctively passing it to him. Taking the paper, Julian turned toward the entrance. "Let's head in." "Mr. Yarwood," Rosalie called out, "aren't we… moving too fast? Shouldn't we spend some time getting to know each other first?" Julian shook his head. "Ursula's already told me everything. There's no point in delaying." Rosalie fell silent. Considering Ursula's incessant rambling, it was no wonder Julian knew everything about her background. "But before we make it official, there are some things I need to be clear about," Rosalie said firmly. Julian lifted an eyebrow, silently prompting her to continue. "First, this marriage is purely practical. We both get what we need. I won't meddle in your personal affairs, and I expect you to respect the same boundary." "Agreed." "Second, all assets stay separate. I'm not interested in your money, and I don't want you to touch mine." Julian looked at Rosalie. "Agreed." "Third, and most importantly, I have zero tolerance for any kind of deceit. The moment it occurs, our marriage ends. Can you agree to that?" Deception was a dealbreaker she couldn't ignore. Julian's eyes narrowed, the relaxed mask on his face giving way to a steely resolve. He held her gaze for several long seconds. Rosalie didn't waver; she met his eyes steadily. After a tense moment, he finally muttered, "Agreed." "I've made my conditions clear," Rosalie said. "What about yours, Mr. Yarwood?"