8. The First Challenge

Seconds later, Julian suddenly raised the watch in front of his eyes and sighed. “So sorry, I have to leave soon. There are other needs that await. Next time, we'll talk again."

After a quick goodbye, the CEO left the dining room. He didn't care if Herbert furrowed the brows at his behavior. Julian was too worried if his pathetic love was known by his father.

"What's wrong with your brother? Why does he look like he is hiding something?” the old man muttered, tilting his head.

Realizing the implied message from his wife's eyes, Max immediately let out a laugh. Calmly, he returned the questioning gaze of his father.

"Why do you seem not to know Julian? Isn't he always acting weird? Emotional control is still problematic. We're lucky to have Mia always on hand to keep an eye on him in Quebracha.”

"But Julian's behavior earlier was really suspicious."

"I think it's just your feelings, Dad," Gabriella interrupted, helping her husband to turn the conversation around. "Julian's been crazy since he found out about the bungee jumping challenge."

"Is that so?" Herbert muttered dubiously.

Suddenly, Cayden babbled while shaking his head, “Jajajajaja ….”

In just an instant, the atmosphere was warmed by laughter. Stiffness no longer hung in the air.

“What did he say?” the old man asked as he leaned back again to look at his grandson.

With stiff lips, the woman shook her head slightly. "I don't know, I've just heard of this one too," she replied while stroking the baby's head who was propping his lips.

No one knew that Cayden wanted to tell his grandfather that Julian had been rejected by the secretary many times.

***

"Are you ready?" Max asked his brother who was wearing his bungee jumping equipment in slow motion.

"According to you? Am I ever ready to face this kind of challenge? If it wasn't for Mia, I wouldn't want to do it,” Julian grumbled before letting out a resigned sigh.

"Yayaya!" Cayden croaked as he wiggled his legs from the seat in front of his father's hip.

Hearing his nephew's enthusiastic support, Julian spontaneously raised the corners of his lips. “Would you like to follow me upstairs? I promise to hug you tightly."

Without a word, Cayden shook his head and leaned his back against Max.

“Don't involve my son in this challenge. He's still too young," Max said seriously.

"Yes, yes. I know. Can't you take my joke so I don't get too tense?"

Hearing the desperate tone, Max finally laughed at his brother. “Hey, do you want some advice from me?”

"What?" Julian replied curtly.

"If you're afraid to jump, just pretend you're surrendering yourself to Mia's arms."

Spontaneous bland laughter erupted from Julian's mouth. "What a very useful advice," he quipped.

"Seriously! As someone who has tried bungee jumping, I know what it's like. The excitement I felt at the dive was the same as the joy I felt when I hugged Cayden's mother."

"Stop bragging. Everyone knows that you are brave," Julian said before getting up and letting the instructor check the equipment.

Right at that moment, a woman asked from the side. "What are you talking about?"

In an instant, the brothers turned their heads. Max's smile widened when he saw his wife's bright face.

"Have you signed up yet?" the man asked as he grabbed Gabriella's waist and landed a kiss on her forehead.

"Yes. After witnessing Julian's jump, we'll be right there,” the woman replied happily as she couldn't wait to be dropped from a height and land in the net.

"Too bad that my condition does not allow. It must be fun if I do it too,” Max sighed as he looked up.

"You've tried it before, Max. Don't be sad," Gabriella comforted while rubbing her husband's arm. The little baby who was shaking his legs also chatted, treating his father's disappointment.

Seeing the harmony of the couple, Mia's lips involuntarily curled up. There was a streak of envy painted around the lens of her eye. Before that feeling developed into hope, she quickly turned her gaze to the CEO.

“So, are you ready, Sir?” the girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” the CEO replied with a lifeless smile.

Right at that time, the instructor cleared his throat. "Everything is safe. Now, come with me to the jumping off point.”

Instantly, the CEO's lips lost their curve and color. After swallowing hard, he looked at the faces around him, one by one. "Pray for me to come back alive," he said in a trembling voice.

“Cheer up Julian! You can do it!”

“Remember the advice I gave!”

"Yayaya!"

After staring at the secretary who folded her arms across the chest with a straight face as if she didn't care, Julian followed the instructor who was secretly holding back laughter. It had been a long time since he had found such an entertaining visitor.

With trembling legs, the CEO walked up the stairs. Cold sweat started to run down his back and neck, while his heart was about to burst from beating so fast.

"Remember, Julian! This is for Mia. You have to be brave,” he thought with fists clenched tightly.

Along with occasional sighs, he kept his feet moving. "I must be able to!"

However, as soon as he arrived at the jumping-off point, the oxygen seemed to run out for Julian. His face had no color anymore. With mouth forgetting to close, he checked the altitude. The waving of the hands of a husband and wife and a baby didn't catch his attention at all. His brain had been paralyzed so it could no longer process the situation. With that condition, none of the instructor's explanations stuck in his memory.

"Your rope is ready, Sir," the instructor said, patting Julian on the back.

Just then, the CEO gasped, bringing consciousness back to the surface. “R-ready?”

"Yes. As soon as I give the signal, jump as I described. You've memorized the points, haven't you?"

Once again, Julian looked at the audience. After a moment of silence, his feet suddenly moved backwards.

“N-no. I can't," the man with teary eyes sighed. Dizziness had hit his head, messing up all the preparations.

"Aren't you going to jump?"

With frozen body and trembling lips, Julian turned his neck towards the instructor. "But I don't think I can even go down the stairs. I can't control my knees,” he whispered, successfully making the instructor lower his gaze.

As soon as he saw the trembling legs, the uniformed man was at a loss whether to laugh or grimace. The pale man in front of him was truly worrying.