Lydia didn’t wake until late afternoon.

She stared blankly at the ceiling before forcing herself up, every muscle aching. After washing up, she ate a light meal and drove out.

At the downtown spa, Monica Hayes glanced at her distracted friend and smirked. “You and Julian seem to be doing really well lately…”

Lydia blinked. “What?”

Monica’s eyes darted to Lydia’s neck. “You’ve got the look of someone who had a wild night.”

Lydia froze, tugged the blanket higher over her shoulders, and silently cursed Julian under her breath.

Monica chuckled, adjusting her facial mask. “You know he’s got someone new again, right?”

Lydia’s tone was calm. “Who?”

“Rumor says she’s a college student.”

“You’ve seen her?”

“Ran into them at a lounge last week,” Monica said. “She told everyone she was just his friend. Sweet girl—different from his usual type.”

Lydia gave a faint “Mm.”

Monica hesitated. “I’ll never understand why you married him.”

Their marriage had been sudden; even Monica hadn’t known until afterward. They’d never held a wedding, and the public had no idea that Julian Marks was already married.

“Anyway,” Monica said, shrugging. “Not my problem.” Then, her tone brightened. “Oh—have you met Vanessa’s fiancé yet? She said they met back when she was studying in Southport.”

“Southport?” Lydia’s heart skipped. “What’s his name?”

“She didn’t say—super secretive. Guess we’ll find out tonight.”

By the time they left the spa, the city was glowing with evening lights.

At The Orchid House Restaurant, Vanessa Price was already there.

“Monica!” Vanessa hugged her warmly, then turned to Lydia with a smile. “Lydia, it’s been too long.”

Lydia nodded. She opened her mouth to reply—then froze when she saw the man standing behind Vanessa.

Adrian Cole.

Tall, composed, in a navy dress shirt. His expression was cool and unreadable.

Monica’s eyes lit up as she glanced between them. “Vanessa, aren’t you going to introduce this handsome gentleman?”

Vanessa smiled, looping her arm through Adrian’s. “Lydia, Monica—this is my fiancé, Adrian Cole.”

She turned to Lydia. “Though, I think you two have already met.”

Adrian inclined his head politely. “Mrs. Marks.”

Lydia met his eyes briefly, her expression unreadable.

Then Vanessa gestured toward Monica. “And this is my best friend, Monica Hayes.”

Adrian nodded. “Ms. Hayes.”

Monica grinned. “Vanessa, you’ve been holding out on us! Not even a photo?”

“Wasn’t intentional,” Vanessa said lightly, glancing at Lydia again. “There were… circumstances.”

“I’ll forgive you,” Monica said cheerfully, dragging Lydia toward the table. “Let’s eat—I’m starving.”

Vanessa handed Lydia the menu. “Order anything you like. Dinner’s on Adrian.”

Lydia stared at the menu, then at Vanessa.

“Lydia?”

“Just a couple dishes,” Lydia said quietly, passing it to Monica.

Dinner went smoothly enough — laughter, small talk, the clinking of glasses. Mostly Monica and Vanessa chatting.

Lydia stayed quiet. So did Adrian, except when spoken to. His focus rarely left Vanessa, even as he peeled shrimp for her or refilled her glass.

Halfway through the meal, Lydia’s phone buzzed twice.

Julian Marks: At The Orchid House for dinner?

She locked her screen without replying.

The chatter and laughter began to grate on her nerves. Each time she heard Adrian’s voice, something in her tightened.

She was just about to leave when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

“Mr. Cole. What a coincidence—you’re here too?”

When Adrian Cole saw who had arrived, his gaze faltered briefly. He set down his chopsticks and stood up politely. “Mr. Marks.”

Julian Marks waved a hand, motioning for him not to get up, and walked straight to Lydia Moore’s side, settling casually into the empty seat next to her. His arm draped easily across the back of her chair.

“I heard from Lydia that she was having dinner with some friends here,” he said, smiling with practiced ease. “I happened to be meeting a client at the same restaurant tonight, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello. Didn’t expect to find out it was you, Mr. Cole.” His tone carried an undertone of amusement.

Vanessa Price, who of course knew Julian, quickly explained, “I was the one who invited Monica and Lydia. Adrian and I are getting married soon, so I wanted to have dinner together before things get hectic. If I’d known you were here too, Mr. Marks, I would’ve asked Lydia to bring you along.”

Julian picked up Lydia’s teacup and took a leisurely sip. “So,” he asked, smiling faintly, “when’s the wedding, Ms. Hayes?”

Vanessa laughed. “Next spring. I’m counting on both Monica and Lydia to be my bridesmaids.”

Monica Hayes glanced sideways at Lydia and smirked. “No problem. As long as you don’t mind your bridesmaids outshining the bride.”

Vanessa chuckled and turned to Lydia. “And you, Lydia?”

Lydia looked up and met her gaze evenly, her expression unreadable.

Julian’s voice came in before she could answer, warm and indulgent. “Lydia’s going to have to skip it. We’re actually planning to have a baby soon, and she might be… a little unavailable by then.”

Lydia froze and turned toward him. “What?”

Julian arched an eyebrow, his tone light but pointed. “Isn’t that right, Lydia?”

Monica glanced between them, opening her mouth as if to say something but then thinking better of it.

Vanessa blinked in surprise, then quickly smiled again. “That’s wonderful! Monica and I will be honored to become honorary aunts. With looks like yours and Julian’s, your baby’s going to be absolutely adorable.”

Adrian raised his glass with a polite smile. “Congratulations in advance, Mr. and Mrs. Marks.”

Julian lifted Lydia’s teacup in response, his lips curving. “Thanks — same to you.”

Monica groaned dramatically. “Oh, come on, you two, have some mercy on us single people, will you?”

Her interjection broke the tension around the “baby” topic, and the conversation moved on.

After a while, Lydia excused herself to go to the restroom.

Inside, the room was quiet except for the sound of running water. She stood under the automatic faucet, rubbing her hands over and over without realizing it, until her skin turned red.

The door opened. Julian stepped inside.

Lydia turned her head slightly, her tone even. “This is the ladies’ room.”

Julian smiled faintly, his dark eyes glinting as he stepped closer. “I know.”

He caught her wrist before she could move away. She tried to pull free, but his grip tightened.

Looking down at her reddened hands, his lips curved in a half-smile. “Lydia, mourning an old lover right in front of your husband — don’t you think that’s a bit inappropriate?”

Her brow furrowed. “You’ve been checking up on me?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” His tone turned sharp. “Don’t forget who you are, Lydia.”

“I haven’t,” she said quietly.

“Good.”

He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and tilted her chin upward, lowering his head to kiss her.

She flinched and stepped back instinctively, startled by her own reaction.

Julian’s expression didn’t change — not the faintest flicker of emotion disturbed his smooth, handsome face. But a second later, his hand clamped around her jaw, and his mouth crushed down on hers.

Lydia struggled to push him away, but he held her fast, backing her against the cold wall.

“Mm—”

She gasped in pain. His teeth caught her lip hard enough to break the skin, the metallic tang of blood blooming between them.

The kiss was deep, forceful — almost punishing. Her knees went weak. She kicked at him, and only then did he finally release her, giving her a chance to breathe.

Julian’s half-lidded eyes studied her swollen, blood-tinged lips, unreadable.

He brushed his thumb across them, his voice low and teasing. “You know, Lydia — your lips are softer than I remembered.”

She pushed him away and walked to the mirror. Her lower lip was visibly red and swollen — impossible to hide. She cupped some water and carefully rinsed the cut.

Julian came up behind her, leaning one arm on the counter, trapping her reflection between his arms. “What’s wrong?” he murmured lazily. “Afraid your old flame will notice what we’ve been doing?”

She met his gaze in the mirror. “Not everyone is as shameless as you.”

He laughed — a real laugh, head tilted against her shoulder, shaking with amusement.

Lydia didn’t see what was funny. Her chest ached with frustration, and yet… the man’s face was infuriatingly handsome, especially when he smiled.

“You should try it sometime,” Julian said with a grin. “A thicker skin can work wonders. If we’re not embarrassed, everyone else will be.”

Lydia had no words for that. She pushed past him and walked out of the restroom.

Julian followed. As they were approaching the dining area, his phone rang.

Lydia didn’t look back, but she heard his voice behind her — suddenly soft, patient, almost gentle.

“Hey, sweetheart. Don’t worry. Take your time.”

Lydia and Julian returned to the table a few minutes later.

Vanessa Price immediately noticed the mark on Lydia’s lip and smiled knowingly. “Lydia, what happened to your mouth?”

At that, the others glanced her way.

Lydia looked calmly back at Vanessa, saying nothing.

Julian reached out, tilting Lydia’s chin toward him as if to inspect. His thumb brushed across her lip in a touch that was far too familiar. “It’s true,” he said lightly. “Honey, your lips are cracked. The air’s been so dry lately — remember to drink more water.”

Lydia frowned and pushed his hand away, shooting him a warning look.

Julian just smiled, as if it were harmless teasing between husband and wife, and then turned his gaze toward Adrian Cole, who met it evenly.

Lifting his glass, Julian said, “Mr. Cole, Ms. Price — I’m terribly sorry, but Lydia and I just got called away on something urgent. Let’s have dinner again soon; this one’s on me.” He downed his drink in one swallow.

The word “urgent” carried more weight than it should have.

—

An hour later, outside the University District Police Department.

Lydia sat in the car, lost in thought, until she saw Julian emerging from the building with two young women.

One of them was wearing his jacket over her shoulders, head bowed. The other followed close behind. Two uniformed officers walked them out, speaking briefly with Julian before shaking his hand.

As the group approached, Lydia got a better look at the girl in the jacket — delicate features, pale skin, and a face almost too pretty for her age.

So this must be the “new girl” Monica had mentioned.

Definitely not Julian’s usual type. This one was far too young, too innocent.

Was he changing tastes — or actually getting serious this time?

While Lydia pondered, they reached the car. Julian tapped on the passenger-side window. As the locks clicked open, he opened the back door for the girl.

“Thank you,” the girl murmured softly — Sophie Reed, as Lydia recalled the name — before slipping into the back seat.

Her roommate, Emily Ward, started toward the front passenger door, but Julian stopped her with a hand on the handle.

“You can sit in the back with Ms. Reed,” he said mildly.

Emily blinked, confused for a second, but then nodded and got into the back.

Once seated, she realized that the driver wasn’t Julian’s chauffeur, but a young woman — Lydia.

Julian got into the front seat beside her. Lydia turned to him briefly. “Where to?”

“Riverside University,” he replied.

She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

A few minutes into the drive, Emily couldn’t help asking, in her bright, naive tone, “Mr. Marks, is this lady your new driver?”

The question hung in the air. Lydia’s expression didn’t change; her eyes stayed fixed on the road.

Julian’s lips curved faintly. “My cousin,” he said smoothly.

“Your cousin?” Emily’s eyes widened. “Oh — I’m so sorry, ma’am! I didn’t know. I thought you were—”

Lydia finished for her, voice even. “The driver?” She paused. “Don’t worry about it. It wouldn’t be the first time.”