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.”

When Emily Ward heard that name, her expression stiffened slightly. She glanced toward Sophie Reed, whose face had gone pale.

Sophie said nothing. Her lips pressed together lightly as her gaze dropped.

From the driver’s seat, Julian Marks glanced at them through the rearview mirror before shifting his eyes toward Lydia Moore. His tone carried a lazy smile, though there was a warning in his look.

“Focus on driving, cousin. Less talking.”

A few minutes later, the car stopped in front of Riverside University.

Sophie got out, slipped off the man’s jacket she had been wearing, and handed it back to Julian. Her tone was cool and polite.

“Mr. Marks, thank you for tonight.”

Julian glanced at the jacket but didn’t take it. His eyes, however, hooked onto hers with deliberate intent.

“That’s all the thanks I get, Ms. Reed?”

Sophie met his gaze for a fleeting moment before lowering her eyes again. After a brief hesitation, she spoke softly.

“If you don’t mind, Mr. Marks, perhaps I could take you to dinner sometime to thank you properly. But—”

“I don’t mind at all,” he interrupted with a faint grin. “Having dinner with you would be my honor. Keep the jacket for now—give it back to me then.”

Lydia sat quietly in the car, unable to hear their words. But judging from their body language in the mirror, the air between them was unmistakably charged.

Julian was clearly interested this time—far more than with the women before.

After a few more words, Julian watched Sophie and Emily walk toward the university gate before he turned back, opened the door, and slid into the car again—this time, not the passenger seat, but the back.

He gave Lydia an address, leaned back, and closed his eyes, resting in silence.

Neither of them spoke the entire way.

That was how it usually was between them.

Outside of bed, they might as well have been strangers.

When they returned to Crescent Residence, Lydia noticed a message from Monica Hayes.

She hesitated for a moment, then replied:

[Let’s talk in person. It’s not something I can explain over text.]

After sending it, Lydia went upstairs. She showered, checked her work email, and went to bed.

But her sleep was uneasy—light and restless.

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when the suffocating feeling hit.

Something heavy pressed down on her, forcing the air from her lungs. Her lips were pried open—an intrusion followed.

In the haze between dream and waking, an image flickered through her mind. Her body responded instinctively, breath catching as she whispered a name.

“Adrian…”

The intruder paused briefly—then the assault grew fiercer, cutting off what little oxygen remained.

Lydia jolted awake, gasping.

In the dark, a strong hand gripped her jaw, forcing her head up. A low, dangerous chuckle drifted through the shadows.

“Awake now?”

Her breath came in ragged pulls as her eyes adjusted, and she finally made out his face—Julian Marks. His long, narrow eyes gleamed with danger, even as his lips curved in a lazy smile.

They stared at each other for a long moment before Lydia’s mind cleared enough to separate dream from reality. She said nothing. Her breathing gradually steadied.

Julian’s fingers traced her cheek lightly, almost tenderly—as though he were caressing someone he loved. He was good at making women believe that.

But Lydia knew she wasn’t one of them.

And she didn’t love him.

“Nothing to say?” His voice was low and almost soothing, as if he were whispering an intimate secret.

“What should I say?” Lydia’s tone was flat, weary.

Julian lowered his head until their noses nearly brushed. His voice was quiet but sharp as a blade.

“You were in my bed… calling another man’s name. Don’t you think you owe me something for that?”