The gentle, lingering rain had persisted for an entire week, but it finally ceased. The asphalt road in front of the Skyview Towers gleamed with a fresh wet sheen."Mr. Sterling!" Lily Parker exclaimed as she spotted Julian Sterling emerging from his private elevator. She hurriedly clutched her shopping bag and approached him.Julian paused, his gaze fixating on her. For a moment, he appeared to not recognize her, his eyes slightly narrowed, and a look of distant unfamiliarity settled on his face. After what felt like an eternity, a hint of a smile crept onto his lips, and he echoed her tone, saying, "Ah, Miss Parker. What brings you here?"Although his words were accompanied by a faint smile, Lily couldn't shake off the coldness she felt from his voice. A sense of unease filled her, as if deep down she knew Julian was a man of danger, someone she shouldn’t mess with. Pushing away the intimidating aura he exuded, she handed him the bag, speaking slowly, "Thank you for lending me your
The performance of the new car was impressive, and they arrived at their destination in less than twenty minutes. The facade of the buffet-themed restaurant was expansive and uniquely decorated. Julian, ever the gentleman, opened the door for Lily, but the bustling noises emanating from inside made him unconsciously furrow his brow.It was dinner time, and the place was packed. Before they could even step into the main hall, an efficient-looking receptionist handed them a number: "18."Julian squinted his eyes and slid them toward Lily, asking, "What's this?"Lily chuckled awkwardly, "Um, it means we have to wait in line for a table. Eighteen tables, to be precise." She hadn't expected the place to be this crowded on a non-weekend and mentally kicked herself for the oversight.Lily Parker looked up, carefully observing Julian Sterling. His face was expressionless, and today he'd opted for a simple striped shirt, his hair freshly trimmed, some of it rebelliously sticking up. His tall a
Inside the dimly lit car, Julian Sterling's gaze was drawn to Lily Parker's elegant neck, reminiscent of a daytime swan. The thought of what it might feel like to caress that neck with a kiss made him catch his breath. A smirk formed on his face, followed by a chuckle. This girl, she gets flustered so easily, still so naive.Upon arriving at the school gates, Lily hurriedly mumbled a "Thank you," eager to disembark from the car. To her surprise, the central lock hadn't been released. The corner of Julian's mouth curved into a subtle grin. "What's the rush?" he asked. Unexpectedly, he leaned in closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against her face. With a soft click, he undid her seatbelt. His cool fingers deliberately brushed against her exposed skin. With a teasing tone, he whispered into her ear, "What's Ms. Parker so afraid of? It's not like I'd eat you up..." His seductive voice was truly tantalizing.For a moment, a palpable tension filled the car. Lily's heartbeat thundered
Step by step, many find themselves sinking deeper into the quagmire of love, yet they revel in it. It’s akin to drinking poison to quench one’s thirst — the more one desires, the less one attains.The weather that evening was refreshingly crisp. The hazy night resembled a piece of refined black veil, deep and enigmatic. Coincidentally, it was also Isabella's birthday, and this year she had invited Lily Parker to celebrate with her.Lily confessed to being unfamiliar with the venue, to which Isabella eagerly offered to personally pick her up.No sooner had Lily stepped into the car than Isabella took a moment to marvel at her, exclaiming with envy, "No wonder Ethan keeps you hidden away like a treasured gem! If I were a man, I’d compete with him for you. Just look at how stunning you are today, overshadowing even the birthday girl like me."Lily blushed and chuckled, her cheeks dimpling charmingly, "Are you teasing me, senior? Everyone knows you’re the beauty of our school. Who can com
One of the men, with a somewhat rogueish demeanor, stood up, swaying slightly with his tall, lean body as he held his drink. He greeted them, "Of course we have you. But being late for your own party means you have to down three drinks, no exceptions." He casually draped an arm around Isabella's shoulder, but his lustful eyes fixated on Lily Parker. "Who's this lovely lady? Haven't seen her before..." The moment Lily had walked in, her long, fair legs had caught his attention."My junior, Lily Parker," Isabella swatted his hand away, giving him a stern look. She pulled Lily close, "Lily, this is Preston Harrow. He's a friend. A good guy, but a little over the top at times. Hope you don't mind."Lily, unaware of the underlying dynamics, offered an awkward smile, "Hello.""All good, all good!" Preston's gaze never left Lily. A gulp rolled down his throat, perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt a sudden warmth.Isabella shot him a meaningful look and said, "Let's sit down and talk." She sea
On the other side of the venue, Lucas Hartley stepped out after finishing a game of cards with friends. Rounding a corner, he thought he recognized a familiar silhouette, yet suspected he might be mistaken. He grabbed a passing waiter, asking, “Who’s in that private room over there?”The waiter, recognizing Lucas Hartley's identity, quickly responded, "Mr. Hartley, it’s a birthday gathering for Miss Isabella de Valois, hosted by her friends."Upon receiving the answer, Lucas waved the waiter away, deep in thought. He found it odd. Why didn’t he or her cousin know about Isabella's party? And wasn’t she quite fond of Ethan Hart? How could she mingle so effortlessly with someone who was seemingly a romantic rival? His curiosity piqued, he eventually gave in, pulling out his phone to dial. "Hey, it's me. What are you up to?""Just finished a meeting. What's up?" Julian Sterling's voice was even and unemotional.Lucas whistled, quipping, "Wow, still in meetings at this hour? Trying to be t
Not far off, Julian Sterling leaned casually against a wall. He held a light-colored coat over one arm, the pose exuding elegance and ease. A faint smile played on his lips, but his gaze never landed on Lily Parker. Instead, he fixed Preston Harrow with a stare so piercing it sent shivers down one's spine.Preston, interrupted in the midst of his wicked intentions, felt humiliated. Red with rage, he bellowed, "Julian Sterling! This is none of your business. What gives you the right to interfere?""Oh?" Julian's lips curled into a cold smile as he sauntered closer, an aura of unmistakable dominance emanating from him. "On what grounds? Simply because I feel like it!" A sidelong glance towards Lily revealed her face flushed in an unnatural shade, her eyes dilated and distant, reminiscent of someone drugged. His brow furrowed in concern."You're joking! I saw her first. Surely, the renowned Julian Sterling wouldn't stoop so low to snatch what caught my eye first?" Preston argued defiantl
In the spacious, serene room, a wave of fear that Lily Parker had momentarily suppressed surged back. Fighting off a dizzy spell, she trembled, "Mr. Sterling, I—I need to go." At that moment, she felt as if flames licked every part of her body. She was weakened, barely able to stand, and Julian Sterling's intense gaze only intensified her sense of vulnerability, despite him having just aided her.Julian responded with an amused smirk. Without a hint of gentleness, he dragged her to a full-length mirror, pointing at her disheveled reflection with disdain. "Go back? Looking like this? Do you want someone to take advantage of you right on the spot?""No..." Lily's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the woman in the mirror—her clothes awry, cheeks flushed with a seductive allure. Could she even distinguish this image from that of a lady in a house of pleasures? Was this still her? Disbelief washed over her, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly.Clearly exasperated, Ju