Chapter Six: Start Over

"I don't know what you're thinking. You suddenly sent me a nonsensical message, Julie. What's wrong with you?"

They were now outside the apartment, facing each other, with Julie crossing her arms over her chest, clearly unwilling to care anymore.

"So, you think what happened between us in your apartment was something more?" Julie shook her head while Mark squinted, not understanding. "Don't act so innocent, Officer. You mean nothing to me."

"Oh, really?"

"Go now. I don't want to see you again."

"Are you mad because I didn’t contact you?"

"My God, I don’t want to argue anymore." She brushed Mark's arm and turned to head back to the apartment, but Mark grabbed Julie’s arm, making her turn back to him.

"I was busy with the investigation I was working on, Julie. Everything that happened—"

"And not even one moment to contact me?"

"Ah, now you admit it?"

Julie fell silent and sighed before shaking off Mark’s hand.

"Don’t say nonsense!"

Meanwhile, Mark just gave a slight smile, looking calm and staring at Julie sincerely.

"Don’t look at me like that."

"Like what?"

A deep, soft voice with sharp siren-like eyes. Julie couldn’t withstand Mark’s gaze and tried to look away.

"Can we start over?"

Julie gaped slightly.

"Start over, like what hu?"

"I don’t know, maybe something like this."

Julie looked confused.

"My mom and sister are inside. You can’t stay here long, and I can’t go with you. They’ll definitely ask questions."

Mark chuckled softly.

"I’m not asking you to sleep with me again, Julie. I just want you to understand that I’m busy, and I want to start everything over with you. I want you to forget about Liam. Don’t you?"

Julie was silent for a moment, then nodded calmly with a smile. Until finally, there was silence—just quietness and their gazes meeting. Mark touched Julie’s chin with his strong fingers and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before pulling back as Julie realized she had to return to the apartment.

"You better leave, and call me later, okay?" Julie smiled, clearly softened by Mark’s gaze and sweet behavior.

All Mark did now was smile and nod, waiting for Julie to go and enter the apartment.

Julie’s shadow disappeared as Mark’s smile faded. His once-warm gaze turned sharp and far from gentle. His smiling lips flattened with no curve at all.

Mark Robertson walked away from the building. As he was about to get into the car, he looked up toward the building and said, "Well, now you're mine, Julie."

A smile spread across his lips as he got into the car and drove off to the apartment.

There were so many things that couldn’t be explained through that flat expression. Mark Robertson held many secrets, while Julie Hartman, filled with happiness and blooming feelings in her heart, entered the apartment with a smile.

"You seem to have found a replacement for Liam?" Her mother asked with a smile, while Julie’s focus shifted to Elizah's disapproving expression.

"No… It’s not like that… Mark is just—"

"Just the person who accused Liam? My God, Julie, how can you trust him so easily?" Elizah interrupted Julie’s words, staring at her with a look that was anything but kind.

"What do you mean, Elizah? He’s a cop and speaks based on facts. Oh, now I realize why you weren’t traumatized at all after this incident. It’s because the perpetrator is someone you like, and you’re happy, right?"

"Julie, watch your words!" Their mother suddenly panicked at Julie’s statement.

"So what? What’s wrong with what I said? My God."

It was quiet for a moment, but then Elizah muttered, "But for some reason, Mr. Robertson’s scent feels familiar."