The party was held at an upscale rooftop venue with panoramic views of the city.Vivian Holt greeted Julian warmly when he arrived, her hand lingering on his arm just a moment too long, her smile carrying something that made the back of his neck tingle with warning.He pushed the feeling aside. This was business.The evening progressed smoothly at first. Julian networked with other guests, answered questions about Apex's services, and tried to maintain professional distance from Vivian without being obvious about it.Then she appeared at his side with two glasses of champagne."You look tense," she said, handing him one. "Relax. It's my birthday. Let's have some fun."Julian accepted the glass out of courtesy and set it on a nearby table without drinking."Come on," Vivian said, grabbing his hand. "Drinking contest. A few of us are playing in the back room. You have to participate."Before he could decline, she was pulling him toward a private VIP area cordoned off from the main par

The Lalique crystal vase shattered against the marble floor with a sound like breaking glass.Colette stood in the middle of her living room, her chest heaving, staring at the pieces scattered across the floor. The vase. The one he'd bought for their second anniversary, wrapped in silver paper with a ribbon, presented with that hopeful expression that now made her want to scream.She looked at her phone.The photo was burned into her retinas.A man with a bare chest, his body pressed against Vivian's, both of them wrapped around each other like lovers. Under the image, a caption: Some men are worth stealing.Colette's hands shook as she dialed again.She'd called seventeen times now and each time, his phone had rung and gone unanswered.She screamed and hurled her phone onto the sofa, then immediately grabbed it again and started typing.CALL ME BACK YOU COWARDHOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MEI TRUSTED YOUHer fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed until the screen blurred through

Back in the apartment, Julian stood perfectly still for three seconds.Then he grabbed Vivian's wrist and pulled her arm away from his body with sharp force."You can drop the act," he said, his voice cold and flat.Vivian's expression shifted instantly. The manufactured affection dissolved like smoke, replaced by a raw, hungry look that made Julian's skin crawl."Finally," she breathed, her eyes glittering. "I've been waiting three years to have you look at me like that."Julian released her wrist and stepped back, creating distance between them."Three years ago," Vivian continued, moving toward him, "at Colette's housewarming party. Do you remember?"Julian said nothing."You were in the kitchen," Vivian said, her voice dropping to an intimate tone."Washing dishes. Your sleeves were rolled up. You were humming to yourself—I don't even think you knew anyone was watching.""I fell in love with you that moment," Vivian said as she smiled. "Just like that. Completely in love with you,