Chapter 2

Valerian’s voice snapped her out of her daze.

Quinn hurriedly closed the laptop, but he still caught the shadow of panic flashing in her eyes.

“It’s nothing,” she said, forcing calm into her voice. “Just some changes at work. Have you eaten? I’ll cook you…”

She stopped short when Valerian pulled her into his arms, his tone threaded with deceptive gentleness. “I’m not hungry.”

He lowered his head, his words brushing against her like a whisper filled with threat.

“If you really want to change jobs, choose something safer. I don’t ever want to imagine what might happen if something like last time repeats.”

Last time? Very soon, there would be another.

“You won’t leave me, right, baby?” His hand clamped on her chin. “I love you too much. How could you stand to leave me?”

Pain burned through her palm where her nails pressed into her skin. She summoned every ounce of willpower not to tear herself free.

“Hmm.”

The sound was faint, but it was enough.

Valerian released her, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

He rolled up his sleeves with practiced ease and walked toward the kitchen, his voice turning light, as though nothing had passed between them.

“Do you want me to make your favorite sweet-and-sour ribs?”

The warm glow of the light bathed his figure, his strong arms gleaming with a tenderness that felt like an illusion.

Quinn remembered the days when her stomach gave her trouble.

To coax her into eating, Valerian had stayed up through countless nights, poring over recipes, perfecting each dish until it was just right on her plate.

Once, he had even simmered soup for her while presiding over an international video conference, leaving the directors on the other end dumbfounded.

The phone on the table chimed; it was Valerian’s, left carelessly on the sofa.

Quinn picked it up with practiced ease. The moment her eyes landed on the message, the color drained from her face.

[Mr. Montero, don’t think that giving me jewelry makes me happy. I told you, I don’t want to ruin your family.]

Attached was a playful post from Juliette, laughing about mosquito bites. But what struck Quinn most was not the words; it was the gleaming jewelry in the photo and the kiss marks, each one burning into her eyes like a cruel brand.

Her hands shook as she scrolled upward, uncovering truth after truth.

That answered why.

On the evening she had walked home alone beneath a downpour, he had driven across the city to fetch Juliette.

On the day she suffered cramps and longed for his presence, he had sat by Juliette’s side, feeding her medicine with gentle care.

On the day she had casually said she wanted cake from the west side, he had gifted the very same to Juliette.

…

The cake on the table, now spoiled, seemed to sneer at her silently, mocking her as nothing but a clown.

Quinn wordlessly swept it into the trash.

The following afternoon, as soon as she left the office, Valerian pulled her into his car.

“Baby, why are you dressed so thinly?” He wrapped a coat around her shoulders. “Do you want to get sick and frighten me to death?”

Quinn lifted her gaze, staring into the tenderness of his eyes, baffled at how easily he pretended nothing had changed.

“Tonight there’s a gathering with some brothers. You’ll come with me.”

Her silence lingered, but Valerian accepted it as her agreement.

The opulent private club.

Even before they stepped inside, bursts of laughter and chatter spilled through the doorway.

“Juliette, you’re incredible, traveling through more than thirty cities all on your own at such a young age.”

“And you’re beautiful and kind, even saving Valerian’s life.”

“Valerian may not say it out loud, but he already acknowledged your place in private. Look, he even asked me to bring you this limited-edition camera from overseas.”

Through the half-open door, Quinn caught sight of Juliette, feigning refusal with a playful pout, teasing that Valerian only knew how to shower her with gifts.

Yet her laughter soon slipped out, soft and delighted, as she accepted it with sparkling eyes full of charm.

At the sight, Valerian’s hand tensed, his grip on Quinn’s shoulder growing tight.

“Quinn, listen to me. I can explain…”

“You don’t need to.” Quinn curved her lips into a gentle, knowing smile. “I understand. You’re just repaying a debt.”

Her calm words eased him, and for a fleeting moment, relief crossed his face.

But in the next heartbeat, his expression turned hard. With a sharp kick, the door slammed open.

“Who allowed you to bring her here?!”

Valerian’s voice cut through the air like ice, his entire being wrapped in frost.

“Valerian, last time you mentioned Juliette so specially, I thought this time you would…” someone began.

“Thought what?! Juliette is nothing more than my lifesaver!”

He stole a glance at Quinn, searching her expression with unease.

“This is a brother’s gathering. Other than my wife, I’ll bring no one. Have you all forgotten the rules?”

With that, he drew Quinn gently into his arms, his touch protective, almost possessive.

The group of men exchanged awkward looks, quickly zipping their lips in silence.

Across the room, Juliette’s eyes reddened as she stared at him.

“President Montero, I may be young, but I understand perfectly well. There’s no need to cloak your humiliation in words.”

“Save it. I’ll leave on my own.”

Her gaze shifted to Quinn, full of arrogance.

“Mrs. Montero, I never intended to destroy your marriage. But you ought to keep your husband in check. As for this gift, though I don’t care for it, only the right hands can use it properly. I doubt you, a mere housewife, even know how.”

With that, Juliette hurled the camera at Valerian, her eyes brimming with resentment, before storming out.

Valerian watched her retreating figure, worry etched between his brows, his lips twitching as if he wanted to speak but could not.

Then, in haste, he lowered his head toward Quinn, his voice trembling with unease.

“Quinn, she’s just a young girl who doesn’t know any better. I’ll apologize on her behalf, please, don’t take it to heart.”

Before she could utter a word, he turned and strode away without so much as an excuse.

Quinn no longer had the strength to feign a smile.

Her mind drifted to the past, when no one could even approach Valerian, let alone throw something at him.

Valerian, oh Valerian… you had long since changed.