Sera’s pursuit of William had finally seen some tension. Sera said triumphantly: "I ran into him downstairs at William's office last week. After casing the place so many times, I finally bumped into him, and he even treated me to a cup of coffee..."

"I feel like I'm about to fall in love. He's meeting me again next week." Sera acted coquettishly: "Chloe, Chloe, come with me to buy clothes."

I closed my eyes: "There's truly no reason needed to be wasteful."

Shopping with Sera was likely the most patience-testing activity in the world. This girl possessed immense stamina and a highly discerning eye, trying on outfit after outfit in the fitting room. My patience finally hit rock bottom, and I dumped her: "You keep trying them on, I'm heading to the fourth floor."

The fourth floor was the men's clothing section. I wanted to buy a shirt for Christian. I found his favorite brand store. There weren't many customers inside, only one woman picking out a suit with focused concentration. The moment I entered, she snapped her head up: "Miss Li?"

Crystal looked pleasantly surprised: "What a coincidence, I never expected to run into you here!" She surveyed me as if by accident, her smile as perfect as ever, and asked, "Are you here alone?"

Chapter 50: But I Don't Like Him

After hearing about the situation with the Lin family from Sister Qian, I felt incredibly uncomfortable. I offered a faint smile, saying I came with a friend. Crystal finished picking her clothes, paid the bill, and said: "I came with my husband. He went to the restroom." She leaned slightly to wave outside, "Over here!"

The man was wearing a casual tracksuit today, hands in his pockets as he approached. Stripped of his serious suit, he revealed a hint of youthful vitality. I had imagined the scene of the three of us meeting countless times, yet I never expected it to happen here. My body retreated involuntarily, colliding with the glass counter behind me. The cold surface pressed against my lower legs, causing a sharp ache.

Crystal grabbed my hand and introduced me to him: "A friend I met in floral arrangement class."

A ripple flashed through Christian's eyes. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he offered a polite smile and greeted me. Throughout the entire interaction, his expression remained one of polite detachment.

Even though he tried to control his expression, my own smile still felt unnatural: "Mr. Christian, I've heard so much about you."

My acting was still a grade lower than Christian's.

Seeing me for the second time, Crystal was far more enthusiastic, insisting on inviting me to lunch together. Christian wrapped an arm around her waist, his face filled with doting affection: "Aren't there still many things you haven't bought?"

Crystal then said: "That's true, almost forgot. Sheets and curtains all need changing. Dear, accompany me to the maternal and infant section, would you?" Christian's expression softened, helpless: "You're truly a bit too impatient."

I said goodbye to the two of them here, and watching their backs as they left, clinging to one another, I turned my head and strode downstairs with an expressionless face. I had once wondered when Christian would grow tired of me and want to throw me away. Yet at this moment, I was suddenly filled with boredom toward our relationship.

The next day, when Christian came over, after a bout of passion that night, he pulled me into his embrace, murmuring in my ear: "If one day you meet someone you like, I will let you go."

I smiled faintly: "I won't."

It wasn't that I wouldn't meet someone I liked, but rather that I was certain Christian would never truly let me go. His desire for control was too intense, and his pride too great; no matter how well he treated me, he viewed me merely as a piece of private property. He would never permit himself to lose to another man.

Christian bit down on my neck, his breath heating my skin: "Julian seems very interested in you."

A stinging pain spread, and my body trembled. I climbed onto Christian's shoulder and laughed coquettishly: "But I don't like him."

A month after Julian's engagement, I saw him again. It was at a business dinner attended mostly by merchants. Recently, Christian rarely participated in such events, and this was the only one that month.

The location was a Japanese restaurant. The private room was massive, housing about a dozen people, along with several young women accompanying them. When we arrived, Julian was joking and laughing with a girl beside him, his behavior intimate; the girl’s face flushed quickly, looking all shy and coy. It was clear he had been drinking.

Christian and I were practically the last to arrive. He greeted everyone in turn, and when it came to Julian, he didn't rise. Julian looked at me with hazy, drunken eyes, smiling at Christian with genuine warmth: "Director Christian." This time, the two didn't display the usual sparks and hostility upon meeting, which left me slightly relieved.

My seat was a long distance from Julian's, separated by half the length of the table. He sat diagonally across from me, his arm wrapped around the girl. Julian’s personality was outgoing and unrestrained, refusing no one. By the end of the banquet, he was practically slumped over the table, slurring his words and demanding more wine.

Chapter 51: A Performance Requires Commitment

Everyone left one after another, leaving only five or six people in the room. A man tried calling Julian’s name twice, but received no response, and complained with frustration: "What should we do? I came here with Julian, and I have business to return to the company shortly. With Julian this drunk and no driver, how is he supposed to get home?"

Finding a designated driver was indeed inconvenient in this area. Christian looked at me: "I recall you didn't drink tonight?" He told the man: "Have my secretary drive him." Christian handed me a set of addresses—Julian's home.

My mind went blank for a second; I opened my mouth, unable to process the task Christian had just arranged for me.

"You know, my driving skills aren't great, and I'm not familiar with that area."

Christian's large hand pressed firmly on my shoulder: "Be obedient." His tone allowed for no resistance.

Julian was thoroughly intoxicated. His friend and Christian hoisted him into the car. I rolled down the window, Christian reminding me to pay attention to road safety. The car reeked of alcohol. I looked back at the man half-lying in his seat, who was sound asleep.

Julian’s home was an hour's drive away. Arriving at the villa, it took every ounce of my effort to drag the nearly one-meter-ninety-tall man out of the car. His entire weight pressed down on me, and after stumbling through a few difficult steps while supporting him, every bit of my strength had been drained.

I took a deep breath, truly wishing I could just dump this man right at his own doorstep.

Just then, Julian’s face leaned in, brushing against my lips. The scent of alcohol flooded into my nose. I leaned away to dodge him, but Julian suddenly opened his eyes—clear, bright, and entirely sober.

Before I could react, the hand Julian had resting on my shoulder clamped onto my arm, ordering: "Push me away."

I froze for a second, instantly understanding. I slapped Julian across the face and shoved him onto the ground. The man collapsed like a heap of mud onto the marble steps in front of the door, his head hitting the steps with a dull thud. It seemed I had used too much force; I recoiled in a panic.

Julian grabbed my ankle: "Chloe... can't you keep me company tonight..."

A performance requires total commitment. I kicked him in the leg and laughed coldly, hands on my hips: "What kind of trash are you to try and take advantage of me? Freeze to death outside tonight." Julian stopped moving. I straightened my disheveled hair and, without a shred of lingering attachment, turned and got back into the car.

The moment I started the car, I faintly glimpsed a shadow flickering within the flowerbeds by Julian's villa gate before it vanished. I gripped the steering wheel, my palms drenched in sweat. Just then, Christian called, asking if I was almost home.

"Just dropped Julian off." I reported truthfully.

It was past eleven in the evening when I returned. Christian wasn't asleep; the living room was ablaze with light. He sat on the sofa in silk pajamas, reading the newspaper—the pajamas I had bought for him.

I changed into slippers and came inside. Every bone in my body felt shattered, so I collapsed onto the sofa, resting my head on Christian’s lap: "Exhausted." Christian continued to hold me, stroking the top of my head: "Why so late?"

"You know I have no sense of direction. I wasn't familiar with the area where Julian lives, and with the navigation, I ended up taking the wrong turn and driving in circles." I let out a long breath, coquettishly: "Don't ever arrange such arduous chores for me again."