That guy wasn't even as good-looking as Julian, was he? With that thought, Tessa's gaze toward Julian softened noticeably. She took his hand and guided it to her waist. "Alright, I'm here now, aren't I? All yours."

Julian's eyes followed her every move; the message in her actions was far from subtle, and he understood it perfectly. His gaze darkened. He was a man in his prime—how could he possibly resist such open temptation? Especially when he did, in fact, like Tessa.

The thought alone stirred something in him, and his grip on her waist grew firmer. Tessa gasped softly, their bodies pressed close. Julian pulled her into a deeper kiss, trailing lower with increasing urgency. Tessa could feel his desire, his possessiveness—it pleased her. In her mind, that was what sustained a relationship. If a man had no desire for her, how could any feelings last? She had no doubts about her own allure. But then her thoughts drifted to what she’d seen at the restaurant that day. This visit—she’d come for one reason: to get answers.

"So," she said, narrowing her eyes as she pushed against Julian's chest to stop him, "why were you having dinner with Aurora that day? Or are you going to tell me the two of you planned it all along? Because I can't think of another explanation."

Julian stiffened, clearly caught off guard. He hesitated, unsure how to respond. What was he supposed to say—that he’d actually gone there intending to confess his feelings to Aurora? If he said that, he could forget about walking out of this house in one piece. And Tessa? She’d be gone from his life before the night was over. There was no way things between him and Tessa could continue—not after this.

Julian knew this too well, which was exactly why telling the truth was never an option. Tessa kept her eyes locked on him, watching intently, waiting to hear what kind of excuse he’d come up with next. She’d seen everything that day. Whatever had happened between him and Aurora at the restaurant, she hadn’t missed a thing. She knew exactly what had gone down. She was here for one reason: to hear what he had to say for himself.

Julian grew more uneasy under her stare. "Tessa, didn't you come over today because you wanted to be with me…" His voice trailed off, but the implication hung thick in the air.

Tessa tilted her head slightly. "Did I ever say that?"

"Then you…" Julian paused again, glancing meaningfully at her, silently urging her to recall just how heated things had gotten between them moments ago. Surely, she hadn’t expected him to believe she didn’t want to take things further? If that were the case, Julian wasn’t buying it.

Tessa walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, crooking a finger at him with a smile Julian couldn’t quite read. He didn’t understand her intentions but obediently followed, playing the part of the ever-agreeable man. Watching him, Tessa couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. She’d never seen Julian this compliant before. It hadn’t even been that long since their last meeting, yet he seemed to have changed entirely. Or maybe… he was just feeling guilty. Her smile didn’t fade as she looked up at him, amused and unreadable.

Julian, growing more unsettled under her gaze, quickly tried to change the subject. "Tessa, this is a perfect moment. Why don’t we focus on… other things? No need to waste such a good opportunity, right?"

Chapter 417