A trace of panic appeared on Julie’s face. She instinctively reached out to try and snatch her phone back, but Zayn raised it high above his head. She could not reach it.

“Hurry up and give me my phone back, Zayn!” she sputtered angrily.

Zayn glanced coldly at the phone in his hand before saying tonelessly, “This is a call from Lucian. Why’s he calling you so late at night?”

“That’s none of your business,” snapped Julie. “Hurry up and return my phone to me.”

Zayn smiled faintly and said with a soft laugh, “Since you’re so eager to answer the phone, I’ll take the call for you instead. I’m also curious as to why he’s calling you so late.”

Julie’s heart clenched, but before she could stop Zayn, Lucian’s voice was already ringing out from the phone.

“Are you done with your business dinner, little miss Somers?”

Her heart suddenly started beating faster at the sound of Lucian’s voice, and she was so nervous that she could barely breathe.

Zayn took in all the shifts in her expression, a nameless rage suddenly burning up within him.

Just as he was about to speak, Julie abruptly reached out to cover his mouth. Her eyes were filled with fear and pleading.

She desperately shook her head at him, imploring him to remain silent. She really did not want to let Lucian know that she had ties with Zayn right now, and considering Zayn’s crazy streak, who knew what he might say.

After hearing nothing from Julie despite waiting for quite a while, Lucian spoke up again. “I’m speaking to you, you know, Juju? Have you forgotten your manners again?”

His voice carried a hint of exasperation, but it was overshadowed by affection.

“I’m…eating,” Julie replied in a panic, standing on her tiptoes to try and grab her phone as she spoke.

However, Zayn seemed to see through her intentions. As she reached out, he raised the phone up high again.

Julie was furious, but she dared not voice her anger. She knew that she was no match for Zayn. If she really ended up angering him and he went on a rampage, things would not go well for her.

Julie spoke up again, her voice carrying a hint of pleading. “Let’s end the call first, Lucian. I’ll call you back later, alright?”

Although Lucian was a little unhappy, when he heard that Julie would call him later, he obediently ended the call.

Julie could not help but sigh in relief when she saw that the call had been disconnected. She took a step back, maintaining a distance of about seven to eight feet between her and Zayn.

“Now, you can give me my phone back, right?” she asked, her tone a little shaky.

Zayn stared at her for quite a while, then spat forcefully, “Little miss Somers? Juju? You really do surprise me, Julie.”

His lips curved up slightly as he said this, but his gaze on Julie was piercingly cold and even his tone carried a hint of danger.

After three years of spending time with Zayn, Julie understood him very well. She knew that when he revealed that kind of expression, it meant that he was angry.

Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and her breathing sped up. She pursed her lips tightly, saying nothing.

Seeing her remain silent, Zayn had no intention of dropping the issue. He slowly reached out with one hand and pinched her cheek.

Julie felt her cheek sting badly. It felt almost as if he was about to crush it.

She struggled frantically, trying to escape his hold, but he was far stronger than she imagined.

“Say something.”

Zayn’s voice was low and hoarse. He spoke with a commanding tone that suggested he would not be questioned. He glared fixedly at her, flames of anger flickering within his eyes.