Chapter 95: Julian’s Dark Play

Julian didn’t even look up. “If you’re not feeling well, you shouldn’t have come.”

Cora lowered her lashes, accepting the chill in his voice.

Liam, unfailingly polite, smiled. “No need to apologize. We haven’t been waiting long.”

Julian’s jaw ticked. That gentle indulgence—toward his wife—from another man, grated.

“Sit here.” His tone left no room for debate.

Cora slid into the chair beside him. Julian lifted his gaze to Liam, a challenge buried in the calm. They’d already traded wins all day—golf, swim sprints, billiards, ping-pong, tennis. But when it came to Cora, Julian had no intention of conceding a single inch.

“You two make marriage look enviable,” Liam said mildly.

“We’ve always been solid,” Julian replied, easy as a blade in silk.

Liam only tilted his mouth in that unreadable way. Cora cleared her throat. “I’m a little hungry.”

It was enough to redirect both men. At Julian’s nod, the butler set the pacing, and dish after dish arrived with discreet efficiency.

While Cora dutifully sat through dinner, Dina had already let herself into the marital suite with Cora’s key. She trailed her fingertips across the bed’s scattered rose petals, a smile breaking over her face. Still the same fool, Cora—so easy to steer. Dina kicked off her shoes and lay back, picturing Julian’s body against this mattress. The thought sent a shiver through her.

At the table, Austin bent to murmur in Julian’s ear, then stepped away to fade into the background. Julian’s gaze cut to Cora. She felt it—looked up—caught only the cool line of his profile as he turned aside.

“Thank you for the evening,” Liam said, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Cora, unsettled and not particularly hungry, set down her own utensils. Julian noticed the timing—how readily the two of them moved in tandem—and banked the flicker of heat in his chest.

“Austin, see Mr. Mayer to his suite,” Julian said evenly. “Whatever he needs, accommodate it.”

“Of course, Mr. Watson.” Austin gestured. “This way, Mr. Mayer.”

Liam’s glance lingered, meaningful, on both of them before he followed.

The door had barely shut when Julian turned. “So, madam, what’s this I hear about you sleeping in Zone Two tonight?”

Cora’s stomach dipped. “Yes… I told Riley I’d stay with her.”

The truth—I’m clearing the field for Dina—lodged behind her teeth. Under Julian’s stare, her pulse tripped.

“Perfect.” Julian’s smile never reached his eyes. “If that’s your decision, your husband would hate to inconvenience you. I’ll retire. Someone escort Mrs. Watson to Zone Two.”

“Right away.” Baron stepped in, resigned. In-house wars between the boss and the boss’s wife were an employee’s least favorite chore.

Cora rose too fast, heat stinging her eyes. He can’t wait to get back to her. Of course he couldn’t. I’m the extra piece.

Julian watched her walk away, the cold in his gaze sharpening. You put a woman in my bed? He was many things. Cheap wasn’t one of them.

Austin reappeared, impassive. He didn’t need to ask; the orders were already forming.

“Prepare the study,” Julian said, tossing his napkin aside. “And send me a full readout on Mayer’s military-and-state ties. If Liam wants to strut on his family’s coattails, let’s see how he struts with one arm cut off. Grandma was right about cooperating, but not like this.”

“Yes, Mr. Watson.”

Hours later, Dina was still sprawled across silk sheets, glaring at the clock. Past eleven. The dinner had ended long ago. If Julian had been talking business, surely he’d be done by now. Did Cora give me the wrong key?

No—there were two robes in the bath, one male, one female. This was definitely their room. So where was he?

He was in the study.

Charts and dossiers covered the desk. Austin’s brief had no holes; when questions came, he answered them. By midnight, they’d mapped every relationship orbiting Mayer’s domestic influence.

Julian flicked his pen onto the blotter, a slow smile climbing one corner of his mouth. “He’s very sure of himself. Let’s see how confident he is after we take this arm.” He tapped a photo—the deputy responsible for a key region’s economy. “We can’t touch the uniformed side yet. Local government, though? Fair game. He’s Mayer’s third-biggest enabler. Cut him.”

“Understood.” Austin couldn’t hide the spark in his eyes.

“Fast and clean,” Julian said, idle as a cat. “I seem to recall a certain official’s private life going public online.”

“The same man,” Austin confirmed.

“Good.” Julian nodded, satisfied. “You know what to do.”

“Consider it done.” Austin bowed out.

Only then did Julian exhale, tension finally unspooling. He headed to a guest room—not that room—to sleep.

Across the grounds in Zone Two, Cora lay wide awake next to Riley. The ceiling wouldn’t stop spinning.

Riley held her tongue as long as she could. Watching Cora twist under the sheets finally snapped her patience. “If you can’t let him go, why hand him to that woman on a silver platter? No offense, but that’s why people think they can walk all over you.”

“I get it,” Cora murmured. “I know Dina’s ‘remorse’ probably isn’t real. But she has a month left, Riley. I can’t be the one to refuse her. And you saw Julian today.” She swallowed. “If he and Dina have feelings that never died, who am I to… hold on? I’m just the stand-in who showed up pregnant.”

“So you delivered her to his bed?” Riley pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ve seen naïve, but this is Olympic.”

“I’m leaving Watson eventually,” Cora said, voice thin. “Sooner or later doesn’t change the end.”

Riley switched lanes. “Fine. Then can we discuss the other problem? Liam’s attitude toward you is… unusual.”

Cora hesitated. “It is strange. We’ve barely spoken.”

“You didn’t think to ask why?”

Cora shook her head.

Riley’s expression sharpened. “All right. I heard something when I was bored and poking at the rumor mill.” She leaned in, eyes glinting. “Listen closely—this one matters.”