Chapter 105 CHAPTER 105
Hurry up and act fast!
The knife glinted faintly under the kitchen light, still caught in Chloe’s trembling hand. The air was heavy, thick with her uneven breathing. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
She could still hear them upstairs. Tessa’s laughter. Ares’ low voice. The sound of a life that wasn’t hers anymore.
Her fingers tightened around the knife. Her reflection in the steel looked nothing like the girl she used to be, her face drawn tight, her eyes red, her mouth a line of fury and heartbreak.
“Whoa! Whoa! Easy there, tiger!”
Chloe gasped, spinning around, the knife clattering slightly against the counter.
Julian stood by the doorway, his brows raised in surprise, a can of soda in his hand. His eyes darted from her pale face to the knife gleaming beside her.
“Uh,” he said, holding up one hand in surrender. “If this is a bad time, I can, you know, back out slowly.”
Chloe blinked, caught between fury and disbelief. “Julian?”
“Yeah, last I checked,” he said easily, flashing that crooked grin that always looked like he’d just gotten away with something. “You okay? You look like you’re about to audition for Kill Bill: The Sequel.”
She stared at him, her heart still racing, breath shaky. “I— I was just—”
“Cutting onions? Yeah, sure.” He took a step closer, waving the soda. “And I was just knighted by the Queen.”
“Julian,” she hissed under her breath, eyes darting to the knife again.
“Relax, sweetheart.” He opened the fridge and popped another can. “You look like you need this more than I do.”
She didn’t answer. Her hand was still half curled, shaking slightly at her side.
Julian tilted his head, studying her quietly now, the humor in his face softening into something gentler. “You’ve been on edge lately. What’s going on?”
Chloe opened her mouth, then closed it again. She looked away, her throat tight. “Nothing. I just… needed air.”
“Then come on,” he said, jerking his chin toward the garden doors. “Best cure for bad thoughts, a little night breeze and my world famous ability to talk nonsense.”
“Julian, I—”
“No excuses.” He stepped forward suddenly, gently taking her hand before she could react. His fingers were warm, casual, grounding. “Let’s go. You’re not spending another second here looking like a...”
The knife slipped from her other hand, quietly, unseen and clattered lightly against the tiles.
Julian didn’t notice.
He was already pulling her toward the back door.
Chloe’s breath came out in a shudder, part sigh, part release. She let him guide her outside, the night air spilling against her face, cool and soft. The anger, the rage, the burning heat inside her began to fade, little by little, leaving only exhaustion.
They stepped into the garden, the air filled with the scent of jasmine and wet grass. The moonlight lay silver over everything, the trimmed hedges, the white roses, the stone bench near the fountain.
Julian led her there, cracking open one of the sodas and handing it to her.
“Here,” he said, flopping down onto the bench. “Doctor Julian’s orders.”
She hesitated before sitting beside him. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet,” he said, sipping from his can, “you’re smiling.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. A little. Right there.” He pointed to her lips. “See? It’s small but it’s there. That’s progress.”
She rolled her eyes, but a faint, unwilling laugh slipped out. “You’re annoying.”
“Ah, the word every woman uses before she admits she enjoys my company,” Julian said with a smirk. “Don’t worry, I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”
Chloe leaned back, her fingers tight around the can. “You talk too much.”
“And yet you’re still sitting here.”
She didn’t reply. Her eyes lifted toward the moon, the silver glow softening her features. Her heartbeat was slowing now, the fog in her head clearing bit by bit.
Julian glanced at her again. “You know,” he said lightly, “people forget how good silence feels when it’s not full of bad thoughts.”
She looked at him then, startled.
He shrugged. “You don’t have to tell me what’s eating you. But at least let it breathe. You’re human, and I know you’re not the bad guy, no one has to be the bad guy.”
Chloe’s eyes dropped to her lap. “Tessa thinks she’s better.”
“Then remember,” he said gently. “Start small. Like this—” He took another sip of soda, leaned back, and let out a long sigh. “See? It’s called not caring for five seconds. Try it.”
Chloe’s lips twitched.
“Now you,” he said, tapping her shoulder.
She looked away, pretending not to understand.
“Come on,” Julian teased. “Big sigh, let it all go. You can do it.”
Chloe sighed quietly, more out of amusement than relaxation.
“Louder,” Julian said. “Like your soul’s detoxing.”
She rolled her eyes again but did it, a deeper breath this time, followed by a long, slow exhale.
Julian grinned. “There you go. Look at that. Already 5% less homicidal.”
That startled a laugh out of her, short, genuine, unexpected. “You’re insane.”
“I prefer charmingly unfiltered.”
They sat there a while longer, the silence between them lighter now, easier. The anger that had nearly consumed her was gone, dissolving into the night air like mist.
Chloe lifted her head, watching the fountain shimmer in the moonlight. “Thanks,” she said quietly.
Julian turned to her. “For what?”
“For… not asking too many questions and not seeing me as the bad guy.”
He smiled softly. “That’s what friends are for.”
She hesitated, her throat tight again but this time from something softer. She nodded once. “Yeah. Friends.”
Julian clinked his soda can lightly against hers. “To bad nights that turn out okay.”
She smiled faintly. “To bad nights,” she echoed.
The next day
The private restaurant in the heart of Tokyo was quiet, hidden away behind a bamboo gate and a narrow stone path that led to a single golden lit room.
Tessa sat at a round table by the window, a light shawl draped over her shoulders, her hair swept to one side. She looked relaxed, radiant even. The waitress poured her another glass of white wine.
Across from her sat Ayisha. Sharp as always, with glossy black hair and a charming smile.
“I swear,” Ayisha said, laughing as she set down her fork, “if I eat one more piece of sushi, I’m going to start swimming like one.”
Tessa laughed softly. “You say that every time, and yet here we are again.”
Ayisha raised her glass. “Because you can’t say no to me.”
Tessa clinked hers lightly against it. “That’s the problem.”
They both laughed again, the sound easy and light.
When the laughter faded, Ayisha leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “So, how’s our little mission going?”
Tessa’s smile faltered. “Don’t call it that.”
“What else do you want me to call it?” Ayisha arched a brow. “You’re pretending to be pregnant, Tess. That’s not exactly something people do for fun.”
“Now you’re sounding like you didn’t put me up to it.” Tessa sighed, rubbing her temples. “It’s getting harder, Ayisha. I don’t even know how long I can keep this up.”
“Then make it real,” Ayisha said simply, sipping her drink.
Tessa looked up, startled. “What?”
“You heard me. It’s time, Tess. Time to get Ares to sleep with you for real. You can’t fake this forever.”
Tessa frowned. “You make it sound easy.”
“It should be. You’re beautiful, you live under the same roof, and he is in love you with you. It’s not hard.”
Tessa leaned back, frustration showing across her face. “You don’t understand. He hasn’t… touched me since that night. He’s distant. Always distracted. I’ve tried everything. He is too busy taking care of me.”
Ayisha’s expression hardened slightly. “Then make him know you want sex.”
Tessa’s eyes flashed. “You think I haven’t tried?”
Ayisha shrugged. “Try harder.”
Silence stretched between them.
The sound of soft jazz floated from the corner of the restaurant, the light from the lanterns turning gold against their faces.
Tessa’s fingers toyed with the stem of her glass. “He looks at me so sweetly.”
Ayisha’s voice softened just a little. “Don’t let Chloe win this time.”
Tessa’s eyes lifted, quiet but sharp. “I won’t.”
“Good.” Ayisha smiled again, satisfied. “Then we understand each other.”
They raised their glasses again.