Chapter III

I ignored the subtle glint of provocation in Sarah’s eyes.

Mark always claimed he was afraid I’d get the wrong idea, yet every move he made seemed calculated to ensure exactly that.

How many nights had he spent haunting bars? How many times had he passed out cold in someone else’s apartment?

Ever since word got out about my fight with Mark, Sarah had shifted tactics. Her once blatant physical advances toward my husband had morphed into sneaky, under-the-table gestures.

Under normal circumstances, the scene I just witnessed would have sent me into a blind rage. But now? I simply didn’t care.

I couldn’t even be bothered to glance at the two people in the front seat, who clearly had zero concept of boundaries.

"Could you pull over up ahead? I'm meeting a friend."

A tall, handsome figure strode toward us. Lucas, clad in a perfectly tailored coat and balancing two cups of coffee, waved briskly as he approached the car.

"Elena! Over here!"

Lucas flashed his signature dazzling smile.

"You're so heartless, you know that? Taking off without me! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been standing out here in the freezing cold?"

re tight as can be. Right, Elena?"

Lucas tightened his grip on my shoulder nonchalantly, addressing Mark with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I caught a glimpse of Mark in the passenger seat through my peripheral vision. He looked completely dumbfounded.

In stark contrast, Lucas kept up a steady stream of chatter the entire ride.

"God, Elena, is this really New York? Look at that building!"

"Elena, do you remember that time in the backyard when we..."

"Elena..."

The front of the car, however, had fallen into an eerie silence.

It wasn’tLucas thrust a steaming cup of coffee into my hand, pulled the door open, and slid into the seat beside me, casually draping an arm around my shoulders in a gesture of easy intimacy.

"It’s my first business trip to New York. I’m completely lost in this city—you’ve got to take care of me!"

Mark and Sarah froze. Neither of them could figure out what game I was playing.

Mark went on high alert instantly, his brow furrowing as he shot a look of pure hostility at the newcomer.

"Elena, is this who you were waiting for?"

Before I could get a word in, Lucas breezily introduced himself to them.

"Hey there, I’m Lucas. Elena and I go way back—we practically grew up in each other’s pockets!"

"Childhood sweethearts?"

Mark’s tone sharpened noticeably.

"You bet! We’ for lack of trying on Sarah’s part. Usually, whenever we went out, she was the one who wouldn't shut up.

She would typically monopolize Mark's attention, rambling on about everything from college anecdotes to the latest gossip about mutual friends—topics designed to exclude me.

But now, although Sarah kept fishing for conversation, Mark’s replies were curt. His attention was entirely fixated on the rearview mirror.

The moment we dropped Lucas off at the Waldorf Astoria, Mark ordered Sarah to pull over.

He yanked the door open and slid into the back seat beside me, his face livid.

"What are you doing back here?"

Mark scoffed coldly. "Why? Am I not allowed to sit here? Who the hell is that guy to you, anyway?"

I closed my eyes, feigning sleep to deliberately dodge the question.

"I’m tired. Just drive us home."