bChapter /b30 He treated her differently

“We’ve got five days left. If we cancel now, our families will be the joke of New York!

“What’s it gonna take to make you stop being like this? Cut this drama–let’s just get married, okay?”

Kaia looked at Alden’s face. Those features she used to love were now all messed up with annoyance and zero patience.

She gave a small smile, “Alden, do you even want to marry me? Do you actually love me? Do you really want to spend your life with me?”

Alden seemed caught off guard by her question.

He cleared his throat and looked away. “We’re engaged. Of course we’re getting married.

Wow. First itime /iiI’ve /iheard of people imarrying /iijust /ibecause ithey’re /iengagedi. /i

Kaia chuckled again. “Then, after we’re marriedi, /ican you promise never to contact Luna again?”

Alden’s gaze snapped back to hers, ihis /iwords deliberate. “K

already told you. Luna’s my closest sister. I’m never gonna leave her behind!”

17:29

bChapter /b30 He treated her differently

Kain looked down and shrugged. “So, you don’t even love me, but you want me to be cool with you sneaking around with bLuna /bafter we get married? Then why should I marry you?”

The sorrow in her eyes vanished, reced by resolve.

“I’ve had enough. I’d rather marry an animal than you. Alden, we’re done.”

She yanked her wrist free and strode upstairs without looking back.

Alden stared nkly at her retreating figure.

She ireally /iidoesn’t /iwant ito /iimarry /iime /ianymore?

****

The next morning, when Kaia got to the office, Vanessa told her the awesome news–theynded the Graves Group acquisition

case.

Kaia was stunned.

It did work out. So Lucien really heard everything during that call.

Clutching her phoneb, /bshe sent a message.

17:29

bChapter /bb30 /bbHe /btreated her differently

b[/bMr. Graves, thank you.]

She meant it from the bottom of her heart.

Because Lucien actually kept his word about being fair.

When Julian heard Lucien wasing to the contract signing meeting, his jaw nearly dropped.

The CEO showing up for some small contract signing? That was unheard of.

Even with the city’s topw firms, Lucien never went this far.

It showed just how much he valued Vanguard Law Firm.

Or maybe… someone there meant way more to him than just business.

Julian felt like he’d stumbled onto something huge.

Lucien, single for thirty–three years, had zero scandals, whether domestically or abroad. Some even spected that he’s gay.

But he remained unfazed, doing things his own way.

Even his executive office was packed with male secretaries.

Chapter 30 He treated her differently

Lucien was so strict about it that Julian wondered if he was even

into women.

But just a few days ago, Lucien suddenly started fussing over some femalewyer at a business dinner.

And because of her, he chewed out Juliante at night.

Even a total idiot could see Lucien treated her differently.

Julian drummed his fingers on the desk and called Jude.

After hanging up, Jude scratched his head, confused.

Julian had specifically told him to bring Kaia along to sign the contract–not that he hadn’t nned on taking her anyway. But the way Julian made a point of mentioning it…

Isn’t he already married?

*****

On their bway /bto the Graves Group, neither of them said a word.

Kaia was stressing about what to do if she bumped into Lucien.

re out how to tell his c And Jude was trying ito /isubordinate not to mess with a married man.

“Jude…”

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Chapter 30 He treated her differently

9 min bleft /b

“bKaia/b…”

They spoke at the same time.

Kaia froze. “You go first.”

Jude twitched his lips. “Kaia, you said you broke up with your boyfriend, right?”

Kaia nodded. “Yep.”

He cleared his throat. “Mind if I ask why?”

Kaia’s eyes darkened. “The reason? Probably because I got cheated on.”

Jude was at a loss for words.

He coughed deliberately. “Well, Kaia, want me to set you up with some single guys?”

Kaia’s eyes went wide. “Some guys?”

“No, no, I mean like introduce you to some top professionals in our industry–you can choose whoever you like. I’m not saying date them all at once.”

Jude mentally patted himself on the back for that smooth move.

17:29

Chapter 30 He treated her differently

He’d managed to tell her Julian was married and offered to introduce her to some good guys.

Kaia had no clue what Jude was trying to pull.

iWhy /iiis /iihe /iisuddenly /iiso /iigossipy/ii? /i

“Thanks, but I’m not interested in dating right now.”

Her gentle rejection made Jude’s heart drop.

iIs /iishe /iireally /iithat /iinto iJulian/ii? /i

9 min lett

Both lost in their own thoughts, they arrived at Graves Group.

When they entered the conference room, they froze.

A iwhole /iilineup /iof execs. For a icontract /isigningi? /i

Isn’t ithis /isetup a bit too muchi? /i

Unfazed, Jude fixed his tie and whispered to Kaia, “Just rx. You got this.”

Hearing this, Kaia stood up straight and followed him in with ba /bperfect poker face smile.

Julian shed a grin. “Mr. Halston, Ms. Domont, nice to see you again.”

17:29

treated ner differently

He went around the room. b“/bThis is the investment manager- you’ve met before. Here’s our CFO. And these colleagues bare /bbin /bcharge of the merger case. You’ll be working with them a lot moving forward.”

The center seat was empty. Kaia nced at the cup on the table.

Julian, who’d been watching Kaia like a hawk, cleared his throat. “Here’s the contract. Check it out. Mr. Graves is taking ba /bcall outside. We’ll sign when he gets here.”

Kaia’s heart skipped a beat.

iLucien’s /iihere /iitoo/ii? /i

Jude was also caught off guard.

“Looks like Mr. Graves really cares about this deal.”

Kaia felt her phone buzz in her pocket, and suddenly her ringtone sted through the conference room.

Jude shot her a sidelong nce and frowned, “Why isn’t your phone on silent?”

Kaia smiled awkwardly and apologized, “Sorry, I’ll take this outside.”

She didn’t dare ignore Lucien’s call.

17:29

Chapter b30 /bHe btreated /bher differently

–

9 min left

Only after leaving the conference room did Kaia answer the call, “What is bit/bb?/bb” /b

Lucien’s smooth voice came through, calm as ever. “Oh, so you’re done with the ‘Mr. Graves‘ thing?”

Kaia had no idea what else she should call him.

“Where are you right now?” Lucien asked again.

Kaia hesitated. “Just left yourpany’s conference room to take your call.”

“Look up,” he added.

Kaia raised her head and saw Lucien holding his phone, a faint smile on his lips.

He strode toward her with effortless grace.

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