Chapter 28 Don’t Cross The Line #2
Vincent's jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, a shocked gasp suddenly echoed through the corridor.
"Vincent?"
Both of them turned.
Several feet away, Alexa stood rooted to the spot, a few shopping bags hanging limply from her hands. Her eyes darted between Vincent and Juliet, shock and disbelief clearly written across her face.
From where she stood, the two of them looked far too intimate.
Vincent was standing directly in front of Juliet, leaving almost no space between them, while Juliet stood backed against the wall. To anyone passing by, it looked less like an argument and more like a private confrontation between former lovers who still had unresolved feelings.
Alexa's face instantly lost color.
"W-What's going on here?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.
The moment Juliet saw her, her entire body stiffened.
Memories came rushing back so quickly that they almost made her dizzy.
Every accusation Alexa had thrown at her.
Every lie she had told.
Every tear Juliet had shed because of her.
And worst of all, every single time Vincent had chosen to believe Alexa over her without hesitation.
The warmth and happiness she had been carrying all evening disappeared in an instant, replaced by a familiar coldness.
Juliet suddenly felt exhausted.
Without saying a single word, she turned and started walking away.
"Juliet!"
Vincent immediately reached out and grabbed her wrist again.
That single action completely shattered the last shred of patience she had left.
Juliet stopped abruptly.
Then she spun around so quickly that Vincent barely had time to react.
Smack!
The sharp sound echoed through the quiet corridor.
Vincent's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap.
Everything fell silent.
Even Alexa froze in shock.
Vincent remained motionless for several seconds, clearly stunned.
Juliet lowered her hand. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were ice-cold.
"Stay away from me," she snapped, her voice trembling ever so slightly with suppressed anger. "And stop touching me. You don't have that right anymore."
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, brushing past him without a second glance.
This time, Vincent didn't reach for her.
He simply stood there, stunned, one hand pressed against his reddening cheek as he watched her walk away from the secluded corner and head toward the mall entrance.
A few moments later, Nolan rounded the wall. He had arrived just in time to witness the slap but had wisely decided not to interfere.
Seeing Vincent standing there motionlessly, Nolan let out a quiet sigh and walked over.
"She's probably just angry," he said, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
Vincent remained silent.
Nolan glanced at Alexa, who was still standing a short distance away looking pale and shaken, before turning back to Vincent.
"You know she never trusted Alexa after what happened at the club," Nolan continued. "With Alexa lying about being pregnant with your child before, and now seeing the two of you together again, she probably misunderstood."
Vincent's brows furrowed slightly.
Nolan patted him on the shoulder. "From Juliet's perspective, it probably looked like nothing has changed. She might think you're still choosing Alexa over her. That's probably why she got angry and took it out on you."
Vincent said nothing.
His gaze followed Juliet's retreating figure as she made her way through the crowd toward the mall entrance.
For some reason, an unfamiliar uneasiness slowly spread through his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
He couldn't explain it, but as he watched her leave, he suddenly had the unsettling feeling that Juliet truly didn't care anymore.
Just then, Juliet stopped near the entrance and pulled her phone out of her purse when it started ringing.
Almost instinctively, Vincent's attention shifted to her.
The moment she looked at the screen, the coldness on her face melted away completely.
A soft smile immediately appeared on her lips.
Vincent froze.
He had not seen that smile in a very long time.
"Hello?" Juliet answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Even from where he stood, Vincent could hear the warmth in her voice.
"I'm coming," she said softly, her eyes curving with happiness. "Just give me a minute."
A second later, a small laugh escaped her.
"Okay, okay. I'll be there soon. I love you too."
Vincent's entire body went rigid.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What did she just say?" he asked sharply, turning to Nolan.
Nolan blinked. "What?"
"Didn't you hear her? She said I love you to someone."
Before Nolan could reply, Vincent was already striding toward the mall entrance, his expression dark and stormy.
"Vincent!" Nolan hurried after him.
By the time they stepped outside the mall, Juliet had already reached the curb.
A sleek black Mercedes was waiting by the roadside.
The driver's door opened, and a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit stepped out.
From where Vincent stood, he could only see the man's side profile and broad back, but even that was enough to tell him that the man was young, handsome, and extraordinarily wealthy.
For some inexplicable reason, the man's profile looked vaguely familiar.
The moment Juliet saw him, her entire face lit up.
She walked toward him without hesitation.
Vincent's expression instantly darkened.
The man naturally took the shopping bags from Juliet's hands before opening the passenger door for her.
Juliet smiled at him and said something.
The man lowered his head slightly toward her, listening attentively, his posture relaxed and familiar, as if this was something the two of them did every day.
Juliet's eyes curved with amusement a second later, and she lightly nudged the man's arm.
Everything about their interaction looked intimate.
Vincent felt an unfamiliar irritation rise inside him.
His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides.
"Who the hell is that?" he muttered through clenched teeth, his gaze never leaving the man.
For some reason, the man's side profile looked vaguely familiar. Vincent narrowed his eyes and unconsciously took a few steps closer, trying to get a better look. The bright lights from the storefronts illuminated only part of the man's face before he turned away again.
Where had he seen him before?
The more Vincent looked at him, the stronger the feeling became.
Before he could place it, the man opened the passenger door and rested one hand on the top of the car as Juliet slid inside. She smiled at him once more before settling into her seat.
Then, almost as if sensing Vincent's gaze, the man suddenly lifted his head.
Even from across the street, Vincent had the distinct feeling that their eyes met. A faint, almost provocative smile appeared on the man's lips.
Before Vincent could react, the man calmly walked around the car and slid into the driver's seat.
The sleek black car immediately pulled away from the curb.
Vincent's expression darkened.
"Dammit."
Without another thought, he strode toward his own car.
"Vincent!" Nolan called out as he hurried after him. "Are you seriously doing this?"
Vincent didn't answer. His long strides only quickened as he yanked open the driver's door and slid behind the wheel.
Nolan let out an exasperated sigh before climbing into the passenger seat.
The moment the door shut, Vincent started the engine and pulled into traffic, his eyes locked on the luxury car several cars ahead.
"You can't actually be planning to follow them," Nolan said as he fastened his seatbelt.
Vincent tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"I just want to know who that man is."
Nolan snorted and leaned back in his seat. "Sure. And I'm the King of England."
Vincent shot him a cold look.
"I'm not jealous."
"Of course not," Nolan replied dryly. "You're only chasing your ex through half the city because you're concerned about public safety."
Vincent ignored him and pressed harder on the accelerator.