Axius Somerville felt a bit frustrated. He prided himself on working out every day, thinking he wasn't weak, yet he couldn't even push away a man.
Now, since Cece wasn't helping him, he resignedly picked up the juice and took a sip, retorting with a hint of anger, "I've finished drinking, you should let go now."
Julian Haworth still didn't let go, instead fiddling with the USB drive in front of Axius, smiling as he spoke, "Tell me what's inside, and I'll let you leave."
Axius Somerville was a top star among the new generation of male idols, completely unrelated to Quiana Sutton. They secretly met at North Star, and he was now seriously worried that Quiana had made a cuckold of Durrell.
Even though he still felt lingering fear, since he'd been caught in the act, there was no way he'd let Axius Somerville leave easily.
Axius Somerville looked at the USB drive being tossed up and down by Julian, instinctively touching his pocket, "When did you take it?"
"Just now. If you don't tell me what's inside, I won't give it back to you."
Since the person was Cece's bodyguard, he didn't hide anything.
"The music and lyrics Cece wrote for me."
Julian Haworth: "???"
Although he wasn't a fan of Axius Somerville, he had at least heard a few songs. He even joked with Charles Foote that if he were a woman, he'd fall madly in love with Axius Somerville.
The voice itself was unique, but he knew better that it was the music and lyrics that attracted him.
They exuded a madness that drew one into hell, chilling to the bone, yet irresistibly engaging.
And now he was being told the music and lyrics were written by the woman he detested the most?
His emotions were so mixed it felt like his past was replaying before him like a carousel.
Liking Axius Somerville's songs meant liking Quiana Sutton, something he would never admit to even being beaten to death.
Axius Somerville found this bodyguard extremely odd, and while the man was distracted, he seized the USB drive but didn't dare to pocket it, holding it tightly in his hand before swiftly making his escape.
It was also Quiana Sutton's first time seeing Julian Haworth looking so mournful: "Seeing you like this, it's really hard for me not to suspect that you have improper thoughts about Axius Somerville."
Julian Haworth: "..."
He really didn't get along with Quiana Sutton, her every word made him want to jump up.
"What kind of nonsense are you imagining? How could I have improper thoughts about Axius Somerville?"
Quiana Sutton glanced at Charles Foote, who had stayed silent, her cold eyes gaining a hint of ambiguity, smiling somewhat carelessly:
"You two always showing up together, it's really hard not to raise suspicions."
Charles Foote: "!!!"
Getting caught in the crossfire while lying down, that's probably what this is about.
Julian Haworth, overwhelmed by anger, laughed sarcastically, suddenly rolling up his sleeves and moving in closer: "Why don't I prove my sexual orientation to you then?"
Before his hand could touch Quiana Sutton, a chilly voice came from the doorway:
"What are you all doing?"
Everyone instinctively looked toward the source of the voice, seeing a figure standing not far away, half in sunlight, half in shadow, like an indescribable, vivid painting that chills to the core.
Oliver Gale: "???!?"
What did he just see, Julian Haworth looking like he wanted to pounce on Quiana Sutton, and Charles Foote hadn't stopped it?
His head ached instantly.
Upon seeing Durrell Landon arrive, Julian Haworth quickly regained his senses, alarmed, hastily letting go and explained: "Durrell, don't misunderstand us."
Quiana Sutton seemed unfazed by Durrell Landon's anger, smiling lightly:
"Misunderstand what? Didn't you want to prove your sexual orientation to me just now?"
Why did these words sound increasingly ambiguous?
Julian Haworth felt his head swell again, hurriedly explaining:
"Durrell, you have to believe me."
Durrell Landon said nothing, his gaze only lingering on Quiana Sutton not far away.
Her enigmatic smile, defiant visage, under the dim lights, portrayed an untouchable realm of isolation, yet emitted a strange, decaying aura.
As if she roamed the world in a mask, her heart and emotions unbending to anyone, unwilling to let people feel she was lost in the world's confusion, maintaining a detached clarity like a bystander.
Though she embodied traits he disliked, she inexplicably possessed a magnetism that made her stand out in any crowd.
While he regarded Quiana Sutton, she too glanced back at him, but quickly averted her gaze.
Her expression was pitifully sparse, yet in that moment, a desire surged within him; he wanted to see her calm, composed eyes burn with a longing for him, imagining what a magnificent sight that would be.
With Durrell Landon silent, Julian Haworth dared not utter another word, sat quietly beside Quiana like a hen.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Oliver Gale quickly suggested: "Durrell, let's find a private room to talk, stop giving others a show."
Julian Haworth threw an appreciative glance at Oliver Gale, nodding like a pecking chick.
Ignoring him, Oliver Gale turned to Quiana Sutton:
"Quiana dear, would you like to join us?"
She stubbed out her cigarette lazily and said, "Not interested."
Oliver Gale maintained his good temper:
"Come on, Quiana dear, do me this favor?"
...
Quiana Sutton didn't really intend to make things difficult for Julian Haworth. Once in the private room, she sat to Oliver Gale's left, absentmindedly fiddling with her nails.
Noticing Durrell Landon's gaze fixed on Quiana Sutton, Oliver Gale kicked Julian Haworth, signaling him to quickly explain.
Julian Haworth came to his senses, tearfully recounting the earlier events, carefully omitting the part where he really had a moment of folly, wanting to prove his sexual orientation to Quiana Sutton.
"Durrell, you must believe me, I really didn't do anything. Besides, with Knight Tamworth there, it's not like I could really do something outrageous."
The more he spoke, the smaller and meeker his voice became.
Durrell Landon neither affirmed nor denied, just suddenly stood up, walking step by step to Quiana Sutton, lifting her chin to make her meet his gaze, his tone cool:
"Until the divorce, you're still my wife. Naturally, I won't harm you, but if you really cuckold me, your paramour will face absolute ruin."
Julian Haworth felt inexplicably like his head was going to fall off.
Quiana Sutton frowned slightly, then did the unexpected.
Grabbing his wrist, she threw him onto the sofa, and in the next second, she was on top of him, stepping onto the soft sofa and before anyone could react, her right hand clasped around his throat.
"Is this a threat?"