Chapter 5

Christina turned sharply, her eyes locking onto Lucien, who stood behind her. His face was pale as if he'd just seen a ghost.

The phone had barely clicked off before he seized her hand. "Christina, who's emigrating?"

Her expression remained composed. "Just a classmate. She's moving abroad and wanted to meet up before leaving."

Lucien stared at her, uncertain, but his arms encircled her, pulling her close. "I thought it was you. Don't scare me like that again."

Christina curled her lips faintly. "It's just emigration. Why are you acting like it's the end of the world?"

His heartbeat thudded loudly against her. "Christina, you know my family background—three generations in the military. We can't leave the country."

He hesitated for a moment before adding, "If I ever make you unhappy, you can hit me, yell at me, even abandon me, but you can't emigrate. If you leave, I'll never be able to find you. That would destroy me."

Enveloped in his arms, Christina gave a slight smile. "I understand."

Perhaps his instincts warned him, for in the following days, Lucien shadowed her like a second skin.

Even when a friend opened a new club and invited their group to celebrate, Lucien insisted she accompany him.

With his vigilance blocking her every move, Christina postponed her plans to visit the immigration office and obediently followed him to the club.

The private room buzzed with energy as they entered. Lucien's friends flocked around her.

"Christina, relax today. We know you like quiet, so we changed the music to classical piano and cleared the place for you."

"That's right! Lucien made sure everything suits your taste, even the desserts."

"Come, sit here. We washed and cut the fruits already."

Lucien frowned at their enthusiasm. "Since when did you all become so attentive?"

One of them grinned. "Who doesn't know you treat Christina like treasure? If we don't spoil her too, how can we hang out with you?"

The laughter that followed filled the room with warmth, but it shattered when a petite figure entered.

It was Vanessa.

The manager hurried to block her path. "I'm sorry, miss. We have VIP guests today."

Vanessa brushed him aside and stepped in without hesitation. "Christina, Lucien! What a coincidence! You don't mind if I join, do you?"

Without waiting for permission, she sat beside Christina. Under the dim lights, her fingers deliberately guided Lucien's hand beneath her skirt.

Christina's breath caught. She glanced at Lucien, who froze as if caught off guard. He looked ready to send Vanessa away but, in the next moment, his fingers shifted slightly.

The motion pierced Christina like a blade, yet she kept her face unreadable, pretending not to notice.

Midway through the gathering, she excused herself to the restroom.

Cold water splashed against her face, but it did little to calm the turmoil inside. Then a voice, smooth yet taunting, cut through the air. "Christina, you're so young, but why dress so dull?"

Christina turned, meeting Vanessa's reflection in the mirror. Her eyes shone with disdain.

"Look at me," Vanessa said, opening her coat to reveal daring lingerie. "Men are visual creatures, slaves to their instincts. Let's bet. If I show Lucien this, will he stay with you or leave with me?"

Christina trembled but said nothing. She dried her hands and returned to the private room.

Minutes later, Vanessa followed. Passing Lucien, she tapped his phone lightly. He glanced at the screen, and though it showed only one short message, his Adam's apple bobbed.

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he stood abruptly. "Christina, I need to make a call. Wait here. I'll be back soon."

Before Christina could respond, he walked out. Moments later, Vanessa trailed after him.

The ache in Christina's chest grew unbearable, twisting into something sharp and cold. But her expression remained smooth.

She vowed silently: If Lucien thought he could betray her without consequence, she would drag him into an abyss even darker than the one he'd cast her into.

Night fell, yet Lucien never returned.

The atmosphere grew uneasy, and one of the friends finally spoke. "Let's take Christina home. Lucien might be tied up with something urgent."

Urgent? Christina nearly laughed. What could be more urgent than Vanessa?

She said nothing and quietly left.

On the way out, she realized she'd forgotten her bag and returned to the private room.

Voices floated through the door.

"She's finally gone. Any longer, and I would've cracked. How does Lucien keep up the act with her?"