LOGINTalia's response only made Quentin want her more. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold her close enough that the distance between them ceased to exist.Quentin had one hand pressed flat against her back while the other stayed on her front, and his broad frame enveloped her completely, making her feel impossibly small against him.Under the intensity of his kiss, Talia went limp in his arms. She let him take the lead, her eyes falling shut as she gave in to it.Everything he gave her felt good—intoxicating, even. It was nothing like Christian's carelessness and indifference. The way Quentin made her feel was entirely different, and she found herself slowly losing herself in it.Her hand, restless and bold, slid down his body.Quentin's entire frame went soft, like the ground had dropped out from under him.He couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her closer against him and pressed her back against the fitting room wall, lifting her into his arms as desire overwhelmed
Talia's voice sounded almost like a plea for help, and Quentin answered before the attendant even had a chance to react. "I'm right here, babe. What's wrong?"Talia's face burned even hotter. "The zipper's in the back, and I can't reach it. Could you ask the attendant to come help me?"One of the attendants opened her mouth to say that she was on her way, but Quentin was already ahead of her. He slipped through a narrow gap in the curtain and stepped inside before anyone could say another word.The attendant stood outside, slightly flustered, but took a few steps back to give them space. After all, she knew that Quentin was Talia's husband. A husband helping his wife with a zipper was hardly unusual.Talia had her back to the curtain and didn't realize that it was Quentin who had come in. She lowered the arms she had been straining behind her and said softly, "Thank you."She had thought that it was the attendant.Quentin stepped closer. His warm fingers brushed against her skin
Nancy turned away and left the boutique without looking back.But throughout the entire walk through the mall, she couldn't stop thinking about Julian. Christian didn't love her, and neither did Quentin.Julian and Connor, on the other hand, had always treated her well. Yet, the only kind of man Nancy wanted to marry was someone like Christian or Quentin.She was still lost in her own thoughts when she stepped outside and nearly walked right into Julian.He spotted her at the same moment. Unlike every other time they had run into each other, he wasn't alone. A beautiful young actress was at his side.Nancy recognized her from a wildly popular period drama that had turned the woman into a household name almost overnight. And now, here she was, on Julian's arm.Compared to this woman, Nancy didn't hold many advantages. She had a better education, sure, but the actress had a better figure, far more money, and a kind of effortless, girl-next-door charm that Nancy simply couldn't matc
Quentin walked off toward the formal wear section without sparing Nancy's crestfallen expression a second glance.He started at the first rack and methodically worked his way through, pulling gowns out one at a time to check the style and size. He was thorough about it, mentally weighing whether each color would suit Talia or whether the cut would be comfortable on her.After five or six dresses, he shook his head and put every one of them back.Nancy's gaze followed him the entire time. The way he handled everything himself, so careful and deliberate, made it painfully clear just how attentive he was when it came to Talia. No one else could come close.Why would a man like him fall for someone like Talia? What was it about her that had Quentin so completely wrapped around her finger?It wasn't just confusion Nancy felt, but genuine bewilderment. What did Talia have that earned her that kind of devotion? Perhaps she had something on him, some kind of leverage.Thinking about it t
Nancy's enthusiasm visibly faded. "I think I'm done for now. I'll wait until he's back before deciding."The attendant didn't push it. "Of course. Take your time looking around, and if anything catches your eye, just let me know."Nancy quietly said, "Sure."She had barely gotten the word out when Quentin's voice carried over from across the room, warm and unmistakable. "You look gorgeous, sweetie. That dress is perfect on you. It makes your waist look incredible."Nancy turned toward the sound without thinking and saw Talia standing before the mirror in a pure white gown. She wasn't wearing any makeup, but the natural flush across her cheeks gave her face a soft, luminous glow that made her features look almost sculpted.Talia stared at her own reflection, her cheeks growing warmer. The dress flattered her figure in ways she hadn't expected, and Quentin's compliment wasn't helping. On top of all that, her mind kept drifting back to what had happened between them earlier.Quentin
Christian stood frozen in place, his thoughts churning.It took him a long moment before he managed to pull himself together. His fingers curled into tight fists, his heart hammering against his ribs.When he looked back toward Talia and Quentin, they had already picked out a gown for her. It was a soft, airy piece in white with pale undertones.Quentin pointed to it and told the attendant, "Could you have her try this one on?"The attendant nodded with an eager smile. "You have wonderful taste, sir. Your wife is going to look stunning in this. It just arrived, actually. Brand new to our collection."Quentin chuckled. "My wife looks stunning in everything."The attendant lifted the gown from the rack while answering him. "She's a lucky woman, sir. One can tell how much you adore her."Quentin smiled warmly. "That's what wives are for, right? To be spoiled."The attendant pulled the fitting room curtain aside and handed the gown to Talia. "If you need any help at all, just call
Talia walked back to her car. After a few seconds of deep thought, she gritted her teeth and finally got in.Her hands gripped the steering wheel, and the coldness in her eyes seemed like it could freeze anyone who looked into them.In the next moment, she made a decision.With one hard push on t
Quentin kept spinning Talia around without any intention of stopping. She felt dizzy and was on the verge of throwing up.She reached out and tapped his shoulder. "Quentin, stop spinning. I'm going to throw up."Only then did Quentin halt his movements.When he set Talia down, he lost his balance
Quentin's words hit Willow right where it hurt.When Talia heard that, she spun around in anger. "Quentin, stop talking!"Lucas could understand Quentin's intention, but he feared it might backfire.Willow was still holding the knife, and Talia's blood continued to drip steadily onto the floor.
But Talia thought that even if she just cursed Felix out or slapped him, at least she'd be standing up for Willow.Seeing her cry her heart out, Quentin felt a sharp pang of pity. He gathered her into his arms and tucked her head against his chest before gently soothing her, "Trust me. He will pay







