The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 117

The gentle male voice drew closer. Julian Young, dressed cleanly in a white casual suit, fixed his tender, unwavering gaze on Claire.

"Claire," he stopped in front of the booth. "Promoting Luna Atelier again, I see."

"The Iridescent Prism Silk is taking the industry by storm right now. Everyone's talking about how impossible it is to replicate, even if you manage to source the raw materials. Your vision is as brilliant as ever!"

Only after his shower of compliments did Julian feign sudden realization.

Turning his head toward the imposing man beside her, he flashed a polite, shallow smile.

"Ah, Dr. Zimmerman is here as well."

His smile remained fixed, but his eyes flashed with a competitive, sizing-up glint that only another man would understand.

Julian had figured it out during their brief encounter back at Westhaven Village.

The look this supposedly disciplined doctor gave Claire was anything but platonic.

But so what?

He and Claire were on the exact same wavelength, sharing a world of common interests. There was no way a younger, passionate guy like him could lose to this rigid, old-fashioned stiff.

Miles set down the silk he was holding and gave Julian a curt nod in response.

Unfazed by the frosty reception, Julian's smile grew even more radiant. He stepped forward, seamlessly wedging himself between Miles and Claire.

"Claire, you've been working so hard. You must be exhausted."

Julian's tone was coaxing, though out of the corner of his eye, he monitored Miles's every twitch.

"I've booked us a table tonight at The Emerald Garden. It's the place you loved in college. Will you do me the honor? I could use some of your brilliant design advice."

Julian deliberately emphasized his words.

It was a calculated reminder to Miles: he shared a long, meaningful history with Claire that this older man could never touch.

Miles stood perfectly still in absolute silence. His brows knit together in stark displeasure, his jaw and lips locked tight. The temperature around him seemed to plummet.

Claire took it all in. She understood Miles far too well.

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