Axius Somerville felt a little depressed; he always thought he was quite strong from daily exercise, yet he couldn't even push a man away.
Quiana Sutton wasn't helping him now, so he resignedly picked up the juice and took a sip, replying with a hint of anger: "I've finished drinking, you should let go."
Julian Haworth still didn't release his grip, instead, he played with the U-disk in front of Axius Somerville, smiling: "Tell me what's inside, and I'll let you go."
Axius Somerville was a top idol of the new generation, with no apparent link to Quiana Sutton. The two met secretly at North Star, and now he seriously suspected that Quiana was cheating on Durrell Landon.
Even though he still felt uneasy, since he had caught them in the act, there was no way he would let Axius Somerville go easily.
Axius Somerville's gaze fell on Julian Haworth, who was tossing the U-disk, and he instinctively touched his pocket: "When did you take it?"
"Just now. If you don't tell me what's inside, I won't return it to you."
Because the other was Quiana's bodyguard, he didn't hide anything.
"Quiana wrote the composition and lyrics for me."
Julian Haworth: "???"
Though he wasn't a fan of Axius Somerville, he had at least heard several songs. He once joked with Charles Foote, saying if he were a woman, he'd go crazy over Axius Somerville.
His voice was indeed unique, but what attracted him more were the compositions and lyrics.
A pervasive madness that lures you into hell, chilling to the bone, yet irresistibly compelling.
And now he was told the compositions and lyrics were written by the woman he despised the most?
In that moment, his emotions were so complex that his past flashed before his eyes like a cycle.
To like Axius Somerville's songs meant liking Quiana Sutton, something he'd never admit even in death.
Axius Somerville only found the bodyguard strangely odd, took advantage of his distraction to retrieve the U-disk, and didn't dare put it back in his pocket, gripping it tightly before slipping away.
It was Quiana Sutton's first time seeing Julian Haworth look so bereaved: "You make it hard for me not to suspect you harbor inappropriate feelings for Axius Somerville."
Julian Haworth: "..."
Indeed, he and Quiana were incompatible; her random words could easily provoke him.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking? How could I have inappropriate feelings for Axius Somerville?"
Quiana caught the eye of Charles Foote nearby, who hadn't spoken yet, and an ambiguous glint appeared in her cold gaze. She smiled a bit indifferently:
"You two always showing up together really makes it hard not to wonder."
Charles Foote: "!!!"
Getting shot while lying down probably describes him.
Julian Haworth was so angry he laughed. Suddenly rolling up his sleeves, he leaned forward: "Why don't I prove my sexual orientation to you?"
His hand hadn't yet touched Quiana when a cold voice suddenly came from the door:
"What are you doing?"
Everyone instinctively looked toward the source of the voice, seeing a figure standing not far away, half in sunlight and half in shadow, a presence as vivid as the deepest ink, so profound it was chilling.
Oliver Gale: "???!!"
He saw Julian Haworth seemingly trying to push Quiana Sutton down, while Charles Foote didn't stop him.
His head immediately hurt.
Upon seeing Durrell Landon, Julian Haworth instantly came to his senses, hurriedly letting go and quickly explaining: "Durrell, please don't misunderstand."
Quiana Sutton acted as if she didn't see Durrell Landon's anger, smiling slightly:
"Misunderstand what? Weren't you about to prove your sexual orientation to me?"
Why did these words sound more ambiguous the more they were spoken?
Julian Haworth's head was spinning, urgently explaining:
"Please believe me, Durrell."
Durrell Landon didn't respond to his words, simply locking his gaze on Quiana Sutton not far away.
Her expression was one of indifference, a rebellious look under the dim light, seemingly high above yet exuding a strange aura of decay and depravity.
It was as if she was wearing a mask, traversing this world, untouchable by anyone's heart or emotions, not easily ensnared by the mundane. She maintained a detached clarity.
Despite her having a demeanor he disliked, she somehow had a magnetic power, easily noticeable in a crowd.
As he looked at Quiana, she returned his gaze momentarily but soon shifted her focus away.
Her expression was minimal, but in that instant, he suddenly felt a surge of desire. He longed to see her eyes burn with yearning for him, envisioning a captivating sight.
Durrell Landon said nothing, and Julian Haworth didn't dare continue speaking, sitting quietly next to Quiana Sutton.
Oliver Gale sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly suggested: "Durrell, let's find a room to talk, let's not be a public spectacle."
Julian Haworth gratefully glanced at Oliver Gale, nodding fervently.
Oliver Gale ignored him, turning to Quiana Sutton:
"Why don't you join us, Su girl?"
She extinguished a cigarette in the ashtray, speaking leisurely: "I'm not interested."
Oliver Gale remained good-natured:
"Su girl, grant me a little face?"
...
Quiana Sutton didn't intend to make things difficult for Julian Haworth. After entering the room, she sat to Oliver Gale's left, idly fiddling with her nails.
Oliver Gale noticed Durrell Landon's gaze fixed on Quiana Sutton and kicked Julian Haworth, signaling him to explain quickly.
Julian Haworth snapped out of it, explained everything that happened earlier, tearfully omitting the part where he had indeed lost his mind, genuinely contemplating proving his sexual orientation to Quiana.
"Durrell, you must believe me, I truly did nothing wrong. Besides, with Knight Tamworth around, it's impossible for me to really do anything inappropriate."
The more he spoke, the softer and humbler his voice became.
Durrell Landon neither confirmed nor denied his words, suddenly standing and gradually walking up to Quiana Sutton, lifting her chin to force her to look at him, his tone slightly cold:
"Before we're divorced, you're my wife. Naturally, I won't do anything to you, but if you really cuckold me, your lover will end up doomed."
Julian Haworth inexplicably felt his head tremble.
Quiana Sutton frowned slightly, then did something unexpected to everyone present.
She grabbed his wrist, flung him onto the sofa, and before anyone could react, she leaned in and pressed her foot on the soft sofa, her right hand already at his neck.
"Are you threatening me?"