Chapter 64

The woman sat gracefully on the couch in a pale ivory off-shoulder evening gown, casually chatting with the person next to her. When she heard the noise, she lifted her eyes slightly, gaze eventually locking onto Julian. "Julian, you're back." She spoke so naturally, it almost made Anna feel like this woman was actually Julian's wife. So this was a provocation. From the second she saw Vera, Anna instantly felt that sharp tension around her—it was like the air around the woman was crackling. Even though Vera didn't spare her a single glance, everything about her presence and words screamed passive aggression. If Anna had really been Julian's wife, they'd probably be gearing up for a verbal smackdown. Too bad she was just a fake, more inclined to kick back and watch the drama unfold. She smiled brightly, trying to pull her hand from his as a show of friendliness. But, well, reality had other plans. She managed the smile, sure, but Julian's grip on her hand only tightened. He practically