chapter 4
The next morning, I was up early.
I stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room, holding up different pairs of earrings. None of them seemed right. I wasn’t going to a gala or a photoshoot, just a shareholders’ brunch at the Sullivan estate. Still, I found myself brushing my hair twice, three times. Smoothing the hem of my silk dress. Checking the mirror again.
And I heard it.
She’s always so calm. So polished. I wonder if she dressed up today because I’m going, too? No, don’t flatter yourself. It’s just Lily. She always looks like this. Graceful, beautiful, unreachable…
“Unreachable, huh?” I muttered under my breath, turning away from the mirror.
Michael stood at the door, dressed in a crisp navy suit, holding his tie like he wasn’t sure whether to wear it.
He looked at me, then quickly looked away.
“Do you need help with that?” I asked casually, nodding at the tie.
He hesitated, then handed it to me wordlessly.
As I stepped close to fix his tie, I caught the faintest scent of the same osmanthus cologne from before.
His pulse quickened under my fingertips.
God, she’s so close. She smells like flowers and something warm. Should I say something? No. Just breathe. Don’t mess it up. Don’t say anything dumb—
I tightened the knot firmly and stepped back.
“There,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Perfect.”
He stared for a second too long before coughing awkwardly and reaching for his watch.
We left the house in separate cars, as usual. But for the first time, I felt like we were moving in the same direction, even if we didn’t arrive together.
At the Sullivan estate, the brunch was already in full swing. My father greeted me with his usual measured warmth, kissing the top of my head in a way that had always felt performative rather than paternal. My mother fluttered over, adjusting the hem of my sleeve like I was still sixteen.
“You look radiant today,” she whispered, though her eyes were already scanning the crowd. “Where’s Michael?”
“He’s coming.”
“He should’ve arrived with you,” she said, her voice sharp under the sweet tone.
“He was tying his tie.”
My mother arched a brow, but said nothing. She never approved of the arranged marriage, even though she helped negotiate it. In her view, it had been a business maneuver. But secretly, I think she expected me to fall in love, to become some perfect socialite housewife.
Too bad I was already halfway to becoming the true power behind Johnson Group.
Michael arrived ten minutes later, his face blank as always. But his thoughts were anything but.
She looks beautiful. Did she wear that for me? No, she always looks good. Calm down. Don’t look too interested. Keep your voice level.
He nodded politely to my parents, then stood beside me, his hand brushing against mine as we walked.
Everyone watched us.
Some probably thought we were still the frigid couple they’d always known.
But I could feel it now, that warmth under the surface.
We weren’t just tolerating each other anymore.
We were circling something deeper.