Chapter 6: The Secret in His Heart

"Mia."

On the other end, Julian's voice trembled just a bit.

I pressed my lips together, and under the gossip-hungry stares of my friends, said coldly, "Julian, I'm serious. Let's get a divorce."

Right then, I felt like there should be some dramatic background music.

But after saying it, my nerves went haywire.

Before Julian could answer, I hung up fast.

After Julian left, he smoked several cigarettes in the hallway before returning to the private room. With a cold face, he picked up his coat from the sofa.

"Something came up at the company. I have to go."

He wanted to go find me and talk.

Sam walked over, grinning, and patted Julian's shoulder. "Don't go. Don't you want to know where Mia is? How about I take you there?"

Julian hesitated, but still followed Sam.

Just as they reached the door of the private room across the hall, they heard loud music and a familiar voice through the crack.

"Sis, come catch me!"

……

Julian's eyes reddened.

Playing this wild?

Julian almost kicked down the door, but stopped when he heard the voices inside.

"Are you serious? Julian really has a white moonlight?"

My head was spinning, hugging my knees and crying. My mind was full of scenes from those novels I read last night.

"Of course it's true! He's staying chaste for his white moonlight. In the future, he might even hit me for her. He's a jerk. If I'd known, I would've married the Miller boy next door. He's cute, too. Why aren't you all saying anything?"

I looked up with teary eyes, annoyed.

A man's tight, frustrated voice sounded from behind me. "Really?"

I froze. My girlfriends and the handsome bartender immediately retreated to the corner with a bowl of popcorn.

I turned my head. It was a stunned Sam, and Julian's handsome face, tinged with anger.

Sam, catching my gaze, shrank and squatted among my girlfriends, grabbing a handful of popcorn from Jess.

I sobered up fast. What did I just do?

Never reading romance novels again.

"When did I ever hit you? Hm? Where did this white moonlight come from? Mia, explain. And that slap last night."

The others gasped, eyes wide.

I dug my toes into the floor, and in this situation, could only pretend to sleep. It's my best skill since childhood—playing dead. But in front of my friends, it's a bit much.

They looked at me with mock disdain, clapped their hands, and left to give me some face.

After everyone left, Julian sat beside me. "They're gone. Stop pretending."

……

I reluctantly straightened up and sat properly.

"Tell me, what's with the slap last night? And this 'white moonlight'—what is it?"

I felt super guilty. I tried to throw myself into Julian's arms, using my supposed drunkenness as an excuse.

He paused, sighed, but still reached out and caught me.

I kept my mouth shut, no matter how many times he asked.

He switched gears: "That Miller boy next door—I remember, he's only seventeen, and you're twenty-four. Already thinking about robbing the cradle?"

I said nothing, still playing dead in his arms. But after hearing that, I was speechless for a moment.

Who knew Julian had such a sharp tongue?

But Julian smelled so good. My face got even redder.

Julian clearly had no clue how to handle me. Seeing me turtle up, he said in a deep voice, "Come home with me. And don't mention divorce again."

A weird joy bubbled up inside me.

"Mia, don't forget we're in an arranged marriage."

That was like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head.

Yeah, an arranged marriage.