Chapter 4
“Then why aren’t you pressing the button?”
“Because I’m getting off on the same floor.”
Ian had intended it as a jab, but Killian, already losing interest, answered casually.
Lowering his voice, Ian sneered,
“…I suppose the Tinelli Hotel’s reputation isn’t what it used to be.”
“Right? I agree.”
The obvious provocation—that the hotel’s standards must have fallen if someone like him was a guest—earned nothing more than a light laugh from Killian.
“You see, I own Celestial Heaven.”
Any criticism directed at the Tinelli Hotel sounded more like a compliment to him.
“Our hotel is better, isn’t it? Though a proper gentleman like you probably hasn’t set foot there before.”
At last, Ian failed to contain his irritation. The mask of the perfect gentleman cracked, and he glared openly.
Killian faced the childish hostility head-on.
Their gazes locked. After several long seconds, the violet eyes wavered and looked away first. Instead, Ian tightened his grip on the woman.
“Lucia. Come here.”
The overly protective gesture drew a silent laugh from Killian. It wasn’t exactly a gentle hand. Yet the woman didn’t so much as wince.
…Did she realize that only made her more noticeable? Killian Walker spoke to Lucia once more.
“Hey. If you really want to divorce your husband, want me to help?”
“You…! There are limits to how rude a person can be—!”
Ian’s protest died midway. The woman, who had been staring blankly into space, finally turned her head toward Killian.
“Finally looking at me.”
A spark lit up in Killian’s eyes. His smooth smile came free of charge.
“Looks like you’re tempted by my offer.”
“Lucia…!”
Ignoring her husband’s vehement objection, Killian looked only at her, as though the two of them were alone.
Her golden eyes were beautiful, reminiscent of molten gold. Yet they held no light. They were empty.
“Hm…”
They were eyes he had seen countless times in the back alleys where he had grown up. And yet though they were familiar, Killian’s smile slowly faded into a straight line.
After what felt like an eternity of eye contact, he bent slightly at the waist and smiled once more.
“Or… should I kill him for you?”
“Sir…!”
“I’m pretty good at that sort of thing.”
A heavy silence settled over the elevator.
The proposal was dangerous by any standard. If someone was trapped in a miserable marriage and seriously considering divorce, it was the kind of offer that could shake them, even if only for a moment.
Especially if they had a husband who showed them no respect.
Killian’s gaze drifted to Lucia’s arm. Dark blue bruises were surfacing beneath her pale skin.
Ian, still gripping her arm, seemed completely unaware that he was hurting her. That alone convinced Killian she would accept. Or if not that, at least give him a look asking for help.
After all, she had spent the entire evening rejecting her husband.
And yet—
“No.”
Her voice was light as a feather. But the refusal was absolute.
For the first time, the eyebrows of the man who had treated every childish provocation with easy amusement twisted slightly.
Before he could ask why—
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open with a cheerful chime.
“…”
Yet no one stepped out immediately. The smile hanging on Killian’s lips vanished. His mouth hardened into a flat line.
Disappointed, he leaned crookedly against the wall.
“I don’t particularly like being rejected.”
“What a shame.”
“I meant the offer.”
“And I meant the answer.”
At Lucia’s response, one face turned cold. Another lit up.
“Lucia!”
Ian let out a short cry of relief. The man who had been tense and irritable all evening suddenly looked triumphant.
Turning toward Killian, he offered a smug farewell.
“Then we’ll be going.”
He wrapped an arm around Lucia and guided her toward their hotel suite.
The stride of a victor was slow and relaxed.
And as if determined to make a point, he stopped in the middle of the corridor, directly within Killian’s sight, and kissed her.
While kissing Lucia, Ian looked straight at the man standing behind her. Their eyes met across the distance. It was an unmistakable provocation.
“Ha.”
Killian’s voice dropped.
“Looks like the type who’d spend all day reading books on a beach.”
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