Julian Neal strode through the Aetheris Prime food court with his chest puffed out, feeling completely in his element.
Even after the public humiliation at college and the fact that he’d been forced to withdraw from that class with his subordinates because of a silly mistake involving the rat from the Lower Zone, Julian still maintained his unshakable arrogance.
He was there to meet his father’s contacts, but his attention was suddenly diverted by a familiar red glow that his eyes caught in the food court.
In the distance, at a reserved table near the hanging gardens, he spotted the vibrant red hair that haunted his dreams and ambitions.
Even without seeing the girl’s face, hidden by a mask and a wide-brimmed hat, Julian was absolutely certain it was Isabella Vance.
He had observed the proportions of her body with an unhealthy obsession for too long to be mistaken; her impeccable posture, the aura of authority she exuded even at rest, and the way the sunlight reflected off that white silk ensemble were hallmarks possessed only by the Vance Group’s Chief Heiress, or rather, the former Chief Heiress.
A victorious smile spread across Julian’s face. He thought fate was finally giving him a golden opportunity to erase the disaster of the last class.
He began to approach her, mentally rehearsing how he would turn this "coincidence" into the starting point for the relationship he so desperately craved, ignoring the fact that she openly despised him.
However, as the distance closed, Julian’s steps faltered.
He realized that Isabella wasn’t alone. Seated beside her, in a closeness that Julian had never seen Isabella allow anyone in her entire academic or social life, was a man.
The sight hit him like a punch in the stomach.
The man was extremely imposing, wearing a midnight-blue silk suit that exuded status and power.
His shoulders were broad and muscular, filling the expensive fabric with a muscular density that showed years of intense physical training, something Julian, with his body swollen from gym stimulants, recognized as superior.
The stranger exuded a cold aura that Julian couldn’t even fathom, how could Isabella be so close to someone like that?
What shocked Julian most was the physical contact: their shoulders were almost touching, and Isabella seemed relaxed, almost leaning toward the stranger, something she didn’t even allow her own brothers to do.
Julian felt a wave of injustice and fury bubbling up in his chest.
He had devoted months of effort, gifts, and flattery only to be discarded and humiliated, just to see Isabella Vance sitting so intimately with a mysterious stranger.
Surprisingly, even as he thought of the college rat responsible for his rejection, Julian’s mind couldn’t draw any connection between the Lower Zone beggar and the imposing young master before him.
The change was too drastic.
Lohan’s aura, once subdued and pale, was now vibrant and clearly superior.
The luxurious clothes reshaped the visual perception of his muscular build, and the black mask that covered only Lohan’s mouth revealed his beautiful black hair and blue eyes that shone with a confidence Julian would never dare associate with a resident of the Lower Zone.
Deciding that his status as a Neal still gave him the right to intervene, Julian forced a smile and approached the table, acting as if he were a close friend of Isabella’s."Isabella! What a wonderful coincidence to find you here at Aetheris Prime!" Julian exclaimed in a voice that tried to sound melodious but carried the tremor of jealousy.
"I was just commenting to my father on the excellence of the Vance Group’s new filtration projects. May I join you for a moment?"
Isabella, who until a millisecond earlier had been chuckling at a tease from Lohan, underwent an instant transformation.
As soon as she noticed Julian’s presence, the warmth in her golden eyes vanished, replaced by a deadly cold and displeased demeanor.
The Ice Queen returned with an intensity that made the temperature around the table seem to drop ten degrees.
Julian, in his self-centered blindness, didn’t even notice that she had changed; to him, she had always been distant, and he interpreted that as a charming challenge.
He tried to pull up a chair to sit closer, but Isabella’s voice stopped him like a crystal blade.
"Your presence was not requested, Julian Neal," Isabella said, her voice sounding cold, cutting, and devoid of any trace of familiarity. "This is a private meeting. You may leave before I decide that your intrusion is a breach of personal security."
Julian froze with his hand still on the back of the chair.
The disdain in her gaze made him feel like an insect about to be crushed.
He glanced at the man beside her, hoping to find a rival he could mock, but what he found was an abyss.
Lohan, who until then had remained silent, sipping his coffee, which by the way was quite tasty, finally looked up.
He didn’t say a word, but subtly activated his new Killing Intent and projected a small fraction of the predatory will he’d used to kill Oscar and the mercenaries, subtly saturating the atmosphere around Julian with the promise of silent death.
To Julian, it was as if the air in the food court had turned liquid and heavy.
An intense chill ran down his spine, and the survival instinct inherited from hundreds of hours of practicing his Uncommon Foundation screamed for him to flee as fast as possible.
The man in front of him didn’t just look attractive and imposing; he looked like a professional assassin disguised as an executive.
"I-Isabella... I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to interrupt personal matters." Julian stammered, his face turning pale as he took a step back, his arrogance now completely evaporated. "I... I have a meeting with the board of directors right now. It was just a courtesy greeting. Excuse me."
Julian turned and hurried out, nearly tripping over one of the chairs on the way, trying to maintain what remained of his dignity as he fled that table.
However, as soon as he was far enough away to breathe again, fear turned into a dark obsession.
He pulled out his cell phone and sent a priority message to his network of informants in Sector 1-A.
[Julian: Identify immediately who the man sitting with Isabella Vance at Aetheris Prime is. I want his financial history, the Elysium Base, and every citizenship record. Now!].
Back at the table, Lohan withdrew his Killing Intent and let out a sigh, watching Julian’s back disappear into the crowd.
"Well, Lisa... this fan club of yours is really persistent..." Lohan joked, feeling Isabella’s tension ease slightly.
Isabella snorted, adjusting her hat irritably. "He’s just a remnant of a system I intend to purge, Hayes. But brace yourself... Julian Neal is the kind of worm who burrows holes when he can’t climb walls. He’s going to investigate you, and as much as I hate to admit it, my resources aren’t enough to completely stop the Neal family’s investigation just by relying on my position as one of the heirs."
Lohan smiled beneath his mask, his blue eyes shining with confidence. "Let him dig, President. At the bottom of his hole, the only thing he’ll find is a hungry Slime."
Was Lohan worried about an investigation? Yes, obviously, but he wasn’t afraid of it. With the bunker Lisa had rented for him, he’d be completely safe at home, so he’d only need to worry when he went out, and by the time Julian even thought of acting, Lohan’s power would have grown even further.