Chapter 279

Seeing no hope in pleading with Julian, the two men turned their desperate eyes to Mr. Pembroke. "Mr. Pembroke, have mercy! We've always taken good care of you—"

Their veiled reference to bribes made the manager pale. He shoved them violently. "Shut your filthy mouths! Don't you dare implicate me!"

Security arrived just as the words left his lips. Mr. Pembroke pointed with trembling fingers. "Remove these troublemakers immediately."

Within moments, the men were dragged away, leaving only the sound of Mr. Pembroke's labored breathing in the tense silence.

As the manager scurried after the detainees, Adrian remained standing with his group. Dominic nudged him, murmuring, "Doesn't this Montclair fellow seem overly invested in your wife?"

Audrey stepped forward, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Julian, we're deeply indebted to you for your assistance today."

Dominic pulled her back roughly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why the theatrics? Adrian and I had everything under control before this white knight showed up."

Audrey glared at him. "Must you always be so boorish? Common decency demands we thank someone who helped us!"

Adrian said nothing, his glacial stare locked onto Julian. The two men stood motionless, tension crackling between them like static.

Finally, Adrian spoke, his voice deceptively calm. "Shall we talk?"

Vivian instinctively moved between them, her voice urgent. "Adrian, don't." Turning to Julian, she pleaded, "Please, just go."

Julian gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's alright, Vivian. Mr. Blackwood and I are old acquaintances. We simply need to... reconnect."

Opportunity For—

Julian led Adrian to a secluded alcove beneath the cherry blossoms. Adrian lit a cigarette with deliberate slowness, exhaling smoke before speaking. "Stay away from Vivian."

"She's not your property. You don't get to dictate her relationships." Julian's usual warmth vanished, replaced by a coldness matching Adrian's own.

"Relationships?" Adrian's laugh was dry as the smoke curling from his lips. "You're barely family."

Leaning against the tree, Julian smirked. "Funny how you disowned that connection the moment you took control of Blackwood Group."

Adrian's voice dropped dangerously. "Your choices have consequences. Hers don't. If you care for her at all, you'll walk away."

"I'd die for her. Unlike you, I don't have some manipulative ghost haunting my conscience. The damage you've done could cost her years of happiness."

Julian's tongue pressed against his palate, his lazy half-smile never reaching his eyes. The two men stood locked in silent combat, neither willing to yield an inch.