Chapter 24
Very few people knew she couldn't drink. Not in her last life, not even now . The only one who ever did … was Julian. That night in Aspenridge - after she'd downed half a bottle in front of him and blacked out - was the first and last time he'd seen her drunk. Nina stared at him now, stunned. A strange warmth crept up in her chest, uninvited. She opened her mouth, about to ask - but before she could , Julian tipped his head back and downed the drink.
TY chuckled and offered another." Impressive tolerance, Mr. Ford." Julian's eyes lingered on the next glass. He said nothing, just drank . Another came . Then another . And Julian kept drinking , wordless. Even Nina , who'd never really been part of the business scene, could tell - TY was deliberately pushing him . She frowned , hand shooting out to grasp Julian's wrist . " Excuse me , TY , but what exactly are you doing ? " TY smiled coolly." Isn't this how business works ?
Drinks for deals . " Nina's eyes darkened . Of course she knew drinking came with negotiation - but she'd always believed TY to be better than that . Disappointment twisted in her gut , and with every shot Julian swallowed , her admiration for TY burned out like a dying ember . She took the glass from Julian's hand . " Enough . I'll drink instead . " She knew full well - Julian had a weak tolerance . Always had . But just as she raised the glass , a slender hand pressed down on hers .
Julian's eyes met hers . Quiet . Intense . Then , he rose to his feet and turned to TY with a calm, flat tone." I'm afraid this deal's not going to work out . " Before Nina could even process it, he grabbed her hand and walked out . His grip was cold . Solid . She stared at his back in a daze , too stunned to pull away . Not until they reached the door did he finally let go . She blinked. "Didn't you come here just for him ? You-" Her words cut off as Julian staggered slightly, swaying on his feet. " Julian-!" She caught him instinctively, steadying his weight against her . His face was flushed from the alcohol . Her heart clenched . With no better choice, she hailed a cab and took him back to the hotel . Once there, she helped him onto the bed. Just as she turned to leave , he grabbed her wrist. She tried to wiggle free . No luck . She lightly patted his cheek .
" Are you actually drunk , or just faking it ? " His lashes fluttered , but he didn't reply . She stared at him in silence . Chapter 25 Julian had changed . Hardened . Sharpened . He looked almost the same , but he wasn't the man she remembered . Except for now . Only in this moment with his eyes shut and his defenses lowered - did he finally resemble the Julian Ford from before . Nina reached out , poked his cheek gently . His lips parted in a whisper . " Don't go . " Her breath caught .
Her gaze softened in spite of herself . She sat beside him and whispered , " Okay . I won't . " Outside, the neon lights of Eastbridge flickered against the hotel windows . And slowly , they faded - giving way to warm morning sunlight . Julian opened his eyes . His head throbbed faintly . Expected . He propped himself up and turned , only to find Nina curled up , fast asleep beside the bed . He froze .
Seven years ago , the memory hit him like a wave - graduation night , his first time getting drunk , ending up with alcohol poisoning . The next morning in the hospital , it was her at his bedside , crying her heart out . " You idiot . You don't even know how to drink - what if you'd died ? What was I supposed to do then ? " That was the first time someone had looked him in the eye and said , " Without you , I wouldn't know how to go on . " But in the end , he let her slip through his fingers .
Julian lifted a hand slowly , hesitating to brush her hair from her face . But just before he could , Nina stirred . She opened her eyes , groggy . He curled his fingers into a fist and drew his hand back . Clearing his throat , he kept his voice neutral . " Thanks for last night . " Nina yawned , stretching . " As long as you're okay . I'll head back to my room . ' She walked to the door . Julian suddenly spoke again , " You … don't have anything to say ?
" He said it casually , Almost too casual . But that tiny tremor in his voice made her stop cold . Her fingers tightened at her sides . In that moment , the scene overlapped with the hospital memory from seven years ago - him waking , her crying , the unspoken ache between them . She turned back with a smile . "No, Mr. Ford," she said softly . " What is there left to say between us ? "
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