When Julian mentioned Nick, Irene’s expression soured. “Don’t bring him up, you know I can’t stand him.”
“You can’t stand him, yet you watched a movie with him?” Julian clearly didn’t believe her.
“It was because of him…” Irene almost blurted out the rest but quickly shut herself up, thinking better of it.
“What about him?” Julian asked.
“When did you start caring so much about me? You should spend more time worrying about your own Little Bunny, or she might get snatched away,” Irene hinted pointedly.
“Anyone trying to snatch her from me would have to see if they’re capable first,” Julian snorted coldly.
Irene glanced at him and then at Aurora. “Then why are you being so sneaky?”
“It’s like this…” Julian recounted the previous events to Irene, who would never have imagined Julian going to such lengths for her if she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes.
“You say you’re tired? After all the trouble you went through to win her over, you’re still fussing over her like this,” Irene mocked, noting that this was quite out of character for Julian.
“It’s precisely because she was so hard to get that I value her more. Since you’re here too, Irene, why don’t you go over there and keep an eye out for Eric’s sneaky moves?”
Seeing Julian’s cautious demeanor, Irene felt a bit helpless but was glad she wasn’t new to knowing this man.
She knew all too well how much he had done for that woman over the years.
“Alright, alright, I’ll go,” Irene conceded. “Jules, I know a good psychiatrist, do you think you should…”
“No need, Irene, I’m not sick!” Julian cut her off abruptly.
“You’re even wary of her cousin. If that’s not a severe psychological issue, what is?” Irene said seriously.
“Irene, keep talking like that, and you’re going to lose me. Quick, that scoundrel is coming over, hurry up!” Julian hastily pushed Irene out.
Irene reluctantly went along, thinking she might as well help him one more time.
“Little Bunny, what a coincidence, waiting for Jules to watch a movie?” Irene sashayed over to Aurora, looking every bit the actress.
Aurora hadn’t expected to run into Irene there. Having been greatly helped by Irene before, she was quite surprised to see her.
“No, Julian is waiting at home for me, I’m just meeting some friends. You’re here to watch a movie too? What are you watching?”
Her response was honest. This was actually a probing question from Irene, who knew if Aurora had something to hide, she wouldn’t answer so freely.
“Me? Just looking around, heard there’s a horror movie on,” Irene said, already aware from Julian what Aurora was there to see.
“We’re here to see a horror film too, it would be nice to watch it together.” Perhaps because Julian respected Irene so much, Aurora subconsciously liked her and was willing to get closer.
“Sure, today the cinema has been booked out by Nick, you probably won’t be able to get in, but I’ll go to the restroom first, wait for me, I’ll talk to him when I get back.” Irene walked away slowly after speaking.
“Okay.”
Soon enough, Eric returned. “The cinema’s been booked today, just give me a moment, I’ll make a call.”
“No need, it’s my friend who booked it. They’re here for the same movie, we can just go in,” Aurora informed him.
“Your friend?” Eric’s eyes scanned Aurora thoughtfully as they moved back and forth across her.
“Look, here she comes.” Aurora waved at Irene. “Irene, this is my cousin…”
Irene flashed her trademark foxy smile. “Little Bunny, I know him, the financial manager from Montgomery Group.”
Clearly, Irene, who was well-versed in the ways of the world, recognized Eric immediately.
“And these two…” Aurora pointed to two people approaching. “This is Mr. Gilpin and his girlfriend, Bella.”
When Irene heard the words ‘his girlfriend’, she gave the couple a meaningful look. “Mr. Gilpin, we meet again.”
Although Aurora had been out in the world for three years, she still lacked the shrewdness of these seasoned players.
“Irene.” Jason’s expression changed, clearly having had dealings with her before.
“Since everyone knows each other, let’s all go see a movie together,” Aurora suggested, not understanding why everyone’s expressions became tense after Irene arrived.
“Irene, come here.” Just as the situation became awkward, a cold voice rang out, its mere four words seeming to come from a lofty place, untouchable.
Aurora turned and saw a tall man radiating cold air, his handsome face expressionless.
She had seen that same expression on Julian three years ago on the night she ran into him; he had looked at her just as coldly.
This must be Nick, as chilling as the rumors suggested.
The already awkward situation turned even more frigid with Nick’s arrival.
It was Aurora’s first meeting with Nick, and she was intimidated by the strong aura he emitted; merely standing there, no one around dared to speak.
Nick’s gaze did not stray from Irene; although they were acquaintances, he did not even bother to greet her, his eyes fixed on her the entire time.
This woman took so long in the restroom, he even thought she had run off again!
He remembered the message he had read earlier; he couldn’t be too overbearing. Nick added, “The movie is about to start.”
For someone as authoritarian as he was, who typically only issued commands, voluntarily explaining himself was unprecedented.
“Didn’t you see I was talking to Mrs. Barnet? Here are a few of her friends; let’s all go watch the movie together.”
It was unclear whether Irene did it intentionally or not, but she deliberately emphasized ‘Mrs. Barnet’, which sounded very grating to Eric.
Nick withdrew his gaze from them. “Then let’s all go in together.”
Their steps were heavy, and none had happy expressions, but since the words were out, there was no taking them back.
Characteristically a loner, Nick was not one for greetings.
“Rory, sit here.” Upon entering, Eric seized the opportunity to interact with Aurora.
“Sit here.” Nick chose his preferred seat and patted the seat next to him.
The two were seated far apart. He had hardly managed to get Irene to come out for a movie, and now so many inopportune people had interrupted their rare date, leaving him in a very bad mood, his aura as cold as ever.