Tanya looked at the man in front of her, stunned for a moment, and then she recognized him. "It’s me." Julian’s tense body relaxed, revealing a smile, he was relieved, "I thought you wouldn’t remember me." "How could I not." Tanya smiled, happy as well at the reunion with an old friend. Tanya stood up and extended her hand towards Julian, "Long time no see." Strictly speaking, Tanya’s actual time with Julian only spanned the two months of the sophomore year summer break, during which she helped Julian create Z Times. Back then, she and Vincent hadn’t officially established a relationship. That summer, Vincent had gone to Europe, and due to the time difference, it would usually take him a day or two to reply to her messages. Tanya spent most of her time with Julian in the computer lab. When she was busy, she didn’t have time to contact Vincent, and wished she could stretch the day to 48 hours. In her memory, Julian was a bespectacled, taciturn yet unusually smart young man in college. He seldom came to school, reportedly because he had signed a contract with the school where he paid tuition and accommodation fees on time, but only appeared for exams. He kept each of his subjects at the passing mark, never had to retake exams, nor did he score extra points. Then one day, Julian appeared in front of her wearing a baseball cap, a single-strap backpack, a gray T-shirt, and faded jeans. He smelled of laundry detergent. Clean and fresh, yet cheap. He said, ’You’re Tanya, right? There’s a project, we can make money together, interested?’ As they interacted more, Tanya slowly realized that Julian was in dire need of money. On the days he didn’t attend school, he was out working to earn money, and as an eighteen or nineteen-year-old, his eyes always seemed heavy and silent. Tanya never asked about his past or where the money he earned went. Similarly, Julian never asked her why she often glanced at her phone waiting for someone’s message. Nor would he ask why a girl like her was so busy late into the night without a call from her family, or why she never mentioned going home. In those two months, Julian actually found a kindred spirit in Tanya. But at that time, he didn’t have the right to speak up, let alone pursue anything. Just living was already exhausting for him. But now, everything was different! Julian looked at the hand Tanya extended in front of him, and he took it with his large hand, "Long time no see, Tanya." After all these years, he finally stood before her again. At this moment, a spotlight hit the dance floor, electronic confetti blasts erupted on screens all around, and countless gold foil papers rained down, manifesting a scene of decadence. The host announced excitedly, "The masquerade ball begins now!" Just as Tanya was about to withdraw her hand, Julian’s hand reached up, holding onto hers unwilling to let go. "Ms. Sinclair, may I have this dance?" he asked, bowing gentlemanly in invitation. Tanya hesitated a bit and confessed, "I can’t dance." Apart from studying, she didn’t seem to excel at anything else. Julian was about to respond, but Daisy Bell, who had been watching for a while, couldn’t suppress her excitement and jumped in to assist. "Oh come on, a dance! It’s easy once you start!" She pushed Tanya towards the dance floor, winking at Julian, "Handsome Poole, take good care of my baby Tanya!" She had already realized that this handsome guy wasn’t here for her. Last time at Marinus Park, Julian wasn’t trying to chat her up, he had genuinely mistaken her for someone else because she and Tanya had switched clothes. Moreover, the way he looked at Tanya was clearly not the way one looks at an old friend... the tenderness and cautiousness in his eyes were almost overflowing. The slight interest Daisy had in Julian faded away in an instant. It’s hard to find a four-legged frog, but there are plenty of two-legged men. No man could compare to her baby Tanya. Julian naturally realized that Daisy was intentionally helping him, and he nodded gratefully at Daisy, "Thank you." Tanya figured that today was meant for relaxation and experiencing something new. Dancing for the first time would be part of trying new things. So, she winked at Julian and laughed, "Well then, Mr. Poole, I’m counting on you to guide me." Julian was, of course, eager to do so, and he smiled, "Alright." Then he took Tanya’s hand and led her to the dance floor. Daisy watched this scene with satisfaction. From their appearance alone, Julian and her Tanya were at least a moderately matching pair. She would wait to judge Julian’s character to see if he was a good match. Surely, he was better than that jerk Vincent Hawthorne. But there was no rush. Her baby Tanya, giving up on a crooked tree, was finally going to embrace the entire forest! Daisy displayed a motherly smile. Of course, she wasn’t idle either, lounging on the sofa with eight handsome male models attending to her. Tonight, Tanya wore a half-mask with rose gold patterns, her enchanting eyes peeking at Julian from beneath, filled with the clumsiness of a novice. "I really can’t do this, if I step on you, don’t get mad." Julian laughed, "Relax, don’t be nervous, just follow my lead. Put your hand on my shoulder." Tanya did as she was told openly, but it was Julian who was truly nervous. Her hand was so small and light, resting on his shoulder, making his body half-rigid from discomfort for no apparent reason. Next, his hand should rest on her waist... Julian Poole’s gaze settled on the woman’s slim waist outlined by the fitted red dress. So slender, so soft, perhaps he could hold it with just one hand. The waistline softly dipped inward, like the petals of a tender rose. Julian Poole’s eyes darkened slightly, cautiously reaching out, moving toward the curve of her waistline... "What are you doing?!" The man’s sudden angry voice erupted without warning. Tanya Sinclair hadn’t reacted before the man’s large hand grabbed her arm, yanking her fiercely. She was wearing high heels she wasn’t used to, causing her to lose balance momentarily and severely twist her foot. Tanya Sinclair’s face instantly turned pale from the pain. But she couldn’t care for herself, looking up to see Vincent Hawthorne’s furious profile and the fist he swung up. She cried out in shock, "Vincent, stop!" It was too late; Vincent Hawthorne’s fist landed heavily on Julian Poole’s face. Julian Poole had no defense, taking the blow directly. The dance floor was so lively, only a small group of people noticed the conflict happening here, and people quickly backed away, with some pulling out their phones to take pictures. It’s not uncommon for two men to fight over a woman in a bar. But a scene like today, where two handsome men fought for one woman, was unusual. "Julian, are you okay?" Tanya Sinclair worriedly tried to rush toward Julian Poole, but Vincent Hawthorne held her tightly. "I’m fine, don’t worry." Julian Poole comforted Tanya Sinclair, his gaze falling on her arm, reddened by the man’s grip. Julian clenched his fist, coldly warning, "Let her go, or I’ll make you leave lying down!" Vincent Hawthorne paid no mind to Julian Poole, staring intently at Tanya Sinclair before him. Looking at her anxious and tense demeanor, yet it’s not for him! Vincent Hawthorne felt the rage in his heart surge to his head, burning away his reason and restraint, his usual manners reduced to ashes. He abruptly tore off half of Tanya Sinclair’s mask from her face, his tone malicious and venomous. "What’s the matter, feeling sorry for your lover?" Tanya Sinclair angrily retorted, "Vincent, stop speaking nonsense! Just because you’re filthy doesn’t mean everyone else is as disgusting as you!" She was caught by him snuggling with another man on the dance floor, and now she finds him filthy?! Vincent Hawthorne laughed in rage, his gaze turning sinister and frosty, speaking each word with malice, aiming at her most sensitive and painful spots. "Tanya Sinclair, I’ve been wondering why you’ve been acting strange lately, turns out you have a boy toy outside! Then, does he pleasure you more than I do? You’re the mother of two children, how do you have the audacity to be so promiscuous?" He deliberately mentioned the two children, purposefully using the most venomous and cutting words to humiliate her! Seeing Tanya Sinclair’s flushed face, filled with surprise and anger, trembling in fury, he felt a dark satisfaction. When he’s uncomfortable, she must be in greater pain! "You’re truly a beast!" Julian Poole, enraged beyond control, rushed up, landing a heavy punch on Vincent Hawthorne. Vincent Hawthorne, originally still holding Tanya Sinclair, hesitated for a moment when Julian Poole rushed up, eventually releasing her for fear of hurting her by accident. Vincent Hawthorne had received heir training from a young age, paired with a long-standing habit of fitness, he was very skilled. He was just brooding over his bottled-up anger, now with Julian Poole advancing, he had someone to vent on! Vincent Hawthorne blocked Julian Poole’s swinging fist with one hand, then kicked out. "Stop!" Tanya Sinclair shouted out in distress, "I’m calling the police, Vincent!" The two men fought fiercely. Before long, Julian Poole was knocked down directly by Vincent Hawthorne with an over-the-shoulder throw. At this time, the bar owner had hurriedly rushed over. He didn’t recognize Julian Poole, but Vincent Hawthorne’s face was all too familiar. "President Hawthorne, please calm down! Don’t use force!" He braced himself to mediate but was forced back by Vincent Hawthorne’s furious aura. "Get out of the way!" "Vincent!" A woman’s icy voice poured over him like a bucket of cold water, Vincent Hawthorne’s lifted fist froze in mid-air. The music also stopped at this moment. Vincent Hawthorne stiffly raised his head to look at Tanya Sinclair, who had walked up to him. The bloodthirsty malice still hadn’t faded from his eyes, but upon facing the woman’s eyes full of disappointment and numbness, Vincent Hawthorne’s heart seized in pain. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⦿fire.net As if a hole was forcibly dug open, something fell out, and he could never grasp it back again. "Tanya..." His reason was finally reeled back, swallowing hard with panic, Vincent Hawthorne reached out, wanting to pull Tanya Sinclair closer, only to realize he couldn’t reach her. Julian Poole took the opportunity to overthrow Vincent Hawthorne, stepping forward to shield Tanya Sinclair, but she gave him a reassuring look. She voluntarily stepped out from behind him, walking up to Vincent Hawthorne. "As you said, I’m promiscuous..." Tanya Sinclair clenched her palm tightly before slowly releasing it. Her gaze bore no remaining affection or tenderness, only endless coldness. "Tanya, I didn’t mean it that way!" Vincent Hawthorne, dry-mouthed and tongue-tied, tried to explain, "I was just too angry earlier, I..." Tanya Sinclair interrupted him, word by word, striking Vincent Hawthorne’s face, "Even if I’m promiscuous, even if I’m a public woman, I don’t want you. If it comes to worst, even if I become a seller, I won’t sell to you!" Wasn’t he intent on slut-shaming her? She was determined to show him, these words could no longer hurt her! From now on, whether Tanya Sinclair is promiscuous or faithful, it has nothing to do with Vincent Hawthorne!