Chapter Five : The First Crack in the Ice

Julianne had barely settled into her small room when exhaustion hit her like a wave. The events of the day replayed in her mind—meeting Adrian, bonding with Liam, and feeling the heavy, cold atmosphere that clung to this mansion like a dark shadow.

She had expected the Kingston Estate to be grand. She hadn't expected it to feel so empty.

Letting out a tired sigh, she changed into a simple nightdress and stepped onto the small balcony attached to her room. The cool night air kissed her skin as she leaned against the railing.

The estate's gardens stretched before her, bathed in moonlight. The distant waves crashed against the cliffs, their steady rhythm filling the silence.

For a moment, it was peaceful.

But then she saw him.

A Man Lost in His Thoughts

Adrian Kingston stood near the fountain, his broad figure cast in silver light.

His usual polished look was gone—his black dress shirt was unbuttoned at the top, his sleeves rolled up. He had one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of dark liquid.

Julianne stilled.

He wasn't working. He wasn't issuing cold commands.

He was simply… standing there.

Alone. Silent. Still.

His sharp jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed on the fountain, but his mind was somewhere far away.

It was the first time she saw him not in control.

And for some reason, it made her chest tighten.

A Moment of Eye Contact

Julianne knew she should step back inside. Pretend she didn't see him.

But just as she turned to leave, Adrian's head shifted slightly.

His dark, piercing eyes met hers.

Julianne froze.

Neither of them spoke. The night stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

For the first time, his gaze wasn't full of cold indifference. It wasn't the look of a man irritated by her presence.

Instead, there was something else there.

A flicker of something unreadable.

Pain? Regret? Loneliness?

Julianne swallowed.

She had no idea how long they stared at each other, caught in a silent exchange neither of them understood.

Then, as if remembering himself, Adrian's expression hardened. His jaw tightened.

Without a word, he turned away and disappeared into the house.

Julianne exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath.

Her fingers gripped the railing.

What had she just seen?

Adrian Kingston was known for being ruthless, untouchable, and heartless.

And yet, for a fleeting second…

She had seen a man drowning in his own ghosts.

A man far lonelier than she had ever imagined.

And that realization made something stir inside her—something she wasn't sure she was ready to feel.