Through the Tinted Glass

Inside the Range Rover, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror—at the man seated in the back. His dark suit melted into the shadows. Even his face was an outline. His eyes, hidden deep in shadow, watched without blinking. Light caught on his crossed legs. His finger tapped. As if meditating.

Then, headlights swept across the lot. 

An Audi pulled in beside them. 

Vincent stepped out from the driver's seat and opened the rear door. 

It was Iyana. 

Vincent opened the Rover's door. 

She stepped in and saw Lian seated on the other side. 

She entered. 

His scent filled the dim-lit car.

And just as the door closed, he reached for her hand.

She looked at him. "Where are we?"

"The company parking."

She glanced through the window. They were underground.

"Where will we go?"

He leaned in, his voice low behind her ear. 

"Seatbelt."

Then he kissed her cheek. 

As she buckled in, Lian swiftly turned his gaze to the driver, whose eyes lingered on Iyana. At once, the man looked away, after watching the master's steady gaze, but edged with a quiet savagery. Without a word, he rolled down the screen.

Iyana looked up.

"Lian?"

"We're visiting Elder Jia."

She turned to him. His gaze was on the folder in his hand.

"The chairman?"

Lian glanced at her, catching the way her brows had drawn together.

"Don't worry," he said. "The old fox just wants a favor."

"What is it?"

He smiled.

"Well," he said. "Let him explain himself. He's the one asking the favor."

As her thoughts wandered, Lian rolled down his window and handed Vincent a thin folder through the gap.

"That's it for now," Lian said, his voice firm.

Vincent gave a single nod. 

He had known he wasn't needed at Elder Jia's house tonight.

The window slid back up in silence. 

As the car rolled forward, Lian's gaze shifted to Iyana.

"You look tired."

She leaned back against the seat. 

"I am."

"Get some rest," he said. "We've got a few more minutes."

His eyes returned to the windscreen.

Iyana watched him quietly. 

She wondered why Lian wanted them to visit the elder tonight. It felt like more than a courtesy, something about it seemed very important. His dark eyes were, as always, unreadable. But she knew this silence, the kind he kept when he was brooding—and had already made up his mind.

Her phone buzzed. 

Jairus had started a group chat—without Lyron and Raena. The messages were blowing up. Azalea still couldn't believe Iyana was the long-rumored girlfriend of the coveted eldest son of Gosuico. Jairus responded with a flood of laughing emojis. Solen chimed in, saying she loved Raena's face when she realized Iyana had landed the Gosuico heir. 

Iyana shook her head a little.

Lian, who had stared at the windscreen, turned to her.

"How were your friends?"

She looked at him.

"I told them about us. It was… a dramatic revelation."

"And?"

"Just shocked," she said with a smile. "Who wouldn't? And there's…"

Her smile faded. 

"You know what I mean."

Her voice became quieter.

"He's there too."

Lian's brow lifted.

"Oh?"

"He wouldn't do anything like that."

Lian smiled. 

"That's his virtue. Not doing anything. For once, I'm actually glad." 

His hand slid behind her, holding the edge of her waist.

 "He didn't then. He won't—now that you're his sister-in-law."

His face came closer. 

"What do you think?"

Her breath caught. "You're audacious."

"Yes," he drawled. "Unlike him, I dare."

His finger traced her neck, then lower, slow and deliberate.

She kissed him.

"You're dangerously close to sounding smug," she murmured.

He was breathless, eyes fixed on her mouth.

"Any man would be full of himself with a woman like you."

She just smiled. 

Then leaned into his shoulder, watching the drops of water drizzle down the window. 

Her thoughts drifted to Elder Jia, the current chairman of Gosuico Group. 

Lian had said the elder wanted to speak with her. 

Her heart pounded.