The moment Dorian saw L, he thought she hade looking for him and that she had regretted everything. After all, how else could they cross paths in a


    foreign country?


    A flicker of joy surfaced in his eyes-only to vanish as he noticed Michael standing beside her.


    The two suitcases in Michael''s hands-one white and one pink-made his blood run cold. That pink suitcase was unmistakably L''s.


    His gaze turned icy, dark, and suffocating like a murky swamp threatening to drown everything in its path.


    Michael, noticing Dorian''s stare, took a step forward, blocking L from his view. With a smug grin, he mouthed, "Your agent is mine now!"


    The tant provocation was like gasoline on fire. Dorian''s expression grew even darker, and he took a step toward them, fury surging through his veins.


    Was L deliberately trying to get under his skin?


    She knew he was here to audition for Rowan''s project. She had ignored his overtures and yed indifferent, pretending she didn''t care. Yet, here she was, apanying Michael-that man she knew he couldn''t stand.


    Every little thing she did seemed designed to push his limits.


    His mind felt like it was going to explode with rage, but Ryan quickly held him back. "Mr. ke, don''t act impulsively. Focus on the audition-don''t let these distractions get to you."


    Michael nced at L, who remained expressionless. He sighed dramatically.


    "I told you not toe, didn''t I? Seeing this jerk must''ve upset you. It''s okay, you don''t have to pretend in front of me. If you want to cry, just let it out. You''re not a celebrity-nobody will notice."


    L, however, was entirely lost in her thoughts. She had expected to run into Dorian, but not this soon. It was aggravating.


    Without hearing a word Michael said, she walked a few steps forward. Then, she turned back when she realized he wasn''t following. "Are youing or not?"


    Michael blinked. Her indifference was too convincing-it couldn''t be an act, could it?


    As they exited the airport, Michael stopped abruptly. "Am I still dreaming, or is that Mr. Mason over there?"


    L looked up, spotting Cole waving at them. She raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Kieran hadn''t mentioned he would be in the area on business.


    Michael leaned closer to her, lowering his voice. "L, have you met Mr. Morgan? He''s... intimidating."


    He struggled to find the right words to describe Kieran but eventually gave up.


    "Stick close to me, alright? Don''t be scared," he added, swallowing nervously. "Since when did I be so important that even the CEOes to pick me up?"


    In truth, Kieran wasn''t there for


    Michael. Concerned that L might have trouble finding suitable amodations, he had decided toe himself. Sitting in the car his cold amber eyes were fixed on Michael, who was leaning far too close to L.


    Michael shivered. "Why do I feel like someone''s staring daggers at me?"


    L nced at him, amused by his attempt to act brave while clearly rattled.


    As they approached, Kieran rolled down the car window, revealing his impably handsome face. His sharp features, high nose bridge, and piercing eyes made him seem untouchable as if the mundane world could not contact him. Cóntent


    Both Michael and L greeted him politely, "Hello, Mr. Morgan."


    Kieran inclined his head slightly. "Thank you for your hard work," he said in his usual cool tone.


    Michael stammered, "N-No trouble at all." He took a slight step forward, instinctively shielding L from Kieran''s overwhelming presence.


    Kieran noticed the gesture. With a nce, Cole immediately understood and opened the back door. "Ms. Hart, please take a seat in the back. Mr. Xavier, you can sit in the front passenger seat."


    Michael hesitated for a moment before stopping L. "Actually, why don''t you sit in the front? I''ll take the back.


    The thought of sitting next to Kieran


    for an extended period made him


    feel like he was stepping into an arctic tundra. He nced at Lifa with a self-sacrificing expression as if saying, "Better me than you."


    Before she could respond, Michael nudged her toward the front seat.


    Cole was surprised by his move.


    L, now seated in the front, felt a bit bemused. She wanted to tell him she wasn''t the least bit scared.


    "That''s my Uncle Kieran," was what she thought.