Compared to his indifferent and distant attitude back then, Julian now seemed even more ruthless.


    Roseanne bit her lower lip hard to keep from crying.


    Matteo hadn''t expected that bringing Roseanne here would not only fail to ease the tension between them but also put her in such an embarrassing and awkward situation. He felt a pang of guilt and regretted agreeing to Roseanne''s request to bring her along.


    He stepped forward to exin for Roseanne, "Julian, I''m the one who brought Roseanne here. I thought since you hadn''t seen each other in years, you must have missed each other...."


    Before Matteo could finish, Julian''s cold and piercing gaze stopped him mid- sentence. "Did you forget that I''m married? Why are you trying to involve an insignificant woman with me? If you''re so keen on matchmaking, you should apply to a matchmaking agency."


    Matteo''s face changed,pletely at a loss for words in the face of Julian''s harsh retort.


    He hadn''t forgotten that Julian was married; he just hadn''t taken it seriously.


    Julian himself treated Rosalie as if she were invisible, showing impatience whenever her name was mentioned. How could he expect others to take her seriously?


    Matteo couldn''t understand Julian''s recent odd behavior and wanted to say more, but Kaleb''s stern interruption stopped him.


    "Matteo, this is Julian''s private matter. You''d better stay out of it. If you meddle too much, you won''t even be friends anymore." Kaleb''s seemingly calm tone concealed a barely perceptible warning.


    Kaleb wasn''t sure if anyone else had noticed, but he could tell that Matteo''s feelings for Roseanne were more than just a childhood friendship.


    If Matteo, in a moment of confusion, tried to interfere with Julian''s marriage, Kaleb wouldn''t hesitate to be ruthless.


    Kaleb was a few years older than the rest of them, and they had always listened


    to him since they were kids. Now that Kaleb had spoken, Matteo dared not say anything further.