Julien felt an instant chill run down his spine. Though the bar was loud and chaotic, everything around him suddenly felt silent-as if he had been plunged into a vacuum.


    "Mr. Beckett values talent and has great admiration for you," Uri said smoothly. "When he found out that you and I were acquainted, he asked me to pay you a special visit and have a good chat with you."


    He gestured to the bartender for another drink. Then, he slowly pushed the ss toward Julien, a gloomy look flickering in his eyes. "Mr. Beckett also has his own research center in Mosgravia.


    "His n, on returning to Sna City, is to establish thergest and most advanced pharmaceutical research center in the country-one that will contribute to the advancement of human medicine.


    "He''s recruiting talented individuals from all over the world. He truly appreciates your abilities and sincerely hopes you''ll join him on this journey.


    "If you work with Mr. Beckett, not only will yourb''s financial issues be resolved, you''ll also-"


    A sudden, sharp slosh cut Uri off mid-word. Julien had whipped the drink up and dashed it across Uri''s face.<fnc22c> Chapters first released on Find1Novel</fnc22c>


    Color instantly leached from Uri''s face. He remained frozen for a beat, then his hands mped into fists on the table as he ground his teeth together, a silent, boiling rage taking hold.


    "I know exactly what Mr. Beckett is scheming," Julien said coldly.


    His fox-like eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sharp smirk. "He thinks that just because Jonah and I fell out, he can take advantage of it-drag me into his games, drive a wedge between me and the Taylors, and use me for his own ends?


    "He sure has a sense of humor. Looks like Justin isn''t just an asshole-he''s alsopletely delusional.


    "That drink was on me. Now stop hovering around. Can''t you see you''re annoying me?"


    With that, Julien turned and walked away from the bar with casual elegance, not once looking back.


    Uri red after him, his expression darkening. With a loud crunch, he crushed the ss in his hand. "Julien, I gave you a chance. Don''t me anyone else when you''re the one who chose your own downfall!"


    Julien strode out of the bar, his mind a whirlwind. The more he reyed Uri''s words, the deeper the furrow in his brow became. Whether Uri had been telling the truth or not, one thing was sure-Justin had set his sights on him.


    That was not a good sign. He needed to leave Sna City as soon as possible.


    Amidst the biting wind, his phone rang out yet again. Julien tucked his head low and drew his phone from his inner coat pocket.


    It was Jonah again. The persistent ringing pounded against his heart. It rang and rang-Jonah clearly wasn''t giving up.


    Julien pressed his lips together, hesitating. Then, with a firm tap on the screen, he answered.


    "What is it?" His voice was cold.


    "Dr. Lovce, is it convenient to talk? Am I bothering you?"


    Jonah''s voice was as gentle as ever, brushing softly past Julien''s ear. The only difference was the way he addressed him "Dr. Lovce". Distant, yet polite.


    A sharp pain stabbed through Julien''s heart. Bitterness rose in his throat, sour and stinging like lemon juice.


    "What is it? Just get to the point."


    "Sorry, I wouldn''t have called if it weren''t urgent." Jonah''s tone was polite-almost deferential. "My father is sick. He''s fallen into aa."


    With a shadow of worry in his eyes, Julien murmured, "I know. My aunt mentioned it to me."


    "Justin came to the hospital that day and gave Lyse a box of new


    medication. He imed it could help my father''s condition. It''s not a cure, but he said it might help him through the critical stage-and even speed up his recovery.


    "After all, if my father stays unconscious for too long, he could be brain-dead


    or fall into a vegetative state."


    "You actually dared to use Justin''s medication? Aren''t you afraid he might have, slipped something into it? How could you ept treatment from C out of sheer desperation?" Julien eximed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.


    "We ran tests," Jonah replied. "There''s no poison in it. I''m just not sure if it''ll have any long-term side effects."


    He sighed, his voice hoarse and weary. "That''s why I wanted your help analyzing it-to see what it really is, and whether it can actually help my father."


    "Got it." Julien paused, then said calmly, "Give the medication to Lyse and have


    her pass it to me as soon as possible-within two days at most."


    He chose that arrangement because he still didn''t want to see Jonah.


    After a moment of silence, Jonah replied quietly, "Okay."


    "That''s all, right? I''m hanging up."


    "Wait!" Jonah called out hastily.


    Julien didn''t respond, simply waiting in silence.


    Jonah''s voice came through, low and careful. "The wind''s howling through the phone. Are you somewhere outdoors?"


    "Yeah. So?" Julien replied, his tone still cold.


    "The temperature''s dropping tonight, and the wind''s howling out there. You''ve always hated the cold. Go home soon, alright? Don''t catch a cold." Realizing he might have said too much, Jonah quickly added, flustered, "Well, if you don''t want to go home yet, that''s fine. Just make sure to dress warmly, okay?"


    Julien ended the call without a word, the weight of Jonah''s concern too much to bear. He looked down at the screen, his vision clouding as emotion welled up behind his eyes.


    He remembered how Jonah used to hold him close on nights like this, wrapping him securely in his warm embrace. His hands would either be


    tucked into Jonah''s pockets O resting against Jonafl''s chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his


    heartbeat.


    "Sadly... those days are long gone."


    A bitterugh escaped him. Tilting his head upward to hold back his tears, he


    turned and walked briskly into the night.