Chapter 2 Are You Following Me

Baylee hadn't anticipated her encounter with her husband to unfold like this; the sight of Julian nearly made her trip.

A wave of panic washed over her as she recalled her earlier flirting behavior.

Julian's imposing silhouette cast a shadow that engulfed her entirely, making her feel trapped. She shivered, instinctively stepping back to create distance between them.

Seated on the sofa, Julian rested his chin in his hand, giving Baylee a chilly gaze.

Under his stare, fear crept into Baylee, weakening her knees. She parted her lips, debating whether to disclose her identity and inform Julian that she was the woman he was about to divorce.

The thought alone terrified her, much less the act of speaking it.

His intense gaze turned seconds into what felt like an eternity.

As Baylee mustered the courage to speak, the ringing of Julian's phone shattered the silence.

He glanced at it and dismissed her with a frosty command. "Leave, this is the last time I'm telling you."

Her heart racing, Baylee didn't dare linger and fled as quickly as she could.

Julian remained impassive until she was out of sight, then he attended to his call.

"Julian, what's the status of the divorce?" It was his mother, Rita Lewis, pressing him on the other end. "You must expedite. That woman cannot remain a part of our family."

"I'm aware," Julian responded coolly. "The lawyer's on it. No need to press me."

He then hung up, straightening his suit's crumpled collar.

He found himself glancing the way Baylee had gone, frowning as he fought to quell the unusual turmoil within him.

The following afternoon, with eyes rimmed by dark circles, Baylee headed towards the Lewis Mansion.

Haunted by worry and regret following her encounter with Julian at the bar, she had hardly slept, troubled by thoughts of how he would react upon discovering her identity as his wife.

Despite preparing herself for numerous outcomes and steeling her resolve, Baylee couldn't shake off her nervousness when the moment of their official meeting arrived.

Driving with her mind in a whirl, Baylee's average skills betrayed her as she neared the Lewis Mansion, resulting in her car colliding with the Ferrari before her.

Panic seized her.

Facing financial ruin, she knew the cost of this mistake would be astronomical.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a knock on her window snapped her back to the present.

Startled, she hurriedly rolled down the window.

"Sorry, I..." Her apology was cut short.

She hadn't expected Julian to be the one standing there.

Her heart plummeted.

Julian, momentarily taken aback, quickly masked his surprise with a scowl.

Baylee realized he must have recognized her from their unfortunate encounter the night before, likely harboring a grave misinterpretation.

True to her fears, Julian's next words dripped with scorn. "Are you following me?"

Resigning to her fate, she exited the car to clarify.

"I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't following you. Last night was a misunderstanding," she hastened to explain, her gaze shifting between the damage on both cars.

Her vehicle bore the brunt of the collision, while Julian's Ferrari sported a significant dent.

The potential cost made Baylee feel despair, doubting her savings would cover the expenses.

"A misunderstanding, you say?" Julian's disbelief was evident. "What are the odds that we bumped into each other again so soon, huh?"

"I'm telling the truth!" Baylee insisted, anxiety heightening as she saw his skepticism. "I mistook you for a gigolo last night because I was drunk. I..."

Her voice tapered off, realizing her words only fueled Julian's anger.

For someone of Julian's stature, nothing could be more insulting than being mistaken for a male escort by a stranger.

Baylee refrained from further explanations, fearing it would worsen the situation.

She decided to come clean about her identity, knowing they were bound to cross paths later.

With a steadying breath, she looked up at Julian and began, "Actually, I'm your..."