Fangs Behind the Smile
The mont Evan stepped inside, the room changed. Not loud, but sothing subtle - like a held breath finally released.
Just past the door he ca to a halt.
Beside the desk stood Charlotte Bonds, spine rigid, eyes cutting through the air. Opposite, Julian D’Aurelius lounged - loose limbs, half-smile - as if interviews were just casual chats after midnight.
Evan’s eyes instantly locked onto Julian.
That bastard.
Why is he with Charlotte?
The temperature in the room seed to drop by a degree.
Julian felt it imdiately—the weight of that stare. He cleared his throat lightly and shifted his gaze to the side, pretending he hadn’t noticed.
[Why are you staring at ? Think I’m here to steal Charlotte from you?]
[Damn stud horse, do you think all the beauties in the world belong to you?]
Charlotte’s brow twitched.
There it was again. That inner voice. Calm. Mocking. Unfiltered.
She turned her head sharply and glared at Julian.
What is this guy mumbling about now?
Julian blinked innocently. "Officer Bonds?" he said lightly.
Charlotte ignored him and looked back at Evan instead.
"What’s wrong?" she asked evenly. "Are you here to file a report?"
Evan’s lips curved into a polite smile, but there was stiffness in the corners.
"No."
A faint embarrassnt flickered across his face before he masked it with a bitter smile.
"I’m here to visit a friend of mine who’s been arrested by you."
[Haha. The wild dog’s owner has arrived.]
Julian gloated silently from the side, lowering his eyes to hide the amusent threatening to surface.
Charlotte heard it.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pen she was holding.
"Who is your friend?" she asked, voice colder now.
The goodwill she had briefly extended toward Evan after their previous encounter thinned like smoke in the wind.
Hanging around criminals.
What exactly was he?
Evan noticed the shift in her gaze—the subtle frost forming there. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"His na is Bear," he said.
He chose the na carefully. Calm. Direct.
As soone experienced in winning won over, he knew today’s move was risky. Associating himself openly with a suspect would absolutely harm his image in her eyes.
But Bear was one of his core subordinates.
As the leader of the Obsidian Wing, he couldn’t abandon him.
If he let Bear fall without resistance, what would the organization think?
Return to Europe empty-handed, having lost a general in his first dostic campaign?
Unacceptable.
Charlotte’s expression darkened imdiately upon hearing the na.
The hostility in her eyes was no longer subtle.
"What’s your relationship with him?" she asked. "He is currently a suspect."
Evan inhaled slowly.
"He’s my employee," he said at last. "And I’m the boss of Bear Group."
The words were spoken calmly, but the room seed to vibrate with the weight of the revelation.
Julian raised his brows slightly.
Oh? So you’re stepping out from behind the curtain now?
Charlotte, however, showed no sign of being impressed.
Status ant nothing to her.
Even if the emperor himself walked into this room, he would still need to follow the law.
"The nature of his cri is severe," she said coldly. "No visits are allowed at the mont. You should go back."
Evan’s composure cracked just a little.
He stepped forward half a pace.
"Officer Bonds, let explain. If Bear really committed a cri, I’d be the first to report him."
His tone sharpened.
"But he’s innocent in this matter. He just took over Lunar Citadel a few days ago."
His gaze slid toward Julian.
"The previous owner of Lunar Citadel is this Young Master D’Aurelius. He’s the one you should be arresting."
Julian’s eyes widened theatrically.
"What does this have to do with ?" he said quickly, spreading his hands. "I wasn’t involved. Officer Bonds has already investigated. I’m innocent."
[Damn it, what does this have to do with ?]
[Stupid Obsidian King, don’t you dare pin this on . I didn’t kill anyone at the hotel.]
[If anyone should be arrested, it should be you. You staying in this world only makes rice more expensive.]
[Damn... speaking of which, you and Bear are in cahoots. Charlotte better not actually help fra .]
Charlotte’s jaw tightened.
She really wanted to punch him.
In cahoots?
With him?
They had barely spoken properly before tonight.
Framing an innocent person was sothing she would never do.
Her gaze snapped back to Evan.
"I don’t need you to teach how to do my job," she said, each word clipped and precise. "The current legal representative and person in charge of the hotel is Bear. So I arrested him."
Her eyes were unwavering.
"This investigation follows evidence. Not personal preference. Not wealth. Not background."
A brief silence settled between the three of them.
Evan’s smile faded.
For a heartbeat, sothing colder surfaced beneath his calm exterior—a glint of pressure, of authority used to bending situations to his will.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"So you’re saying," he said quietly, "that regardless of what happened before the transfer, you’re holding him fully responsible?"
Charlotte t his eyes without flinching.
"I’m saying," she replied, "that right now, he is the responsible party under the law."
Julian leaned back in his chair, watching the two of them like it was a live drama performance.
[Oh ho. Look at that tension.]
[If this were a novel, this would be the part where sparks fly and I get sidelined.]
[No thank you. I’ll stay alive instead.]
Charlotte shot him a sharp look again.
He gave her a sheepish smile.
Evan noticed the exchange.
His eyes darkened subtly.
Why does it feel like there’s sothing between them?
No.
Impossible.
He suppressed the thought.
"Officer Bonds," he said, voice lowering, "I hope your investigation remains fair."
Charlotte didn’t blink.
"It will."
The air in the room felt heavy now. Charged. Like thunderclouds gathering but not yet breaking.
Julian finally stood up slowly, dusting imaginary lint from his sleeve.
"Well," he said lightly, "since I’ve already cooperated, I suppose I should get out of your way."
He glanced at Evan briefly.
Polite smile. No warmth.
Then he turned to Charlotte.
"Don’t work too hard, Officer Bonds. Dark circles don’t suit you."
Her lips flattened.
"I’ll manage," she replied coolly.
Julian walked past Evan on his way out.
For half a second, their shoulders almost brushed.
Two n. Two worlds. One city.
Julian didn’t look back.
But inside—
[This is only the beginning.]
And behind him, Charlotte stood between them, eyes cold, heart steady.
The storm over Valemont was just starting to take shape.
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