A laugh escaped Juliet's lips.
"Vincent," she said, shaking her head in disbelief, "you really are delusional."
"These tricks won't work on me," he continued stubbornly. "Stop being childish and come with me."
Juliet's patience finally snapped. With both hands, she shoved him hard.
Vincent had clearly not expected it. He stumbled back two steps, surprise flashing across his face.
"Stop touching me!" Juliet hissed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Vincent quickly regained his footing after stumbling back from her shove. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as he steadied himself. Instead of getting angry immediately, he took another step toward her, his gaze fixed entirely on her face.
"You're still angry about what happened at the club," he said softly.
Juliet folded her arms tightly across her chest, putting another step of distance between them. "Of course I'm angry!"
Vincent stopped in front of her, close enough that she could catch the familiar scent of his cologne. His eyes lingered on her face for a moment before slowly dropping to the suit he was wearing. He brushed a hand over the expensive fabric as though only just remembering it.
"This suit..." he murmured, his voice lowering. "You bought it for me on my birthday."
He took another step closer, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he tried to soften her mood.
"Didn't you always want to see me wear it?" he asked gently. "Look, I'm wearing it now." He spread his arms slightly, as ifpresenting himself to her. "So now you know I do care about your feelings. Stop being angry already, hmm?"
There had been a time when that expression, that tone, would have made Juliet's heart race. Vincent knew exactly how attractive he was, and he had always been skilled at using that charm to get his way.
Unfortunately for him, that version of Juliet no longer existed.
Juliet simply stared at him, her expression unreadable.
For a brief moment, memories surfaced uninvited.
The countless stores she had dragged Amara through while searching for the perfect birthday gift. The excitement she had felt when she had finally found the suit. The way she had imagined his reaction and eagerly waited for the day he would wear it.
She had waited for months.
He had never touched it.
And now, after everything that had happened, he was wearing it to win her back.
The irony was almost amusing.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"You're right," she said quietly.
Relief immediately flashed across Vincent's face. His tense shoulders relaxed, and he reached out instinctively, as though he wanted to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Juliet took a step back before he could touch her.
The smile on Vincent's face froze.
Then Juliet smiled.
It was cold. Mocking.
"I regret buying it so much now," she said calmly. "Can you take it off right now and give it back to me? I think I wasted my money on an ungrateful dog."
