Chapter 128

"What the—?"

Before Vivian could react, Julian vanished after taunting, "Instead of lurking outside like some creep, why not come in and see for yourself?"

'That little bastard!' Vivian seethed internally. The password to Nathaniel's suite barely registered—she needed to escape. 'If Nathaniel and his secret lover catch me here, I'm dead!'

The expansive suite appeared deserted. Just as Vivian stood to flee, muffled voices drifted from the bathroom.

'Oh god, are they... showering together?'

The mental image made her throat tighten. 'Four years wasted loving a man who prefers... this? Unbelievable.'

Curiosity overpowered reason. Pressing her ear against the glass door—her exceptional hearing picking up Nathaniel's voice clearly through the running water.

"Playing games again? Where've you been this past year?"

'What the hell?' Vivian frowned. She envisioned Nathaniel cornering his elusive lover after a year-long chase.

Silence fell. The chilled glass warmed against her skin.

'Shit!' Vivian jerked back—straight into Nathaniel's glacial stare.

She forced a grin, waving awkwardly. "Fancy meeting you here!"

Mortification burned through her. The marble floor might as well open up and swallow her whole.

Nathaniel loomed over her, water dripping from his tousled dark hair. The white towel clinging to his hips accentuated every sculpted muscle, making Vivian's pulse stutter.

Her cheeks flamed as she struggled to maintain eye contact. "Wrong suite! Didn't mean to interrupt your... private time."

Boldness overtook sense. Rising on tiptoes, she peeked past him—then gaped. "You were talking to yourself?!"

"Leaving so soon?" Nathaniel blocked her escape, voice dripping frost. "After spying on me in the shower?"

"I didn't see anything!" Vivian protested, then cringed. 'God, that sounds worse.'

His smirk turned predatory. "Not satisfied?" In one fluid motion, he yanked her into the steamy bathroom. "Let's remedy that."