Anna’s breath hitched, her pulse stuttering—but the mont that familiar warmth enveloped her, her body lted into its embrace.
"Will," she whispered, her fingers desperately clutching at his arm as she twisted, trying to turn and face him.
A hushed murmur rippled through the room, whispers threading through the stunned silence like the rustling of dry leaves.
"William Stark? He looks so different—so much sharper than before!"
"What is he doing back in the country? Did you know he was coming back?"
"The stock market is bound to react once word spreads. His return could shake the entire business world!"
"And who’s that woman with him? His lover, perhaps? A new conquest? He’s always been quite the playboy..."
Eric inhaled sharply, his expression flickering with disbelief. William Stark. Of all places, of all tis—he was here.
His first instinct was to step forward, greet him properly, but the mont he saw how utterly focused William was on the trembling woman in his arms, Eric hesitated. Instead, he simply observed in silence.
anwhile, William tightened his hold around Anna, shielding her from prying eyes. One hand cradled the back of her head, pressing her gently against his chest, while the other moved in slow, soothing strokes along her back.
Simple gestures—yet to Anna, they ant everything.
The warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the clean, familiar scent of him... It was grounding, like an anchor in a storm. A sob tore from her throat before she could stop it, and then another. The floodgates broke, tears slipping down her cheeks in silent relief.
Her shoulders shook as she wept, but for the first ti in what felt like forever, she didn’t feel alone.
William leaned in, his breath warm against the crown of her head as he whispered, "Calm down. Everything is going to be alright. Just trust and follow my lead, okay?"
Anna gave the faintest nod, careful to keep the movent subtle. William then gently lifted her face from his chest, his fingers tilting her chin upward with a touch so light it was almost reverent.
"Goodness, what a crybaby," he murmured, his voice filled with playful affection. Before she could react, he began peppering her tear-streaked face with soft, teasing kisses.
"I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your voice ssages—I was caught up in an important eting. But the mont I heard, I rushed over. Were you waiting long? Did you get scared? Let make it up to you. Anything you want, just say the word. We’ll go shopping right away."
Before she could even find her voice to respond, William claid her lips in a searing kiss, one so fervent and unexpected that it sent her mind reeling.
Heat rushed through her, spreading from her flushed cheeks down to the pit of her stomach, awakening a sensation she hadn’t felt in so long.
She couldn’t believe it.
She was kissing William Stark.
No—William Stark was kissing her.
Passionately. Possessively. As if she belonged to him and no one else.
As if she were the only woman in the world.
"Feeling better now?" he whispered, his lips barely parting from hers, the words a breath against her skin.
Anna exhaled shakily, her warm breath mingling with his. She was utterly speechless, her mind spinning from the intensity of the mont, from the sheer force of the emotions he had stirred inside her with just one kiss.
William smirked, a glint of amusent dancing in his eyes. "I told you I’d do anything to take your mind off that moron. But I’m still waiting to hear that word."
Before Anna could react, a loud voice cut through the air with breathless urgency.
"Oh my God, Miss! I’m so sorry it took so long!"
Violet ca to an abrupt halt, her eyes widening as she registered the scene before her. William turned his head slightly, his sharp gaze pinning her in place with a disapproving glare.
"I—I’m so sorry," she stamred, struggling to catch her breath. "I stepped away for just a mont, but I didn’t––"
"Enough," William interjected coolly, his voice carrying the authority that instantly silenced her. "We’ll discuss it later. Pay the bill and wait in the car."
Violet swallowed hard, lowering her head as if afraid to et his gaze. "Yes, sir," she murmured, retreating with hurried steps.
At that mont, Eric finally stepped forward, his eyes flickering between William and the woman in his arms. His confusion was evident, but so was his concern.
"Mr. Stark," he began in a asured voice, "your partner seed to be having a panic attack, so I was only trying to––"
"Thank you," William interrupted smoothly, flashing a polite yet unmistakably dismissive smile. "I appreciate your concern, but there was really nothing you could have done."
Eric frowned, his brows knitting together. "Pardon?"
William exhaled, as if explaining sothing obvious. "You see," he said, adjusting his hold on Anna, "my girlfriend recently had eye surgery, and sotis her vision becos blurred. It’s part of the healing process—nothing serious, but when it happens, it unsettles her. She has a gentle heart. When she gets frightened like this, the best thing to do is leave her be and let her calm down on her own."
His tone was smooth, deliberate, and laced with a finality that left little room for argunt.
Then, William’s gaze shifted to Robert, who had been watching him the entire ti with curiosity. A slow, knowing grin stretched across his lips.
"Unless I’m around, of course," he added, his tone dripping with mockery. "I always have a way of helping her forget about useless things."
Robert’s jaw tightened ever so slightly, but he remained silent. He couldn’t tell why Wiliam’s remark felt personal.
Eric, however, let out an awkward chuckle, sensing the subtle tension. "Oh... I see," he said, though William’s words felt strangely out of place.
William turned back to him, his expression light, almost amused. "Regardless, thank you for your concern," he said smoothly. "I apologize if we caused any inconvenience. As a token of appreciation, I’ve covered everyone’s bill to make up for the disturbance."
Then, with another smirk, he tightened his arm around Anna’s waist. "Now, please—enjoy the rest of your day."
With that, he guided Anna away, his presence leaving a lingering hush in the restaurant.
Eric stood still, watching them disappear through the grand entrance, his mind replaying every detail of the encounter. There was sothing about William Stark—his effortless confidence, the way he commanded attention, the casual arrogance in his every word.
Finally, once the murmurs of the other patrons died down and they returned to their now free als, Eric exhaled and settled back into his chair. His fingers drumd absently against the polished surface of the table.
"William Stark is back," he mused, his voice thoughtful. "How about that..."
Robert, who had been swirling the remaining wine in his glass, scoffed under his breath. "Did he really have to put on a damn show?"
His voice was low, almost to himself, but Eric caught every word.
Leaning forward slightly, he studied Robert’s expression. "Stark is your biggest enemy. Always has been," he pointed out. "Aren’t you the least bit concerned?"
Robert’s grip tightened around the stem of his glass before he brought it to his lips, downing the last of his drink in one go. He set it down with a quiet clink and let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Why should I be?" he scoffed. "I doubt he’s stupid enough to cause trouble for ."
But despite his dismissive words, the way his fingers tensed around the empty glass told a different story.
Is that right, Eric thought, shifting his eyes to the empty table which was previously occupied by the woman in a headscarf. Let’s wait and see.
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