Chapter 4

Nora's POV

Julian drove a sleek, black Mercedes-Maybach. The bespoke leather interior carried a faint, familiar scent of cedarwood and citrus.

Sitting quietly in the passenger seat, I watched the blurred cityscape whip past the tinted window before casually breaking the silence. "Julian, drop me off at the federal records office downtown."

Julian’s hand on the steering wheel tensed slightly. He shot me a fleeting, perplexed glance. "The records office? What are you heading there for?"

"To file for identity cancellation and renounce my legal status," I said, my tone as light and unbothered as if I were commenting on the afternoon traffic.

Julian’s brow furrowed, his hands adjusting the wheel as we took a turn. "Nora, enough with the dark jokes."

"I’m not joking." I turned my head to study his sharp profile. "Don't you want to know why? Because I want a clean slate. A new identity, a new city, an entirely different life."

"Why would you need a new identity?" Julian’s voice carried genuine bewilderment. "If there’s something bothering you, talk to me. We can work through it together."

Looking at him, a sudden urge rose in my throat to ask: Work through what, Julian? Work through the ‘problem’ between me and Daisy? Make sure the inconvenient older sister voluntarily vanishes so your precious Daisy can smoothly marry into the Payne family?

In the end, I kept quiet.

I simply smiled, letting out a small, dismissive breath. "Forget it. I just want a change of pace."

Julian went quiet for a few beats. Reaching across the console, his warm fingers closed over mine. "Nora, don't be reckless. Our wedding is in three days. All the RSVPs are confirmed, the ballroom is reserved, the florist, the officiant, the catering—every single detail was chosen to your exact taste. If you pull a stunt like this, what will our families think? What will everyone say?"

I looked down at our clasped hands, making no move to pull away.

His palm was warm, his grip steady and reassuring. If it weren't for that conversation I overheard last night, I truly would have believed this man loved me beyond measure.

"Julian," I called out softly.

"Yeah?"

"If I were to disappear one day," I murmured, my voice as delicate as a drifting feather, "would you come looking for me?"

Julian blinked, startled for a moment, before letting out a soft chuckle. "What kind of nonsense is that? Why on earth would you disappear?"

"Just humor me. What if?"

Julian considered it for a moment, his gaze shifting back to the road with utter gravity. "If that day ever came, I would tear this entire city apart to find you."

I lowered my lashes, the corners of my mouth curving up slightly. "And what if you couldn't find me?"

"Impossible." Julian’s voice was resolute, completely unwavering. "I’d keep looking. Until the day I brought you home."

I said nothing more.

I didn't know whether Julian was feeding me another rehearsed line or if he believed his own words. But it didn't matter anymore. True or false, I would never allow myself to believe him again.

The view outside transitioned from bustling skyscrapers to quieter government administrative blocks. The federal building's stone facade was already coming into view just down the boulevard.

Right at that moment, Julian’s phone on the dash buzzed sharply.

I caught the caller ID on the screen: Daisy.

Julian tapped the steering wheel controls to answer.

"Julian..." Daisy's voice leaked through the speakers, thick with tears and ragged sniffles. "Where are you? I feel so sick... my head is pounding, I think I have a high fever... After Nora stormed out, I couldn't stop crying, and I just checked my temperature—it's 101.3... Julian, I’m so scared, can you please come over? Please..."

I couldn't hear every frantic word that followed, but I watched Julian's expression shift instantly.

He hung up, turning toward me with obvious hesitation flickering in his eyes.