Vincent froze.
For the first time since cornering her, he looked caught off guard.
Juliet noticed. And she enjoyed it.
Her gaze slowly traveled over him before she let out a quiet scoff.
"It's almost funny."
When her eyes met his again, they were completely indifferent.
"The second I stopped chasing after you, you suddenly can't leave me alone."
Vincent's face tightened almost immediately.
For the briefest moment, something raw and unguarded flashed across his features before he could stop it.
Confusion.
Unease.
Even a hint of panic.
His eyes flickered as he stared at Juliet, searching her face as though trying to determine whether she truly meant every word she was saying. The more she spoke about not wanting him anymore, the harder it became for him to maintain the calm confidence he usually carried.
A strange tension settled over his entire body.
His jaw clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
His fingers curled at his sides before relaxing again.
For the first time in a long while, Vincent looked genuinely unsettled.
It was as though something was slipping through his grasp, and no matter how hard he tried to hold on, he couldn't stop it.
But Vincent had always been a proud man.
Far too proud to allow anyone—especially Juliet—to see him shaken.
Within seconds, every trace of vulnerability vanished behind his usual arrogant mask. His shoulders straightened. His chin lifted.
A smug smile slowly spread across his face as he looked down at her with carefully manufactured indifference.
"You can dream all you want, Juliet."
His voice came out firm and dismissive, though there was a slight tightness underneath it that he couldn't completely hide.
"You're engaged to me. I simply expect you to fulfill the agreement we've already made."
Taking a deliberate step forward, he lowered his voice as though speaking to an unreasonable child.
"We're getting married soon. Do you really think it's appropriate for you to behave like this right before our wedding?"
His eyes narrowed.
"The more difficult you make things now, the more damage you're going to cause to our relationship in the future."
The smile disappeared from his face.
