Jean carefully set her fork down against the plate, lifting her eyes toward Tyler through her lashes. The ocean breeze carried the scent of flowers across the garden, but the atmosphere around the table still felt strangely tense beneath all the luxury.

Even during lunch, guards remained stationed nearby. Watching her every move. Listening to their conversation. Ready to take action the moment she slipped.

Jean forced herself to take another small bite before speaking casually, "Do all businessmen travel around with this much security?"

Tyler looked up from his wine glass, slightly amused. "What do you mean?"

Jean gestured subtly toward the estate grounds. "The guards. The cameras all over the house. Even the men serving lunch seem trained." She gave a faint smile, trying to sound curious rather than suspicious. "You make it feel like I’m living with someone dangerous."

Tyler chuckled softly at that, leaning back in his chair. "Dangerous? Are you scared of our situation, dear?"

"A little," Jean admitted lightly.

His eyes lingered on her face for several long seconds, almost studying her reaction. Then he smiled again... that charming, polished smile he used in public.

"When you have money," he said smoothly, "people become interested in your life. Security becomes necessary."

Jean nodded slowly, though inwardly she didn’t believe him for a second. Wealth alone didn’t explain the fear she’d seen in the guards’ eyes.

Before she could press further, one of the men near the garden entrance suddenly approached.

Fast with his steps. Urgency in his eyes.

The guard bent slightly toward Tyler and spoke quietly in another language.

Instantly, everything about Tyler changed.

Jean felt it before she fully saw it.

The warmth disappeared from his face. His posture straightened subtly, his expression turning cold and unreadable. Even his eyes lost that obsessive softness they always carried when looking at her.

For a moment... he looked like a completely different person.

"Are you sure?" Tyler asked calmly in the same foreign language.

The guard nodded once, visibly tense.

Tyler’s jaw tightened. "Then handle it."

The man hesitated. "Sir, they’re asking for your direct approval."

Silence fell among the atmosphere for a moment.

Then Tyler slowly placed his wine glass down on the table. The soft clink echoed unnaturally loud in Jean’s ears.

"Did I suddenly become difficult to understand?" He asked quietly.

The guard’s face immediately paled. "No, sir."

"Then don’t waste my time repeating yourself."

The guard lowered his head instantly. "Understood."

And just like that, he walked away.

Jean sat frozen.

The entire interaction had lasted less than a minute. Yet the tension left behind lingered heavily in the air. Even the other guards looked more alert afterward.

Tyler noticed her staring and his expression softened again almost immediately, like a mask sliding back into place.

"Sorry about that," he said gently. "Work never really stops."

Jean forced herself to smile faintly. But inside, her thoughts were racing.

No ordinary businessman inspired fear like that.

No ordinary businessman operated with this kind of control.

And for the first time since waking up in this nightmare, Jean realized something terrifying. She might not actually know who Tyler Dominic truly was at all.

Jean dabbed the corner of her lips gently with the napkin, forcing herself to look calmer than she felt.

The lunch had given her more than food.

It had given her information.

Tyler was dangerous from the very first moment she had met him when she was young. Powerful then also and till now but feared? This was something new to Jean.

And worst of all... he trusted her just a little more now.

But as the servants began quietly clearing the table, Jean noticed Tyler glancing toward the villa again. Toward the upper floor. Toward her room.

He was going to take her back upstairs. Lock her inside again.

No. She couldn’t waste any more time.

So before he could stand, Jean turned toward him with a small smile. Soft. Vulnerable. Carefully practiced.

"Thanks for the lunch," she said quietly. "After a very long time... I could eat without worry..."

Tyler’s expression shifted instantly at her words. Something intense flickered in his eyes. Satisfaction. Relief. Or his obsession.

Jean barely had time to process it before he leaned forward suddenly and pressed his lips against hers.

Her entire body instinctively recoiled. She pulled back sharply, breath catching in her throat as panic surged through her chest and then she saw it.

The look in Tyler’s eyes.

He was watching her carefully.

Testing her body language.

Testing whether her softness toward him was genuine... or another attempt to resist him.

Jean’s pulse thundered painfully.

If he doubted her now, he would tighten security again. Lock her away. Watch her every second.

I have to do this! Even if it kills my soul.

So before fear could betray her, Jean grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him back.

Harder.

Deliberately.

Her lips moved against his with shocking urgency, as though she truly meant it... as though she wanted him. Her fingers curled against his chest while she forced herself not to think about Logan. Not to think about how wrong this felt.

Tyler froze completely beneath her.

For one brief second, he looked genuinely stunned.

Then his hand slid against her waist almost reverently, like he couldn’t believe this moment was real. Years of obsession, fantasies, longing... everything crashed into that single kiss.

When Jean finally pulled away slightly, Tyler was staring at her like she had handed him the entire world.

Happiness.

Pure, overwhelming happiness flooded his face in a way that almost frightened her more than his anger.

He touched her cheek slowly, his voice rougher now. "Jean..."

Jean lowered her gaze, pretending shyness while her stomach twisted violently inside.

Every instinct in her screamed to run.

But instead, she whispered softly, "Can we walk a little more?"

Tyler looked at her like denying her was no longer possible.

"Anywhere you want," he said immediately.

Good, that’s what I wanted.