Chapter 303
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Chapter 303:
“I apologize for being late, darling,” he murmured, offering his arm. “Shall we go p>
The word darling sent a shockwave down Carmen’s spine. But the relief of being out of that chair was overwhelming. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and Justin led her out of the dining room as every person in the restaurant watched in stunned silence.
The heavy glass doors closed behind them, and the crisp autumn air hit Carmen’s face.
She stepped away from him and held the trench coat out, her hands still trembling faintly.
“Thank you,” she said, drawing a slow breath. “You didn’t have to do that p>
Justin took the coat and draped it over his forearm. His gaze dropped to her wrist, where a faint red mark was already blooming against her pale skin.
His jaw tightened. A flash of genuine anger crossed his face.
“If you want,” Justin said, his voice dropping, “I can make sure that man never works in academia again p>
The autumn wind whipped across the country club parking lot, carrying a sharp chill.
Justin stepped forward and pulled open the heavy armored door of his black SUV, gesturing for Carmen to get in.
Carmen hesitated. Her Porsche was still parked at her parents’ house miles away. She pressed her lips together and climbed into the back seat.
𝘛r𝘦n𝘥𝗂𝗻 on ѕ.сo𝗺
Justin slid in beside her. The heavy door slammed shut, instantly cutting off the wind. The interior was a silent, private vault.
The familiar scent of pine and cedar filled the space. It made Carmen’s chest feel dangerously tight.
Justin reached into the small refrigerated compartment between the seats, pulled out a bottle of sparkling water, twisted the cap off, and handed it to her.
Carmen took it. The cold glass grounded her. She took a slow sip, willing her heart rate back to normal.
“Thank you again,” she said softly, staring at the privacy partition ahead. “For the water. And for the rescue p>
Justin leaned back against the plush leather seat, crossed his long legs, and let his eyes travel slowly across her profile, taking in the exhaustion around her mouth.
“As long as you are single,” Justin said, his voice calm and analytical, “your parents will continue to use emotional blackmail. They will not stop setting up these ambushes p>
Carmen let out a long, defeated sigh and rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window.
“I know,” she admitted. “It is a nightmare. But I refuse to marry some arrogant fool just to satisfy their social climbing p>
Justin was silent for a moment. He tapped one finger rhythmically against his knee, calculating his next move like a grandmaster at a chessboard.
Then he shifted his weight and leaned closer, closing the distance between them.
Carmen turned her head. His face was inches from hers.
“If you need a perfect shield,” Justin murmured, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate frequency, “why don’t you use me p>
Carmen blinked. Her brain stalled. “Excuse me p>
“Fake dating,” he proposed, his gaze steady and serious. “A mutually beneficial arrangement p>