Chapter 42
“Go back. I’ll think it over,” Nolan finally said, rising.
Lexi felt as though years had been added to his face in that instant.
Adrian nodded, signaling her to relax, and followed Nolan out.
Lexi, unsure of what Nolan would decide, left the audition room.
Her stomach growled—a reminder she hadn’t eaten since leaving the hospital.
She pulled out her wallet at a chestnut cart, but a man sprinted past, snatching it.
“Thief!” she shouted, kicking off her heels to chase him.
Through the bustling streets of New York, Lexi pursued, her eyes tracking the agile figure weaving through crowds like a monkey.
Finally, in a dead-end alley, the thief clutched her wallet, eyes dark with malice as he turned toward her.
Lexi instinctively stepped back, her voice trembling.
“Don’t come any closer! One more step and I’ll scream p>
The man’s eyes flashed with menace.
With a sudden shove, he sent Lexi sprawling to the pavement.
Before she could recover, he bolted, clutching her wallet.
He only wanted the money—not her life.
Lexi winced, struggling to her feet.
Should she call the cops—or chase after him?
But then she saw the thief trip over Julian, who had appeared out of nowhere.
The wallet flew from the thief’s grasp.
“You’re dead!” the thief snarled, scrambling to his feet.
He swung a fist toward Julian’s face—but he grabbed it with ease.
“Watch out, Julian!” Lexi gasped, spotting a knife glinting in the thief’s other hand.
The blade slashed across Julian’s palm.
Blood welled instantly, pain sharpening his senses.
He retaliated with precision: a swift kick sent the thief face-first into the pavement.
He grabbed the man’s hands, twisted his own tie into restraints, and bound the thief securely.
Then, pulling out his phone, he called the police.
“You okay?” Lexi handed him a napkin, her hands shaking.
She felt guilty—Julian had gotten hurt because of her.
“I’m fine. First, check if any money’s missing from your wallet.” Julian offered her a small, reassuring smile as he handed it back.
Even in moments like this, Julian remained thoughtful—Lexi’s heart ached at his calmness.
Earlier, he’d been sitting in his car, observing from a distance to be sure it was really her chasing the thief.
Lucky for her, he had intervened—otherwise, she might have been in serious trouble.
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
The thief was a habitual criminal, well-known to law enforcement.
After giving a brief statement, Lexi and Julian left the precinct.
“Let’s get your hand bandaged,” Lexi said, worry furrowing her brow.
The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting mottled shadows across the sidewalk.
It had been ages since Lexi had seen Julain, and encountering him like this felt surreal.
She hesitated to touch him—afraid that, like fragile summer foam, he might vanish at the slightest contact.
Julian, for his part, was preoccupied with the Reed family’s recent struggles.
Rivalries with the Blackwoods had left the family’s position in the city shaken.
Even with Dominic’s assistance, they couldn’t regain their former influence in New York’s underworld.
The elder Reed had tasked Julian with managing a new entertainment company, hoping it could rival Blackwood Productions and restore their family’s status.
“I’m fine. But you… you’ve lost weight. Filming must be exhausting,” Julian said, raising a hand to touch her hair—but stopped when he saw his own blood-stained palm.
Lexi’s heart lifted.
“Julian… you watched my film p>
He nodded, a faint smile on his face.
“Of course. And I heard you’ll be starring in Nolan’s new project. Congratulations, Lexi p>
Lexi blushed.
She hadn’t even received final approval yet; the future remained uncertain.
“Recently, the Reeds launched an entertainment company focused on developing talented newcomers like you. If you join, I’ll make sure you get the best opportunities,” Julian added, warmth in his eyes.
Lexi felt an almost overwhelming urge to accept.
But she was bound to Blackwood Productions by a lifetime contract—would Sebastian let her go?
Before she could answer, a sleek car pulled up.
The window rolled down, revealing Lauren’s flawless face.
“Lexi, what a coincidence! Didn’t expect to run into you here!” Lauren’s voice dripped with false sweetness.
Lexi froze.
Beside Lauren sat Sebastian Blackwood, his gaze sharp and icy, fixed on her.
She took a step back, heart pounding.
How could she forget?
By contract, she was forbidden from meeting Julian again.
“Where are you headed? Need a ride?” Lauren asked mockingly.
Lexi hesitated, intimidated by Sebastian’s dark stare.
Julian stepped forward.
“No need. Our car’s right ahead. Let’s go, Lexi p>
With the Reeds and Blackwoods at open war, Julian refused to exchange a word with Lauren or Sebastian.
Lexi nodded mechanically, letting him guide her forward.
She knew two sets of piercing eyes were following her—but she walked on, determined.
Sebastian would never let her go easily.
That night, back at her apartment, Sebastian was already waiting.
His smile was icy.
“Had fun today?” he sneered.
“I ran into a thief. Julian helped me catch him. It wasn’t on purpose!” Lexi explained, her voice tight.
This man’s moods were unpredictable—best not to provoke him.
Sebastian’s lips curled in amusement.
“You’ve been practicing your lies while I was away, haven’t you?
How many times have you been meeting him behind my back p>
“Why can’t you trust me once?” Lexi snapped.
His cold, domineering nature made her blood boil.
He was like an unrefined predator—wild and brutish.
“Lexi… remember who you’re speaking to,” he said, voice dark as storm clouds.
He would teach her a lesson for her insolence.
Only after Sebastian left did the exhaustion hit.
Between chasing the thief, reuniting with Julian, and dealing with Sebastian’s intimidation, her body ached all over.
Despite the tension, the next morning brought a text from Nolan: she was needed on set that afternoon.
Arriving at the set, Lexi found Lauren lounging during a break.
Lauren’s smile was sharp as a blade.