Chapter 53

• The room seemed to freeze in that instant. Julian, his lips still locked with Scarlett's, felt as though cold water had been poured over him. Desire was swiftly replaced by shock, then frustration. His brows knitted in confusion as he attempted to make sense of the unexpected revelation. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
• Scarlett's face mirrored her mortification. Her eyes, previously lidded with desire, widened with realization of her slip-up. A deep blush painted her cheeks, and her words stumbled out in a flurry, a desperate attempt to explain herself. But no amount of words could undo the damage. The once-electric atmosphere now crackled with tension, turning this passionate moment into an awkward and uncomfortable scene neither of them had anticipated.
• "What did you just say?" Julian demanded, his voice strained.