"How did they get in here?" Lucian leaned toward Ashley as they reached their table.

Ashley sighed as she watched him pull out a chair and sit beside her.

"He’s a partner of Swift Logistics," she answered under her breath, clicking her tongue.

Now that the lights had dimmed and most of the attention was focused on the stage, Ashley could no longer hide her irritation. The last thing she wanted was for anyone from the Di Carpios to be here. And Isabella? She definitely wasn’t part of the plan.

Lucian studied her quietly, trying—but failing—not to feel a sense of satisfaction. He knew this irritated her, but he was relieved to see she wasn’t affected by June at all. It calmed him one way or another.

June, after all, had once been a problem in their marriage.

The last time Lucian thought Ashley had slipped away, he’d assumed she had gone to meet June. It turned out she had simply been standing in a long queue with Nolan for Primo’s game.

"Should I have our men quietly escort them out?" he asked, leaning closer to whisper into her ear while the host enthusiastically addressed the audience through the microphone.

Ashley pursed her lips before glancing at him. Then she let out a long sigh.

"I wish," she muttered, keeping her eyes on the stage. "But I need Swift Logistics to handle shipments to several ports. Unfortunately, it’s the best logistics company in the region... and it has strong political ties, which can help us hasten the process of meeting the requirements for documentation."

She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I should’ve realized that the partner is from a political dynasty."

From what Ashley had heard, June’s grandfather was running for president and had the strongest chance of winning.

She wouldn’t be surprised if Marshal and Carmella were already pushing Isabella to hold on to June. June himself might be a well-behaved puppy, but his family certainly wasn’t. If they were saints, they wouldn’t be shaking hands with a mafia don like Marshal.

It was still surprising that June had turned out so differently from them.

"Had I known the partner my guest was talking about was June, I would’ve told him to forget about it. Damn it." She clicked her tongue. "And he just had to bring that ticking time bomb here."

Ashley folded her hands in her lap, unable to focus on the host’s presentation.

The host was showcasing the company’s accomplishments—its impressive headquarters, the projects Ashley had spearheaded, the vast acres of farmland and plantations she had established through strategic partnerships.

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

Instead, all Ashley could think about was whatever scheme Isabella was planning. Knowing her, she was undoubtedly plotting something.

The most irritating part?

Ashley couldn’t do anything yet.

She had a reputation to protect, especially in a room filled with influential people. Most of them wouldn’t know—or care enough to understand—the history between her and Isabella.

Ashley couldn’t make the first move.

Doing so would damage her reputation far more than Isabella’s.

As her thoughts raced, trying to anticipate Isabella’s next move, Lucian suddenly clasped her hand.

Ashley blinked back to reality and turned to him.

"Don’t bother," he said, leaning close enough for only her to hear. "It’s normal."

He pulled back slightly.

"Sitting in the same room as people you’d rather erase from the face of the earth is just one of the many things we have to endure for obvious reasons," he said with a faint smile. "Take the High Chamber, for example."

Did Lucian want most of the members of the High Chamber dead?

Absolutely.

If anything, that was his greatest wish.

But he couldn’t simply wipe them all out. Doing so would only plunge his life into endless chaos.

"If anything," he whispered, giving her a knowing look, "watch them as closely as they watch you. Then, the moment they slip—or the opportunity presents itself—make the most of it."

For a brief moment, the host’s voice became nothing but background noise.

The corners of Ashley’s lips lifted.

She squeezed his hand and leaned lightly against his shoulder.

"Thanks," she whispered, closing her eyes as she let out a slow breath. "I’ll keep that in mind."

Lucian smiled with quiet satisfaction.

"You’re welcome."

For a while, they listened as the host went over the company’s future ventures.

Then a thought crossed Ashley’s mind.

She glanced up at Lucian, and the moment she did, he looked back at her.

"Something else?"

She hummed softly before glancing around the room. Everyone remained focused on the host, who was essentially presenting her company—its strengths, achievements, and future potential. The host was basically just selling the company.

"I’m just a little curious about something." She leaned closer so he could hear her over the surrounding noise. "I thought we’d have a misunderstanding to clear up."

"A misunderstanding?"

"I mean... I know you don’t like June. When I saw him tonight, I was worried about how you’d react."

In her first life, Ashley had believed Lucian had either killed June or seriously hurt him after she was caught. That was what Isabella told her, and she believed it because it wasn’t impossible.

Turns out, Lucian didn’t.

She simply learned the truth much later—long after it mattered.

In this lifetime, however, she still had expected Lucian to react strongly. That was why she had kept her distance from June tonight and hadn’t even offered him a handshake like she had everyone else.

After all, Ashley had awakened six months into her marriage—not before the wedding.

Those six months had already happened.

"I never said I liked him," Lucian corrected, noticing her curiosity deepen. "I don’t. This just isn’t the place."

Ashley nodded. "Makes sense. After all, June used to help me... before my brain was rewired."

Lucian studied her from the corner of his eye.

"It’s not like that," he said, drawing her attention back to him.

He held her gaze for a moment before looking toward the stage again.

"My dislike for him isn’t because he helped you. It’s his... entire being."