[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322E1C3D0-267":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},267,53,"Chapter 53: Caught by the Man with a Built-in GPS","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">During the photoshoot, Luna Hughes’s glam team worked in perfect synergy, tailoring her makeup to match the aesthetic of the couture. Nearby, the photography crew fine-tuned the lighting, keeping the entire set running with clockwork precision.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The shoot went remarkably smooth. Luna was a natural, instinctively shifting into poses that complemented the garments. The photographer couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Luna, you were born for the stage.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna peeked at the preview monitor, a satisfied smile blooming on her face. \"And your eye for detail is brilliant!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There is nothing quite like a seamless collaboration to lift one's spirits after a long day. As the session finally wrapped, Evangeline Montgomery handed her a bottle of water. \"Luna, join us for dinner tonight?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna took a sip, her expression softening. \"I’d love to. And please, enough with the 'Ms. Hughes.' Just call me Luna.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Deal. Then you should call me Evangeline.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They exchanged a knowing smile.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As their group arrived at L’Avenue and stepped out of the car, Remi Crawford shivered, pulling her coat tight. \"Whew, it feels like we’ve been working for months without seeing the sun. Winter really crept up on us.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It has,\" Evangeline agreed, draping an arm around her friend to shield her from the biting wind. \"Hard to believe New Year’s is right around the corner.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The last few months had passed in such a frantic blur that time itself felt distorted. Luna watched their easy intimacy with a touch of envy. Having been thrust into the entertainment industry at such a young age, she had learned early on that the industry was a cesspool of deception. Offering a genuine heart was often just handing someone a blade to stab you with. That history had forged her reputation as someone cold, distant, and untouchable.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Inside the private dining room, the mood shifted. Laughter echoed as glasses clinked in celebration.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"To a perfect wrap! Cheers!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Cheers!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Halfway through dinner, a tipsy Evangeline leaned over to Luna, pulling out her phone. \"Luna, let’s take a selfie. I need to leach off your popularity on Twitter/X tomorrow.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna laughed, her cheeks flushed with wine. \"Who’s leaching off whom? You were trending for four days straight last week!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They pressed their heads together, the camera shutter clicking to immortalize the moment. With Remi acting as the life of the party, the atmosphere remained light and boisterous. Before long, everyone had indulged in a bit too much.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna’s manager whispered, \"Luna, slow down on the drinks.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna blinked, her eyes hazy with a playful, drunken defiance. \"It’s fine, we’re all just girls here.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A sharp, warning look from her manager finally made her realize the man at the end of the table had been silent the entire time.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh... right. I forgot Noah Mitchell was here. My apologies.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noah Mitchell merely lifted his eyelids to glance at her, his face a mask of professional indifference, before taking a slow, measured sip from his glass.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline,\" Luna murmured, resting her heavy head in her palm, \"you and Remi are such bright, open spirits. How on earth did you end up friends with someone as stoic as Noah?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Luna, you’re drunk,\" her manager hissed, nudging her arm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline offered the manager a reassuring look before turning back to Luna. \"We share the same vision and absolute trust. Becoming friends was just the natural evolution of that.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noah stared at Evangeline, his gaze lingering with uncharacteristic intensity.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That’s so nice,\" Luna sighed, a note of genuine longing in her voice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That’s it, we’re leaving!\" Her manager stood up, ushering her away. \"Noah, Evangeline, Remi—terribly sorry. She’s had too much to drink, I need to get her home.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Of course. Drive safely,\" Evangeline replied.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back in the back of the Sprinter van, the manager turned cold. \"Luna, there are no saints in business. That Noah Mitchell is a shark. What made you think you could just be 'friends' with people like them?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Luna leaned against the headrest, her eyes closing. A moment later, they snapped open, the drunken haze vanishing instantly, replaced by sharp, cold clarity. \"I know. Let's go.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The manager scoffed, shaking her head. \"You better hope you do.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Let’s head back, too,\" Evangeline said, swaying slightly as she stood up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She stumbled, but a large, firm hand caught her arm before she could fall.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Thanks, Noah.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noah withdrew his hand the moment she regained her balance. \"Are you two heading back to the office?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">To save time during this crunch period, they had each set up a private resting suite at the company headquarters.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline checked her watch—it was only 10:00 PM. \"Yes, we’re heading back. We can get some rest tonight.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mhm!\" Remi agreed, nodding vigorously.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Right. Let’s go.\" Noah trailed behind them, keeping a watchful eye to ensure they didn't trip.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When Evangeline reached their floor and pushed the door open, she walked straight into a wall of muscle. She gasped, clutching her nose in pain.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Evangeline, are you alright?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus? Did you install a GPS tracker on me or something?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As soon as the words left her lips, she realized—wait, didn't Waylen Shaw basically act like a high-tech, sentient GPS?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hah!\" Noah let out a dry, sardonic laugh behind her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus shot him a look so lethal it could have carved through steel. He was getting real tired of seeing that man everywhere. He was becoming an eyesore.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noticing the tension, Remi caught sight of Damian Spencer standing behind Marcellus. She grabbed Evangeline and Noah, pulling them forward quickly. \"We’re going! Let’s go!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian called out to the woman scurrying away, his voice low. \"Remi!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi pretended she didn't hear him, picking up her pace. \"I need sleep! I just need to sleep!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian looked at Marcellus with a crestfallen expression. \"Are we... are we officially unwanted?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus lowered his gaze, his hand, which had been reaching out for Evangeline, dropping slowly to his side.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Evangeline looked back and saw that posture—the utter loneliness in his frame. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. She broke free from the others and lunged at him, burying her face in his chest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus, let’s go home!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus remained frozen, still wearing that wounded, stoic expression.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus?\" Evangeline nudged him, batting her eyelashes in a classic move of affection.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Remi, watching the scene, clicked her tongue. What a mess. She turned to Noah, looking apologetic. \"I’m so sorry, Noah, you should probably just head out on your own.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Noah gave a small, resigned smile and turned to leave.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Remi, are you sick of me?\" Damian asked, his eyes rimmed with a faint, petulant red.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The image of this powerhouse man playing the part of a jilted lover was almost too much to handle. Remi leaned into his chest, stroking his back. \"Don't be ridiculous! I’m just exhausted, that’s all.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is that all I am to you? A beast you only tolerate when it's convenient?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh, stop it. You’re not a beast. Come on, let’s go home. You can massage my shoulders, okay?\" Remi pulled her best 'begging for mercy' face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Damian clearly folded under the pressure. He grumbled, but his posture softened as he led her away. Before they disappeared, Remi caught Evangeline’s eye and gave her a wink, signaling for her to keep going.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Marcellus? Let’s go home, yeah?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Marcellus had already been deep in the throes of self-reflection. He knew she had been working herself to the bone, and he knew he shouldn't have been so petty, but his longing for her had overridden his logic.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m sorry, Evangeline. I just... I missed you so much.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His vulnerability hit her like a physical weight. Her heart melted into a puddle. How could this man be so incredibly sweet? She felt a pang of guilt, rubbing her cheek against his chest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s my fault. I’ve been neglecting you. Let’s go home, okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Okay.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On the drive back, Marcellus watched the woman sleeping in his arms, laughing at himself under his breath. Love really did have a way of making a person lose their mind—and yet, somehow, he found he was perfectly happy to be lost.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272913154]