[Memory Fragment — Two Years Ago]
Liam hated the way other men looked at her.
He didn't experience the jealousy as a hot, irrational flash of anger. For Liam, it was a cold, calculating annoyance. He viewed it the same way a billionaire viewed someone smudging the glass of an extremely rare, priceless sports car. Elara was his possession. He had curated her, isolated her, and slowly molded her entirely to his exact specifications, and the idea of anyone else even perceiving her was deeply offensive to his ego.
That was why he had rented out the entire rooftop terrace of the Vesper Club for their one-year anniversary.
It was a Tuesday night in late October. The sprawling, open-air terrace was completely empty, save for the single table set for two in the center. He had paid the general
