I Refused His Alms, Then He Fell In Love

Chapter 6: An Unexpected Encounter

Morning light filled the villa’s dining room. Lynn Hale reached for a glass of water and nearly collided with Kian Vanderbilt. After their quiet conversation in the study the night before, subtle unspoken tension hung between them under one roof.

Kian paused and looked at her, his tone calm with quiet curiosity.

“The music you left in the study helped me sleep better these nights.”

Lynn’s shoulders tensed slightly, keeping a polite distance.

“I’m glad it works. It’s nothing special. I can take it away anytime if it bothers you.”

She avoided further conversation, finished breakfast quickly, grabbed her bag and left for the interview.

Finding work in her field was an exhausting battle.

A New York University psychology master’s graduate, she faced a rigid barrier: formal counseling clinics across New York required an official practitioner license. She sent countless applications and attended endless interviews, only to receive gentle rejections time after time.

Defeat weighed on her, yet she would never beg Kian for help. She refused to become someone relying on his wealth under their contract marriage.

When the interview ended, Lynn stepped out of the building and ran straight into Elias.

They were graduate school classmates. Elias spotted her at once and walked over, surprise crossing his face. He had quietly held feelings for Lynn for years, yet he never found the courage to confess.

“Lynn? What are you doing here?”

“I came for an interview.” Lynn spoke softly, exhaustion obvious on her face.

Elias brought up memories of long library study sessions back in school. Those simple old times loosened the tight tension inside Lynn. A faint smile tugged at her lips. They chatted briefly before saying goodbye.

Kian had just finished business nearby and waited at a red light. His eyes swept across the sidewalk and landed on Lynn talking to the man.

A soft smile rested on her face — a relaxed look she had never shown him. A powerful surge of possessiveness washed over him. Still, he did not drive over, did not step out to interrupt. He simply watched silently from inside the car.

Only after Elias left did Kian turn his car toward the villa, heading home ahead of her.

Lynn got back home in the evening.

Kian barely spoke throughout dinner, his expression unreadable. Observant by training, Lynn could feel the cold, heavy air around him.

She went over everything that happened that day, wondering if she had accidentally upset him. A quiet unease crept into her heart.

Later that night in her room, her phone lit up with a message from Elias.

Would you like to grab dinner sometime? My company probably has referral openings I can ask about.

Honestly, without a practitioner license, it will still be extremely hard to land a full-time counselor position. You don’t have to carry all the pressure alone. I’m willing to help if you need it. I also feel like you’re hiding something. You can talk to me whenever you’re ready.

She stared at the message, unsure how to reply.

In his study down the hallway, Kian leaned back in his chair. The sight of Lynn smiling with Elias on the sidewalk kept replaying in his mind.

He hated this loss of control. He hated another man growing close to her.

One thought solidified within him: he would not let anyone take her away. This marriage contract would not end when their term expired.