I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 178

It was as if he had physically ensnared her gaze. Out of pure instinct, Nora froze, unable to look away until reality snapped back into focus.

Her heart skipped a beat. Just as she finally managed to avert her eyes, Xander murmured something to the men beside him, set his champagne flute down, and began walking directly toward her.

Felix reacted faster than she did. He smoothly stepped half a pace forward, placing himself squarely between Xander and Nora. His smile tightened.

Xander came to a halt in front of them. His gaze bypassed Felix's shoulder, landing firmly on Nora's face. A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "What's the matter, Ms. Newman? You look like a deer in headlights. Are you trying to avoid me?"

A flush of embarrassment crept up Nora's neck. He had definitely caught her instinctual attempt to run the other way.

Felix effortlessly intercepted the tension, his tone flawlessly polite but his defensive stance unyielding. "Don't misunderstand, Mr. Harrison. We were just planning to go consult Dr. Caldwell on a few professional matters. He's a leading pioneer in this field, and running into him today is a rare opportunity. Getting his input would be immensely helpful for our upcoming research."

Nora immediately seized the lifeline Felix had thrown her, offering up a practiced, elegant smile. "Felix is right. You're overthinking it, Mr. Harrison. I wasn't avoiding you. Besides, you were the one who gifted us these VIP passes—why on earth would I hide from you?"

Xander completely ignored her excuse, opting instead for a short, dry chuckle.

The amusement vanished instantly, making it utterly impossible to tell if he bought the lie or saw right through it.

His dark eyes drifted an inch past Nora, landing squarely on Julian. His brows twitched into a subtle frown.

The shift was so instantaneous it was almost imperceptible, but Nora was standing close enough to catch the brief flash of pure ice in his eyes.

Meeting Xander's scrutinizing glare, Julian didn't blush or duck his head like he had with Nora. Instead, he met the gaze with chilling calmness, gave a slight bow, and offered a perfectly polite, "Hello, Mr. Harrison."

The painfully shy boy who practically folded in on himself around strangers had just stared down Xander Harrison without blinking.

Was she just imagining things?

Though surprised, she brushed it off and gave Julian a gentle smile. "Come on, let's head inside."

Julian nodded and followed closely behind her.

As he walked, his eyes darted back toward where Xander had disappeared, a calculated, knowing glint flashing in the depths of his gaze.