At the King's mansion, Leonard’s booming voice echoed through the halls as he called for his “princess.” Irene bounded into the room and hugged him tightly, her usual vibrant smile lighting up her face.

“Where have you been? Mom and Grandma went shopping,” Irene complained. “I’m all alone.”

Leonard chuckled, apologizing for leaving her unattended. “Did you see your uncle?”

“I’m here too!” Matthew said, entering the room with his usual warmth. Irene greeted him happily, but her joy faded the moment she saw Tristan stride into the room.

The atmosphere shifted as Tristan and Irene’s eyes locked. Leonard invited Matthew to his study, leaving Irene and Tristan in the room, caught in an unspoken battle of wills. The air felt thick with tension as Irene fidgeted, scrolling through her phone to avoid his piercing gaze.

“Why are you in this stupid situation?” she grumbled internally at herself, glaring at Tristan. Bastard, she muttered in her head, wishing he would stop staring.

Tristan’s deep chuckle broke the silence. “Did you curse me enough inside that head of yours?”

Irene’s eyes shot up, startled, before narrowing into a glare. “Stop staring. It’s rude,” she snapped.

Before Tristan could reply, Irene’s phone buzzed. She quickly answered, relief washing over her. Someone was at the gate, and she invited them inside. Tristan feigned interest in a nearby magazine, but his ears perked up, catching snippets of the conversation. He didn’t trust her sudden change in demeanor.

Moments later, a tall, handsome young man strolled into the room. “Sebastian!” Irene exclaimed, dashing over and wrapping her arms around him.

Sebastian looked startled but didn’t pull away. Irene leaned close and whispered quickly into his ear, “Play along.”

Sebastian hesitated, then nodded. “I missed you too, Irene,” he said, adding a pout for effect.

Tristan’s grip on the magazine tightened as he watched the interaction. His jaw clenched, heat rising within him as he glared at the duo. How dare she hug him—and for so long?

Irene turned back to the couch, pulling Sebastian with her and planting herself beside him. Her hand casually landed on his thigh. Sebastian stiffened, his eyes darting around nervously. This was a terrible idea, he thought, silently praying his girlfriend wouldn’t find out about this.

Tristan could feel his control slipping. He let out a loud, pointed sigh of frustration, drawing both of their attention.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Irene chirped innocently. “Seb, this is Tristan. My sister-in-law’s brother—and I guess my brother too.” She turned to Tristan, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Tristan’s expression darkened further as Irene winked at him. He stood, extending his hand to Sebastian, who hesitated before reluctantly shaking it.

“Hello,” Tristan said coldly, his grip tightening like a vice. Sebastian winced, feeling as though his hand might snap.

“Nice… to meet you,” Sebastian stammered.

Irene quickly noticed the mounting tension and jumped in. “Oh, Seb! I just remembered, didn’t you say you had something important to do?”

Sebastian’s phone vibrated, giving him the perfect excuse. He glanced at the screen and saw it was his girlfriend. He hastily claimed it was his grandmother calling. “Sorry, Irene, I have to go. Let’s meet again soon!” He hurried out, practically sprinting for the door.

Irene walked him out, putting on a friendly face, but as soon as she reentered the room, she noticed Tristan was gone. Relieved, she headed to her room and closed the door behind her. When she turned around, however, she froze.

Tristan was already inside, leaning casually against the far wall, his arms crossed and his gaze unwavering.

“What are you doing here?” Irene asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Tristan smirked, his movements slow and deliberate as he strode toward her. The sound of the lock clicking behind her made her heart pound. “Why did you lock the door?” she demanded, trying to sound composed.

“For fun,” he replied, his tone laced with amusement. “You provoked me, and now it’s your turn.”

Irene backed away slightly, her heart racing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, don’t you?” Tristan arched a brow, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I already had my assistant run a background check on your little Sebastian.” His smirk deepened. “You thought you could make me jealous with someone who has a girlfriend?”

Irene’s face turned crimson, her carefully laid plan unraveling. “So what?” she snapped. “It’s none of your business.”

Tristan closed the distance between them, his towering presence overwhelming her. “How should I punish you?” he mused, his voice low and dangerous. Before she could retort, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her close, her chest pressed against his.

“Tristan!” Irene struggled, but his grip was firm. Her eyes darted to the door, but he leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you… unless you want me to.”

“You’re impossible!” Irene fumed, trying to push him away, but he held her tighter, his smirk growing.

“Admit it,” he said, his voice teasing. “You were trying to get my attention.”

“In your dreams,” Irene shot back, refusing to meet his gaze.

Tristan chuckled softly, his fingers brushing against her chin, tilting her face upward. “You’re a terrible liar.”

For a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Irene’s breath hitched as she looked into his eyes, her resolve wavering. Before she could process what was happening, Tristan leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a heated kiss. Her protests melted away as her body betrayed her, responding to his touch.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes searched hers, a mix of triumph and something deeper gleaming in their depths. “You can keep pretending,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But we both know the truth.”

Irene’s cheeks burned as she glared at him, her voice trembling with indignation. “Get out.”

Tristan smirked, stepping back and unlocking the door. “As you wish,” he said, his tone dripping with confidence. Before leaving, he added, “But next time you try to provoke me, make sure you’re ready to face the consequences.”

With that, he was gone, leaving Irene to collapse onto her bed, her mind spinning. What just happened? she thought, her hand brushing over her lips where the taste of him still lingered.