Chapter 402

Eleanor murmured, "This is the 1998 Château Noir Merlot, exclusively reserved for the Presidential Estate. Its deep garnet hue carries concentrated flavors with remarkable purity. The bouquet reveals complex layers of dark berries, toffee, and freshly roasted espresso beans. The tannins are robust yet elegantly structured."

Julian was astonished. Not only did Eleanor possess artistic talent, but her wine expertise surpassed even his own.

Having operated Velvet Lounge for years with private vineyards in Belvaux and Montclair, Julian considered himself a connoisseur - yet Eleanor's palate left him humbled.

This was a masterclass in subtle sophistication.

Isabelle and Cassandra had completely lost their party mood. Both seethed with the urge to storm Julian's private suite and confront that insufferable Eleanor.

"Sniff... Isabelle, look! I told you!" Cassandra wept in the restroom, her mascara streaking down flushed cheeks as half her false lashes dangled precariously. "Eleanor's seducing your brother! Did you see how he turned the club upside down for that ridiculous stuffed animal? When has Julian ever pampered any woman like this? You're his blood sister, yet he's doting on Nathan's sister instead! I can't endure this humiliation!"

While sobbing dramatically, Cassandra expertly fanned Isabelle's fury - though the latter needed no encouragement. Isabelle's rage had already reached volcanic levels. "How could Julian?! He's never indulged me this way, not even when we were children!"

Isabelle recalled losing expensive toys as a girl. Julian would simply replace them with superior versions, never bothering to retrieve the originals. She'd mistaken his financial generosity for affection - but compared to tonight's display for Eleanor, those childhood gestures seemed pitifully impersonal.

The Julian Montgomery she knew loathed inconvenience. Yet he'd upended his entire establishment for Eleanor's childish comfort item. The realization shattered Isabelle's heart.

"That scheming girl already has Nathan wrapped around her finger," Cassandra hissed. "Now she's stealing Julian too. If this continues, she'll replace you as his favorite."

"Replace me? Over my dead body!" Isabelle's eyes burned with venomous hatred. Unable to contain herself any longer, she stormed out in a fury, stiletto heels striking marble like gunshots.

Once alone, Cassandra abruptly stopped crying. A cold smirk twisted her lips as she calmly reapplied her lashes before the mirror, humming a triumphant tune.

Back in the private suite, Eleanor and Julian had nearly emptied the decanter. Wine-flushed and pleasantly intoxicated, Eleanor's usual reserved demeanor melted away. Words poured from her rosy lips in an uncharacteristic stream, which Julian found inexplicably soothing - a rare comfort he hadn't experienced in years.

"Did you know female arousal has biological roots?" Eleanor's cheeks glowed pink as she sipped her wine. "The X chromosome carries genes enhancing color perception. With two X chromosomes, women experience colors more vividly than men!"

"Is that so?" Julian's lips curved as his gaze dropped to her plump, wine-stained mouth, then lower to her delicate feet - previously hidden in modest sneakers but now bare and unconsciously flexing against the velvet upholstery. His pupils dilated with hunger.

"Also, women's bodies contain higher water content - nearly 60% compared to men's!" Eleanor continued enthusiastically, relishing this rare opportunity for unfiltered conversation. "It's because our body fat percentage is naturally—"

Suddenly, the entire club plunged into darkness.

"Hmm?" Eleanor blinked in confusion. "Julian, does Velvet Lounge often have power outages?"

Before she could react, strong arms enveloped her. Her breath caught as her pulse skyrocketed. Julian knelt before her, tilting her chin up with featherlight fingers before capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

Their wine-scented breaths mingled as tongues tangled passionately. Somewhere in the darkness, ethereal music began playing.

Then - a flicker of light. In that fleeting illumination, Eleanor glimpsed Julian's half-lidded eyes glittering like captured starlight: mesmerizing yet dangerously unpredictable.