A Love Without Anchor

Elizabeth looked at Xavier, her face tinged with shyness.

"Let's take it as it comes. Hopefully by the end of the year. I'd like to have a little Xavier too."

Xavier lowered his gaze to the skewers in front of him. He remained silent for a few seconds, then said nothing.

Elizabeth, ever considerate, handed him a skewer. Just then, a man walked into the barbecue shop.

"Your car got scraped by another vehicle. You should come take a look."

Elizabeth frowned, her face darkening.

"I'll go check. Honey, eat first. I'll be back as soon as I sort it out."

She turned to leave but added, "Order whatever you want, but nothing cold. Your stomach isn't good."

Her thoughtful words sent a wave of admiration through the shop.

"Goodness me, Elizabeth is so attentive. She even remembers that her husband's stomach is weak. That's real care."

"Unbelievable. If I were him, I'd be the happiest man alive."

The shop owner, observing Xavier's silence, chuckled.

"Mr. Hampton, you have great fortune. Meeting a woman who's beautiful, gentle, and devoted in this life? That's rare."

Xavier forced a bitter smile.

"Yes. It's rare."

But the truth was, he hadn't met one at all.

Not wanting to continue the conversation, he turned his head toward the window. Outside, Elizabeth followed the man out of the shop. He lowered his head and whispered something to her. She nodded and strode toward a black G-Class parked beside her Bentley.

Xavier narrowed his eyes. The car looked familiar.

At the last gathering, Connor had arrived in a black G-Class, making a grand entrance. The license plate was identical to this one.

Rumor had it Elizabeth had given it to him as a welcome-home gift. It cost three million, give or take. About the same price as the gray Maybach she gifted him today.

Elizabeth was a master at balance.

Ex-boyfriend, current lover; first love, and husband—she kept the scales perfectly even.

Xavier couldn't see what was happening inside the car. He averted his gaze.

His phone rang, and an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. He hesitated, then answered.

"You've gotten smarter. You knew to have someone call me out."

Elizabeth's voice was coy, dripping with affection.

"Did you ask my assistant for my location? Didn't I tell you, once Xavier falls asleep, I'll come over."

Connor's voice was hoarse, tinged with impatience and something deeper, darker. "It drives me crazy, knowing you're spending your anniversary with him. Thinking about what you two will do later—I can't stand it."

Elizabeth laughed softly. She knew he was jealous. She coaxed him.

"Haven't I been with you every night these past few days? I can't handle him tonight. Besides, didn't you just have me three times two hours ago? Still not enough?"

"I still want more. Send him home. Come to me."

"Hmph, jealous again? Follow me in your car later. We can do it inside."

"You little minx. You're tempting me again."

Then came the unmistakable sound of a deep, lingering kiss.

Xavier's hands trembled as he ended the call.

He stared at the skewers in front of him, suddenly feeling sick. Something coiled inside his heart, pulling tight, making him dizzy, making his whole body ache. He picked up his fork and stabbed at the plate of scallions until they were nothing but a mashed heap.

Half an hour later, Elizabeth returned.

She glanced at the barely touched food, then at Xavier's pale face. Her heart clenched.

"You don't look well. Are you feeling sick? I'll take you to the hospital."

Her concern was urgent. Xavier turned his head away, unwilling to see the false sincerity in her eyes.

"I heard something disgusting. Lost my appetite."

Elizabeth frowned.

"What did you hear?"

"You wouldn't want to know."

His eyes were dark, faintly bloodshot.

Elizabeth couldn't make sense of it. She reached out to hold him, but he dodged her touch.

Without another word, Xavier stood up and strode out of the shop. He got into the first taxi he saw and motioned for the driver to take him home.

"Xavier, wait!"

Elizabeth tried to stop the taxi, but it pulled away. Without hesitation, she got into her Bentley and followed.

Xavier sat in the back seat, watching through the rearview mirror.

The scene was almost comical.

The Bentley tailed the taxi. And behind it, the black G-Class followed close.

After arriving at the villa neighborhood, Xavier stepped out of the taxi.

Elizabeth hurried after him, grabbing his hand.

"Honey, why are you upset? Is it because I left to deal with the car and didn't stay to eat with you?"

Xavier lifted his head and stared at her.

Her delicate face was filled with worry and guilt—everything but fear.

Fear of being caught.

"Mm."

Elizabeth sighed.

"It's my fault. Next time, even if the car is totaled, I'll stay with you."

She paused, then gently took his hand.

"My assistant just called. An important client had a sudden accident and fell from a building. It's critical. I need to go. Will you let me?"

Xavier frowned.

There it was—an expression of helplessness on her face, but beneath it, a flicker of something else. Anticipation. Excitement.

She couldn't wait to leave.

She even went as far as making up a client's life-or-death accident.

Xavier's lips curled slightly. He couldn't even be bothered to expose her.

"Mm."

He walked away, not into the villa, but toward the parking lot.

Through the windshield of the black G-Class, he saw them. Locked in a deep, fervent kiss.

Inside the car, Connor's eyes burned with desire.

"I put on the butler outfit. Got the special spike condoms. After all these years, I know your tastes haven't changed."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with unrestrained delight. Her hands roamed under his coat.

"How many times do you plan to take me tonight? Show me the butler outfit first."

Connor grabbed her hands, smirking at her eager expression.

"Let's take it somewhere else. Didn't you say you like excitement? How about the lakeside tonight?"

Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise.

"That intense?"

"Tomorrow's my birthday. Butler outfit, lakeside, the special condoms—all for you."

The black G-Class roared to life and sped out of the parking lot.

Xavier's phone vibrated. It was a message from Elizabeth.

He opened it.

It was a location pin of a lakeside.