Grace Wu slipped back into her apartment just after ten, the quiet hum of the city lingering beyond the closed door. She set her keys down on the small dish by the entrance, the soft clink echoing faintly through the room.
The evening air still clung to her coat, but the weight pressing against her chest wasn't from the cold.
She tossed her bag onto the couch and crossed to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. Each movement was deliberate, but her thoughts circled back—to Lilly, to Victor.
Watching them together tonight hadn't provided clarity.
It had only raised more questions.
Grace leaned against the counter, the glass cool in her hands as she stared out at the distant lights flickering across Macau's skyline.
Victor wasn't after fleeting partnerships. He aimed higher, deeper—into places that left permanent marks.
And Lilly—she wasn't deflecting him.
She was letting him in.
The glass paused at Grace's lips.
In the last timeline, Victor had never pursued Lilly like this. His focus had been purely business, using Anna Feng to destabilize Rocky and capitalize on the fallout.
But now, the boardroom wasn't his only battlefield.
Lilly was becoming a player in Victor's game.
Grace took a slow sip, letting the thought settle.
Was this deviation from the timeline a risk?
Or… was it an advantage?
If Victor focused his ambitions on Lilly, maybe Rocky's collapse wouldn't be as severe.
Anna wouldn't hold as much influence if Victor shifted his priorities.
But Grace wasn't naïve. Victor didn't abandon assets—he merely expanded his reach.
She set the glass down, the faint clink grounding her thoughts.
Tomorrow, she'd need to keep a closer eye on Lilly.
Not to interfere—but to understand.
The next morning, Grace arrived early at Li Holdings, her heels echoing softly against the tile as she stepped into the empty executive floor. The office was still, save for the distant hum of machines warming up for the day.
Emily wouldn't arrive for another hour.
That was fine. Grace preferred the quiet.
She settled at her desk, flipping through emails as the faint glow of the rising sun stretched across the windows.
Minutes slipped by unnoticed until the sound of the elevator doors opening caught her attention.
Lilly Li strode in, effortlessly composed as usual.
"Morning," Grace greeted casually, glancing up from her screen.
Lilly offered a faint smile, setting her bag down on the edge of her desk.
"You're here early," Lilly remarked, slipping off her coat.
"I could say the same for you," Grace replied, leaning back in her chair.
Lilly smirked. "Force of habit."
Grace's gaze lingered. Lilly was sharper this morning.
There was no tension in her posture, no lingering frustration from last night's dinner with Victor.
Grace waited a beat before speaking.
"How was dinner?"
Lilly's hands stilled as she adjusted the cuffs of her blouse, her eyes flickering to Grace.
"Predictable," Lilly replied, but her tone carried a hint of amusement.
Grace arched a brow.
"Victor's not exactly the dinner date type," Grace noted.
Lilly chuckled softly, sinking into her chair. "No, he isn't."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Grace could feel it—the unspoken undercurrent.
Victor wasn't just another name in Lilly's orbit.
"He wants something," Grace said, breaking the silence.
Lilly didn't flinch.
"Victor always wants something," Lilly replied, folding her hands neatly on the desk. "That's what makes him interesting."
Grace's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're not worried?"
Lilly's lips curved faintly, as if Grace's concern amused her.
"No," Lilly said simply.
Grace hesitated.
Lilly wasn't reckless. She calculated every step she took—sometimes two steps ahead of the people around her.
But Victor wasn't an ordinary rival.
"Just keep in mind," Grace said carefully, "Victor doesn't play for small wins."
Lilly's gaze sharpened, but her expression remained relaxed.
"I know," Lilly replied smoothly, swirling the pen in her hand. "That's why I like him more than Rocky."
Grace blinked.
She hadn't expected such blunt honesty.
Lilly leaned forward slightly, her eyes glinting with quiet certainty.
"Rocky spent too much time convincing himself he was untouchable," Lilly mused. "Victor knows he isn't. That's the difference."
Grace absorbed those words in silence.
This wasn't infatuation.
Lilly respected Victor—and that was more dangerous than attraction.
"You trust him?" Grace asked, testing the waters.
Lilly's smirk deepened.
"I trust that he's predictable," Lilly replied. "And that's enough."
Predictable.
Grace wasn't sure if that comforted her or made her more uneasy.
Victor Zhou was many things, but predictable wasn't a word Grace had ever used for him.
Still, she said nothing more, letting the conversation rest as Lilly returned to her morning tasks.
As Grace slipped back to her own desk, she couldn't shake the feeling that Victor wasn't just circling Lilly.
He was already inside the gates.