Chapter 38

Lucian and Julie fell silent once again. In the end, he broke the stillness. "Aren't you curious how I plan to quit smoking?" She tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Do you even need a plan to quit?" Lucian exhaled a puff of smoke, replying lazily, "Of course. This is a habit that's hard to quit." Julie was left speechless. She paused for a moment before suggesting, "If you can, it's better not to smoke. It's bad for your health." Lucian smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Does it matter to you?" His eyebrows lifted as he spoke, and his tone had a teasing edge. Julie felt awkward. Her hands, which had been hanging by her sides, tightened into fists before relaxing again. Did it matter to her? She didn't dare to care. She wasn't in a position to. "Sorry, that's not what I meant." As she spoke, Lucian's smile faded. He narrowed his eyes, watching her closely, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. Why hadn't he noticed before how stubborn she was? What kin