Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 9: Want This Luck? Take It

"Miss, I don’t care who you are, but you’d better not set your sights on Julian. Whatever thoughts you shouldn’t have, I’d advise you to put them away. It’s for your own good."

The woman’s voice carried a mature charm, heavily didactic in tone. From the sound of it, she was likely older than her.

Scarlett Shaw didn’t know why Julian Ford hadn’t answered the phone himself, but given her own position, she had no right to ask.

So she simply apologized for the disturbance and ended the call.

Capitoline, Ford Mansion.

Julian Ford had just come out of his father Ezra Ford’s study, descended the stairs, and looked up in time to see Freya Pierce holding his phone to her ear, saying something he couldn’t hear.

From the direction of the mansion’s main entrance, Ryan Ford, dressed in a shirt and slacks, sauntered in lazily.

Freya set the phone down, tossed it back onto the table, then turned to meet Julian’s indifferent gaze. Her expression flickered with discomfort, but quickly recovered its usual pride and composure.

"A woman called you," Freya said, her tone justified, "asking about changing a plane ticket. I heard you went to Hibiscus City yesterday—was it with her?"

Ryan, just changing out of his shoes, paused at her words, looking quietly over at Freya and Julian.

"From Veridian’s Investment Division."

Julian glanced nonchalantly at the call log. He hadn’t saved Scarlett Shaw’s number, nor did he intend to now.

Freya’s brows furrowed even tighter, as though she wanted to press further.

Julian put away his phone and looked at her with calm detachment. "I’ve told you before, don’t touch my things. I hope you won’t give me another reason to remind you."

Freya’s words caught in her throat, and her stiff expression twisted into a smile:

"You don’t want me minding your business? Fine, then settle down sooner. That way your mother can stop worrying. You’re almost thirty—what kind of example is that, staying single?"

"That Sutton girl has both family and looks going for her. But you weren’t willing. Four years together and you’re still breaking up."

Julian said, "She was the one who brought up the breakup."

His expression turned chilly, his mood visibly souring.

Freya only escalated, mocking, "With that cold, deadpan manner of yours, it’s like you’re living in a monastery instead of dating. What girl could stand that? Zoe Sutton managed four years with you—that’s a blessing."

Julian lifted his eyelids to glance at her. "Why don’t you take that blessing, then?"

Freya was displeased.

With the Sutton heiress out of the picture, they’d just have to look elsewhere.

But among families like the Suttons, with matching background and beauty or temperament comparable to Zoe Sutton, there were precious few options.

Freya still felt it was a pity.

She scrolled through photos sent by acquaintances, scrutinizing and sorting, finally picking a few she was satisfied with and forwarded them to Julian.

"These young ladies all come from good families. See if any catch your eye."

Julian glanced indifferently at the screen.

He didn’t even bother to open the pictures.

Back when he’d first received Scarlett Shaw’s photo, he hadn’t opened it either. Yet oddly, these photos—at a glance, none of them hit like that selfie Scarlett had sent.

They were either too prim or too loose.

Scarlett’s, on the other hand, struck the perfect balance—a bud about to bloom, just the right hint of allure, but without any deliberate intent to seduce.

Most importantly, those round, glistening eyes brimmed with obvious, genuine affection for the recipient—impossible to fake.

Julian picked one at random.

As he looked up, he caught sight of Ryan approaching.

Seeing that Julian was cooperating, Freya was pleased and instantly had her acquaintance reach out to the prospective girl’s family to arrange a meeting.

Only after she was free did she notice Ryan.

Ryan sprawled into the high-end leather sofa, playing with a teacup from the tea tray, one hand idly holding his phone as he sent a WhatsApp voice message: "Be good, baby. I’ll come keep you company tomorrow."

Freya smiled slightly. "Ryan’s back."

Ryan put down his phone and lazily called out, "Mom."

Freya noticed the bandage on his forehead and frowned. "What’s with the injury? Been out carousing with those unreliable friends of yours again?"

Ryan paused, turning the white porcelain teacup in his fingers, his gaze flicking briefly toward Julian.

Julian was in low-voiced conversation with their father Ezra, who had just come out of the study.

Ryan smirked. "Drank too much, ran into something."

Freya, well aware of his wild ways, didn’t buy it for a second. "You’re still young, play as you will, but don’t get yourself into real trouble."

Ryan gave a dismissive grunt. "I know my limits."

Ezra had just finished speaking with Julian and, hearing Freya and Ryan’s exchange, cast a mildly reproachful glance at Freya.

"Ryan’s spoiled because of you. No career to speak of, plenty of women, but never a serious one."

Freya half-smiled. "Funny, though—I heard Ryan’s had a woman by his side for three years now. If someone’s gotten him to settle down, that’s no small feat. I’d really like to meet her."

Ryan set the white porcelain cup down on the table with a crisp clink.

The sound rang out sharply.

He lowered his eyes, and a fleeting trace of disgust passed through them—so quickly that no one noticed.

When he looked up again, he wore an amused smile. "You’re really well-informed, Mom. Can’t wait to meet your future daughter-in-law, huh?"

Julian glanced over at him.

Freya laughed. "It would certainly be a good thing if you could settle down. When you get the chance, bring her home."

Ryan: "Sure."

Ezra nodded approvingly. "If you’d devote yourself to either business or love and take it seriously, I’d count that as a blessing."

Then he turned to Julian. "If Julian has time, help check her out for your brother. Family background isn’t everything—character comes first."

Julian looked as indifferent as ever, saying nothing.

Just then, Freya got a message from a friend and said to Julian, "Miss Walsh is free Wednesday. Does that work for you?"

Julian: "That’s fine."

...

Wednesday.

After work at Veridian, Scarlett Shaw hurried to the restaurant. Just as she reached the entrance, she caught sight of Julian Ford stepping out of the driver’s side of his Bentley.

Scarlett was surprised.

Julian almost never drove himself. It was always the Ford family’s driver or Aaron Carson.

And that suit— understated luxury, perfectly tailored.

Clearly, whoever was in the passenger seat had to be someone important.

Julian walked around to the other side, gentlemanly and poised as he opened the door. Scarlett saw a slender, delicate hand placed into Julian’s palm.

Maybe she’d stared too long, because Julian suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting hers. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

But his eyes remained cold and distant, making it clear he had no intention of greeting her.

Scarlett tactfully looked away.

He was a big boss at the company and a distinguished customer at the restaurant.

There was really no reason for someone like her—a mere employee—to seek any connection with him.

Julian’s seat was in the best spot in the restaurant. Whenever Scarlett glanced up, she couldn’t help but see that strikingly handsome face.

His aura today wasn’t as icy; there was even the occasional smile. He seemed to get along well with the woman, who was herself dressed in all things luxurious—tasteful, not ostentatious.

A beautiful pair—a dashing man and a glamorous woman from the elite families—they looked every bit the perfect match.

Suddenly, Scarlett wondered if maybe Julian wasn’t a psycho, but just had a split personality.

Otherwise, how could she explain those odd kinks he displayed during business?

After an hour and a half at the piano, Scarlett stepped outside for some air. Just as she was heading back in, a middle-aged man suddenly stepped out from the side and pressed the blade of a folding knife to her waist.