In truth, Julian Sterling was not entirely a stranger to the circle of friends who surrounded Ethan Caldwell. Specifically, those who could be classified as his confidants, the men who had grown up alongside him and shared bonds forged in the fires of youth, were people Julian had encountered before.
He had seen them on the day of the wedding, a grand spectacle that felt more like a corporate merger than a celebration of love. At that time, they had merely stood at a distance, raising their crystal champagne flutes in perfunctory toasts, their smiles practiced and socially impeccable, yet devoid of any genuine warmth. He had also crossed paths with them during a few unexpected situations, such as his encounters with the Talbot brothers, Kieran and Kyle, the doctor duo who served the elite.
