Chapter 58
"Lucinda, you just got here. Stay a little longer. How about I have the kitchen pack some desserts for you to take home?"
"That's all right. I'll come visit you again next time."
Lucinda had already picked up her bag.
Seeing he couldn't keep her, Hayden stood up and followed her toward the door.
Father and son flanked her on either side like a pair of guardian deities, reluctantly walking her out.
When Reginald reached out to open the door, a sudden clap of thunder rumbled outside.
Then, torrential rain poured down from the sky.
"It's raining!" Hayden's eyes lit up instantly.
Realizing how obvious he was, he cleared his throat and let out a deliberately resigned sigh. "What terrible timing for rain. Lucinda, even the heavens are telling you to stay. Why don't you spend the night? We have plenty of guest rooms—"
"I drove here." Lucinda cut him off, her tone calm. "I'm not afraid of rain."
Hayden's smile froze for a beat.
He turned to look at Reginald, frantically giving him meaningful looks.
'Do something!'
Reginald received his father's signal. Before he could say anything, Chase came running in from outside, soaking wet.
"Mr. Hayden Lancaster, Mr. Reginald Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster—" He caught his breath. "The car outside—its left rear tire blew out. Something must have punctured it. All the air leaked out. I've already called someone to get a spare, but it'll take a while."
Lucinda turned to look at Chase.
Under her cool gaze, Chase felt a little uneasy. He lowered his head slightly, pretending to wipe rain off his face.
Lucinda turned back to Hayden.
Hayden was staring up at the ceiling, muttering to himself, as if studying the chandelier design.
"Then I'll wait." Lucinda withdrew her gaze, her tone a little flat.
Hayden breathed a quiet sigh of relief and shot Chase a look.
Chase understood immediately and scurried off.
After about ten minutes, the rain lightened a bit, but it hadn't stopped.
Reginald glanced at his watch, then at Lucinda. Suddenly, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
"I'll go check if they've finished changing the tire."
He finished speaking and pushed the door open, stepping outside.
Lucinda tried to call him back, but he'd already charged into the rain.
His white shirt quickly got soaked, clinging to him and outlining the broad lines of his shoulders and back.
She stood in the doorway, watching him bend down in the rain to check the tire. Water dripped from the ends of his hair, but he didn't seem to care, completely focused as if he were doing something incredibly important.
Hayden stood beside her, watching his son work in the rain, nodding to himself.
The boy's finally catching on.
Before long, Chase came running in again, this time looking far more convincingly panicked. "Mr. Hayden Lancaster, Mr. Reginald Lancaster… he's hurt!"
Hayden's brow furrowed sharply. "What happened?"
"The steel rim on the tire cracked somehow. When Mr. Reginald Lancaster was moving the tire, the rim snapped up and cut his back. There's a lot of blood—"
Before he could finish, the door opened.
Two staff members came in supporting Reginald.
The back of his white shirt was soaked in a large patch of blood. It looked horrifying.
His face was pale, but the moment he saw Lucinda, his eyes turned pitiful.
"Lucinda…" His voice was weak, like a large, injured dog. "It hurts."
Lucinda walked over quickly, her gaze landing on the bloodstain across his back. Her brow furrowed tightly.
She reached out to lift his shirt and check the wound. The moment her hand touched the fabric, he leaned into her, his entire weight falling into her arms. His chin rested against the curve of her shoulder, his voice muffled. "It really hurts… Can you take a look…"
Lucinda's body stiffened for a moment.
His full weight pressed against her. His warm breath brushed against her neck.
Her hand hovered over his back. She didn't dare press down.
Hayden watched the scene unfold, feeling both heartache and a surge of silent approval.
That wounded-soldier act—well played.
He hurried over. "This injury looks serious! Lucinda, look at all that blood on his back. It's definitely bad. Please help him. You're so skilled in medicine—I don't trust anyone else. Please, take pity on him and help him out—"
Lucinda took a deep breath, forcing down the flicker of panic in her chest. She lifted her hands, cupped Reginald's face, and made him look at her. "Don't move. Let me see."
Reginald obediently stood straight, but his hands stayed locked around her waist. He wouldn't let go.
Lucinda walked around to his back and gently lifted the blood-soaked shirt.
The wound was just below his shoulder blade, about three centimeters long. Not too deep, but it had bled a lot. It looked alarming.
She frowned. The wound didn't look like it came from a steel rim. It looked more like something sharp had sliced him.
But she didn't say anything. She just sighed.
"Do you have a medical kit?" she asked.
"Yes!" Chase had it ready. He jogged over carrying the kit.
Lucinda took the medical kit and glanced around.
The living room was busy with people coming and going. The lighting wasn't good either. "Find a quiet room with better light."
"Upstairs! Upstairs guest room!" Hayden immediately pointed the way. "Chase, take her up!"
Lucinda turned to leave but found Reginald still clinging to her. His eyes were pitiful, like an abandoned puppy.
"Can you walk on your own?" she asked.
"Can't."
Lucinda looked at him. She stayed silent for a second.
Then she did something that left everyone stunned speechless—
She bent down, slid one arm under his shoulder and the other under his knees, and with one swift motion, lifted him into a bridal carry.
The living room went silent.
Chase's mouth dropped into an O. The medical kit nearly slipped from his hands.
The two staff members stood frozen, eyes practically bulging out of their heads.
Hayden's teacup stopped mid-air. He froze like a statue.
Lucinda… just picked Reginald up. Just like that.
And Reginald—he looked completely content, like a pampered… bride.
In that moment, Reginald naturally wrapped his arms around her neck, rested his head on her shoulder, and smiled so widely he couldn't hide it.
"Be gentle. Don't touch the wound."
Lucinda carried him upstairs, her steps steady and sure, as if she were carrying a bag of cotton.
Hayden watched her figure disappear around the staircase corner. It took him a long moment to snap out of it.
He set down his teacup, picked up the teapot, poured himself some tea, and took a sip.
Then he turned to Chase, his voice a little shaky. "Chase."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you see that?"
"I did."
"Lucinda just… picked up Reginald?"
"She did. Bridal carry and everything."
Hayden stayed silent for three seconds. Then he burst out laughing.
"Good! Good! Good!" He said it three times, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. "This daughter-in-law—I couldn't be happier!"