Chapter 137 Change
Lucas arrived, and Simeon left.
He left with a dark expression on his face, dropping a line as he walked out, "I'll be back."
Simeon was one of the more prominent young members of the Caudill family. The Don of the Caudill family was his grandfather's brother, but there were many people more capable than him. His threat wasn't enough to affect Lucas and me.
Lucas opened the insulated food container. He had hired another chef who specialized in seafood. While I ate, I listened to him talk about David.
"He wants to manage the business, so I'm keeping him there to learn how to run a nursing home properly. When he's learned enough, I'll let him out."
I thought to myself, isn't this just detention in disguise?
"Or if he can't take it and wants to go back to Dawnharbor, I'll send him back," Lucas added.
"With him and Grace together, won't they team up against you?" I asked.
Lucas thought for a moment and shook his head dismissively. "One fly plus another fly just makes more noise. If one slap doesn't kill them, then two slaps will."
After dinner, Lucas openly used "it's on the way" as an excuse to catch a ride home in my car.
About a hundred yards from my house, he told Adrian to stop.
The warm light from the streetlamps slanted into the car, and in the dim light, both our expressions became hazy.
"I'll get out here," Lucas said.
He had been holding my right hand the whole way, gently massaging my palm and wrist. I didn't know how long his current tenderness and consideration would last.
"I want to walk you to your door, but your brothers might find out," Lucas asked me. "How long do we have to keep 'sneaking around' like this?"
His low voice made my ears burn. I pushed his face away and turned to look out the window. "If you want to end it, you can end it anytime."
"I don't want to end it. I want to take things further with you." Lucas let go of my hand, cupped my face to turn it toward him, and kissed my lips firmly.
"Goodnight kiss," Lucas said with some reluctance. "Goodnight."
He pushed open the car door and got out. I watched him walk away. He turned and waved at me, his figure melting into the night until I couldn't see him anymore.
I touched my lips, taking a while to come back to my senses.
"Adrian, let's go home."
"Yes, Ms. Sorelli."
After my shower, I lay in my soft bed talking to Karen on the phone.
"He's changed so much. Can just accepting psychological treatment and taking some relationship counseling classes really make someone change like this?" I stared at the ceiling, asking in confusion.
"I'm not sure either. What do you think?" Karen asked casually.
"I want to take those counseling classes too," I said wistfully. Karen burst out laughing.
After laughing for a while, she said, "I feel like you still really like him."
I was silent for two seconds, then admitted awkwardly, "Maybe so."
"What are you worried about?"
"I don't know how long his current tenderness and consideration, and his care for me, will last," my fingertips unconsciously picked at the corner of the blanket. "I don't want to make the same mistake. I can't fall into the same pit twice."
"Who says you can't? There are couples everywhere who break up dozens of times and still get back together," Karen's tone was bold, saying freely, "They fall into the same pit dozens of times, not necessarily because the pit is too deep, but because they don't want to climb out."
I thought about it and found it made sense.
"Don't be afraid. You've already broken up once anyway. The worst outcome is just repeating history. At least you got to experience being loved and cared for by Lucas—that's not a total loss."
"You're right," my fingertips released the wrinkled corner of the blanket. "Thank you, Karen."
"You're welcome." Karen's tone softened. "Besides, if Lucas is sincere, how could he bear to break your heart again? Give him a chance, and give yourself a chance too. Bella, you put too much pressure on yourself."
After chatting with Karen, my mood brightened considerably.
The next day was a rare day off, and Marcus came back from Dawnharbor.
"Gale is doing great, you and Brian can relax!" he said easily.
"Tell us more about the situation there," Brian pressed. "What has Gale been doing lately? How have the Gambino family and the five major families reacted?"
"Gale has taken back some of the assets that originally belonged to our family, but the Gambino family hasn't managed them well these past few years. The value has shrunk quite a bit. Gale is busy evaluating whether they can still be salvaged—if not, he'll just sell them off."
Marcus sprawled on the sofa, one leg swinging lazily back and forth, like a leopard sunbathing on the savanna.
"Bella showed her talent in pharmaceuticals, which reminded those people of Armando's alchemy manual again. Many people have been asking Gale about it indirectly."
I sat up straight instinctively. "Will Gale be in danger?"
Marcus waved his hand with a grin. "Don't worry, Bella. You caused such a scene at New Year's that you accidentally made everyone think we're not to be messed with! The leaders of the five major families are all old men, and the older people get, the more they fear young people."
I breathed a sigh of relief, afraid that my medical skills would bring trouble to my family again.
A warm hand landed on top of my head. I looked at Brian, who gently stroked my hair, then looked at Marcus, instantly changing his expression and slapping Marcus on the back.
"If it's good news, couldn't you have said so earlier? You had Bella and me worried sick!"
Marcus yelped from the hit. "Brian, just because you're my brother doesn't mean I won't fight you!"
As the two of them roughhoused, the doorbell rang. Adrian walked over to me and said quietly, "Mr. Valeri is here."
Why is he here?
I glanced at Brian and Marcus and gestured to Adrian. "Tell him to leave."
The doorbell rang persistently, again and again. Marcus ducked out from under Brian's hand and darted to the video doorbell, his eyes widening suddenly. "Who is it? Lucas!"
Marcus opened the door and asked aggressively, "What are you doing here?"
"Marcus, you're back," Lucas greeted him very naturally.
Marcus looked shocked.
Lucas walked into the living room and greeted Brian in a familiar tone. "Brian, I just got a bottle of expensive whiskey to give to Gale. These boxes of cigars are for you—I heard it's popular among those old guys at city hall to exchange cigars."
Brian looked at him with a complicated expression. "That's thoughtful of you."
"Brian, you're actually praising him?" Marcus couldn't accept it and glared fiercely at Lucas. "What are you doing here? Get out right now, and take your stuff with you!"
"I want to pursue Bella," Lucas said humbly. "I hope you'll give me a chance."
Marcus was incredulous. "Are you really Lucas? You're not someone else in disguise, are you?"
Brian looked at me. My eyes wandered as I picked up my teacup to cover my reaction.
The tea was long gone. My heart was racing. This guy Lucas had changed so much!