Chapter 56 His Vulnerability Made Me Soft
There's a "traitor" around Lucas.
Someone has been telling Amelia about Lucas's whereabouts.
This person doesn't necessarily want to betray Lucas - more likely, they think Amelia would be a better wife for Lucas than me.
What I thought of, Lucas thought of too. He rubbed his temples, didn't immediately deal with this issue, and didn't listen to Amelia's innocent, aggrieved explanations. He looked around and picked a Caporegime named Santos to take Amelia home.
Amelia knew she'd caused trouble. She didn't make a fuss at all and obediently left with Santos.
Then Lucas came back to my side, thinking silently, his expression growing colder and grimmer.
I shooed him away in disgust. "Stop hanging around here. You look so scary, you've already frightened away several customers!"
"Sorry." Lucas turned and walked to a corner.
Before long, Roger came over. "Please get that demon Lucas out of here! With him around, I can't even nap in peace!"
That corner originally belonged to Roger. Not long ago, he was hiding there, gleefully watching the drama unfold. Now he couldn't laugh anymore.
I glared at him irritably. "I asked you to come work, and all you do is sleep every day!"
"Right now, most people are just testing the waters. After the expo, there'll definitely be more people seeking treatment, not fewer." Roger thumped his thigh and sat down lazily. "Besides, if I can slack off, why wouldn't I?"
"Because slacking off means pay deductions." I very coldly docked Roger's wages, ignored his protests, and walked up to Lucas.
"Come with me."
I left the expo and returned to my office. I'd just closed the door and hadn't figured out what to say when Lucas hugged me from behind.
Like Adam wanting his rib back, Lucas's body pressed tightly against my back, the heavy pressure as if he wanted to merge me into his body.
I knew Lucas must be feeling terrible inside.
Since Grace said Holden didn't object to Lucas becoming her heir, it meant this wasn't a sudden thing - at least not something thought up on the spur of the moment to get revenge on Lucas because Donald made a fool of himself at last night's banquet.
This must have happened a long time ago.
I guessed the mastermind was Grace.
Although she was Holden's beloved youngest daughter, she'd long lost her value for a business marriage and had no outstanding abilities, so her life in the Valeri family wasn't easy.
But Lucas's situation had once been much worse than hers.
So Grace probably found comfort in Lucas - look, someone's even worse off than me!
From how Grace kept trying to interfere with Lucas's marriage, she probably wanted to control Lucas's life. Of course, if it had been ten years ago or earlier when Lucas's guardianship was transferred to Grace, Lucas would definitely have let her control him. But the current Lucas wouldn't be controlled by her at all.
If she insisted on making Lucas her heir, she'd probably only end up locked away by Lucas in a nursing home.
"They're so disgusting." Lucas's chin rested in the hollow of my shoulder, his arms around my waist, tightening dependently.
Although Lucas now had the power to stand up to them, he was genuinely disgusted.
"Why do I have to be his son? I wish I wasn't!"
"I really want to just kill them!"
I turned my head slightly and saw the hard coldness between Lucas's brows hadn't faded, his eyes clouded with deep gloom and exhaustion.
I'd originally wanted to break free from him, but I softened.
"Then kill them," I said calmly. "Do whatever you want."
"Whatever I want?"
I felt something odd in Lucas's tone, then his hand slipped under the hem of my clothes.
Hot breath brushed my neck, the rustling of fabric especially clear in the quiet room.
His kiss landed behind my ear, then suddenly took my earlobe in his mouth, biting gently with his teeth.
I whimpered, unable to stand it, grabbed his hand, trying to push him away, but Lucas held on tight, as if I were his lifeline.
"Bastard!" I stomped on his foot hard. "Let go of me!"
"Bella, I want to make love to you." Lucas licked my ear, begging in my ear with a low, seductive voice.
A bit humble, a bit aggrieved, as if my agreeing would be some great thing.
"I don't want to." I refused Lucas. I hadn't forgotten I still had work.
Lucas and Donald's big fight didn't just affect me; it affected Jonas, too.
But my refusal seemed like an invitation to Lucas. He kissed my lips, fiercely taking my breath.
"Don't refuse, I won't let you refuse me."
I resisted the drowning sensation he brought while feeling annoyed and tired.
"Bella, I miss you so much. Bella."
Lucas called my name over and over. My struggle was just wasted effort.
He carried me toward the lounge. I simply stopped struggling, closed my eyes, and endured, just hoping he'd finish quickly.
But Lucas stopped in front of the sofa and sat down, holding me.
I thought he wanted to have sex on the sofa, but unexpectedly, he kissed my eyes and didn't take the next step.
I opened my eyes, a bit confused.
Lucas licked my cheek like a puppy. It took me a while to realize he was licking away my tears.
I swear I hadn't meant to cry.
Lucas held back his desire and kissed me again. "If you don't want to, then forget it."
He'd always had sex whenever he wanted, regardless of time, place, what I was doing, whether I was busy, whether I was in a good mood - he'd always just followed his own wishes.
This was the first time Lucas respected my wishes about sex.
Lucas had me sit facing him in his lap. He buried his face in my chest, his voice muffled as he said, "I've broken with Donald."
He wasn't even willing to call Donald "father" anymore.
I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, his rapid and heavy heartbeat. I slowly raised my hand and stroked his head, running my fingers through his hair.
Lucas didn't stay vulnerable for long. When he walked out of my office, he'd recovered his usual strength.
He walked beside me, shoulder to shoulder. I glanced at him, and Lucas noticed, reaching out to hold my hand.
I slapped his hand away and walked quickly ahead, feeling gloomy.
I clearly had no obligation to comfort Lucas, so why couldn't I help but soften toward him?
After that, I mostly ignored Lucas. Lucas sensibly didn't pester me, just silently followed by my side, occasionally lost in thought.
In the afternoon, Cressida came again.
She asked if I'd seen Mason. I'd almost forgotten about him.
The drug's effects on Mason hadn't worn off yet - it would probably torture him for another two days.
I lied without changing expression, saying I hadn't seen him. Cressida looked at me suspiciously and said, "Didn't he take you to dinner last night?"
"He wanted to buy Doyle's notes. I sold them to him and then left." I said.
"Alright." Cressida had to go look for him elsewhere. Before leaving, Roger provoked her, and they had another argument.
"You're so boring, deliberately making her angry." I said to Roger, chin propped on my hand.
Roger said, "I just love seeing people really angry but unable to out-argue me - they look so stupid!"
Lucas looked thoughtful. "She said she can find that Miracle Surgeon - is that true?"
"You're interested in the Miracle Surgeon, too?" Roger was annoyed. "I can do your grandfather's surgery; we don't need that Miracle Surgeon!"
Lucas shook his head and looked at me. "Last time Amelia told me that the person who saved me back then might have been that Miracle Surgeon."
My eyes instantly widened.