Chapter 77 He Once Promised Her a Lifetime
The moment the metal elevator doors closed, the air seemed to freeze.
Lucas's faint cologne aggressively invaded my nostrils, making me instinctively tense up.
My ear pressed against his chest, and I could hear his strong heartbeat.
Was this his heartbeat? Maybe it was mine.
I frantically tried to push him away, but when I heard him grunt in pain, thinking I'd touched his wound, I instinctively stopped struggling.
I soon realized I'd been tricked. Lucas's arms locked around me firmly, trapping me in his embrace.
The weightless sensation of the elevator rising came over me, the numbers on the screen constantly changing.
His low, hoarse voice came from above my head, "Ignoring me on purpose? Giving me the cold shoulder on purpose? Isabella, is this all you've got?"
I angrily stomped on his foot. The next second, my back suddenly pressed against the cold elevator wall as Lucas kissed my lips.
The cramped space infinitely amplified his presence. I was surrounded by his scent with nowhere to escape.
He pressed hard against my lips. The elevator stopped, someone walked in, and quickly backed out. I heard the person curse "damn it" - it was Roger's voice.
The elevator doors closed again. Lucas released my lips. Our slightly rapid breathing sounded incredibly intimate.
Lucas looked down at me, his face so close it overlapped with the scene from my dream. His pupils reflected my image - longing, pain, and reckless madness, these emotions almost overflowing from his eyes.
"You—"
I'd just started to speak when his lips came down again.
This time it wasn't tentative, but a plunder filled with long-suppressed desire. As we tangled together, my mind gradually went blank, my fingers clutching tightly at his clothes.
The elevator arrived. My rationality instantly returned, and I pushed Lucas away hard.
Lucas stepped back half a step, his eyes burning as he stared at me. He licked his lips, then wiped the corner of his mouth with his fingertip.
My face felt hot. I bet my face was completely red!
Simon stood outside the elevator. "Good morning. You came up together? Just the two of you?" He was very surprised.
I didn't know if Simon had seen Lucas and me kissing. I felt embarrassed and humiliated. Lucas suddenly blocked my way and said to Simon, "I think Ashley is calling you."
"Really?" Simon wandered off in confusion as Lucas sent him away. Lucas turned around. I had my back to him, adjusting my collar, then lowered my head and walked past him.
He grabbed my wrist. I shook off his hand, went to the bathroom to wipe my mouth and touch up my makeup. After calming my breathing, I came to the examination room.
Harold lay on the hospital bed, his face somewhat pale but in good spirits.
Seeing me, his cloudy eyes lit up. He slowly sat up. "Bella, I've missed you so much! Have you been busy lately? Please don't let that jerk Lucas make you distant from us."
"I won't." I quickly stepped forward to support him, my tone gentle. "Mr. Caldwell, the surgery is the day after tomorrow. Don't be nervous."
"I'm not nervous. Even if the surgery fails, I won't die right away. Living to this age, I'm very satisfied." Harold's gaze moved between Lucas and me, then he suddenly said, "Do you know about the thousand-year-old wishing tree on Whisperwind Isle near Starstream City? I heard it's very effective. Bella, I want to ask you and Lucas to go together and make a wish for me, praying for a safe surgery."
I could feel Lucas's gaze fall on me. I instinctively wanted to refuse, but meeting Harold's hopeful eyes, the words reached my lips, and I swallowed them back.
"Okay." Lucas agreed first, his voice calm, as if agreeing to something very ordinary.
I could only nod. "Mr. Caldwell, don't worry. The surgery will definitely go smoothly."
Whisperwind Isle wasn't far from Starstream City. It was small with no residents. The ancient tree was just an ordinary tree developed into a tourist attraction, one of Starstream City's tourism industries.
The only way to get to Whisperwind Isle was by boat. You could take a cable car back, so Whisperwind Isle had become a famous dating spot for couples. But Lucas and I had been married for three years and never went there once.
I stayed silent on the way there. Adrian and Cole were like the two cookies of a sandwich, firmly guarding me, deeply wary of Lucas.
But Lucas didn't provoke me again. He got a bag of shrimp crackers from the captain and leisurely taunted seagulls in the sea breeze.
The silly seagulls weren't angry even when he threw shrimp crackers at them, landing on the rail to beg for food.
He was in a good mood, which put me in a bad mood. Looking at those dumb seagulls, I seemed to see myself.
The boat to Whisperwind Isle only ran once every four hours. When we arrived, it was already afternoon. From a distance, we could see a lush, verdant olive tree.
Olive trees are drought-resistant and cold-resistant, able to grow in various harsh environments. They have strong vitality and symbolize peace and hope. This tree on Whisperwind Isle was the island's master, its roots deeply embedded in the ground, becoming an inseparable part of the island.
Experts predicted that in a hundred years, the island might sink and be destroyed along with the tree due to loose soil or inability to bear the weight. This prediction attracted even more tourists.
Getting close to the olive tree, you could see it covered with twinkling colored lights and ribbons filled with wishes. There were about a dozen tourists around, and the island had opened several small shops. The atmosphere was lively yet peaceful.
"Want to look around?" Lucas asked me.
I shook my head in refusal. "Let's go back after making the wish."
Lucas and I walked under the tree when suddenly a soft, delicate female voice called out Lucas's name excitedly.
Lucas and I turned around at the same time.
Amelia stood not far away, wearing a rose-red fur short jacket and a white dress. Her pretty and cute appearance attracted many passersby's attention, but the smile and surprise on her face bloomed only for Lucas.
I raised an eyebrow. Amelia tried hard to ignore me, but her fists clenched tightly at her sides betrayed her inner tension.
After I threatened her at the restaurant last time, she hid at home, afraid to go out. Her being here today probably meant the injury on her face had mostly healed.
But getting closer, I noticed her makeup was especially heavy today.
Lucas's brow immediately furrowed, his tone cold. "What are you doing here?"
"I just suddenly remembered that we came here together before and made a wish. You said you'd be good to me forever." Amelia looked up at the branches and ribbons covering the sky, her tone full of nostalgia.
"I'm looking for the wish ribbon we hung on the tree back then, but there are just too many ribbons on the tree." She complained to Lucas in a wheedling tone.
I gripped the blank ribbon I'd just received, the corner of my mouth curling into a mocking sneer.
So they'd been here together!
The passionate kiss in the elevator that made my heart race flashed through my mind, but I only found it laughable.
Lucas's posture was somewhat stiff. Gone was his earlier composure. After brushing off Amelia's hand, he urgently walked toward me. "Bella, let me explain."
I signaled Adrian and Cole to block him.
When he agreed to Harold's request in the hospital room, did he remember he'd been here with Amelia?
All along the way, when he occasionally showed a relaxed smile, was he recalling details of his date with Amelia?
When he promised Amelia a lifetime, did he think of me at home for even a moment?
"If making wishes really works, I hope we never see each other again from now on!"