Lucas felt that he was haunted today.
Jessica was the only lady at the table, so the men found all kinds of excuses to push her to drink.
When Mr. Wyatt poured more wine for Jessica, Lucas couldn't help but look over.
Jessica was two people away from Lucas, so he couldn't see the look on her face clearly. But still, Lucas could tell that Jessica wasn't feeling well.
Lucas didn't want to help Jessica at first. It was not his place to help her.
But Lucas just couldn't bear to see Jessica frowning. He chimed in anyway and drew the big shots' attention to himself.
And he could have stopped after two glasses of wine.
Yet he didn't. As long as someone filled his glass, he would drink it as if he was drinking water.
Lucas didn't know what he was doing. He recalled a text in Jessica's old cell. "He seemed to have drunk a lot today. He tossed a glance at me, on purpose or not. Nice!"
In the past, Jessica was indeed deeply in love with Lucas. She could even be pleased by his single glance at a dinner party.
Yet now, Lucas couldn't delight her by standing out to help her.
Standing where he was for two seconds, Lucas then stopped looking at Jessica and walked out of the hotel.
He walked too fast for Vincent to keep pace with him. Vincent had to jog a bit to catch up with Lucas.
Fortunately, the car arrived soon, and Vincent hurriedly opened the door for Lucas.
The driver in the car would share Lucas' anger with Vincent. Vincent didn't have to face it alone.
Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the traffic light. They would arrive at the Thomas Group once they turned left after crossing the intersection.
That was when Lucas' phone rang.
He glanced at the phone screen, then pressed the answer button.
"Mr. Lucas, your grandfather has come back home. He wants to see you today."
Dwayne said on the other end of the line.
"Got it," Lucas said coldly and hung up the phone.
As soon as Justin got home, he knew that Lucas was in a hurry to send Olivia to Paris. Justin saw that as a sign of Lucas getting along with Jessica. Thus, he hurried to call Lucas back.
Yet when Lucas got back home, drunk, Justin learned the situation was not as he had pictured.
"What do you mean by not marrying her?" Justin was so angry that his beard was even shaking. "I went to New York to apologize to the Hall family. Isn't it for your sake? What are you saying now?"
"I don't want to marry Jessica again," Lucas repeated, recalling Jessica's indifference and sarcastic tone.
"Since you are not grateful for what I'm doing for you now, I will have to remind you. Your dad's mistress has a kid, too. It's a boy, right? If you have no interest in taking over the Thomas Group, maybe I should get that boy home!"
Justin looked at Lucas with anger. He wished Lucas could have done a better job.
"I've said everything I could. If you are still too proud to bend your head, don't blame me for kicking you out of the Thomas family.
Justin was indeed angry.
Louis' mistress did have a son, but Justin always looked down upon that woman. He never planned to let that boy be the heir of the Thomas family.
Yet what Lucas had done did irritate Justin. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come up with that thought.
Once Justin had the thought, it would be impossible to undo.
Justin couldn't even look at Lucas the way he used to. "Call me vile or blame me cruel, as long as I'm alive, I owe the whole Thomas family. If you want anything from me, you'll have to listen to me. Now I want you to marry Jessica!"
Justin snorted. "Otherwise, don't blame me for being cruel. Besides, if you don't have Jessica on your mind, why are you in such a hurry to make Olivia leave LA?"
Lucas did not speak. He was touched by what Justin said.
But not by the "changing the heir" part, but by the "having Jessica on your mind" part.
Lucas found it harder and harder for him to cut ties with Jessica, not to mention get over her.
Lucas could lie to himself before. Yet Justin could always make Lucas face his true heart.
Lucas realized that what he held for Jessica was much more than just guilt.