Chapter 225: Meeting New People

Chapter 225: Meeting New People

Sophia's mind began to drift, drowsiness creeping in amid the chaotic airport announcements.

Suddenly, a crisp voice cut through the noise.

Instinctively, she glanced at her boarding pass—it wasn't her flight being called.

She smiled at her own nervousness.

Just as she was about to look away, a familiar name caught her attention.

The airport PA system was paging Lucas!

They were urging him to proceed to the gate immediately, followed by a flight number—the very same flight Sophia and the children were about to board.

Sophia froze, staring at her ticket in disbelief.

Had she heard that wrong?

Lucas was on the same flight?

Simon and Julia had caught the name too. They looked up curiously. "Mommy, was that Uncle Lucas? What's he doing here? What a coincidence!"

Sophia frowned and shook her head. "It's probably just someone with the same name. Don't get your hopes up. Uncle Lucas is very busy."

Simon and Julia pouted. "Oh. Okay."

They both really liked Lucas.

Sophia chuckled softly and tried to comfort them. "Even if we can't see Uncle Lucas as often, you can still video call him, right?"

She tapped Julia's smartwatch playfully. "If I remember correctly, a certain someone has been sneaking calls to Lucas behind my back and Simon's."

Julia's face flushed as if her secret had been exposed.

She immediately covered her watch, huffing indignantly. "That's Julia's privacy! Mommy can't look! Simon can't either!"

Sophia and Simon exchanged an amused glance.

Sophia feigned exaggeration. "Is that so? Then what if I call Lucas right now? Simon and I want to talk to him. You won't listen in?"

Julia froze mid-protest.

Her chubby cheeks puffed out as she glared at Sophia and Simon, torn between stubbornness and curiosity.

Finally, she huffed. "Mommy, you're doing this on purpose!"

She crossed her arms and turned her back on them dramatically. "Fine! I'm calling Uncle Lucas right now and telling him not to talk to just you and Simon!"

"Go ahead," Sophia poked Julia's little head teasingly. "So you're the only one allowed to call him privately? Sounds like Bossy Julia to me."

Julia huffed again. "That's what you get for teasing me! I'm telling Uncle Lucas to take my side!"

Sophia and Simon laughed behind her. "Go on then. Call him. We promise not to peek."

Julia hesitated.

She clutched her watch defensively, eyeing them with suspicion. "You promise not to look at all?"

Sophia immediately agreed. "Of course."

Now Julia was stuck.

She'd only been bluffing.

Deep down, Sophia and Simon always came first.

She had called Lucas privately before, but now, under their watchful eyes, she felt oddly guilty.

She puffed out her cheeks and stayed silent, clearly conflicted.

Just then, a familiar, warm voice drifted from behind her.

The man's tone was gently teasing, clear and refined, laced with quiet indulgence. "So this is what you say about me behind my back."

Julia blinked in confusion.

She stared at her watch, bewildered.

She hadn't even dialed yet. How was Lucas's voice already here?

Simon's face lit up in surprise. He whipped around. "Uncle Lucas? What are you doing here?"

Julia spun around, looking from her watch to Lucas standing right in front of her.

Then she squealed and threw herself into his arms. "Uncle Lucas!"

Lucas laughed, catching both Simon and Julia in his embrace.

After chatting with them for a moment and handing out gifts to keep them entertained, he quietly took a seat beside Sophia.

He asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Ever since Lucas appeared, Sophia had seemed hesitant—watching him interact with Simon and Julia without saying a word.

Now, faced with his question, she let out a soft sigh. "You showing up here… it's not a coincidence, is it?"

Lucas wouldn't just appear out of nowhere.

But the reason…

Sophia didn't want to overthink it.

She gently turned him down. "You should go back. I've already made arrangements overseas. Work is taken care of. There's no need to worry."

"You still have responsibilities here. Why follow us on this trip?"

Lucas's smile faded slightly, replaced by a fleeting trace of bitterness.

But it vanished almost immediately. He forced a lighthearted tone. "Go back? I finally get to take a vacation, and by sheer coincidence, I'm on the same flight as you. You're not seriously telling me to go back to work, are you?"

He put on an exaggerated pout, looking almost wounded.

Sophia's brow furrowed. She turned to study him carefully, as if trying to detect the truth beneath his words.

"Just a vacation?" she asked slowly.

What were the odds that his vacation destination happened to be the exact city she was moving to?

And that he just happened to be on the same flight?

Sophia didn't believe in coincidences like that. She didn't believe Lucas's excuse either.

Seeing that he wasn't willing to admit the truth, she tried a more subtle approach. "There are plenty of places to vacation. Besides, you lived in that city for years. If you want a change of scenery, why not go somewhere completely new?"

Somewhere new, with new people to meet.

Lucas acted as though he hadn't caught her meaning at all.

He blinked innocently. "That's exactly why I'm going. I like familiar places. You know me—I'm sentimental. I prefer being somewhere I know."

"New environments make me uneasy. I'd rather stay where I've lived before. Familiarity gives me a sense of security."

Sophia sighed quietly and turned to face forward again.

Her voice was soft but firm. "I'm serious this time. All I want is a fresh start for me and the kids—without any disruptions."

Lucas gazed at her tenderly, a faint smile on his lips. He leaned back in his seat, utterly relaxed. "That sounds great. I enjoy spending time with the kids too."

As long as she successfully left this place—left Zachary and everything connected to him behind—he would still have his chance.