Chapter 197: Connecting

His heart thudded in his chest with excitement. Halfway he stared back at them.

Jason gave him a small nod while Annie mouthed, “Take it easy.”

Alex inhaled deeply before continuing toward Lucas’s table. Every step felt heavy with emotion.

Lucas was absentmindedly stirring his dessert when he noticed someone stop beside the table. He looked up casually, then froze slightly.

Alex’s eyes softened instantly the moment they met Lucas’s gaze.

“Oh, dear… " It’s really you,” he said quietly, almost like he still couldn’t believe it himself. Actually making their meeting seem coincidental.

Before Lucas could respond, Alex carefully pulled out Emily’s chair and sat opposite him.

“Sweetheart, I’m so happy to see you again,” Alex said warmly, unable to stop the smile spreading across his face. “You’re looking much better now.”

His eyes quickly scanned Lucas’s face with concern.

“How’s your head? It’s not hurting again, right? Are you sleeping properly now? Are you eating well? Did the dizziness stop completely?”

The questions came one after another without pause.

Lucas blinked in surprise.

Alex kept going anxiously, his voice filled with genuine worry.

“Did the doctor say anything new? Have you recalled anything at all? You're not stressing yourself too much…”

“Alex.”

Lucas finally raised his hand gently, stopping him mid-sentence.

“Please slow down with the questions,” he said with a small helpless smile. “I’m fine, okay?”

Alex immediately quieted, though relief visibly washed over his face.

“Baby… I’m just glad you’re feeling better.”

Lucas stared at him silently after that. Something was unsettling about the sincerity in Alex’s eyes. Nothing about him looked fake or forced. The concern, the affection, even the way he looked at him, all felt painfully real.

And somehow… that bothered him. He lowered his gaze to the fork in his hand.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” he said softly. “I’m fine.”

After a brief pause, he added awkwardly, “And, I think you should stop calling me those pet names.”

For a moment, silence settled between them. But instead of looking hurt, Alex smiled sadly.

“Baby, I can’t do that,” he replied gently. “Because you’ll always be my baby no matter what happens.”

Lucas slowly looked back up at him.

Alex leaned slightly forward, his voice lowering with emotion.

“Your dad blocked my number on your phone” he said quietly.

“He did?”

“Yes baby, that's why I couldn't contact you all this time. But fate still brought us together here tonight.”

His eyes never left Lucas’s face.

“Even if your father breaks my hands and legs…” Alex whispered with a faint smile, “I’ll still call you my sweetheart, my baby, my lucky charm. Do you know why?”

Lucas stared at him dumbfounded.

He took his left hand, “Baby because you're my world. I'm still breathing today because you loved me.”

Lucas felt his chest tighten unexpectedly.

“Because I know one day…” Alex continued softly, “You’re going to remember us.”

The sincerity in his voice made Lucas unable to look away. And for reasons he couldn’t explain, hearing those words stirred something deep and unfamiliar inside him.

Alex’s words lingered heavily in Lucas’s chest long after he stopped speaking.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, hearing that much devotion directed at him made something ache deeply inside him.

A strange part of him desperately wished his memories would return immediately.

The pain in Alex’s eyes didn’t look like the pain of someone with pretense. It looked painfully real.

Lucas lowered his gaze slowly to the dessert sitting untouched before him. His fingers tightened slightly around the fork.

Then suddenly, reality returned sharply to him.

The registry office and their wedding. Derby stood beside him as they took the marital vows.

His chest suddenly felt heavy.

Without looking directly at Alex, he spoke quietly.

“Alex… I saw you at the registry office.”

Alex’s smile faded slightly, though he remained silent.

Lucas swallowed hard before continuing.

“I believe you know that…” He paused painfully. “I’m married.”

The words came out softer than he intended, almost guilty.

For a brief second, silence settled heavily between them. Alex stared at him quietly. Then with a faint bitter smile, he finished the sentence for him.

“You’re married?”

Lucas finally looked up at him slowly.

There was no anger or blame on Alex’s face. That somehow made it worse.

“Yes,” Lucas answered softly. “Even though I can’t remember everything… I’m someone’s husband now.”

Alex lowered his eyes briefly, hiding the flicker of pain that crossed them.

“Baby, I know,” he admitted quietly.

Lucas frowned slightly. “Then why are you still here?”

“I'm here because I can't see you and leave just like that. Not when I knew everything you went through. Not when I can't stop loving you. Not when I'm missing you like crazy.”

The answer came instantly and firmly.

Lucas froze.

Alex’s voice softened after that, but the emotion behind it remained unwavering.

“Baby, I know you don’t love Derby because you love me. I don't know what they said to you to convince you to make that commitment. But I do know one thing, you’re meant for me. I will wait until you come back to me.”

Lucas gazed at him speechless.

“I loved you before the accident,” Alex said. “And I still love you now.”

Lucas felt his heartbeat become uneven.

“You may have forgotten me, baby,” Alex continued quietly, “but I haven’t forgotten you for even one second.”

Lucas looked away quickly, unable to handle the intensity in his eyes. His chest tightened again strangely.

Why did hearing this man's words hurt and comfort him at the same time?

Alex noticed the conflict on Lucas’s face and forced a small smile.

“I’m not here to pressure you,” he said gently. “I'm just excited to see you again.”

Lucas finally exhaled slowly.

For the first time since waking up from the accident, he felt torn between two worlds he didn’t fully understand.

“Oh dear goodness…”

Lucas dragged both hands through his hair in frustration, his mind already in chaos from everything Alex had told him.

He looked overwhelmed… torn apart by emotions he couldn’t even explain.

Then quietly, almost fearfully, he asked, “What if I never remember you again?”

The question made Alex’s chest tighten painfully. But instead of hesitation, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

“Baby, you will,” he said softly with complete certainty. “I strongly believe you’ll remember us.”

Lucas stared at him silently. Part of him desperately wanted that to be true. Because every second spent with Alex felt strangely natural, comforting, and familiar. Even without memories.

Alex slowly reached across the table and took Lucas’s hand again. His thumb brushed gently against his skin.

Lucas didn’t pull away this time.

“I want to ask you something important,” Alex said quietly.

Lucas looked at him cautiously.

“I already know you don’t love her,” Alex continued calmly. “Because you love me.”

Lucas’s heartbeat stumbled at the confidence in his voice.

“But what I want to know is this…” Alex’s expression softened. “Are you happy?”

Lucas frowned slightly.

“I mean with Derby,” Alex clarified. “Or does your marriage feel like a mistake?”

Lucas immediately looked away.

His chest tightened painfully again.

Did it matter? He thought. Everything already felt messed up beyond repair.

“Does it matter?” he asked quietly, clearly not wanting to discuss the disaster his life had become.

Alex’s eyes filled with sympathy instantly.

“Baby…” he whispered gently, squeezing his hand softly. “I’m sorry they trapped you in such an unhappy situation.”

Lucas’s lashes lowered slightly.