Chapter 220: Provoked

Lucas immediately tensed.

"Please..."

Zenith smiled sadly.

"We cared about each other, Luc."

Lucas tried gently removing Zenith’s arm from him. "I'm sorry."

His voice was sincere. "I can't remember."

"Then remember."

Lucas shook his head. "It doesn't work like that."

The atmosphere grew tense.

Neither noticed the restroom door opening again.

Until a voice came through.

"Everything okay, boss?"

Both men turned.

Marvis stood in the doorway. His eyes immediately landed on Zenith's arm. Then on Lucas's expression.

His face hardened.

Lucas felt immediate relief.

"Yeah."

He stepped away from Zenith.

"We're leaving."

Marvis didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on Zenith. He was

suspicious, protective, and watching.

Zenith slowly removed his arm.

Holding both hands up.

"No problem." But his eyes remained on Lucas.

"Luc."

Lucas paused.

Zenith smiled. A little sadly.

"A memory loss doesn't mean you get rid of me that easily."

Lucas looked uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry."

Zenith shrugged. "Guess I'll have to introduce myself again."

Marvis stepped forward. That ended the conversation.

Lucas nodded politely. Then left with Marvis.

The restroom door closed behind them and silence followed.

Three seconds, then five… and counting.

Zenith burst out laughing loudly and uncontrollably. He grabbed the counter for support.

"Oh my goodness."

Another laugh escaped him.

"So it's true." His grin widened.

"He really forgot."

He stared at the closed door. His eyes sparkling with amusement, and something else.

Determination.

"Well..." He straightened. A slow smile spreaded across his face.

"If you forgot me..." He chuckled again. "I guess that means I get another chance."

His gaze remained fixed on the door.

"My Lucas, see you soon."

And for that moment, Zenith found himself looking forward to the chase.

Lucas returned to the table, but his mind wasn't in Casa Lounge anymore.

It was still trapped in that restroom.

Still replaying every word, every expression, and every strange claim.

He sat down heavily in his chair and stared at the glass in front of him.

Marvis remained standing nearby, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Lucas barely noticed.

We've known each other for months. I've missed your kisses. You promised you'd come back.

Lucas groaned inwardly.

"Damn."

He rubbed his forehead. He hadn't even gotten the man's name. Not a single detail. He got nothing, but confusion.

His thoughts spiraled.

Me and him? Kisses? Romance? Sex?

His face twisted immediately.

"Gaddamn it."

The words slipped out audibly.

A few nearby patrons glanced in his direction. Lucas ignored them.

"That doesn't even sound like me."

He leaned back. Thinking harder.

Before the accident, he'd been hiding a huge secret from everyone.

He'd been cautious, careful, and protective of himself.

At least that was one thing he couldn't deny.

So how could he have been casually involved with random people? It didn't fit. It didn't make sense.

"No." He shook his head. "That guy is mistaken."

His confidence grew with each word.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"He is definitely mistaken."

A familiar voice suddenly spoke behind him.

"Who is mistaken?"

Lucas jumped.

Before he could turn around, a light kiss landed on his cheek. It was warm, brief and familiar.

His heart immediately betrayed him as it thudded loudly in his chest.

Alex laughed softly.

"Easy there, baby."

Lucas turned around. And there he was. Alex was smiling, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

The tension that had been sitting in Lucas's chest a while ago eased instantly.

Alex noticed, and his smile softened.

"You look like you've had a rough day."

Lucas exhaled.

"You have no idea."

Alex pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

Close enough that their shoulders almost brushed.

"What happened again?"

Lucas stared at him, trying to decide whether to tell him. Then he sighed.

"You know how people keep appearing and claiming they know me?"

Alex immediately frowned. "Yeah?"

"Well." Lucas rubbed his face. "Another one showed up a few minutes ago."

Alex's smile disappeared. "Oh? So what's his name?"

Lucas shrugged. Well, I didn't get his name.

“Where did you meet him?”

"In the restroom."

Alex straightened. The protectiveness in his eyes appeared immediately.

"What did he want?"

Lucas looked away. Suddenly embarrassed.

Alex narrowed his eyes. That reaction was suspicious.

"What?"

Lucas groaned.

"Nothing."

"Baby."

"It's stupid."

"Come on, tell me."

Lucas hesitated. Then finally muttered, "He claimed we used to be involved."

Silence followed.

Alex blinked. "What kind of involved?"

Lucas pointed at him.

"The exact reaction you're having right now."

Alex stared. Then leaned closer.

"What kind of involved, baby?"

Lucas looked around to make sure nobody was listening. Then lowered his voice.

"He said we were... dating."

Alex's eyebrow lifted.

"Dating."

Lucas nodded.

"And?"

Lucas looked miserable.

"And apparently there were kisses."

Alex's face twitched.

"What? Kisses?"

"And romance."

Alex folded his arms. "Romance?"

Lucas looked at the ceiling. "And maybe more."

The silence that followed was deadly.Then…Alex laughed. It came once, short, and dangerous.

Lucas immediately pointed at him.

"Don't."

"Baby."

"Don't."

Alex shook his head. "I'm trying very hard not to be offended."

Lucas stared. "Why would you be offended?"

Alex leaned closer. "Because some random guy apparently walked up and claimed he had an entire love story with you."

Lucas groaned.

"See?"

"What's his name?"

"I don't know."

Alex blinked. "You don't know?"

Lucas pointed dramatically.

"Exactly!"

Alex couldn't help laughing.

"You forgot to ask?"

"I was busy being confused!"

The image was so ridiculous that Alex's annoyance faded slightly.

Still, something about the story bothered him.

"Did he touch you?"

Lucas paused.

Alex immediately noticed.

"Lucas."

"He hugged me unexpectedly."

Alex's expression darkened.

"And?"

Lucas looked away. Alex narrowed his eyes.

"And?"

Lucas sighed. "He put his arm around my waist."

Alex slowly leaned back in his chair. Dangerously calm.

Marvis, standing nearby, wisely looked in the opposite direction.

Alex smiled but the smile was terrifying.  "Interesting."

Lucas immediately recognized the tone. "Oh no."

Alex turned toward him.

"Oh yes."

"He didn't do anything bad."

"Mm-hmm."

"He was confused."

"Mm-hmm."

"Alex."

Alex sighed dramatically. Then reached over and squeezed Lucas's hand under the table.

The simple gesture immediately grounded him.

His expression softened. "Did he make you uncomfortable?"

Lucas thought about it. Then nodded. "Yah a little."

And that was enough, because

Alex's teasing disappeared immediately.

"If anyone makes you uncomfortable again..." His voice became gentler. "You don't owe them your time."

Lucas looked at him.

Something warm settled in his chest. Alex squeezed his hand once more. Then smiled.

"Now."

Lucas relaxed slightly.

"What?"

Alex grinned.

"Tell me what this mystery rival looked like."

Lucas nearly choked on his drink.

And just like that the tension broke.

Lucas took a sip of his drink and tried to remember the stranger's face.

"He was about this tall," he said, raising a hand slightly. "Brown hair, a bit like mine.  Confident, annoyingly confident."

Alex folded his arms. "That narrows it down to half the city."

Lucas ignored him.

"He talked like he already knew me."

"What else?"

"He kept calling me Luc."

Alex's expression flickered.

Lucas continued.

"He said I used to visit him."

Alex's jaw tightened.

Lucas didn't notice.

"And he claimed we were close."

"Keep going."

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.

"He said I used to stay at my friend Nathan's place."

At that, Alex's eyes narrowed.

That detail rang a bell. He immediately pulled out his phone.

Lucas frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Investigating."

"You know who he is?"

Alex didn't answer immediately. His fingers moved quickly across the screen. Then suddenly, he found a photo.

A familiar face appeared. Alex turned the phone around.

"What about this guy?"

Lucas's eyes widened instantly.

"That's him!"

He pointed at the screen. "That's exactly him."

Alex stared at the photo. Then leaned back in his chair. A dangerous smile slowly appeared on his face.

Lucas immediately recognized it.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

"What?"

Alex shook his head. "The audacity."

Lucas blinked, "What?"