Chapter 222: I hear you

Anger finally exploded inside her.

"Fine!" Her scream echoed through the mansion.

Lucas stopped near the doorway.

Very slowly, he turned.

Derby stood trembling. Tears running down her face. Her chest rising and falling. And then she shouted, "You're not getting any divorce!"

The words echoed through the hall.

"We are tied together!"

Lucas stared at her. Her eyes burned with desperation.

"Do you fucking hear me?"

For several seconds neither moved. Then Lucas looked at her with a sadness she wasn't expecting.

"I hear you, but when the papers are ready, you will sign it."

Then he opened the door.

And walked away.

Leaving Derby standing alone in the middle of the mansion with the question, “Is this the same Lucas?”

Lucas walked out of the mansion without looking back.

The cool evening air hit his face, but it did little to calm the frustration still boiling inside him.

Derby's words echoed in his mind.

You're not getting any divorce!

We are tied together!

He exhaled sharply.

His car sat parked near the driveway. For a moment, he headed toward it, but then he stopped. A different thought crossed his mind.

Without realizing it, a small smile appeared.

"I wonder if Vince is in..." He changed direction immediately.

"Or did he disappear again today?"

The words escaped him with a quiet chuckle.

The realization that he was heading for the cottage instead of a hotel should have concerned him, but it didn't, instead, it felt natural.

By the time he reached the cottage, the small building looked peaceful beneath the glittering night stars.

Lucas knocked, once, twice.

No answer.

He waited, still nothing. A familiar sense of disappointment touched him.

"Not again." He pushed lightly on the door. It opened. Unlocked, just like the night before.

Lucas shook his head.

"One day someone's going to rob you."

Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him.

"Vince?" He called out but no response came.

The cottage remained empty with no movement or sign of its owner.

Lucas walked farther inside.

"Are you here?" Nothing.

He smiled to himself. "I guess he went out again."

The cottage somehow felt different when Vince wasn't there. It was quieter, and less lively.

Lucas looked around. Then his gaze drifted toward the bedroom.

A random thought crossed his mind.

The pajamas. The ones Vince had lent him last night. For some reason he wondered whether they were still there.

Shaking his head at his own curiosity, he walked toward the room.

Opening the closet, he immediately spotted them hanging neatly on a hanger.

Exactly where he'd left them. A strange warmth settled in his chest.

Vince really was an organized person, just like him.

Lucas laughed softly. Then rolled his shoulders, and realized how exhausted he felt.

Between Derby, the divorce papers, and everything else, his head was pounding.

"I need a shower."

The thought sounded perfect and refreshing. Exactly what he needed.

He began undoing the buttons of his shirt one by one, as he crossed the room.

The shirt landed on a chair. Then the rest of his clothes followed.

A few minutes later, wrapped comfortably in a towel, he entered the bathroom.

The shower started with a hiss as the cool water cascaded over his skin. It immediately washed away some of the day's stress.

Lucas closed his eyes. Tilting his head beneath the stream. For that cool moment, his thoughts began to quiet. The steady sound of falling water drowned everything else out.

Outside the bathroom, the front door quietly opened. Vince stepped inside carrying a small paper bag.

He had claimed to spent most of the evening helping a friend in town. While the fact was that he had important business meetings. He was just through with it before meeting Lucas at Casa Lounge and Bar.

The moment he entered, he froze.

The cottage lights were on.

His brows furrowed.

"Hello?"

No answer.

He set the bag down carefully.

Then he noticed clothes folded over the bedroom chair.

He stared, it was Lucas's.

For a moment, he simply blinked.

Then the distant sound of running water reached his ears.

His eyes widened slightly. A smile slowly appeared. His heart thudded happily.

"So that's where you are."

The realization brought an unexpected feeling of relief. Lucas had come back. He had fled from the mansion again. He didn't go to the hotel, he prefered to crash here with him.

Vince winked and found himself smiling far more than he should. He leaned against the wall and listened to the shower running behind the bathroom door.

Waiting for Lucas to realize he wasn't alone anymore.

The water continued to run. Steam slowly filled the bathroom as Lucas continued to enjoy the coolness around him.

Outside, Vince sat for a while before eventually standing. A smile tugged at his lips.

"Wow." He glanced toward the bathroom. "The water must be feeling really good."

After a long day working outside, the thought of a showering at once suddenly became very appealing.

Might as well freshen up at once too. He headed to the closet and began removing his clothes.

A few moments later, he wrapped a towel around his waist. He rubbed his damp hair back.

Just as he turned toward the chair, the bathroom door opened. Lucas stepped out.

The moment their eyes met, both men froze.

Water droplets glistened on Lucas's skin. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead and neck.

The towel hung low around his waist.

For a second, Vince completely forgot what he had been doing.

His mind went blank.

Lucas stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened.

"Oh." His voice cracked slightly.

"You... you're back."

Vince blinked. Then quickly recovered.

"Yeah." A faint smile appeared.

"About fifteen minutes ago."

Lucas's eyes widened further.

"What?"

A blush immediately crept onto his face. "You've been waiting all that time?"

He looked genuinely horrified.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

Vince laughed softly.

"No." He shook his head.

"I didn't mean it like that."

Lucas looked relieved.

Vince folded his arms loosely.

"I meant the water must feel amazing for you to stay in there that long."

The tension eased instantly as Lucas let out a breath.

"Oh." A small smile appeared.

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It is."

His voice softened. "It helps a lot."

Vince tilted his head.

"Help what?"

Lucas hesitated. Then he looked away. "My thoughts."

The answer came quietly. Vince's expression softened immediately.

Lucas continued. "Everything's been so loud lately."

His gaze dropped to the floor.

“The problem with Derby. She told me tonight that she would never sign the divorce papers. Though when the time comes she will sign it.” Lucas said that with faith.

“Then the question why my memory seemed to be taking so long to return."

He laughed weakly.

"Half the time I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel."

The confession hung between them. Vince watched him carefully.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Vince stepped closer, just enough to let him know he was listening.

"You've been carrying a lot." Vince said as he took his hand in his.