Chapter 54 In The Midst of Silence, There's Someone Watching
THE SILVERWARE glistened under the warm light in the mansion's dining hall. Lucian and Angel were eating silently, enjoying their breakfast, but Lena couldn't. She kept on glancing at Eva, standing along with the other maids, eyes glued to the floor.
She couldn't forget the sound of her cries. She couldn't forget the pain in her eyes.
The kind maid had been keeping a distance, she could feel it. Though it wasn't an outright avoidance. It was careful, it was silent. Like Eva was carrying a broken glass she pieced together and she's afraid of breaking it again.
After breakfast, Lucian rode in the same car as Angel to go to school. While Lena took another car to go to work. The driver opened the door for her and she slipped inside the backseat silently after waving at Angel.
At work, Lena sat on her chair, pretending to focus on her job, though her mind was wandering somewhere far.
She was thinking of everything. The situation. Her hidden and forbidden relationship with Lucian. How to tell Viktor about it and refuse the marriage. Eva's feelings. And on top of that, Angel's future.
She has work now, she can provide. But what if Danilo's family tried to mess with them again? They're still powerful, have a lot of connections, and wealthy. It's not hard for him to fire her from her job even without lifting a finger.
"Lena!" Clara, her first friend in the Blackwood Shipping Company waved her hand at her.
It was now lunch time, and Clara invited her to eat at the nearest newly opened restaurant.
Lena smiled. "Clara."
They went to the elevator together. When they're at the lobby, they were greeted by the security.
"Miss Mendoza, I just called the executive floor, but I was told you're on a lunch break. Good thing, you're here. You have visitors."
Lena stared at him, shocked. "Visitors?"
"Yes, they're sitting there." The security pointed at the couch in the spacious lobby.
Lena's lips parted when she saw Angel and Lucian. Their back is on her, but she knows them very well.
Lena's lips curled into an automatic smile as she watched them. Angel was laughing after Lucian said something to her.
"Who are they?" Clara whispered in her ear, making her flinch.
She caressed her ear and pouted a little. "Ah! My daughter-"
"Mama!" Angel ran up to her, nearly tackling her legs in a hug.
Lena squatted in front of her and caressed her hair, her lips curled into a smile again. "What are you doing here, sweetie?"
Lucian appeared behind her, holding a paper bag, smiling. He was staring at her, like he was mesmerized. "We brought lunch. Thought we could eat together."
"Oh my God!" Clara, behind Lena gasped, cupping her mouth.
Lena looked at her. "Uh... Clara, this is-"
"Lucian Viktor Moretti," Clara said, her jaw almost dropped as she looked at Lena. "Oh my gosh, Lena. He's your husband?"
Lena's eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. The thought of Lucian being her husband affects her so much. She was suddenly imagining him hugging her while she's cooking for him as his wife.
Lucian chuckled. "That would be a dream come true for me, Miss?"
"Lucian!" Lena grabbed his arm, stopping him. But Clara already shook his hand, smiling.
"I'm Clara, Lena's new friend," Clara smiled and glanced at Lena. "I know you because you're popular. I hope it doesn't bother you."
"Nope!" Lucian smiled. "Not at all. Except that I'm famished, and I really want to eat with Magdalena today. You wouldn't mind if we snatched her for an hour, right?"
Clara's laughter broke, entertained and humorous. "Of course! You can take her now. Hello, baby girl. I'm Aunt Clara, your mama's friend."
"Mama has a friend," Angel screamed happily, now holding Clara's hand. "You are beautiful, Aunt Clara."
Clara laughed again, looking at Lena. "You raised her as a very honest kid."
Lucian brought them to the nearest park. They sat on the concrete bench with a table and Lucian started preparing their food. Angel looked so excited, holding her spoon and fork while smiling at the food container.
"Lucian," Lena called out his name, making him lift his head to her. "You didn't have to do this."
"But I wanted to," he said simply, smiling sweetly. "This is a date, you know?"
Lena chuckled softly, but then her heart skipped a beat. She bit her bottom lip and nodded, surrendering to him again. It's just a simple lunch anyway.
They started eating, and from time to time, Angel would tell the story about what she did at school today. Mostly about her making friends, and helping other kids with their drawings.
"That girl Clara," Lucian suddenly spoke, looking at her curiously. "Is she good to you?"
Lena smiled and nodded. "She's my first friend in the company. She's nice."
Lucian nodded, smiling. "Hm! That's great! You should make friends and go out sometimes. I know you didn't get to enjoy those things before, so you should now."
Lena shook her head. "Yeah, but I'm fine with my routine. I don't think going to clubs and partying is my thing anyway."
"You wouldn't know unless you tried," Lucian smirked. "Going out with your friends is fun, Magdalena. You should enjoy your social life and forget about their judgment. Don't let them restrict your freedom."
Lena chuckled. "I think you're being a bad influence now since you're still grounded."
"Of course not," Lucian laughed, playfully pinching her nose. "I missed my social life, but I could trade it for a moment like this."
Lena chuckled again and shook her head. She looked around the park, and her eyes accidentally caught someone looking at them. Sitting on a bench, holding a cup of coffee like he was just trying to relax but he saw them.
He looked calm, composed, like always, but there was something in his eyes that made Lena suddenly scared.
Terrence Blackwood. Her boss. He was dressed in his usual charcoal suit, white shirt crisp against the sharp lines of his jaw, with his unshakeable, cold-hearted demeanor.
Lena froze. Her blood ran cold for some reason. Like she'd been caught red-handed in a crime
Lucian noticed the tension in her shoulders and turned to see what she was looking at. When his eyes landed on Terrence Blackwood, a flash of recognition passed over his face.
And then he walked towards him.
"Terrence," Lucian greeted Mr. Blackwood.
"Lucian, I didn't know you like such a place," Mr. Blackwood said calmly, slowly turning his head to Lucian, standing in front of him.
Lena stood on her feet, stunned.
Wait.
Lucian knew Terrence Blackwood? How?