Chapter 214
Lucinda looked down at the agreement again.
She really had been looking for retail space.
Ethereal Jewel Studio's new collection was launching next month. She'd asked Tamsin to look into rental rates and lease terms at a few malls, but nothing had felt quite right.
She'd only mentioned it to Tamsin once.
"How did you know about this?"
"I saw it when your phone lit up with a notification." His tone was completely unapologetic. "The screen was on. I glanced."
Lucinda stared at his shameless expression, momentarily at a loss for words.
She flipped to the last page of the agreement. His signature was already there in the signature line. All she had to do was fill in her name as the lessee.
"Reginald, I still need to pay rent." She set the document on her lap, her tone serious. "You're running a business. There are costs."
"My cost is you." He looked at her, his gaze earnest. "Your business is my business. If your studio makes money, nothing makes me happier."
Lucinda's fingers paused on the pen cap. She said nothing.
He continued, his voice softening. "Actually, I originally wanted to transfer the entire mall to you. But I knew you wouldn't accept it, so I figured I'd start with the storefronts."
She looked up at him. "Next time you want to say something like that, maybe give me a warning first."
"Why?"
"Because my heart can't take it."
Reginald froze for a moment, then laughed.
He watched her lower her head to sign, the tenderness in his gaze nearly overflowing.
"Lucinda."
"Yeah?"
He reached out and gently covered the back of her hand holding the pen. "It's not just the storefronts. My company, my people, everything I have—it's all yours to command."
Lucinda's pen tip stopped on the paper.
She looked up and met his gaze. Those eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, now held nothing but complete sincerity.
"You've said that before."
"I was afraid you forgot."
She lowered her head, finished the last few strokes, closed the document, and looked up at him. "I didn't forget."
She handed the document back to him, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. "Reginald, sometimes you're really kind of ridiculous."
He took the document, a smile spreading from his eyes to the curve of her lips.
"Then I'll be ridiculous."
He said, "As long as you accepted it."
The two spent the entire afternoon in the Starfield chamber.
Reginald showed her the other chambers—the Light and Shadow chamber, the Deep Sea chamber, the Cloud Summit chamber. Each one had a different theme, with lighting and scenery so exquisite they seemed unreal.
Lucinda walked through each one. She didn't say much, but her gaze lingered in each chamber longer than he'd expected.
Near evening, they had dinner in the lounge area at the center of the Starfield chamber.
Reginald sat across from her, barely touching his utensils, simply watching her eat.
After dark, the car drove back to the Douglas Estate.
Forty minutes later, the black sedan pulled up slowly in front of the Douglas Estate.
Reginald turned off the engine but didn't immediately unbuckle his seatbelt.
Lucinda turned to look at him, her lips curving gently. "We're here."
"Yeah." Reginald responded but still didn't move.
Lucinda couldn't help but smile. "What's wrong?"
Reginald looked at her, his eyes full of reluctance. "Today went by too fast."
He let out a soft sigh. "Feels like I didn't get enough time with you."
Lucinda's heart softened. She reached out and gently took his hand. "We can see each other tomorrow, can't we?"
Reginald clasped her small hand in his palm, unwilling to let go. "But I still want to stay a little longer."
Lucinda laughed softly.
The head of the Lancaster Group—ruthless and decisive in the eyes of outsiders—now looked like a big kid reluctant to say goodbye.
The two sat in the car a little longer until sounds came from the portico.
Milton pushed open the front door and walked out, thermos in hand, standing on the steps and squinting in their direction.
Seeing the two still sitting in the car, he frowned and strode over, rapping on the passenger window with his knuckles.
Lucinda turned her head and saw her second brother's impatient face through the window. She couldn't help but smile.
Reginald saw him too.
He released her hand, pushed open the door, got out, and walked over to stand in front of Milton, his tone gentle. "Milton."
"Don't call me Milton." Milton snorted and walked right past him, pulling open the passenger door. "Cindy, get out."
Lucinda stifled a laugh and stepped out of the car.
But the moment her feet hit the ground, Milton grabbed her and pulled her behind him, his movements as protective as if guarding against a thief.
Reginald fell silent.
Milton looked at him with open suspicion. "It's late. My sister needs to go home and rest."
Reginald looked at Lucinda, the reluctance in his eyes impossible to hide. "Cindy, see you tomorrow."
Lucinda smiled and nodded. "Okay. See you tomorrow."
Only then did Reginald's expression soften into a smile. "I'll come pick you up."
"Okay."
It was just a simple exchange, but Milton felt like he was standing there invisible.
He looked at his sister, then at Reginald.
His chest felt inexplicably tight.
Milton sighed quietly to himself.
Of course.
His sister had grown up.
His status as her brother was declining by the day.
Back in the living room, Lucinda was about to change her shoes when a pair of soft, fuzzy women's slippers appeared neatly at her feet.
She looked down. Milton was crouched there. "Wear these. They're more comfortable."
Lucinda sighed helplessly. "Milton, I can do it myself."
But Milton shook his head seriously. "No. Sisters are meant to be pampered."
As he spoke, he took the bag from her hands and set it on the sofa, then went to the kitchen and poured her a glass of warm water.
Lucinda rubbed her forehead. "Milton, you really don't have to do all this."
Milton handed her the water, his tone matter-of-fact. "Of course I do. The more you're spoiled, the higher your standards will be. That way, jerk men won't be able to trick you."
Lucinda couldn't help but laugh. "Reginald would be hurt if he heard that."
"Let him be hurt." Milton snorted lightly. "He tricked me out of my project. Now every time I look at him, all I see is a jerk."
Lucinda finally couldn't hold it in. She laughed, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
Her clear, bright laughter echoed through the living room.
At the same time, on the landing of the staircase, Dahlia stood quietly.
She watched the warm, harmonious scene below, her nails digging into her palms bit by bit.
Why…
Why did everyone revolve around Lucinda?
Manuel protected her. Milton doted on her. Mom and Dad practically wanted to give her everything they had.
Even Reginald held her in the palm of his hand.
And what about her?
All these years, she'd worked so hard to please everyone, yet no one had ever thoughtfully brought her slippers or poured her water. Even a single word of concern was painfully rare.
Dahlia stared down at Lucinda's radiant smile, the jealousy in her eyes nearly impossible to suppress.
Why…
All of this should have been hers.