Good Things

~YOU should be elated I’m kissing you. You married Victor York. A socialite scum, you’re essentially trash right now.~ A statement the well-known defense lawyer, Theodore Wilson, said to the billionaire heiress Latton Ripley, which he soon regretted saying.

Using Latton’s detailed instructions, Igor executed the plan to kick Theo off of his high pedestal.

Early in the morning, Theo receives a dozen calls from various reporters who want to interview him, from a top-notch defense attorney to a legal practitioner who is facing disbarment.

He is in a deep conundrum. All his secrets are out, from extortion, assault, bribery, and drugs. In just 24 hours, his life was turned 360 degrees. With the number of people he has hurt and used over the last decade, he can’t pinpoint who is destroying him.

Meanwhile, Latton woke up from her deep slumber. Feeling refreshed as if the weight of the world is now off her shoulders. She soon notices her clothes are different. From the pants and white shirt she wore last night, she is now wearing a dark blue pajama. She glances around her room looking for Lucian, but he is nowhere to be found.

She sighed. “He must have gone home after I fell asleep.” She thought to herself.

She soon got downstairs to eat breakfast. To her surprise, Angeline, Airo, and Lucius are not in the dining area and no food is set on the table.

“What’s happening here?” She asks herself.

Shortly after, she walked to the kitchen only to see the maids watching someone cook. She could sense that the maids were preoccupied and were ogling whoever was in the kitchen.

She clears her throat, “Sarah… Lupe… Everyone? What’s happening here?” She inquired in annoyance. The servants are aware that when Miss Ripley hasn't had her coffee or breakfast in the morning, her mood is a bit shaky.

Hearing her voice, all the maids stared at her and hurriedly dispersed. Then she saw him. Topless with only an apron covering his chiseled abs. The words ‘LATTON’s Property’ are on display on his back.

“What the fuck?” She screamed. Her face turned redder than a ripe tomato.

Lucian looked at her. “I’m glad you are awake.” He muttered gleefully while making some pancakes.

“What the fuck?” She repeats in surprise.

He laughs, “I want to cook for you.” He says. “I told you I’m serious about us.”

She could feel her ear burning in glee. “If I’m dreaming I hope I won’t wake up.” She mumbled to herself, then discreetly, pinched herself. She winces.

“Oh my. This is not a dream.” She uttered.

He giggled, showing his pearly white teeth. “I might look dreamy, but this is not a dream.” He replied proudly.

She laughs at his boastful remarks. Then the news on the TV caught her eye. She discreetly glances at the screen.

“You slept soundly last night.” He uttered as he neatly placed the pancakes and bacon on the plate.

She nods, “I did. What can I say, revenge is the best sleeping pill.” She thought to herself as she saw Theo’s face flashing on the TV.

She then stared at him with a delightful smile, “Did you change my clothes?” She asked nicely.

He nods. “I hope you don’t mind. I swear I didn’t peek.” He remarks playfully.

She laughs. “I think the bacon grease got into your head.” She states.

He raised his hand in defense, "I know I said I was going to take this slow... If needed to. Trust me, I tried to stop myself, but you are too adorable." He explains coquettishly. "Then I remembered we are technically already engaged."

She gasped in shock and confusion, "What are you talking about? Since when did that happen?"

He bit his lower lip and then grinned playfully. "I picked you up from your dental appointment, then you demanded to get married and have a lot of kids... You forced me to agree... So... We are engaged... You need to take responsibility for your actions, Miss Ripley," he mumbles.

Her face and ears burned red in embarrassment, "That's not a dream!?" She exclaimed. "In my defense, I'm high in anesthesia, you should have taken my words with a grain of salt." She added as she slowly sat down on the chair near him. Trying her best to remember what else she said that day.

He breathes in profoundly, "Do you want to take it back? Are you willing to break my heart?" He uttered jokingly while clutching his chest as if he was going to have a heart attack.

She shook her head, then sighed, "I should buy you a ring then, my lady." She replied sarcastically.

He grinned and then pushed a plate of food at her. She stared at the neatly arranged stacks of pancakes and bacon and she began eating.

Distracted by food. She did not notice him rummaging in his pockets. She starts slowly and then gradually eats faster. "Not bad Caldwell," she muttered, then burped loudly.

Soon she saw him slide a small red box, "What's that?" She inquired. Her heart was pounding loudly.

"I got you covered with the ring," he remarks, then opens the box.

Inside she saw a huge diamond ring and beside it was the promised ring she threw at him.

She giggled, "Let me guess this ring is heavier than 12 carats?" She asked.

He nods, "13.1. How did you know it would be heavier than that?"

"Well, that's one promise you actually kept. You said you'd going to give me a ring heavier than what Victor gave me." She commented.

He smiled, "From now on, all my promises won't be broken." He uttered gently while putting the rings on her finger.

"They are beautiful but..." She paused.

His movements were put to a halt.

"But what?" He inquired nervously. Anticipating something bad.

"I can't wear the engagement ring for now." She uttered while removing the ring and putting it back in the box.

"Why? Are you backing down from your proposal to me?" He asks anxiously while holding her hand.

She grinned, "Lucian, Chill!" She uttered while patting his hand.

"Have you forgotten? The day after tomorrow is John and Vivian's engagement party. If I wear this huge ring, the attention might shift to me and not to them." She explains. "It's their party. It's their night."

He nodded then narrowed his gaze, "Of course. By the way, I haven't told John and Vivian that we got back together. The last news they heard from me was about Shirley and Prima Star leaving for good." He muttered while removing his apron. Showing his toned abs and the tattoo of Latton's face on his chest.

An idea soon entered his mind, "I've seen a lot of photos of you on my computer and noticed we don't have a photo together." He commented.

She lowered her head, "Because we never had one." She replied.

Shortly after, Lucian wrapped his arms around her and took an intimate photo of them. "Now we have one," he uttered gleefully while typing, then immediately put down his phone.

She grins and then points at the tattoo. "Aren't you going to regret that? What if this... US... Don't work out. Those tattoos will be there for a very long time." She remarks.

He held her face and leaned close to her, "I regret nothing." He whispered, then slowly inched closer for a kiss. "How about we start having our first child?"

She gasped then blushed in surprise. "I thought we were going to take things slow." She mumbled while biting her lower lip and touching his chest.

CONCURRENTLY, John and Vivian are sitting on the couch in their living room. Still in their sleepwear watching the news on the TV.

Vivian lowered the volume and then stared at John, "I've invited Latton to our engagement party, and she confirmed her attendance." She mumbled in a low voice. "It wouldn't be a problem with Lucian would it?"

John shrugged. "Does it matter? The event is about us, not him or his stupidity." He reasons.

"What if he took Shirley in there?" She remarked.

"He won't," John declared with certainty.

Her eyes narrowed, "How sure are you?" She asked curiously.

"He sent Shirley away, and she won't come back." He explains.

"But he said he'd have a plus one at the event." She cried out.

Soon his phone vibrated. "Speaking of the devil. Lucian sent me a message." He mumbles.

When he opened it, his eyes dilated. "It's a photo of Lucian shirtless, tightly embracing Latton who's in her pajama with the caption 'Here's my plus one'.

He grinned and then showed the photo to Vivian. "Here's his plus one."

She sighs, "I'm happy that he is not bringing in Shirley, but I guess he is into redheads now." She muttered.

He shook his head, "Look at her face." He insisted.

She gasped, "holy shit! I have a lot of questions. Why is Latton's hair red and why does Lucian have a tattoo of her face?" She says while zooming in on the photo. "Are they in the kitchen?"

"Hey! Nosy pants," he exclaimed. "Save all your questions. We have an engagement party to prepare." He added while poking her cheek.

MEANWHILE, in the depths of Los Angeles Women's Penitentiary.

Alison Gardner was glaring at Latton's photo that she cut off from a newspaper. "You brat!" She mumbled through gritted teeth. Her eyes expressed anger and annoyance.