Chapter 31: Absolutely No Possibility of Reconciliation
"Are you threatening me with Grandpa now?"
I tried to read Lucas's face to see what he was thinking, but he hid his true emotions where I couldn't see them.
Lucas asked in a condescending tone, "What's your answer?"
I refused without hesitation.
Lucas rubbed his right thumb against his index and middle fingers - a little habit of his when he wanted to smoke. "You can name your conditions."
He was using his boardroom tactics on me. I glanced at him calmly, "Anything? What if I want Amelia's life?"
In an instant, a sharp, cold glint flashed in Lucas's eyes. "Bella, don't go too far!"
"Is this too far?" I stepped forward, staring at him intently. "Everyone says the Sorelli family was killed by their enemies. Do you believe that, too?"
"Who would know the truth better than us four siblings? I say the Gambino family killed my parents, killed my relatives, killed all of the Sorelli family's subordinates and servants - then they did it! No evidence needed. What my brothers and I saw is the truth!"
"Five years ago, Amelia had only been back with the Gambino family for less than two years. What did she know? I don't care how you want to get revenge on the Gambino family, but Amelia is innocent!" Lucas argued back forcefully.
"Her last name is Gambino. That makes her guilty." I sneered, crossing my arms.
"I'm warning you, don't hurt Amelia. Otherwise..." Lucas grabbed my neck, but didn't apply pressure.
He was trying hard to restrain himself. His hand trembled slightly, brushing across my skin like a caress. My sensitive neck broke out in goosebumps.
His hand moved up, gripping my chin. I felt like he was going to crush my jaw!
"Ow!"
Lucas pressed his thumb against my lips. I thought he didn't want me to cry out in pain, but he rubbed my lips with his thumb pad - the threatening gesture somehow took on a teasing quality.
Someone knocked on the door.
Simon's voice came from outside: "Lucas, Bella, are you in there?"
Lucas called out, "What is it?"
"Amelia's here."
Lucas looked surprised.
Two minutes ago, he had defended Amelia so fiercely, but now he instinctively frowned, as if he wasn't exactly thrilled.
He let me go and opened the bedroom door. Simon took a deep breath and said, "Her mother's here too."
In the living room, Amelia sat with an elegant, mature woman.
The woman was Michelle.
She had expressive eyes that seemed to speak, with a small black mole below the left corner of her mouth. Her neat, short hairstyle and carefully coordinated outfit, jewelry, and shoes showed she was someone who cared about her appearance.
Though her high-necked dress was simple and conservative, it fit her figure perfectly, showing off her sex appeal just right.
"Lucas." Amelia turned excitedly at the sound of footsteps, but her smile dropped when she saw me. "Why are you here too!"
I'd been causing Amelia plenty of trouble online lately. Though Amelia had many fans before, she also had many haters.
These past few days, her haters have been attacking her like crazy. Amelia had been having a rough time.
"It's you, isn't it? You're the one spreading lies about me online! It must be you!" Amelia pointed at me and shouted.
Before I could respond, Michelle slapped Amelia's hand down. Her voice wasn't loud but stern enough: "Amelia, don't get so worked up!"
Amelia flinched, lowered her hand, and apologized obediently: "I was wrong, Mother."
I'd heard that Amelia used to live in a run-down part of town, with an open-air market outside her window that was noisy all day long. That's how Amelia developed the habit of talking at the top of her lungs.
Clearly, she was afraid of Michelle.
Lucas nodded coolly at Michelle in acknowledgment, but when he looked at Amelia, his eyes filled with pity and helplessness.
Amelia ran over and threw herself into Lucas's arms, acting hurt: "Mother was so mean. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay." Lucas patted her shoulder.
I watched coldly as he comforted Amelia, so gentle - something I'd never experienced.
An angry shout came from upstairs: "What are you doing!"
Then came the heavy thud of a cane hitting the floor.
Harold glared at Lucas furiously: "Lucas, let her go! Your wife is standing right there. What do you think you're doing? Have you forgotten how your mother died? How is what you're doing any different from your shameless father?"
I saw all emotion vanish from Lucas's face in an instant, leaving only a cold mask.
I'd never met a man more complex and changeable than Lucas.
Strangely enough, I could actually understand him.
Lucas's father, Donald Valeri, was a serial cheater. For as long as Lucas could remember, his mother, Linda Caldwell, was always full of resentment toward Donald.
She loved Lucas with her whole life - she was a good mother - but she also took her anger out on Lucas, making him understand hate and betrayal before he learned what love was.
Lucas was someone desperately lacking in love.
Even though he was now rich and powerful and could do whatever he wanted, he wasn't interested in things he could easily get. He only liked it when people figured out what he wanted and went to great lengths to deliver it to him.
That's how I'd loved Lucas for the past three years.
That bedroom, this house - everywhere were traces of my love for Lucas, proof that I'd given him my whole heart. That's why he wouldn't let anyone take away his "trophy."
Even Harold harbored resentment toward Lucas because of Linda's death and Donald's infidelity. Maybe the only complete love Lucas had ever felt in his life was what I gave him.
Did Amelia love Lucas more than I did? No.
Lucas couldn't let go of Amelia for two reasons: first, because she saved his life when they were young; second, because he seemed to see himself in Amelia.
Michelle was like Donald. The more Lucas understood Amelia, the more he pitied her.
But in the end, Lucas just loved himself.
Just my bad luck, falling for a man like this.
"Grandpa."
Lucas's voice snapped me out of my tangled thoughts.
He held Amelia's shoulders and gently pushed her away, looking up at Harold and saying, "Grandpa, I love Amelia. I'm going to marry her. It doesn't matter who objects. As for Bella - I'll compensate her."
"You... you!" Harold started coughing violently. Lucas quickly tried to help pat his back, but Harold, gasping for breath, forcefully pushed Lucas's hand away.
Simon shoved Lucas. "You bastard, are you trying to kill your grandfather?"
Lucas rubbed his temples. "Uncle Simon, why can't you accept Amelia the way you accepted Bella?"
Harold finally stopped coughing. Clutching his chest, he looked at Lucas in pain: "If you insist on breaking up with Bella, I'm cutting you off!"
Simon was shocked: "Dad!"
Lily tried to persuade Lucas: "Your grandfather is doing this for your own good. Don't be so stubborn."
Lucas slowly shook his head.
But Amelia held her head high, lips curled up, looking at me triumphantly.
Her provocation didn't anger me. I was surprised at how calm I felt.
"Grandpa, you can't force feelings. That's what Lucas taught me these past three years." Meeting Harold's guilt-filled gaze, I said, "I'm a businesswoman now. Once is enough for a losing deal. I'll take back the love I gave. There's no chance of Lucas and me getting back together."