Chapter 159 Baby, What Explanation Do You Want?

Chapter 159 Baby, What Explanation Do You Want?
This woman was heartbroken beyond measure. He couldn't help but wonder if the punishment was too severe.
When he finally pulled her out of the water, she was completely drained of strength. Lying limp against his chest, her shoulders shook and her voice came out muffled and strained.
Thinking back now, was she crying then?
Yet he had slapped her buttock. "Have you learned your lesson?"
"Yes, yes..." Her reply seemed choked with sobs.
Lukas pressed his hand to his forehead. "All right, it's my fault. Baby, come down first.”
"No, I won't! You’re lying! I'll never trust you again!"
Lia gripped the tree trunk tightly, drawing strength from her hold to speak.
If she climbed down and faced him directly, she wouldn't dare say them.
Since she’d already caused a scene today, she might as well voice everything she’d bottled up inside.
“I know you’re serious, but could you be gentle with me? Just a little gentle! You know how exhausting it is to please you all the time. The moment I see your expression change, I instinctively want to kneel. Me... Do you think I want to kneel? It's not easy for me!"
Lukas' eye twitched. When had he ever asked her to kneel?
"And you're always so suspicious! If a man stands next to me, you think I'm up to something with him. You won't even let me film!"
"Oh, right—speaking of filming. We had an agreement, but when Kai and my agent came to discuss work, you didn’t call me. You just shooed them away. I have to consult with you before accepting any role, and I have to sneak out over the wall to film."
“Didn’t you say it yourself? I’m the mistress of Stilles Haus. What mistress has to climb over her own wall to enter her home? Where’s my dignity?”
Lukas had no rebuttal.
He had deliberately interfered.
“If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’m staying up in this tree!”
Lukas looked up at her with deep, intense eyes. “Baby, what explanation do you want?”
That one word—"baby"—made Lia’s whole body go limp.
He always got her off the hook with that line.
"You can't interfere with my career anymore. You can't punish me on a whim. And...”
"And what?"
Lia glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, she gripped the tree trunk and looked down, whispering, "You can't do it so often!"
"Hmph..."
He actually laughed!
His laugh only made Lia angrier.
Such words were embarrassing. She fumed, "Don't laugh! Did you hear everything I said?"
"Of course. I'll try my best."
"Now that you've gotten everything off your chest, can you come down?"
Lia froze.
His tone was like an adult placating a stubborn child.
"I won't!"
Lukas' expression darkened. "Be reasonable. It's dangerous up there. Come down first.”
"No!"
Lia crossed her arms tightly across her chest. Suddenly, her body swayed dangerously as she teetered on the edge of the tree.
Lukas froze in terror.
He rushed forward, ready to catch her.
But Lia flailed her arms wildly and somehow steadied herself.
She didn't dare sit anymore and instead switched to a prone position.
The tree was ancient, its trunk so thick that it took both hands to encircle it.
Lia shifted from sitting to lying flat on her stomach, her hands clutching the trunk tightly. She refused to come down, no matter what.
“Get down now!”
Lukas raised his voice, his anger clear in his tone.
Lia puckered her lips, and the tears that had just stopped flowing began to fall again. "You're being mean! You're always mean to me!"
She cried as she spoke, looking deeply wronged, her sobs growing louder.
Lukas immediately panicked.
He was hopeless at comforting people.
The only other time he had tried to console her was during one of her major tantrums, when he improvised.
But those attempts always ended with him becoming harsh.
It suddenly struck him—had he been... too rough with her?
Was that why she had such negative thoughts and resorted to climbing trees and shouting at him from a distance?
Lukas rarely felt so utterly lost.
He raised his hand and loosened his tie slightly.
Sunlight streamed down from above. Through her blurred, tear-filled eyes, Lia watched him adjust his tie. His face was turned slightly to the side; his features were sharp and angular and still carried a hint of coldness.
From her angle, he looked quite intimidating.
Lia pointed at him with trembling fingers, struggling for words, but finally a shaky voice emerged from her throat: "What are you doing? Do you think you can't win an argument, so you resort to violence?"
Lukas lifted his head, his expression utterly still, and locked his gaze onto hers.
Despite showing no emotion, Lia suddenly felt like she was being stared down by Voldemort.
She swallowed hard and retreated her trembling fingers. "I...I was just talking. Don't get angry."
Lukas' lips curved slightly, and she couldn't tell whether he was amused or annoyed.
He lightly licked the corner of his mouth and forced a calm tone that wouldn't frighten her. "Baby, am I really that terrible in your heart?"
Hmph! Too late for regrets now!
Lia pressed her face against the tree trunk and bit her finger lightly, avoiding his gaze. "Don't you know it yourself? Why ask?”
"What did you say?"
Lia's whispered words were instantly scattered by the wind.
His follow-up question made her tense up immediately. “Nothing! You're not bad! It's me who's no good. You're so gentle!"
Lukas' lips twitched slightly.
He raised a hand to his forehead, his smile growing more pronounced.
He should have pulled her down and scolded her, but the moment she started crying, he was helpless.
The way she sulked looked adorable enough to make his heart skip a beat.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I'll change."
Lia was surprised.
She stared straight into his eyes like a little wolf pup—earnest and unwilling to let go easily.
Lukas' heart softened.
In his deep eyes, a truly warm, gentle glow appeared, whether from the refraction of light or something else.
"I said I'll change. Everything you mentioned, I've taken note of. I'll change until you're satisfied."
Erik, Eliza, and the others watching from afar were utterly stunned.
Lia just blinked, unable to discern any sincerity in Lukas' expression.
Truthfully, his expressionless face never gave much away. Even if he felt something, it wasn't something she could read.
She murmured, "You expect me to believe you? How do I know you're not lying?”
"I am not you."
Lia didn't grasp the meaning at first.
Then, in a deep voice, he added, “Every word I say is true.”
Shit!
Did that mean that not a single word from her was true? She often said things she didn't follow through on.
She'd been hoping to use this chance to assert her position. How could she do that now?
She slumped back against the tree trunk and sniffled petulantly. "Whatever. Anyway... I can't believe everything you say."
Then, she started pretending to sob again.
Lukas didn't rush her, try to persuade her, or even comfort her.