Chapter 162 Big Brother

Chapter 162 Big Brother
Lia took two steps back, but before she could steady herself, he gently pulled her back again.
This time, she crashed straight into his chest. Her brow and nose bone smacked right against the hard ridge of his sternum. The pain made her gasp sharply.
Tears welled in her eyes. "What are you doing, Lukas?"
He hadn't expected that with just a little effort, she'd come over like a feather. Sometimes, when she struggled, she was as strong as a bull.
"Did I say anything?"
"Huh?" Where did that come from?
"Did I push anyone away?"
Lia finally understood the follow-up question. She shook her head hastily. "No! Lukas, you're the most reasonable person."
Lukas gave a light snort, with a hint of amusement in his voice. "If I truly wanted to stop him, Kai wouldn't even make it through the front door."
"That's true..." But Kai's stubbornness matched hers. Even if she had tried to stop him, it might not have worked.
"What did you say?"
The man's cool voice came from above her. Lia awkwardly rubbed her nose. "I... I said, 'Lukas, you're the best.'”
Lukas wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his fingers tightening slightly before relaxing.
He desperately wanted to tie this woman to his side, to keep her from leaving, to make her stay with him alone.
But he had tried such extreme methods before, sparking intense rebellion in her. That period marked the worst time in their relationship.
"Big brother."
Lukas' entire body tensed and the lines of his face sharpened suddenly. "What did you call me?"
Lia was bold. She burrowed into his embrace, clinging tightly to his waist. "Big brother. That's what I called you when I was little. Can I keep calling you that from now on?”
Lukas lowered his gaze to her face nestled against his, his eyes growing deeper.
His expression remained calm and serious.
After a few more glances, Lia's smile faltered. "You don't like me it?"
As she spoke, she began to pull her arms back from his waist.
The moment she moved, Lukas caught her hands and pulled them back into place.
He cupped the back of her head and pulled her deeper into his embrace. From her blind spot, a faint mist gathered in his eyes.
"I like it."
Lia giggled. "Then I'll switch between calling you Lukas and big brother.”
"Fine, as you wish."
His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as an unfamiliar stirring took root within him.
When they were children, he had looked after Lia for a while.
He hadn't been particularly close to the Wagner grandsons, but their grandfathers were good friends.
Once, when Xaver was visiting an old friend and would be away for a while, he personally came to see Lukas' grandfather.
Xaver didn't miss anything, but he couldn't bear to part with his precious granddaughter. He insisted on entrusting her personally to Lukas' grandfather, Niklas Müller.
Niklas agreed.
At the old Müller estate, Lia loved trailing after Lukas. She always skipped along, calling him "Big brother."
Though Lukas was aloof and others dared not approach him, Lia wasn't afraid.
He didn't chase her away, but he didn't show her any warmth either. He thought that if he was cold to her, she'd just turn around and play with someone else.
But she was persistent. She wouldn't follow anyone but him.
It was the first time in Lukas' life that he felt overwhelming, uncontrollable possessiveness, as if it were about to burst out at any moment. He claimed Lia as his territory, a place where no one could bully her.
"Why did you suddenly start calling me that?"
He turned his face and watched Lia tilt her head under the warm lamplight.
"Because you are so kind to me. You spoil me like you did when I was little—protecting me and doting on me.”
Lia placed her hands behind her head and strolled forward leisurely, her eyes constantly drawn to Lukas' hand.
Only when she slipped her hand back into his did she break into a genuine smile.
So this was what security felt like!
"If you could always be this good to me, I'd be even happier!"
A rare flicker of warmth touched the man's usually cold face.
He drew her hand closer to his, his voice slightly hoarse. "I'd stake my life on you for the rest of my days."
Kai had Erik fetch water. After swallowing a quick-acting heart pill, Kai staggered toward the main villa.
Upon reaching the dining room, he saw the usually cold Lukas showering Lia with tenderness.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief when a hand suddenly tapped his shoulder.
Kai flinched violently, nearly jumping out of his skin. Turning around, he saw Eliza's equally startled expression.
He patted his chest. "Eliza, my heart isn't the best. Be gentle with me—don't scare me like that.”
"Kai, what are you doing here?"
"Checking if I'm hallucinating."
“What hallucination?”
Eliza glanced into the dining room and instantly understood.
Having lived there for days, she had grown accustomed to it. "Nothing much. It’s nice.”
“Are you sure?”
Watching that lovey-dovey couple was pure torture for a single person.
Just then, Lukas glanced toward the dining room entrance.
His expression didn't change, but the moment he saw the two people at the door, his eyes turned icy.
Kai really wanted to kill himself right then and there.
He didn't mean to interrupt. He had wanted to leave, but they had insisted he stay for dinner.
Lukas averted his gaze, cut the half-fried egg on his plate into small pieces, and placed them in front of Lia.
Lia shot Eliza a sidelong glance. “So, who won your little contest?”
Eliza looked dead serious. "You did."
That was so spot-on, Lia couldn't even argue back.
Halfway through the meal, Lia was nearly full and started looking around restlessly.
When she wasn't eating, she kept her mouth tightly shut, afraid she might blurt something out.
Lukas and Kai kept discussing company matters. Lukas spoke little, mostly listening and occasionally giving concise instructions.
Still, Lia dared not interrupt, forcing herself to wait until after the meal to speak up.
Lukas bent two fingers and tapped the tabletop.
"Now you can say.."
Everyone at the table immediately looked at him.
When they saw his gaze fixed on Kai's face, they instantly understood.
"There's something I need Lia for, but it's not urgent."
Kai snapped his fingers, and Erik stepped forward.
Only then did they notice the stack of documents he had been holding.
Before Lia could read the writing, Kai slid the papers across the table toward her.
"Here, Lia. It's the script for the next production."
The script was thick, nearly as tall as a fist.
When she took it, her hand sank downward instinctively. It were almost comparable to those of an English dictionary.
Lukas reached out to support it and help her place the script on the table. His frown eased slightly as he shot Kai a cold stare. "What's going on?"