124. Lucy’s Boyfriend.

**124\. Lucy’s Boyfriend.**

Samuel’s work had always been fast and efficient.

Eirene stared at the blue card in her hand. Just yesterday, she had asked him to marry her, and today, they were officially husband and wife.

She glanced out of the car window. They were still parked in front of the marriage bureau, where Samuel was speaking to someone, probably a lawyer.

When he turned, their eyes met. A strange feeling twisted in her stomach. Instead of looking away immediately, her gaze lingered for a moment longer than she intended. A spark passed between them, sending her heart racing. She quickly turned away, unsettled.

A few minutes later, the car door clicked open, making her flinch. Maybe it was because they were married now, maybe that changed something inside her.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

Samuel said as he got in.

Eirene kept her face turned away; her silence unmistakable. He could feel the distance between them. She had once been the sweetest girl he had ever known, and now, she was the coldest woman he had ever seen.

“Did you send Caser and Mellisa away?”

She finally asked after taking a moment to compose herself.

“No. It isn’t over yet. They might still be useful.”

Samuel replied.

Eirene nodded.

“After seeing Lucy, let’s go to them.”

Samuel simply agreed, and silence filled the car once more.

At the hospital, Samuel stopped near the door, letting Eirene go in first. He still remembered the look in Lucy’s eyes, her words. The doctors had specifically warned them not to upset her, her mental state was fragile.

Inside, Lucy sat on her hospital bed, flipping through a children's picture book.

“Mom!”

She threw herself into Eirene’s arms as soon as she saw her.

“How are you feeling, darling?”

Eirene asked, holding her close, her heart aching at the sight of her. She gently adjusted Lucy’s hospital gown, checking for any discomfort.

“I’m fine! I told them it doesn’t hurt, but they still won’t let me leave.”

Lucy huffed in frustration.

Then she frowned.

“Where’s Leo? I want him instead.”

Eirene forced a small smile.

“I’ll ask him to come if possible.”

Lucy pouted but didn’t argue. Then, her expression turned serious.

“Mom, what about Ash? He was with me, but Robin won’t tell me anything.”

Eirene froze.

“Ash? That boy was Ash? Your park friend?”

“Not friend, Mom,”

Lucy corrected with a blush.

“How many times do I have to tell you? He’s my boyfriend.”

Eirene sighed but let it slide.

“Fine, your boyfriend. But what was he doing at your school?”

“He missed me and wanted to check on me,” Lucy said matter-of-factly.

Then her face fell.

“Tell me if he’s okay. When he tried to protect me, those men beat him.”

Her voice trembled slightly, the memory still fresh.

Eirene’s heart clenched. She forced a reassuring smile.

“He’s fine… I’ll check with the doctor about him, okay?”

Lucy nodded, though she didn’t look entirely convinced.

As Eirene turned to leave, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. Samuel stood just outside, his eyes dark and unreadable.

He had heard everything.

“Do you know that boy?”

Samuel’s tone was cold and urgent.

“He’s just her friend. They used to play together in the park,”

Eirene explained, not thinking much of it.

“Have you ever seen him playing with her?”

“That… I don’t—”

Samuel cut her off.

“Have you ever seen him? His face?”

His voice was dead serious this time.

“No, but he’s just a child. He’s not involved with the kidnappers… You heard her.”

Eirene said, though a frown crept onto her face. She had always assumed Ash was just Lucy’s imaginary friend. Now, realizing he was real, she felt uneasy.

“It’s not that simple, Eirene,”

Samuel muttered, his expression dark.

“That boy has no one backing him, yet he managed to get close to Lucy despite all the security. He disabled her tracker… and then turned it back on.”

Eirene’s eyes widened.

“That boy… and the tracker?”

“How do you think we pinpointed her exact location?”

“The bracelet…?”

She whispered, remembering how Lucy always wore it after moving in with Samuel.

“Yes. He dismantled the tracker, which is why the bodyguards didn’t realize she wasn’t heading toward her classes. Then, after they escaped from the thugs the first time, he reactivated it.”

Eirene struggled to process the information, but before she could respond, a bodyguard rushed in.

“Sir, that boy… he’s gone.”

Samuel and Eirene immediately ran to the hospital room.

It was empty. The bed looked untouched, as if no one had ever been there.

The CCTV footage showed him waking up and slipping out through the window. What shocked everyone wasn’t just how quickly he escaped despite his injuries, but how he managed to avoid showing his face to the cameras even in that condition.

“We don’t even have a clear picture of him.”

Another bodyguard reported nervously.

“His face was too swollen for us to make out his features.”

They braced for Samuel’s anger, but to their surprise, he remained silent, eyes fixed on the screen, deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“Leave this for now. Focus on Aurther.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

“Why are you letting him go?”

Eirene followed, her voice laced with concern.

“He’s just a boy… and he’s injured and probably scared.”

The thought of Ash getting beaten while trying to protect Lucy filled her with guilt.

Samuel stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Eirene, I can’t explain everything. But listen to me… Lucia must never go near that boy again. He’s as dangerous as Aurther.”

Eirene hesitated. There were still parts of Samuel’s world she didn’t understand. But as she glanced around at the bodyguards, casually armed and ready for orders, a terrible hunch settled in her chest.

Noticing the shift in Eirene’s expression, Samuel remained silent, offering no further explanation.

“You wanted to question Mrs. Beatrix and Mellisa, didn’t you? Let’s go.”

He said, pausing briefly before adding with a hint of teasing yet sincerity,

“…You still have to use me, after all.”