Chapter 143 He Came Prepared

Chapter 143 He Came Prepared
Lucian’s POV

Selene seemed almost too eager to get rid of me.

The moment she announced that she wanted to rest, she stood from the couch and practically guided me toward the door before I could find another excuse to remain in her room. The determination in her expression told me that arguing would only make her more suspicious, so I allowed myself to be pushed into the hallway.

“Fine,” I said, looking back at her with a faint smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.”

She closed the door before I could say anything else.

I stared at it for a second, amused despite myself.

She had promised to give me an answer in two months. That was already much better than the immediate rejection she had given me before. I could wait, but waiting did not mean I intended to sit quietly and hope she changed her mind on her own.

I had two months.

I planned to use them well.

When I turned away from her door, I noticed Yaris standing several steps down the hallway.

He had clearly been there long enough to witness my dismissal because a teasing smile rested on his face.

I gave him a cold look.

“What?”

His smile only widened.

“Nothing, Mr. Frostbane.”

The amusement in his voice made it obvious that it was definitely not nothing.

He stepped closer and held out a book.

“This is for you.”

I looked at the cover without taking it.

“What is it?”

“Something useful.”

That answer immediately made me suspicious.

I took the book from him and read the title.

72 Ways to Flirt.

For several seconds, I simply stared at it.

Then I slowly lifted my eyes toward Yaris.

He tried to keep a straight face.

He failed.

“Yaris.”

“Yes, Mr. Frostbane?”

“You clearly have too much free time.”

He cleared his throat and lowered his head respectfully, though I could still see the smile he was trying to hide.

“I only thought it might help.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Of course not.”

His agreement came far too quickly.

I narrowed my eyes.

Yaris wisely changed the subject.

“I’ll be returning to Epicmon tomorrow morning.”

My expression returned to normal.

“Good. Moonveil Group needs someone there while I remain in Fostrau.”

“The situation has stabilized,” he said. “Now that Jordan has been arrested and the truth is public, most of the pressure should ease. I’ll oversee the remaining matters personally.”

I nodded.

“Keep me informed if anything changes. I’ll handle whatever I can from here.”

“Understood.”

I trusted Yaris enough to leave the daily operations in his hands. He had managed far more difficult situations before, and after everything that had happened, I wanted a few days away from headquarters.

More importantly, I wanted those days with Selene.

Yaris gave me one last knowing look before walking away.

I returned to my hotel room and placed the book on the table.

For the next few hours, I worked through several reports from Moonveil Group. There were investor updates, compensation arrangements for affected customers, reports from the Fostrau factory, and early estimates of how quickly Frost and Flame production could resume once new safety procedures were approved.

By the time I finished, the room had become quiet.

My eyes drifted toward the book Yaris had left behind.

I ignored it.

For about five minutes.

Then I reached for it.

I told myself I was only curious.

Nothing more.

I opened the first page.

Then the second.

Before I realized it, I was actually reading.

Some of the suggestions were ridiculous. Others were obvious. A few, however, were interesting enough to make me pause.

Flowers.

Unexpected dates.

Personal attention.

Small gestures.

Creating memories.

I leaned back against the couch, slowly turning another page.

Maybe Yaris was not completely useless after all.

\---

Selene’s POV

For the first time in what felt like forever, I slept without nightmares, explosions, reporters, or another disaster waiting for me the moment I opened my eyes.

When I finally woke, sunlight was already pouring through the curtains.

I reached for my phone and stared at the time.

Noon.

I had slept through half the day.

Surprisingly, I did not feel guilty.

After the last several days, my body clearly needed the rest. The crisis surrounding Frost and Flame had finally ended, Jordan had been exposed, the warehouse investigation was moving forward, and Moonveil Group no longer seemed seconds away from collapse.

For once, I could breathe.

After washing up and getting dressed, I decided to visit Arya.

I had been in Fostrau for several days, yet between the factory investigation, the explosion, Lucian’s supposed coma, and the press conference, I had barely had time to think about anything else. Arya had messaged me several times, and I knew she would complain endlessly if I left Fostrau without seeing her.

A shopping trip sounded perfect.

Something normal.

Something that had nothing to do with contaminated jewelry or corporate sabotage.

I picked up my bag and opened the hotel room door.

Then I stopped.

Lucian stood directly outside.

He looked as though he had been waiting for some time, one shoulder resting casually against the wall.

I blinked.

“Lucian?”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

I stared at him.

“Waiting for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Instead of answering, he straightened.

“Let’s go.”

I frowned.

“Go where?”

“You’ll see.”

There was something suspicious about the way he said it.

I looked at him more carefully.

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

“I am rested.”

“You were injured.”

“Barely.”

I almost laughed.

Only Lucian could pretend to be in a coma for days and then describe being struck by falling warehouse debris as a minor inconvenience.

“You still need time to recover.”

“I’m fine.”

Before I could continue arguing, his hand closed around mine.

“Come on.”

“Lucian.”

He ignored my warning completely and began walking.

I had no choice but to follow.

Once we were inside his car, I took out my phone and quickly messaged Arya.

Something came up. I can’t make it today.

Her reply appeared almost immediately.

What happened? Are you with Lucian?

I knew her far too well.

The woman could smell gossip from another continent.

I typed back.

Sort of.

Three dots appeared.

Then her next message arrived.

Wow. Abandoning me for romance already?

I rolled my eyes.

Before I could answer, Lucian’s voice interrupted me.

“We’re here.”

I looked up.

Everreach Tower rose in the distance, surrounded by one of Fostrau’s most beautiful riverside areas.

I glanced at him suspiciously.

“What are we doing here?”

Lucian stepped out without answering.

A second later, he walked around the vehicle and opened my door.

I stared at the hand he offered me.

“You know I can open a car door myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

“Because I want to.”

His answer was so simple that I had nothing to say.

I stepped out.

We walked toward Sylphine River.

The afternoon was warm without being uncomfortable. Tall trees lined the wide path beside the water, their branches forming patches of shade across the ground. Thick green grass stretched around us, while flowers grew along carefully maintained gardens near the riverbank.

In the distance, several old iron bridges curved over the water, their dark frames reflecting faintly on the surface below.

I had visited this place before.

Yet somehow, today it looked different.

Perhaps it was because I was not rushing somewhere.

Perhaps it was because the crisis was over.

Or perhaps it was because Lucian walked beside me.

I immediately pushed that thought away.

We continued along the path without speaking for several moments.

Then a young voice called out.

“Sir!”

A freckle-faced werewolf girl hurried toward us carrying a basket filled with bright red roses.

She stopped in front of Lucian and smiled hopefully.

“Would you like to buy a rose for your girlfriend?”

I nearly corrected her immediately.

Lucian, however, looked very pleased with the word.

“Girlfriend?”

The girl nodded enthusiastically.

“For her.”

She gestured toward me.

Lucian looked at the roses.

Then at me.

Then back at the basket.

“I’ll take all of them.”

My eyes widened.

“All?”

The flower seller looked just as shocked.

“Yes,” Lucian said calmly.

He removed a stack of bills and handed them to her.

“Keep the rest.”

The girl stared at the money before her face lit up.

“Thank you, sir!”

She quickly gathered the roses into one large bouquet and handed them over.

Then she turned toward me with open admiration.

“Miss, your boyfriend treats you so well. You’re really lucky.”

I opened my mouth.

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

Lucian smoothly corrected her before I could say anything more.

“Fiancé.”

I turned toward him.

“Lucian.”

He looked completely innocent.

The girl’s smile widened.

“Oh! Your fiancé?”

She looked at me as though I had somehow won a prize.

“That’s even better. Miss, I hope my future fiancé treats me this well too.”

I had no response.

She hugged her basket against herself and happily walked away, leaving me alone with Lucian and far too many roses.

I stared after her before slowly turning back toward him.

He extended the bouquet.

“These are for you.”

The roses were beautiful.

Fresh.

Bright red.

And there were enough of them to attract attention from nearly everyone walking nearby.

I did not take them.

“I don’t want them.”

Lucian’s expression changed slightly.

“You don’t like flowers?”

“I didn’t say that.”

His brows pulled together.

“But roses are supposed to be every girl’s favorite.”

I looked at him strangely.

“According to who?”

He hesitated.

Then he muttered, “The book.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What book?”

His expression immediately became unreadable.

“Nothing.”

Now I was even more suspicious.

“What book, Lucian?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

The way he avoided answering made me study him more carefully.

Then something clicked.

The roses.

The sudden outing.

Waiting outside my room.

Opening the car door.

This was not Lucian’s normal behavior.

Was he actually following instructions from somewhere?

The thought almost made me laugh.

Instead, I looked at the bouquet again.

For all his confidence, there was something slightly awkward in the way he held it. It suddenly occurred to me that this might actually be the first time Lucian had tried to give flowers to a woman.

That realization softened my refusal.

Almost.

I let out a quiet sigh.

“Lucian, I can’t take them.”

The faint disappointment in his eyes made my heart tighten slightly.

“I haven’t given you an answer yet,” I explained. “You already know that.”

He remained silent.

“We agreed on two months.”

“I remember.”

“Then until I make my decision, accepting gifts like this doesn’t feel right.”

Lucian studied my face.

He did not argue.

He did not try to force the flowers into my hands.

After several seconds, he slowly nodded.

“I understand.”

That response surprised me.

I had expected him to tease me or insist that flowers meant nothing.

Instead, he simply accepted what I said.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then Lucian suddenly stepped closer.

The distance between us disappeared so quickly that I instinctively leaned back.

His face lowered toward mine.

“Lucian?”

His lips came close to my ear.

Not touching.

Just close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath.

His voice dropped, smooth and deep.

“Selene, didn’t I tell you already?”

My heartbeat changed before I could stop it.

He paused for just a second.

“I intend to win you over.”