?<strong>Chapter 125:</strong>


    Once she finished eating, Belinda stood up, approached Lucas’ desk, and looked down at him with a probing gaze.


    “Lucas, are you avoiding me?” she asked, her voice cutting through the quiet of the room.


    Lucas paused, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, and then continued typing without looking up.


    “Why would I avoid you?” he responded, his voice devoid of emotion, his eyes still on hisputer screen.


    Belinda, unperturbed by his detachment, gave a small shrug. “Who knows? Maybe you’re feeling shy.”


    At that, Lucas couldn’t help but scoff. “Shy? That’s ridiculous. It was just a kiss,” he said dismissively. “Besides…”


    He met Belinda’s gaze directly, the detachment in his voice evident. “Being kissed by someone I have no feelings for doesn’t make me shy—it repulses me.”


    The word “repulses”nded like a blow to Belinda, but her face didn’t register the impact.


    Instead, she offered a slight,posed smile and responded with unwavering calm, “I apologize if that repulses you. It won’t happen again. I’ll leave you to your work now.”


    Turning gracefully, she exited the room without waiting for any further response from Lucas.


    The soft click of the door signaled Belinda’s departure, leaving Lucas alone with his thoughts.


    He leaned back in his seat, his gaze lingering on the door long after Belinda had gone, his expression betraying a flicker of something moreplex than his words had suggested.


    He did not want to admit that Belinda had been right. He had indeed been avoiding her recently.


    He reached for the thermos that Belinda had left, unscrewed the lid, and took a tentative sip of the soup.


    Setting the thermos down, he couldn’t help but snort softly. He knew Belinda’s cooking, and he knew that Belinda had not made this soup herself.


    “ims she made it herself,” he muttered under his breath. “Liar.”


    Belinda’s phone rang just as she stepped through the front door of her home.


    It was Caiden calling her.


    “Hello?” Belinda answered the phone.


    “You’ve heard the rumors swirling around the hospital, haven’t you?” Caiden asked without preamble.


    Belinda, with surprise in her voice, responded, “You’re up to speed on them too, then?”


    Caiden’s response came with a hint of dry amusement. “Of course.”


    He paused, his voice shifting to a more serious tone. “What do you make of all this?”


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