《PREGNANT BUT REJECTED AS A BILLIONAIRE WIFE》


 PHB 1

    ¡°Miss Deasy¡­ are you sure you didn¡¯t get into the wrong car?¡±


    Lucas Orion looked confused. He had just finished attending a party at a bar when he found Deasy Winterborne, who was also his boss at the office, suddenly getting into his car without permission.


    ¡°Why are you standing there dumbfounded? Hurry up and drive. I don¡¯t know if my head is spinning like crazy!¡±


    ¡°But, Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m sure you got into the wrong car. This car ¡ª-¡±


    ¡°Enough, just drive. Take me straight to Park Avenue Apartments. Don¡¯t take too long, just step on the gas. My head feels like it¡¯s spinning uncontrobly. Feels like I¡¯m on a roller coaster.¡±


    For a moment, Lucas was taken aback. He was certain that the woman leaning with her eyes closed in the passenger seat was very drunk. Otherwise, how could she mistake him, a handsome man, for an online taxi driver?


    Out of concern for his boss, especially since Deasy was a woman and it was already veryte, Lucas decided to take her. He didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to her, especially considering the circumstances.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    From the beginning, Lucas had no interest in attending or participating in night parties like this. Rather than clubbing, dancing, drinking, and getting drunk, he preferred spending his free time sleeping or watching cartoons.


    But since Daniel Knigt was one of the top managers overseeing him, he couldn¡¯t afford to miss the party. Although driving people home wasn¡¯t difficult, it was still a hassle like this.


    ¡°Daniel, you¡¯re so unlucky! You said you loved me? And now you¡¯re married to another woman. In the past, you pretended to be scared to sleep with me. And now? You¡¯ve impregnated someone else! You jerk!!! I swear, on your wedding night, you won¡¯t be able to perform!¡±


    Lucas winced at Deasy¡¯s swearing. What would happen to a woman if she wished for something embarrassing to happen on her wedding night?


    ¡°It¡¯s terrible,¡± Lucas said reflexively, driving his car. He shook his head at his boss¡¯s behavior, who had been rambling and asionally cursing in an annoyed tone. She seemed hurt because her lover had just married someone else.


    ¡°Just forget about Daniel or whatever his name is. The point is, he¡¯s made me upset! It¡¯s so frustrating to date him for so long, only for him to marry someone else.¡±


    Lucas let out a long sigh. He silently prayed that the car he was driving would reach the apartment where Deasy lived. His ears were burning from hearing her non-stop ranting.


    As they entered the Park Avenue Apartmentplex and arrived in front of the lobby, Lucas stopped the car. He initially wanted to ask Deasy to get out and leave immediately.


    However, seeing how disoriented his boss was, Lucas¡¯spassionate side took over. With the help of an office boy, they escorted Deasy to her apartment unit.


    Lucas thought that after dropping her off and making sure Deasy wasfortable in her room, everything would be fine. However, he was wrong.


    After taking just two steps, a firm grip on his wrist stopped Lucas in his tracks. He turned back to see what was going on.


    ¡°Why, again? Do you need something, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ Ma¡¯am¡­ when did I marry your father?¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m Lucas, your subordinate in the office. It¡¯s only natural for me to be polite to you, just as I often do in the office.¡±


    Deasy chuckled at all the formalities that Lucas showed. While holding her heavy head from the aftereffects of alcohol, she replied to her subordinate¡¯s words.


    ¡°But, we¡¯re in the apartment now, not the office. Just call me Deasy. Besides, why do you have to rush home? You¡¯re just like Daniel, aren¡¯t you! You don¡¯t want to spend much time with me. Really, am I not interesting enough?¡±


    God, Lucas wanted to swear. Taking Deasy to her apartment seemed like a big mistake.


    Even more unsettling, drunk Deasy was getting crazier. She pulled Lucas¡¯s wrist and sat on hisp, sping her hands together.


    ¡°Miss Deasy, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± said Deasy casually. ¡°I just want to ask a few things that I feel are very important and serious. Do you think I¡¯m not pretty?¡±


    Lucas frowned deeply. He judged her looks from head to toe.


    ¡°If I look at your appearance, Miss Deasy, you¡¯re indeed beautiful. Your figure is also proportional.¡±


    ¡°And sexy, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ not bad.¡±


    ¡°Then, do you find me attractive or not?¡±


    Hoping that this random conversation would end soon, Lucas nodded. He thought that byplimenting his boss¡¯s looks, he would be allowed to go home more quickly.


    ¡°Your appearance is attractive, really. I¡¯m sure there are a lot of men out there who have a crush on you, Miss Deasy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s what I said! It¡¯s Daniel who always had bad taste. Howe, before breaking up with me, he said I wasn¡¯t as beautiful, sexy, and attractive as the woman who is now his wife? Too bad. When I was dating him, he was crazy about me. Have you got a new girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°Forget it, Miss Deasy,¡± Lucas corrected. ¡°But, to be honest, if you want my opinion, Miss Deasy is really beautiful. In fact, more beautiful than Mr. Daniel¡¯s wife.¡±


    Deasy smiled happily. That sentence became the beginning of a disaster for Lucas. Instead of being allowed to go home immediately, Deasy started to act up again and became even more aggressive. This time, she got up from her seat, then innocently sat on Lucas¡¯sp while sping her hands together.


    ¡°In fact, yes. If Daniel wants to prove whether I¡¯m really good in bed or not, just say it, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes. Then¡­ what are you going to do?¡± he asked, increasingly panicked. Cold sweat even started pouring down his forehead. Moreover, Deasy was already moving erratically on hisp, just like a worm that has just been sprinkled with salt. She couldn¡¯t sit still!


    ¡°I want you to prove it. Whether I¡¯m really good in bed or not. I¡¯m sure tonight will keep you wide awake, just like eating chili.¡±


    Before Lucas had time to refuse Deasy¡¯s invitation, she did more. While smiling, she passionately kissed Lucas without permission or any indication. As if deliberately silencing any words that Lucas might say.


    ¡°Miss Deasy¡­ Seriously, this is getting excessive,¡± Lucas protested, looking horrified. His jaw dropped as he saw Deasy now standingpletely naked.


    Lucas is just an ordinary man. If he keeps being presented with this kind of situation, even the mighty Great Wall of China he has put up might copse.


    ¡°Why? Are you scared? Don¡¯t have the guts? Ugh, you¡¯re so weak.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m weak, Miss. I¡¯m just worried that if things go too far, you¡¯ll be the one to regret itter. As for me, I won¡¯t be at a loss, especially when offered for free like ¡ª-¡±


    Lucas¡¯ sentence was cut off. Without asking for permission or any signal, Deasy forcefully silenced him by kissing him passionately. She aggressively bit and sucked on his lips, as if deliberately drowning out any protests Lucas might utter.


    ¡°Miss!¡± Lucas protested again as he managed to break their kiss. ¡°This is seriously going too far!¡±


    ¡°Youin too much. Just enjoy what I¡¯m about to do. When invited to have fun, you should talk less.¡±


    ¡°But, this is already too much, Miss. Besides, you¡¯re heavily intoxicated. If you were sober and in your right mind, you would never get this close to me.¡±


    ¡°Ssstsss¡­¡± Deasy hushed him, cing her index finger on Lucas¡¯ lips. ¡°Enough, be quiet. Just enjoy whatever I¡¯m going to do to you. When offered pleasure, you should stop babbling.¡±


    Lucas sighed once more, resigning himself to whatever Deasy was going to do to him. He had warned her multiple times and even refused her advances before.


    Then, in the next moment, the woman who held the position of a financial manager started stripping away each piece of clothing Lucas was wearing. In her drunken state, she went wild, doing things she and Lucas should never have done.

 PHB 2

    ¡°Lucas!!! What have you done, huh?¡±


    Lucas, who was previously sound asleep, immediately woke up and jumped in surprise. Opening his eyes, he found Deasy in disarray, with the nket still covering her entire body.


    ¡°How did you end up in my room? Oh my God! What have we done?¡±


    ¡°Does you forget what we didst night?¡± Lucas replied softly.


    Deasy fell silent for a moment. She brought her hand to her forehead and gently massaged it, probably feeling a throbbing headache. After a while, her facial expression changed from t to restless or maybe frustrated. Perhaps she was starting to realize the grave mistake she madest night.


    Yes, it was undoubtedly a grave mistake. Clearly, she willingly gave her virginity to Lucasst night. Even worse, she gave it away for free without any charge. So, who was to me for all this?


    It was Deasy herself!


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± Deasy shook her head repeatedly. ¡°We couldn¡¯t have possibly¡ª-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Lucas interjected quickly. ¡°After returning from Mr. Daniel¡¯s event, you were clearly heavily intoxicated and then forced me to do something we shouldn¡¯t have done,¡± he exined with a serious expression. ¡°Last night, when you took off your clothes, I even tried to help you put them back on. But what happened? You refused and pounced on me like a starving lion, roar,¡± Lucas said, imitating a lion¡¯s growl. After all, there was no need for all this drama.


    However, beyond that, Lucas wasn¡¯t exaggerating. What he said was 100% valid. Last night, after Deasypletely undressed, Lucas struggled to resist the surging desires within him. Imagine, in this world, which cat would refuse a ready-made fish? But because he was still polite and retained some sanity, he tried to reject the provocations of the demons.


    Unfortunately, Lucas¡¯s efforts were in vain. Instead ofing to her senses, Deasy became even more wild.


    ¡°Miss Deasy, if you keep forcing me to undress, I won¡¯t be responsible for any consequences. Besides, if you want to make out, I didn¡¯t bring any condoms,¡± Lucas said that night.


    ¡°Enough, Daniel, you don¡¯t need to talk so much. You¡¯re chattering like a parrot!¡±


    ¡°Why Daniel? I¡¯m Lucas. Lucas Orion. Not your ex-boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, call yourself whatever you want. The point is, you have to apany me tonight. I¡¯ll also make sure that you won¡¯t be able to resistter. Instead of keep babbling, you better save your energy to match my game after this.¡±


    In her intoxicated state, Deasy truly proved her words. Ignoring all the prohibitions and objections Lucas repeatedly expressed, she forcibly removed all the clothes Lucas was wearing.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, seriously your penis is too small. One bite and it¡¯s gone. Where¡¯s the taste?¡±


    Deasy chuckled. She found it amusing to see the sight in front of her. Besides, was Deasy really drunk or pretending to be? She had the audacity to observe closely and mock the ¡°sacred artifact¡± that Lucas proudly boasted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too confident. This is standart size. Once it¡¯s inside, it can make a woman¡¯s heart pound uncontrobly and crazy,¡± Lucas boasted.


    ¡°Pff, not convincing. It¡¯s really so small. I won¡¯t believe it until you prove your words.¡±


    What could Lucas do when initially he refused and yet was continuously teased and challenged? Well, of course, his adrenaline kicked in, determined to show that he was also strong and wouldn¡¯t easily back down.


    Without much thought, Lucasplied and immediately indulged when Deasy started seducing again. Even all the styles he had learned, he finally got to practicest night. From missionary, legs up, cowgirl, airne style, cruise ship, butterfly, and even freestyle, he tried them allst night with Deasy on the bed.


    So, what were the results?N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    The woman who held a higher position than him at the office eventually got overwhelmed and exhausted from pleasure.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be. Impossible!¡± Deasy muttered as fragments of her encounter with Lucas reyed in her mind. Slowly, she remembered what she had donest night. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be that foolish. Especially to make love with you, Lucas!¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s the reality, ma¡¯am. If you don¡¯t believe it, I have a recording ofst night¡¯s scenes. I intentionally recorded it because I knew you would deny it.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Are you crazy, Lucas! Why did you record everything? Do you want to ckmail me with that recording?¡±


    Shortly after, Deasy tightly closed her eyes. Then her frustrated scream was heard, regretting the foolishness she hadmitted. No matter how much she regretted it, it was pointless. It had all happened. She only had herself to me for getting drunk and doing all sorts of thingsst night.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Lucas. You took my virginity. I won¡¯t just let this go. I¡¯ll report you to the police!¡±


    Lucas frowned, looking frustrated as he tried to defend himself. It wasn¡¯t fair that he was the only one med for the incident that had already urred. After all,st night, Deasy had thoroughly enjoyed the services he provided.


    ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you also take my virginity, which I had carefully guarded? If you¡¯ve forgotten, you were the one who forced and assaulted mest night.¡±


    ¡°Women don¡¯t rape men.¡±


    ¡°They do, ma¡¯am. I even have evidence that you initiated and forced me to make out with you. And¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough, Lucas!¡±


    Deasy growled again. She grabbed the pillow next to her and threw it towards Lucas, annoyed by hisints. If she could, she would love to hit and tear him apart.


    ¡°Get out of my apartment quickly! Leave now, or I¡¯ll mutte you right away.¡±


    ¡°But, ma¡¯am¡­¡± Lucas hesitated before getting up. ¡°I just want to remind you that in the future, whether you get pregnant or not, I¡¯ll take responsibility because I slept with you.¡±


    Deasy sighed and sneered. It had never crossed her mind to date, let alone marry someone like Lucas, who was from a lower staff level. Where could she possibly ce her pride?


    ¡°The problem is, even if I get pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t marry a servant like you, especially one with such a small family background.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! As fellow corporate employees, we are forbidden to insult each other.¡±


    ¡°Leave now, Lucas. Or I¡¯ll scream ¡®robber¡¯ right now.¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply andplied. He hurriedly got out of bed, picking up his scattered clothes from the bedroom floor. Luckily, he had already worn pants before going to sleepst night. Once his clothes were on properly, he quickly left Deasy¡¯s apartment with mixed feelings.


    ***


    Lucas tightly closed his eyes. On the bed, he couldn¡¯t help but remember what he had done with Deasyst night.


    From the beginning, since he joined the Quantum Tech, Lucas had been genuinely attracted to his boss. Well, not just Lucas, many other staff members were interested in Deasy too. Despite being known as gruff and often snappy towards staff, there was another side to Deasy where she looked beautiful and elegant, especially when handling serious matters.


    Deasy was a woman full of dedication, loyalty, and totalmitment to her work. Even though she often got angry, she always supported her entire team. As a leader, she was even willing to stand up for her subordinates when they faced adversity.


    And now, Lucas didn¡¯t know whether to be grateful or beg for forgiveness from God. Thirty years of guarding himself, the defenses he had built had finally copsedpletely and left no trace.


    ¡°This, if afterst night¡¯s incident, Ms. Deasy really gets pregnant, what am I going to do? And I can¡¯t even remember whether I ¡®finished¡¯ inside or outside,¡± the man sighed, feeling troubled.


    Lost in his own inner turmoil, Lucas¡¯ phone rang. ncing at it and making sure it was an important call, he quickly answered.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s it going? Have you got any new information about the investigation you¡¯re working on?¡± asked the voice on the other end.


    Lucas reflexively scratched his non-itchy eyebrow. Truthfully, until this very moment, he hadn¡¯t found any breakthrough in the important task assigned to him.


    ¡°So far, there¡¯s no additional information. But the investigation is still ongoing. And it won¡¯t stop until we find new evidence.¡±


    ¡°In that case, keep monitoring and change tactics for the next investigation. This needs to be resolved before the end of the year. Otherwise, don¡¯t expect to get what you dream of.¡±


    As the call ended, Lucas sighed again. His head felt like it was about to explode from the mounting pressures and important matters that needed immediate attention.

 PHB 3

    Lucas looked puzzled. He had just arrived at the office and entered the workspace when he found some of his colleagues looking grimaced as if something had happened to them.


    In fact, Lucas didn¡¯t need to question this sight. Every end of the month, when they were chased by deadlines or perhaps when they didn¡¯t perform up to their superiors¡¯ expectations, their faces would always be ¡®crushed¡¯ like this.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why do you all look so disheveled? Like you¡¯re being chased by debt collectors or something.¡±


    Andro, the man wearing a blue shirt, immediately nced at De, Sta, and Riko, their other colleagues. He signaled to one of them to exin what had happened earlier.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lucas asked again, getting more curious. After all, what was so difficult about exining the situation? Out of the four of them, surely someone would dare or be willing to tell him?


    ¡°Well, Luc, Our queen just got angry,¡± Riko finally exined, ncing left and right as if afraid someone might hear what he just said.


    Lucas knew exactly who they meant by The Queen. That nickname and title were specially given by the finance division employees to none other than Deasy Winterborne.


    Known for being tough, strict, and disliking being contradicted, everyone agreed that Deasy was the most fearsome manager, holding the highest authority in almost all divisions, even surpassing Daniel Knigt, who clearly held a higher position than Deasy.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Every task she assigned had to be 100% perfect. If even the slightest defect or mistake was found, be prepared for a week-long scolding. Just like what was happening now.


    ¡°Why is Miss Deasy angry again?¡± Lucas then sat down, observing carefully as his friend began to tell the story.


    ¡°Well, Luc, it¡¯s about the softunch of the mall in South Kensington. Someone from the marketing division mistakenly wrote the wrong date on the banner and flyers. So, they need to revise it and request additional funds from the cashiers. Miss Deasy found out about this and got furious. Even though we didn¡¯t know anything about it, we got scolded too. Just now, as soon as she arrived, we were given a lengthy lecture and sermon until our ears felt numb.¡±


    Lucas nodded in understanding. Of course, Deasy would be angry and scold them. The seemingly trivial mistake, when broken down and analyzed, could have severe consequences.


    ¡°Well, no wonder she¡¯s angry. Isn¡¯t the soft opening event scheduled to run for three days? And now they made a mistake and want to reprint everything at their whim. It¡¯s going to take time,¡± said Andro.


    ¡°Just one day to reprint, Luc, that¡¯s the estimate,¡± added Riko.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just one day for the reprint. But when will they distribute and share it with the public? Tomorrow, right? Not to mention reprinting the banners and flyers, which are quite numerous, will undoubtedly require extra costs. They should take responsibility for their mistake and use personal funds for the reprint. Instead, they¡¯re requesting additional funds for printing,¡± Lucas vented at length, gradually bing frustrated himself.


    ¡°But, Luc. Regardless of the marketing team¡¯s mistake, our division didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why are we also getting scolded?¡± Sta interjected. It was getting annoying for her to hear Deasy¡¯s reprimands almost every day. ¡°Could it be that Deasy is acting this way because she¡¯s hurt that Mr. Daniel left her at the altar?¡±


    ¡°Well, that might be true,¡± De chimed in, joining the conversation. ¡°From the beginning, it was clear that Deasy was head over heels in love with Mr. Daniel. They looked so in love. We all thought they were going to get married. They were always together, looking affectionate. I suspect that Mr. Daniel and Deasy were secretly intimate. That¡¯s probably why Deasy is heartbroken because he left her at the wedding.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Secretly intimate, what does that mean?¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brows. He had no idea what kind of ng De had just used.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    This time Lucas shook his head. ¡°You guys are too hip for me.¡±


    ¡°Come on, secretly intimate means they¡¯ve made out, Luc. They¡¯ve slept together. From their behavior while dating, it was obvious they were very passionate about each other.¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± Lucas grimaced. How could his friends assume so far-fetched? He was the one who took Deasy¡¯s virginity that night.


    ¡°But, it could be true,¡± Riko added, not wanting to miss out on the gossip. ¡°I mean, I was shipping their rtionship tost forever. But then Mr. Daniel suddenly sent out wedding invitations to Arindi. It¡¯s so heartbreaking,¡± he said, pointing at his heart.


    ¡°And ording to people, it¡¯s like, this is karma for meddling in someone else¡¯s rtionship. Whomever you date, you end up marrying. This must be the reason why Deasy has been so emotionaltely. It¡¯s surely rted to Mr. Daniel.¡±


    ¡°But Deasy is beautiful. What¡¯s so difficult about finding a recement for Mr. Daniel? Besides, Mr. Daniel is not handsome, he¡¯s not at the same level as Deasy. If it were me, I¡¯d even suspect that our boss had been charmed.¡±


    Andro joined in toplete the story. Instead of talking about work, the four staff members were now busy gossiping like a group of housewives meeting for a chat.


    ¡°Hey! What are you all doing, gossiping like this? We should start the morning with work, not irrelevant gossip like this,¡± Lucas rebuked, puzzled. Instead of taking Deasy¡¯s reprimand seriously, his colleagues were busy talking about something else.


    But if Lucas thought about it carefully, there might be some truth in what his four colleagues said. He had witnessed how heartbroken Deasy looked yesterday when Mr. Daniel left her at the altar. She was so frustrated that she got drunk and did things beyond her limits.


    ¡°Well, what can we do, Luc? This gossip might actually be helpful. We can find a solution to prevent Deasy from getting angry like this in the future,¡± Riko defended their topic of conversation.


    ¡°What if we find a new partner for Deasy?¡± Andro suggested seriously. He thought that if they could find a new partner for their boss, her heart would be happy again, and her mood would stabilize like before. A happy person tends to behave kindly and spread positive vibes to those around them.


    ¡°Sure, but who would be the candidate?¡± Riko asked, his face showing signs of deep thought.


    ¡°Just suggest Lucas. He¡¯s single. Besides, he¡¯s always the one who manages to calm Deasy down whenever she¡¯s angry about work,¡± Andro said, supporting Lucas.


    ¡°But Lucas is nerdy. Not to mention he wears thick sses. Could Deasy really be attracted to him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s willing to date Mr. Daniel, right?¡± Andro defended Lucas.


    ¡°Mr. Daniel is rich. I mean, they¡¯re at the same level, right? But Lucas? He¡¯s just too in for someone like Deasy, who¡¯s so morous.¡±


    Lucas grumbled in annoyance. His friends were so rude to casually matchmake and insult his appearance and finances.

 PHB 4

    ¡°Lucas, Miss Deasy¡¯s calling!¡±


    From the direction of the door, Ariana, Deasy¡¯s secretary, suddenly appeared. She asked Lucas to meet their boss right away.


    Lucas nodded in agreement, got up, and hurried to Deasy¡¯s office. If he waste, she would scold him again.


    ¡°Good morning, Ma¡¯am,¡± greeted Lucas after knocking on Deasy¡¯s office door. Through his sses, he saw the room¡¯s owner engrossed in some work on her desk.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    ¡°Is there something I can help you with, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    Deasy looked up and handed him a green folder to review.


    ¡°Double-check the financial report that Mr. Adri just handed in. I think something is not right.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucas nodded and reached for the folder. But not wanting to miss the chance, he quickly brought up another matter to Deasy.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, shouldn¡¯t we also review Mr. Daniel¡¯s financial report?¡± Lucas suggested. He had always been curious to examine the flow of funds in and out of Mr. Daniel¡¯s ounts. He had secretly investigated all other division heads and some top executives, except for Daniel and Deasy, as Deasy held the master file for their finances.


    ¡°Why do you want to check Mr. Daniel¡¯s financial report?¡± Deasy narrowed her eyes, her face showing a big question mark.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to suspect anything, Ma¡¯am. But, who knows if Mr. Daniel has been secretly usingpany funds for personal expenses. He seems to live a hedonistic life.¡±


    ¡°But Daniel is wealthy, Luc. Besides, I have already checked his financial report up untilst August, and everything was clean.¡±


    Lucas nodded. His hopes of investigating directly were crushed. If Deasy gave permission, he could have ess to the financial reports of the four remaining individuals, including Daniel and herself.


    ¡°But if you want to check it again, you can. I¡¯ll give you a copy of the file.¡±


    Lucas smiled inwardly, feeling happy that what he hoped for would soone true.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wait for it, Ma¡¯am. So I can work on it as soon as possible. Once I have the results, I¡¯ll share them with you.¡±


    Deasy simply nodded, waving her hand in the air as a signal for Lucas to leave the room as there was nothing more to discuss.


    ¡°And ¡­ aboutst night, Ma¡¯am,¡± Lucas whispered softly before fully leaving Deasy¡¯s office. ¡°I-I hope, you ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lucas, stop!¡± Deasy interrupted, shaking her head. She put her index finger on her lips. ¡°Never mention that incident again. I won¡¯t report you to the police. But please, I hope you forget what happened between us. Don¡¯t ever bring it up again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to take responsibility?¡±


    Deasyughed sardonically. Lucas¡¯s words were ticklish to her ears.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be naive, Luc. Nowadays, it¡¯s verymon for two strangers to meet and have a one-night stand. So, why bother with responsibility? As I said before, I have no interest in marrying you.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Lucas asked innocently. ¡°Is it because I¡¯m just an ordinary staff who¡¯s not on the same level as you? Or because you¡¯re worried you won¡¯t be satisfied with someone older like me? Just take a good look; I¡¯m not small.¡±


    Deasy red at him, her face turning red. How could Lucas say that so casually in front of her?


    ¡°Enough, Lucas Orion. Whatever happened between us, I don¡¯t need your responsibility. Now get out of my office before I get even more emotional with your rambling!¡±


    ***


    At exactly six in the evening, Lucas had just finished his work. After tidying up his desk, he hurried to the basement.


    Humming to himself, Lucas walked towards his car. Just as he was about to get in, a tall man suddenly appeared and approached him, startling Lucas to the point of wanting to curse.


    ¡°Goodness, Felix! What are you doing, appearing out of nowhere like a ghost? You scared me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir. I apologize once again,¡± the tall man said remorsefully.


    ¡°Besides, why did you follow me to the office? I¡¯ve told you not toe near the office. What if someone sees us? What then?¡±


    Felix looked down, feeling conflicted about what he had done. There must be apelling reason for him to risk approaching Lucas at his workce.


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried calling Mr. Lucas¡¯s cellphone multiple times, but it¡¯s not active. There¡¯s something very important that I need to tell you.¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t respond immediately. He chose to get into the car first and asked Felix to follow.


    ¡°What important matter do you want to discuss?¡± Lucas inquired.


    ¡°I received a message from Miss Laura that Miss Diana will being to Ennd tomorrow to meet you. I believe she wants to discuss the progress of the wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas let out a long sigh. He almost forgot that he was already engaged to someone through an arranged marriage set up by his parents.


    Despite being born into a wealthy family with multiple business ventures, Lucas¡¯s life wasn¡¯t all smooth sailing. Since he was young, he was ustomed to working hard and striving to achieve his goals, including leading argepany.


    In order to ascend to the throne, Lucas was given a task by his father to investigate a case of alleged fund embezzlement that urred in one of the branchpanies, which had remained unsolved until now. If Lucas seeded in solving the case, his father promised to hand over the entire leadership of thepany to him. That¡¯s why Lucas had to work hard, even disguising himself and blending in for the past year to investigate what had been happening in his current workce.


    ¡°What time will Diana arrive in Ennd?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°Around 10 in the morning, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Alright, just schedule a dinner with her at our usual ce. Make sure she doesn¡¯t disturb my work.¡±


    Felix nodded. Since there was nothing else to convey, he hurriedly left, allowing Lucas to go about his way. Unbeknownst to Lucas, someone had been observing them from afar the whole time.

 PHB 5

    Lucas Orion walked confidently as he entered the authentic Italian restaurant that Felix had reserved for tonight. Wearing a white shirt paired with ck trousers, he looked perfectly poised and elegant.


    His hair, which used to be slicked back with a fringe, now sported a messy undercut with a brown hue. Even the thick-rimmed sses that usually adorned his sharp nose were nowhere to be seen tonight.


    Truly, Lucas Orion¡¯s appearance tonight was a 180-degree departure from his usual self at the office, where he appeared nerdy or awkward. Tonight, he had transformed into a handsome figure, resembling a true prince.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte. Have you been waiting for long?¡± Lucas approached the table where his fianc¨¦e was seated. He pulled out a chair, took his seat opposite the beautiful woman in front of him, and greeted her politely.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I just got here one or two minutes ago, so I haven¡¯t been waiting long for you,¡± Devina Hayes replied with a sweet smile. She was wearing an off-shoulder ck A-line mini dress with glitter ents, making her look as beautiful and graceful as ever.


    In fact, Lucas and Devina had known each other since childhood. Besides their parents being friends, they had even attended the same school a few times. Perhaps this closeness led Lucas¡¯s and Devina¡¯s parents to decide to arrange their marriage.


    However, Lucas was not interested at all. As an independent person, he wanted to determine his own path in life. But fate had other ns. Why did he have to be born as the youngest son and a male?


    He was burdened with great responsibilities from an early age. The enormous expectations ced upon him as the heir to the family business led his parents to be extremely careful in finding a suitable partner.


    ¡°Have you met with Mama and Papa?¡± Lucas asked, taking a sip of the drink served on the table.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Devina nodded. Of course, she had met them. Upon arriving in Ennd, she was immediately picked up and weed by Lucas¡¯s parents. ¡°So, when are we getting married, Luc? Papa and Mama even gave me the option of either at the end of this year after Christmas or at the beginning of the new year,¡± Devina asked.


    Lucas almost choked on the drink he had just sipped. This was the question he had been avoiding all along. For the record, he used to dream that as an adult, he would marry and build a family with a woman he loved, not be arranged like this.


    ¡°Devina ¡­ you know, from the beginning, I have been hesitant to talk about marriage. You also know that I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t love me at all? That¡¯s what you wanted to say, right?¡± Devina interrupted with a bitter smile. ¡°Oh,e on, Luc. Do you think I like and love you? If I could reject this engagement, we wouldn¡¯t be engaged, let alone preparing to get married like now. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t know each other well since childhood. But what can we do? Neither of us can resist, can we?¡±


    Lucas fell silent. Devina¡¯s words were not wrong at all. Since childhood, he had been raised as an obedient child, and he had no choice but to go along with all the ns his parents had prepared.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do exceptply. I¡¯ve even tried my best to learn to love you. So, please cooperate with me.¡±


    Devina then reached for her wine ss and took a sip while continuing to gaze at Lucas¡¯s face.


    ¡°Okay, we will still get married. But I¡¯m asking you to give me some time first toplete an important task that Papa has assigned to me. After I finish this, I promise to marry you.¡±


    ¡°How long do I have to wait?¡±


    Devina narrowed her eyes, looking intently at Lucas, her face demanding an answer. She didn¡¯t want toe all the way to Ennd without any results. So, she wanted to make sure when Lucas would marry her.


    ¡°Maybe six months,¡± Lucas said.


    ¡°No!¡± Devina immediately shook her head in disagreement. ¡°I think three or four months would be more than enough.¡±


    Lucas sighed softly, considering for a moment if the task given by his father could bepleted within the time frame Devina had just set. Then, after a short while, he nodded and extended his hand for a handshake, indicating that he agreed to Devina¡¯s request.


    ¡°Deal. We will get married in four months. And during that time, please don¡¯t disturb me with anything rted to the wedding. Give me space to finish what I need to do first.¡±


    Devina nodded in agreement. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for her to wait for four months. After all, she was already used to waiting for certainty from her prospective husband.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be back as agreed. I hope, after this, there won¡¯t be any more reasons for you to postpone the wedding.¡±


    Lucas nodded with a smile. Afterward, they both continued their dinner before parting ways as usual.


    ***


    After dropping Devina back at the hotel, Lucas didn¡¯t immediately head home. Instead, he decided to stop by one of the bars he often visited.


    There, Felix was waiting for him. His assistant had promised to provide information rted to what he had been investigating.


    ¡°Here¡¯s Mr. Argantara¡¯s documents. Everything from his total wealth to financial transactions and records of money going in and out.¡±


    Lucas reached for the brown folder that Felix handed him and began reading the contents.


    ¡°Finally, after so long investigating, I got this report,¡± Lucas mumbled to himself as he continued to read. Then, his eyes stopped on one page that surprised him a little. ¡°So, Mr. Argantara has offshore ounts?¡±


    Felix nodded, confirming Lucas¡¯s question. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to obtain this information. After encountering several dead ends, he finally managed toplete the task Lucas had given him.


    ¡°They were deliberately created to conceal the illicit funds he embezzled, sir. There are also records of assets, including some properties, that he intentionally purchased abroad.¡±


    Lucas pursed his lips and then smiled wryly. He couldn¡¯t believe the cunning ways these rats had managed to gnaw at his father¡¯spany just to increase their wealth.


    ¡°I¡¯ll study all the data. After this, it¡¯s Daniel and Daniel¡¯s turn to be investigated.¡±


    ¡°What about Ms. Deasy Winterborne?¡± Felix asked. As someone who often assisted Lucas and was frequently assigned tasks by him, Felix knew well who the targets were and who had not yet been touched by his boss.


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll look into Deasy as well. But so far, her data seems clean. Among all the candidates, it¡¯s Daniel who is suspicious.¡±


    ¡°I know this task is quite challenging. But, I hope you can finish it soon, Mr. Lucas,¡± Felix sincerely prayed.


    As Lucas and Felix were still discussing, amotion erupted from another corner with one of the customers. At first, Lucas wanted to ignore it, but when he realized who was the center of attention, he immediately got up and decided to approach.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy,¡± Lucas greeted as he arrived at the table where Deasy was. His boss seemed to be having a heated argument with another customer.


    ¡°Is she your friend?¡± the customer asked.


    ¡°Y-yes. She¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°You better take her home. She¡¯s been making a lot of noise and it¡¯s been bothering the other customers. She was so rude when I tried to tell her.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I think Ms. Deasy is heavily intoxicated.¡±


    Felix, who followed Lucas, carefully observed Deasy stumbling about. She was rambling incoherently and was genuinely disturbing the other patrons.


    ¡°Help me take her to the car. I¡¯ll drive her home.¡±


    Felix nodded and promptly assisted in guiding Deasy to Lucas¡¯s car with great care.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to take Ms. Deasy to her apartment? Your appearance doesn¡¯t match hers¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°Deasy is heavily intoxicated. She probably won¡¯t even notice. Even if she regains consciousness, she won¡¯t recognize me. So, let me handle it. Ask someone to bring her car back and take it to her apartment tonight.¡±


    Lucas then got into the car and drove his red Ferrari towards Deasy¡¯s apartment. He couldn¡¯t possibly abandon his boss in such a state, especially considering their history of sleeping together before.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Upon arriving at Park Avenue, Lucas struggled to support Deasy as he escorted her out of the car. He carefully guided her to the front door of her apartment unit.


    Luckily, from past experiences of escorting Deasy while she was intoxicated, Lucas knew he could open the apartment unit door simply by touching it with his finger.


    As expected, after the door opened, Lucas quickly helped Deasy inside and settled her on the sofa.


    ¡°Deasy¡­ Deasy¡­ looking so beautiful, but why do you have a drinking problem? Being heartbroken shouldn¡¯t lead to this kind of behavior. It¡¯s just a waste of time.¡±


    Lucas muttered, shaking his head. After making sure that Deasy was safely seated on the sofa, he intended to leave. It would be dangerous to stay any longer.


    However, as he turned around and was about to walk away, Lucas suddenly felt his wrist being pulled from behind. He turned and found Deasy, half-conscious, smiling at him.


    ¡°Wait! Who are you? Your face looks familiar.¡±


    Lucas sighed. He turned and prayed silently that Deasy wouldn¡¯t recognize him tonight.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, forget it, it doesn¡¯t matter who you are. But why are you in such a hurry?¡±


    Once again, Lucas sighed. Turning, he exined that he was only there to take her home because she got too drunk at the bar. Now that she was safe, he should go home.


    Deasy nodded. Lucas thought that after hearing his exnation, Deasy would let him go. But, once again, he was wrong. Instead, she pulled him back down onto the sofa.


    ¡°If I think about it, you¡¯re quite handsome. Would you mind keeping mepany for a while before you leave?¡±


    ¡°Keep youpany?¡± Lucas repeated, feeling a bit panicked, especially as he noticed Deasy bing more assertive.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded. ¡°I¡¯m heartbroken and need some distraction.¡±


    Deasy then moved closer, boldly straddling hisp.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but your face seems familiar, and I really want to do this to you.¡±


    Without hesitation, Deasy reached up and nted her lips firmly on Lucas¡¯s. She kissed him repeatedly, catching Lucas off guard.


    ¡°Deasy!¡± Lucas admonished after managing to break free from the wild kiss she gave him. ¡°You really don¡¯t hold back when you¡¯re drunk, do you?¡±


    Lucas was puzzled. He didn¡¯t know if this was a habit of Deasy¡¯s or just a result of her heartbreak. Either way, she seemed to be acting out of bounds when drunk.


    Ifst time, Deasy unexpectedly offered her virginity, who knows what she might do tonight.


    ¡°See, your lips feel familiar too. Have we¡­?¡±


    Lucas quickly shook his head, even attempting to get up while Deasy was still on hisp.


    However, his efforts were in vain. Deasy pulled him back down, not letting him go.


    ¡°Where are you rushing to?¡±


    ¡°I want to go home.¡±


    Deasy giggled. Standing up, she deliberately positioned herself in front of Lucas, slowly unbuttoning her shirt.


    ¡°Sure, you can go home. But let¡¯s have some fun together first.¡±

 PHB 6

    In the past, Lucas actually had a dream of meeting the woman he loved, forming a serious rtionship, and then getting married. After that, he envisioned building a family and raising their children together with his wife.


    Lucas had tried a few times to be in rtionships with different women, but none of them met his parents¡¯ criteria.


    Then, one day, his father suddenly arranged a match for him with Devina. Despite knowing each other since childhood, Lucas had no interest in her and didn¡¯t consider her as a suitable life partner.


    At a time when his love life seemed chaotic, Lucas made a fatal mistake. Trying hard to resist all temptations, his virginity was forcibly taken by a woman he knew very well ¨C Deasy Winterborne.


    It was ironic. Intent on helping his boss who was heavily drunk and heartbroken, Lucas ended up being ¡°raped¡± and forced to satisfy Deasy Winterborne.


    If he thought about it carefully, Lucas didn¡¯t really lose anything. After all, even if he slept with numerous women, who could tell if he was still a virgin or not? Men are always at an advantage, right?


    However, because he came from a good family, Lucas intended to take responsibility. Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be a loss to marry Deasy.


    She was beautiful, educated, intelligent, and had caught Lucas¡¯s attention when he first joined thepany.


    But Deasy remained stubborn and refused. Considering herself nothing more than a servant and not on the same level, she tly rejected him.


    Lucas thought that after that rejection, all the problems would end there. But his assumption was wrong. As if destined to be involved inplicated matters again, Lucas found himself trapped when, once again, he had to help Deasy, and she demanded more from him.


    Whatever sin Lucas hadmitted in the past, now, in Deasy¡¯s apartment, he found himself helpless again. After restraining himself from leaving, Deasy pulled him back down onto the sofa. Quickly straddling him, shended an aggressively passionate kiss.


    Deasy continued kissing, gently tasting both of Lucas¡¯s lips with a rhythmic fervor. Lucas initially tried to resist, but Deasy¡¯s actions eventually overwhelmed him. Closing his eyes, he could feel how his boss at the office kept kissing his upper lip and then moved to his lower lip, giving light nibbles. asionally, he felt Deasy deliberately giving him small pecks while gently caressing his body.


    Enthralled by Deasy¡¯s every touch and caress, Lucas felt his body heating up. Especially when Deasy continued to tease him by gradually undressing herself. Lucas didn¡¯t even hesitate when Deasy slowly unbuttoned his shirt and removed his trousers.


    When Deasy invited him to move to a different location, Lucas dly picked her up. Still engaged in passionate kissing, Lucas carried Deasy to her bedroom and gentlyid her on the bed.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Tonight is ours, Darling,¡± Deasy mumbled while smiling and caressing Lucas¡¯s chest. ¡°You¡¯re free to do anything you want. Any style you prefer. The main thing is that we both feel satisfied.¡±


    Deasy looked at him longingly. Without giving Lucas a chance to respond, she impatiently grabbed his hand, urging him to touch her swollen breasts.


    Instead ofplying with Deasy¡¯s request, Lucas smiled mischievously. He leaned forward, lowered his head, and with his mouth wide open, he immediately began to suck on Deasy¡¯s nipples one after the other.


    ¡°Ah¡­.¡±


    A moan escaped from Deasy¡¯s lips as she closed her eyes,pletely lost in the sensations of Lucas¡¯s mouth on her breasts.


    Meanwhile, Lucas was also enjoying himself. With his eyes closed, he savored every sensation that arose. Slowly, his mouth moved, nibbling, sucking, and then gently licking Deasy¡¯s nipples. His other hand was also active, not leaving the other breast untouched. His fingers yed there, squeezing and asionally giving gentle pinches as if he was delighted with what he was holding.


    Seemingly skilled at making Deasy feel pleasure, Lucas continued to tease and worship every inch of her body without pause. Relentlessly tempting her until she couldn¡¯t resist any longer. Unable to withstand all the tantalizing actions he created, Lucas then entered Deasy¡¯s body. For the second time, they both did what they shouldn¡¯t have done.


    ***

 PHB 7

    Deasy held her head, feeling its heaviness. As she opened her eyes fully, she slowly sat up, trying to remember what had happened to her.


    Then, one by one, shes of the previous night¡¯s events began to y in her mind. Like a faulty cassette, it kept reying, startling her.


    ¡°Deasy! What did you dost night?!¡± she eximed half-yelling. Peeking under the covers, she realized she waspletely naked. ¡°Oh my, did I make out recklessly again?¡± she half sighed while massaging her temple. ¡°But who did I sleep withst night?¡±


    Deasy tried to remember. She carefully thought through the scattered puzzle in her mind, and she was convinced that there was a handsome man she metst night who took her home to her apartment.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that the guy I slept withst night was really handsome. But who is he?¡± she asked herself uncertainly. Then she quickly tapped her own head. ¡°Ohhh, Deasy. Why do you make it a habit to sleep with just anyone! You¡¯re still heartbroken, and yet you¡¯re doing this!¡±


    Deasy sighed, berating herself for acting foolishly after being left by Daniel, the man who had once upied her heart.


    She med herself for loving Daniel too much. After giving her whole heart to him, her ex-boyfriend tantly betrayed her by having a rtionship with another woman, eventually leading to pregnancy and a forced marriage.


    Ignoring all the swirling thoughts in her mind, Deasy quickly reached for her phone when it suddenly rang. Upon checking, there was a text message that made her get out of bed right away.


    She rushed to the bathroom, deciding to freshen up and get ready.


    Since she didn¡¯t have any work-rted schedule on the weekends, after showering and getting dressed, she immediately went to meet someone at a certain ce.


    When she arrived at a coffee shop, another woman was already waiting for her. Deasy smiled and as soon as she reached the table, she hugged the woman tightly without hesitation.


    ¡°Oh, finally we meet. I¡¯ve missed you so much, Ve,¡± Deasy said as she released the embrace. She pulled out a chair and sat facing the beautiful woman, who was none other than Veronica Ashborne.


    After spending some time abroad with Darwin, Veronica eventually returned to Ennd. Feeling nostalgic, she decided to meet up with Deasy after being apart for so long.


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much too. How¡¯s Aunt De? Is she doing okay? You¡¯re still living together, right?¡±


    Veronica knew well that after her father¡¯s death some time ago, Deasy decided to live with her mother.


    Before that, Deasy often had disagreements with herte father and chose to live on her own.


    Maybe, out of concern, her friend decided to return home. Veronica wondered if they were still living together or if Deasy had gone back to living on her own.


    ¡°Mama is doing fine, Ve. But for the past few months, I¡¯ve been back in my apartment.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Veronica looked curious. As far as she knew, Deasy was quite close to her mother. ¡°Did you have a fight with Aunt De?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°No fight, actually. It¡¯s just that recently I got a big project and I¡¯ve beening home veryte. Rather than making Mama worry about meing homete all the time, I decided to stay in the apartment for a while until I finish this project.¡±


    Veronica nodded, understanding Deasy¡¯s reasoning. It made sense for her friend to stay separately for a while, rather than causing worry for her mother bying homete due to her work project.


    ¡°How about you? Are you doing well with Darwin?¡±


    Veronica pulled the corner of her lips into a broad smile. She openly disyed her happiness as if signaling to Deasy that she was not just doing fine, but maybe even better than that.


    ¡°Darwin and I are doing great too. What about you? Have you found a boyfriend? Or maybe you¡¯re already engaged and nning to get married.¡±


    Deasy sighed in annoyance. Marrying someone was far from her thoughts. Her love story had crumbled along the way.


    ¡°I just broke up. The guy I often talked to you about, he got married to another woman.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Veronica looked shocked. ¡°So, he left you to get married?¡±


    Deasy nodded disinterestedly.


    ¡°That guy is such a jerk. We were in a serious rtionship. We even nned to get married. Little did I know, I gave him my wholehearted love, sacrifices, priorities, and everything, but in the end, he impregnated another woman and got married not long ago.¡±


    Veronicaughed. She patted Deasy¡¯s shoulder to calm her emotions.


    ¡°Be patient. That means he wasn¡¯t your soulmate. But during your rtionship, you didn¡¯t sleep with this guy, right?¡±


    Deasy choked for a moment. She didn¡¯t expect Veronica to suddenly ask this question.


    ¡°Thankfully, no,¡± Deasy replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. If you had slept with him, it would¡¯ve been you who lost, Des.¡±


    Deasy nodded with a bitter smile. Staring nkly at the drink on the table, she spoke softly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep with Daniel at all. But, I ended up sleeping with another guy. What a fool I am!¡±


    ¡°What? Wait, what? You slept with another guy? What do you mean?¡± Veronica was taken aback. Even though Deasy said it quietly, she heard it very clearly.


    ¡°Yes, I was heavily drunk and lost control. Worse yet, I slept with another guy who¡¯s actually my subordinate at the office.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Deasy,¡± Veronica eximed, unable to believe it. ¡°What about your rtionship with this guy? Didn¡¯t you ask for responsibility?¡±


    Deasy shook her head immediately.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less. It was just a one-time thing. Besides, nowadays it¡¯s not taboo for guys and girls who don¡¯t know each other to make out or have a one-night stand for fun. Let¡¯s just consider it as me doing that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Veronica. Don¡¯t be old-fashioned. Last night, I even slept with another random guy again.¡±


    Veronica furrowed her brow. Before her shock could fade away, Deasy shocked her once again with her confession.


    ¡°What do you mean? Last night, I had sex with another guy again?¡±


    Deasy nonchntly nodded as if she carried no burden.


    ¡°Yes, my dear Veronica. I got drunk against night and ended up making out with a random guy I didn¡¯t even know.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Deasy. Why are you acting so crazy!¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s okay,¡± Deasy defended herself. ¡°I¡¯m sure the guy I slept withst night was handsome,¡± she said with a smile. She brought her hand to her lips and touched them repeatedly while murmuring, ¡°I remember so well how warm and wet his lips felt. I really liked the way he kissed me,¡± she said with a delighted grin. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember everything she had donest night. ¡°His perfume, his touch, his kisses, his moves, and¡­ ah,¡± Deasy moaned and then opened her eyes. ¡°I remember how he satisfied mest night.¡±


    Veronica stared in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t fathom what had possessed her friend to act without thinking and sleep with a random guy. Without hesitation, she lightly pped Deasy¡¯s head, making the woman yelp in pain.


    ¡°Ouch, Veronica!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I just want you to realize. How could you sleep with just any guy? And what if you get pregnant?¡±


    Deasyughed, finding Veronica¡¯s concern amusing.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I could get pregnant, Ve. Rx.¡±


    ¡°Why? Did the guy use protection when he slept with you?¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes, trying to remember something, then shook her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember if he used protection or not. We were both drunk, so I couldn¡¯t really tell if the little bird was wearing a helmet or not. But I¡¯m pretty sure I won¡¯t get pregnant. I¡¯ve only yed the injection game twice.¡±


    Veronica let out a long sigh. She didn¡¯t know what else to say. The damage was done. If something happened, she couldn¡¯t do anything to help.


    ¡°Just be careful, and if I hear you¡¯re pregnant, I¡¯ll be the first one tough at you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± Deasy confidently replied. ¡°Rx, I won¡¯t get pregnant.¡±


    After a lengthy chat, discussing various topics, Deasy and Veronica decided to part ways. Deasy chose to return to her apartment.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Within minutes of arriving home, the doorbell to her apartment rang. Deasy hurried to open the door and found Lucas standing there, looking nervous.


    ¡°Lucas? What are you doing here?¡±


    Indeed, it was Lucas who visited her. Raising his head, he nervously replied to Deasy¡¯s question.


    ¡°Can Ie in? There¡¯s something I need to discuss with you.¡±


    Without suspicion or many questions, Deasy weed her guest inside. After they both sat on the sofa, she asked Lucas to proceed with his reason foring.


    ¡°Firstly, I want to apologize,¡± Lucas said with his head slightly bowed.


    ¡°Apologize?¡±


    Deasy was puzzled. Why would her subordinatee for a visit and suddenly apologize for no apparent reason?


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. I want to apologize for leaving this morning without saying goodbye.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. She tried to process what Lucas had just said.


    ¡°Why? Say goodbye? Why should you say goodbye for everything? Are you¡­¡±


    Deasy¡¯s words hung in the air. Before she could finish her sentence, something suddenly crossed her mind, and she reflexively widened her eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you were the one who-¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am,¡± Lucas promptly interrupted. He deliberately cut off Deasy¡¯s words. ¡°I was the one who took you to your apartmentst night when you were drunk at the bar.¡±


    ¡°B-but, it wasn¡¯t you who was my partner in bedst night, right?¡±


    Lucas scratched his non-itchy neck and gathered his courage to nod slowly, replying softly.


    ¡°Unfortunately, it was me, Ma¡¯am. I was the one who slept with youst night. I tried my best to refuse, but you insisted even to the point of undressing me first.¡±


    Deasy felt her throat tighten. Knowing that it was Lucas who had slept with herst night made her head suddenly throb. She couldn¡¯tprehend what sins she hadmitted in the past. Why did she end up sleeping with a dorky guy like Lucas, who have small penis? Oh God.

 PHB 8

    It is uncertain how many times Deasy took a deep breath. While her mind suddenly recalled Veronica¡¯s words from yesterday, when they met at the coffee shop.


    Deasy closed her eyes tightly. After initially being indifferent, she suddenly felt worried for no reason. Afraid that Veronica¡¯s words mighte true for her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy, Des. What if you get pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Veronica. I only made out twice. Can I really get pregnant?¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t use protection, did you?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°When you¡¯re drunk, you don¡¯t remember to use protection. The only thing on my mind that night was pleasure, pleasure, and pleasure. Plus, I wouldn¡¯t even know whether that guy finished inside or outside.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God¡­¡± Veronica eximed while shaking her head repeatedly. She never imagined that Deasy would be so random and reckless. ¡°Be careful, or else I might hear that you¡¯re stressed and contemting suicide because you suddenly got pregnant.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± Deasy replied confidently. ¡°Out there, many people make out multiple times and don¡¯t get pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Why is it impossible?¡± Veronica argued. ¡°Even if it¡¯s only once, if you don¡¯t use protection, no one can guarantee that you won¡¯t get pregnant, Des. Especially if it happened twice. Plus, with a random guy. If you do get pregnant, determining the biological father will be a hassle. DNA tests and all. Do you want to go through that?¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t get pregnant.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pray for your feeling,¡± Veronica said, giving up. Perhaps she had run out of words to wake Deasy up to her reckless actions. ¡°But¡­ if anything happens, just be careful not to take shortcuts or do anything reckless!¡±


    Deasy immediately massaged her temples. She cursed herself while shifting in her seat at work. The turmoil within her was still there, even worse than before.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, if I make out and end up pregnant with the handsome guy I imaginedst night, I¡¯ll ept it with all my heart and soul. But if my make-out partner is Lucas, and he¡¯s the one responsible if I get pregnant, I just can¡¯t ept it,¡± Deasy monologued while continuing to massage her temples.


    There was a sense of pride and unwillingness that had filled Deasy¡¯s mind since earlier. Where would her self-esteem be if she got pregnant and married Lucas, who was clearly her subordinate?


    Not to mention Lucas¡¯ nerdy, dorky appearance with thick sses and oh¡­ basically far from her ideal type. Even when she was dating Daniel, she was gossiped about all kinds of things.


    ¡°God¡­ my life is such a mess,¡± she sighed heavily. Deasy¡¯s shoulders slumped as if the throbbing headache hadfortably settled within her. ¡°Can¡¯t the make-out partner be a handsome guy from my imagination?¡±


    Once again, Deasy closed her eyes. Suddenly, she felt nauseous just thinking about this possibility.


    ¡°But, what if I really am pregnant with Lucas¡¯ child? What am I supposed to do then? Am I really supposed to marry him and spend my whole life with a guy who¡¯s so not my type?¡±


    Deasy¡¯s body shuddered. She trembled a little, as if a ghost had passed by her side. Or perhaps there really was a ghost passing by?N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Come on, Deasy,e on. Just believe that you won¡¯t get pregnant. Besides, Lucas¡¯ older brother is so young. He definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to get you pregnant,¡± Deasy monologued again, trying tofort herself.


    But after trying hard to convince herself that she would be fine, there was one sentence from Veronica yesterday that disturbed Deasy¡¯s mind again.


    ¡°If you want to be more sure whether you¡¯ll get pregnant or not, just ask your partner fromst night, when you guys made out, did he finish inside or outside.¡±


    Deasy immediately shook her head, thinking again whether it was necessary to follow Veronica¡¯s suggestion and ask Lucas directly about what happened during their make-out session that night.


    Lost in her thoughts, Deasy almost forgot herself. She didn¡¯t even realize that someone had been calling and tapping her desk repeatedly.


    ¡°Miss Deasy¡­ Miss Deasy¡­ hey!¡±


    Deasy was startled in her seat. Flustered, she even screamed when she suddenly found Lucas standing right in front of her desk. But strangely, a few secondster, the surprise turned quickly into tension. For the first time, Deasy looked nervous meeting Lucas.


    ¡°Oh, Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ I want to talk seriously.¡±


    Deasy froze for a moment. Secondster, she tried to take a deep breath while trying to keep herposure.


    ¡°Talk seriously about what? Work-rted matters?¡±


    Lucas dared to pull a chair in front of Deasy¡¯s desk. He sat down and looked intently at the woman who was his boss.


    ¡°This is about what happenedst night.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong again?¡±


    ¡°I just want to rify that I didn¡¯t mean to trap you or do anything immoral. I swear, at first, I just identally ran into you when you were drunk and almost unconscious at the bar. Like before, I just took the initiative to help you by taking you home. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± Deasy interrupted.


    ¡°But, Miss Deasy got drunk again.¡±


    Deasy frowned, massaging her forehead while trying to think hard. What illness does she have that keeps being described as ¡°getting drunk¡±?


    ¡°Drunk again?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas nodded repeatedly. ¡°Miss Deasy got heavily drunk and then forced me to do¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Deasy pleaded while ring at him. She could guess what the next thing Lucas would say to her. ¡°Don¡¯t continue. Actually, I wonder, Luc. Why the hell did I have to meet and make out with you?¡±


    ¡°Well, how should I know, Bu? I tried to refuse. But you forced me and even took off my clothes first.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious that it was youst night?¡± Deasy asked, squinting her eyes. If she could beg to God, she would wantst night¡¯s events to be just a bad dream. ¡°You must be lying, right? Come on, just admit it.¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to admit, Bu?¡±


    ¡°Admit that you were asked by someone to rece him, right? I¡¯m sure thatst night, my partner in bed was handsome and definitely not you.¡±


    Lucas was almost taken aback. He didn¡¯t expect that Deasy would remember the face of the man who was, in fact, his true appearance when he slept with herst night.


    In Lucas¡¯ mind, his disguise could be threatened if Deasy really found out that the manst night was him in his true form.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Bu. I¡¯m sure you must have been dreaming. I was the one who apanied you to sleepst night. Not another man. Besides, do you think we¡¯re in a movie or something? Using body doubles and all?¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± Deasy retorted, still not epting it. ¡°Fine, Lucas. Just admit it. Who paid and asked you to cover up his identity?¡±


    Lucas sighed. Besides being a persistent person who forced him, Deasy was also stubborn.


    ¡°It really was me, Bu. Not someone else or a stuntman. If you don¡¯t believe me, I even remember the color of the bra you wore that night. Moreover, I also remember thecy panties with a bow that you wore the other day, and it was monkey gray, right? If that¡¯s not convincing enough, I also remember that I left a red mark in the shape of a betta fish on your chest that night. I bet that mark is still there even now.¡±


    Deasy choked up. Lucas¡¯ words were so striking. Talking about the red mark in the shape of a betta fish, she had to admit that it was indeed clear on her chest.


    In this case, it had to be Lucas. There was no denying it anymore that he was clearly her partner duringst night¡¯s make-out session.


    ¡°So, it was really you?¡± Deasy mumbled half-frustrated.


    ¡°I told you from the beginning that it was me. It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t believe me.¡±


    Trying to calm herself even though it seemed impossible, Deasy suddenly remembered something. Since there was an opportunity and they were alone, it would be a good idea to rify something that had been bothering her.


    ¡°Lucas, why do I have to do something inappropriate with you twice? And why is it always you who helps me when I¡¯m drunk?¡± Deasy looked sharp as if she wanted to peel Lucas sitting in front of her. ¡°Are you following me on purpose?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not short of work. Maybe it¡¯s just destiny.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! But, by the way, about sleeping together, if you don¡¯t mind me asking, did you use protection when we made out?¡±


    Deasy hoped Lucas would nod. Maybe she was heavily drunk and couldn¡¯t tell if Lucas used protection or not. But Lucas himself was sober. Who knows, maybe he always carries condoms in his wallet, just in case. Although, upon reflection, it seemed impossible.


    ¡°I don¡¯t use protection. Well, how can I? From the beginning, I had no intention of sleeping with you or any woman.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. What Lucas had just said actually made sense.


    ¡°But¡­ during the second make-out, you must have used protection, right?¡±


    Again, Lucas shook his head.


    ¡°No, Miss. I¡¯m sorry, but I didn¡¯t use protection during the second time either.¡±


    Deasy was still trying to keep herposure. There was still one possibility that could potentially help her situation.


    ¡°Okay¡­ if you really didn¡¯t use protection. But, when we were intimate, you didn¡¯t finish inside, did you?¡±


    In her eyes, Deasy could see Lucas taking a deep breath. He gazed at her for a moment, and his seriousness was evident. Then, after a short pause, Lucas spoke softly.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I forgot, Miss. Maybe I was too caught up and carried away in the moment, I forgot whether I finished inside or outside.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s breath felt like it stopped. This was it, her fate was hanging by a thread. If she made a mistake, she could indeed get pregnant, just as Veronica had feared yesterday.


    ¡°Lucas!!!¡±


    Deasy shouted loudly, annoyed with her own foolishness.


    ¡°Miss Deasy, calm down.¡±


    Lucas tried to soothe Deasy, who had be hysterical. He knew that his boss was in shock from what had happened between them. Luckily, the office area wasn¡¯t crowded at the moment, and there were no other staff passing by. It would be chaotic if anyone overheard.


    ¡°Calm down¡­ breathe!¡±


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m ready to take responsibility if anything happens to you.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s easy for you to say. But do you think I would be willing to marry you? Dream on!¡±


    ¡°Then what should we do? If I¡¯m fine with taking responsibility, how about you?¡±


    Considering Lucas¡¯ words, Deasy¡¯s headache worsened. The thought of being pregnant and marrying a man like¡­ ugh, she didn¡¯t even want to think about it. Deasy felt like she was going crazy.


    ¡°It¡¯s better if you leave right now, Luc. Just seeing you makes me want to throw up.¡±


    ¡°But my office is here. With you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Just leave. I need time to calm myself.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ okay¡­ I¡¯ll leave. But, once again, Miss. If something happens in the future, you don¡¯t have to¡­¡±


    ¡°Lucas! Get out now!¡±


    Hearing Deasy yelling again, Lucas was taken aback. He didn¡¯t want to see his boss bing even angrier, so he chose toply and quickly left the room.

 PHB 9

    Lucas had just finished buttoning his work shirt. As he reached for his sses, his phone started ringing. ncing briefly, he saw the name ¡®Chief Morales¡¯ which was none other than his father¡¯s contact, disyed clearly on the screen.


    For a moment, Lucas just kept staring at it. Standing still, he listened to the phone ringing until it finally stopped.


    Oddly, when the sound from his phone ceased, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. He acted as though his father¡¯s call was like a death sentence he had to worry about.


    Feeling safe, Lucas continued to get ready before heading to work. He was about to put on his watch when he jumped in surprise. His phone was ringing again, non-stop this time, almost as if it demanded to be answered immediately.


    Lucas was well aware of his father¡¯s nature. The man behaved just like a moody teenager who insisted on terrorizing his girlfriend when their call was intentionally left unanswered. Besides, Lucas knew exactly what his father was going to discuss once he epted the call.


    ¡°Hello, Dad?¡±


    Lucas tried to greet his father as calmly and politely as possible. In the end, he gave in and epted the call. Rather than being ignored and terrorized all day, he preferred to face and resolve it.


    ¡°Why did you take so long? Are you trying to avoid me?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. If he didn¡¯t answer quickly, his father would undoubtedlyunch into a long lecture.


    ¡°I just finished showering and getting ready, so I didn¡¯t hear the phone. By the way, why are you calling me so early in the morning?¡±


    ¡°Are you postponing your wedding with Devina again?¡±


    See, Lucas knew it. One of the reasons his father called was definitely about this. No matter how much he tried to hide it, it would eventually be found out.


    ¡°Yes, Dad.¡±


    ¡°Why? Are you trying to cancel the ns between me and Devina¡¯s parents? Remember, Luc, you two have been engaged for too long. I¡¯m embarrassed if you don¡¯t look serious like this.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath before responding. ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Dad. I¡¯ve discussed this with Devina. I just need a little more time to finish the tasks you gave me, and Devina agreed.¡±


    It was okay for Lucas to mention Devina¡¯s name this time. After all, they had agreed on it beforehand.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas replied quickly. This was his chance to exin and gain approval from his father for the wedding postponement. ¡°Lucas and Devina have agreed to postpone it for three or four months ahead.¡±


    ¡°Why so long?¡±


    Andreas Morales immediately cut in. He was still doubtful, afraid that what his son had just said was just an excuse.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Dad, you gave me quite a heavy workload right now. Because I need to focus on it, I asked for more time from Devina. After I finish the tasks you assigned, I promise to focus on preparing for the wedding as nned from the beginning.¡±


    There was a sigh on the other side of the line. Lucas was sure that his father couldn¡¯t argue or protest now. After all, Devina, his prospective bride herself, agreed to the arrangement with Lucas.


    ¡°Alright then. So, how is the task I gave you? Is there any progress? Or is it still stuck?¡±


    Lucas unconsciously closed his eyes dramatically. Just as he had managed to get out of the marriage issue, now he was faced with the old task that hadn¡¯t beenpleted until now. So frustrating!


    ¡°Daniel and Daniel are the ones that Lucas has yet to investigate. But Lucas promises that everything will bepleted without a trace in one or at most two months. After that, there won¡¯t be anything for you to worry about.¡±


    ¡°Alright ¡­ I¡¯ll hold you to your promise to finish it soon. These rats like them must be eradicated immediately. Otherwise, they¡¯ll spread disease and cause ourpany to suffer losses or even copse.¡±


    ¡°Certainly, Dad. Lucas promises. I¡¯ve already started investigating Daniel¡¯s personal data. Soon, everything will be revealed without a trace.¡±


    A sense of relief emerged in Lucas¡¯s mind. He was grateful that he could resolve two issues. And most importantly, he seeded in postponing the wedding ceremony with the excuse ofpleting tasks.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Andreas Morales seemed to pause his speech, sparking curiosity and wonder in Lucas.


    ¡°But what, Dad?¡±


    ¡°Tonight, you still have toe to the inauguration event of our subsidiarypany. It¡¯s time for people to know that you will be the sessor who will rece me soon. I want you to pick up Devina and bring her to the event together. There¡¯s no refusal, Luc. You need to know that Devina¡¯s parents and many of our business associates will be present at the event.¡±


    Unconsciously, the smile that had begun to appear on Lucas¡¯s lips turned into a grimace, fortunately not visibly audible.


    To be honest, he felt reluctant to appear in public with Devina by his side. It would only fuel spection that he and Devina were indeed getting married soon.


    However, Lucas knew that his father¡¯s words were likemands. Before he could even object, his father had already warned him not to think of refusing this order.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas reluctantly agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll pick up and bring Devina to the event, Dad. Once again, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Good. See you tonight at the venue. Please be on time, Luc. Remember, you are the future sessor to me.¡±


    ***This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 PHB 10

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just skip the invitation altogether?¡±


    Deasy soundedzily exasperated. At the moment, Veronica deliberately dropped by her apartment to pick her up and take her to the event.


    Both of them received invitations to attend a grand party. As women holding leadership positions, their presence was eagerly awaited by the host.


    ¡°You¡¯re unusuallyzy. Back when we were colleagues, you used to be the first one to attend these invitations. You even went to the salon just to look the trendiest and outshine other staff or managers.¡±


    Deasy, who was sitting on the sofa, let out a long sigh. Her eyes nced at Veronica, who was also dressed neatly, ready to go to the party.


    ¡°Just not in the mood. In the past, when we went together, I wanted to show off my charm to young bosses or rich kids who attended these formal events.¡±


    ¡°Well, what¡¯s different now?¡±


    ¡°The difference is that there are rarely good-looking young bosses who attend these official events now. Most of them are old guys. So, who do you want me to charm?¡±


    Veronica burst intoughter. Deasy was getting annoyed because she felt teased by her friend.


    ¡°You never know, Des. Maybe this time you¡¯ll meet your soulmate. Besides, it¡¯s organized by your parentpany. As a manager, shouldn¡¯t you be there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because it¡¯s apany event that I¡¯m not interested in going. I¡¯ll probably end up running into my ex-boyfriend who just got married, Ve.¡±


    ¡°So what if you meet him? Are you embarrassed?¡±


    ¡°Just do it, dude.¡±


    ¡°This is actually your moment to prove that you can move on now and find someone better. Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll meet your soulmate at the event. You can show off.¡±


    Deasy seemed to consider Veronica¡¯s words. There was some truth in it. Why should she keep drowning in sorrow? Instead of hiding, she should spread her wings and charm others to find a recement. Who knows, maybe she¡¯ll end up with someone even better than Daniel.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll change my clothes and get ready. I¡¯ve decided to go with you to the event tonight.¡±


    Veronica cheered happily. All her nagging and persuading paid off in the end. Deasy finally gave in, right?


    About forty minutester, Deasy and Veronica arrived at the event. As it was already 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, most of the guests had gathered, getting ready for the main event.


    After the opening ceremony and all the formalities, the guests were invited to enjoy the dinner.


    While Veronica met one of her business associates, Deasy decided to roam around and taste the various snacks neatly arranged on the buffet table.


    While she was happily enjoying a piece of cake, suddenly a man approached her. Not just that, he deliberately greeted her as if wanting to show off something.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯te.¡±


    Familiar with the voice of the person who just addressed her, Deasy turned around. She found a man she knew very well, holding hands affectionately with a young and equally beautiful and attractive woman.


    ¡°There was no reason for me not toe.¡±


    Daniel, her ex-boyfriend who just greeted her, chuckled lightly. He looked at Deasy from head to toe and spoke again.


    ¡°You seemed like you wanted to avoid me. Ever since you found out I¡¯m going to marry Arindi, it¡¯s pretty obvious you¡¯ve been against me.¡±


    Deasyughed sarcastically. She was genuinely disgusted by Daniel, and yet here he was, standing and talking to her as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s just your assumption. Are you a debt collector or something that I should avoid you at all costs?¡±


    Danielughed. Deasy¡¯s words managed to provoke him. Apparently, her straightforward nature hadn¡¯t changed one bit. She was always candid and often spoke bluntly without holding back.


    ¡°But, seriously. From the beginning, our rtionship wasn¡¯tpatible.¡±


    ¡°Well, if we werepatible, we¡¯d probably be married, right?¡±


    Daniel nodded.


    ¡°From the start, I was the one forcing us to stay together. But the more we tried, the harder it became for both of us to make it work.¡±


    ¡°Why bother trying so hard? When you¡¯re tired, you can just get in a car,¡± Deasy retorted yfully. ¡°And just because you felt we weren¡¯tpatible, you started cheating behind my back?¡±


    Daniel nodded, unashamedly admitting what Deasy used him of.


    ¡°Well, what can I do? Besides, you know I like curvy and sexy women. While you¡¯re more tomboyish. That¡¯s why we¡¯re not a good fit.¡±


    ¡°Such a jerk!¡±


    ¡°Why a jerk?¡±


    ¡°Because I wanted to call you a crocodile, but you¡¯re too good for that. Besides, real crocodiles are loyal and not cheaters like you.¡±


    Danielughed, not offended by Deasy¡¯s words. In fact, it seemed to encourage him to keep teasing his ex-girlfriend.


    ¡°But¡­ after I get married, you¡¯ve already moved on, right? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still head over heels in love with me or hoping for me toe back to you.¡±


    Deasy felt like she wanted to vomit. If it weren¡¯t a public ce, she swore she¡¯d want to hit or pull Daniel¡¯s thin mustache, like Mr Bean¡¯s.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ sorry, alright? I¡¯m perfectly beautiful, Daniel. When I was dating you, it must have been when my eyes were hurting. Or maybe my inner vision was clouded with dust. Just so you know, even someone from ourpany thought it was weird, even suspected that I was under a love spell to be infatuated with a guy like you, who¡¯s as delicate as a rice cooker.¡±


    Daniel shrugged. His emotions were starting to escte.


    ¡°Oh well, even if you¡¯re ugly like this, you were head over heels for me, right? It¡¯s evident you still can¡¯t forget me until this very moment. But you, who ims to be so beautiful, haven¡¯t found a recement for me? Seems like you¡¯re still single.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, who says that?¡± Deasy retorted indignantly. This rice cooker of a guy is too full of himself, assuming she can¡¯t move on.


    ¡°Then where¡¯s your boyfriend? Have you already found someone?¡±


    Daniel¡¯s question was obviouslyced with mockery. He openly challenged Deasy, as if saying that she¡¯s unattractive and he¡¯s the only one who¡¯s willing to date her.


    Naturally, Deasy felt humiliated. In her heart, she vowed to get back at Daniel, who was openly belittling and embarrassing her.


    ¡°Enough already. Do you want proof?¡±


    ¡°Where? I want to see how handsome and amazing the guy who¡¯s currently close to you, the beautiful girl, is.¡±


    Deasy felt cornered. Her eyes scanned around, trying to find Veronica¡¯s whereabouts. However, when she turned to the left, her gaze caught a man who, from behind, looked handsome and was engrossed in conversation with other guests.


    In that instant, an idea popped into Deasy¡¯s head. Without hesitation, she approached, gently pulled the man¡¯s shoulder, and called him affectionately.


    ¡°Sweetheart¡­¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Never mind what happens next. The important thing was to silence Daniel and make him stop underestimating or humiliating her.


    ¡°I want to introduce you to my ex-boyfriend.¡±


    The man in the ck suit immediately turned around. Daniel, who had been waiting to see who Deasy just called, was taken aback. And Deasy herself was equally surprised when she clearly saw the man she just addressed.

 PHB 11

    ¡°Mr. Lucas, do you want me to drive, or will you take the car yourself?¡±


    Felix observed Lucas as he prepared and put on his shoes. In a few minutes, the six-pack-bodied man was going to attend the subsidiarypany¡¯s inauguration, as his father had instructed.


    Even though he was reluctant, Lucas couldn¡¯t really avoid it. Especially tonight, he had to go and bring Devina along with him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself. You can head directly to the event. We¡¯ll meet there.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, do you want to stop by somewhere first?¡±


    Lucas nodded. Rising from his seat, he reached for the key to the sports car that Felix handed to him.


    ¡°Yes, I have to pick up Devina first. The tribal chief will be angry if his beloved future son-inw forgets to pick her up.¡±


    Unconsciously, Felixughed. Sometimes, he felt sorry for his boss. At his rtively mature age, Lucas had to bow to his father¡¯s decisions, whether it was about his career or life partner.


    What could he do? As the son and heir of the family, Lucas was brought up from a young age to be obedient and never to argue. Anything rted to him had to go through his father¡¯s strict selection process.


    That¡¯s why Felix also knew exactly why Lucas had been reluctant to be in a rtionship with any woman. ording to his boss, getting involved with women was a waste of time. In the end, it would never be approved, and he would still be forced into an arranged marriage.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll head to the event first, sir,¡± Felix saidter. He also prepared to go to the car he was driving. ¡°If you need anythingter, just let me know as soon as possible.¡±


    Lucas simply nodded, then hurriedly left. Revving his red Ferrari, he quickly set off to pick up Devina at her residence.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too congested on the streets this Saturday night. Lucas managed to arrive on time, just as Devina finished getting ready.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Lucas asked at the door while picking up his fianc¨¦e.


    ¡°I guess so¡­ I look pretty this way.¡±


    That night, Lucas admitted that Devina did look attractive. She was wearing an off-shoulder ck party dress, matching his ck suit.


    Believing they were both ready, Lucas invited Devina to get into the car. He took his fianc¨¦e with him to head to the event.


    ¡°It¡¯s Saturday night, if I didn¡¯t pick you up and take you out, where would you go? Stay at home? Or go hang out somewhere?¡±


    To break the ice, Lucas had to engage in small talk. Before the arranged marriage drama, he and Devina were actually very close. Somehow, since their engagement, their rtionship didn¡¯t grow closer but rather strained.


    ¡°If I just wanted to go out, I wouldn¡¯t have to wait for Saturday night. So broke.¡±


    Devina¡¯s somewhat curt response immediately annoyed Lucas. He tried to be kind, but it seemed to mean nothing in front of his fianc¨¦e.


    ¡°You¡¯re so grumpy. By the way, what are you thinking about? You¡¯ve been quiet all this time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about our wedding ns.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to agree on getting married in three or four months?¡±


    Devina nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking, if I marry you, it¡¯s bound to be veryplicated.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you refuse your parents¡¯ request yourself?¡±


    ¡°Can you refuse them?¡±


    Laughter erupted from Lucas¡¯ lips. To be honest, he shared the same thoughts as Devina. Unfortunately, both of them couldn¡¯t refuse what had been decided by their respective parents.


    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t either. But, about what you were talking about earlier¡­ Living as a married couple is indeedplicated, isn¡¯t it? In this world, the only simple thing is Padang food stalls.¡±


    Devina turned to him and scoffed, finding Lucas¡¯ joke not funny at all.


    ¡°If I could choose, I wouldn¡¯t want to get married at all.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brow. While driving, he tried to respond to what Devina was telling him.


    ¡°Even if you weren¡¯t arranged to me, you still wouldn¡¯t want to get married?¡±


    Devina nodded.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like it. Besides, guys, instead of making me happy, tend to hurt me more often.¡±


    ¡°Well, if they¡¯re good at cleaning floors, we call them a janitor. But not all guys are like that. Look at me, for example.¡±


    Devina let out a long sigh. She was so tired of dealing with Lucas, who had been joking around and not taking her seriously.


    ¡°Enough with the jokes. You¡¯d better focus on driving so we can get to the event soon. Also, prepare yourself mentally and physically. Pretending to be a harmonious couple in front of so many people requires extra effort.¡±


    Once again, Lucas smiled in agreement with Devina¡¯s words. But instead of replying, he chose to focus on driving until they finally arrived at the hotel¡¯s courtyard, where the inauguration event was being held.


    Exiting the car, just as Devina said, Lucas promptly helped open the door and affectionately held his fianc¨¦e¡¯s hand as they walked toward the party venue. Upon arrival, he was warmly greeted, acknowledged, and engaged in conversations with some business acquaintances who happened to know him.


    Devina, being the daughter of a prominent businessman, was also engaged in conversations with many senior attendees. While her fianc¨¦ was busy entertaining some guests, Lucas took the initiative to fetch drinks and then greeted the guests who knew his father.


    ¡°Do you want to apany me around or stay here?¡± Lucas asked before leaving.


    ¡°Just go around. Besides, my dad will being soon. So, I¡¯ll wait for him here.¡±


    Lucas nodded and walked away from Devina. He grabbed a drink, joined one of the guests, and engaged in a conversation. There was nothing else he discussed except business and partnerships.


    At first, everything seemed to go smoothly. Lucas even enjoyed his time with his business colleagues who had gathered there.


    Until suddenly, Lucas felt someone tapping his shoulder. Without hesitation, the person called out to him familiarly and pulled him to turn and face the source of the voice.


    ¡°Darling¡­ I want to introduce you to my ex-boyfriend.¡±


    Confused as he was suddenly pulled, Lucas turned around. The man froze for a moment when he saw the familiar face of Deasy.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    For a few moments, Deasy was taken aback. She stared at the handsome man she had just called ¡°darling¡± as if experiencing d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    In her mind, Deasy was quite sure that the man she was looking at was the same guy she met a few days ago and invited for a one-night stand at her apartment.


    Oh my, he¡¯s the handsome prince I saw that night. So, I wasn¡¯t dreaming, right?


    ¡°Are you¡­¡±


    ¡°Deasy¡­ is this your new boyfriend for real?¡±


    Before Deasy could fully recover from her shock and finish her response, another man¡¯s voice interrupted and questioned at the same time.


    Daniel, Deasy¡¯s ex-boyfriend, looked equally surprised. He showed a mixture of bewilderment and doubt as he saw the man Deasy had just called and pulled to face them both.


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Deasy replied, nodding. Trying not to show her nervousness, she boldly and recklessly held the hand of the man she had just called and warmly embraced him to introduce him as her boyfriend.


    ¡°Yes, of course. He¡¯s my new boyfriend. Sorry, I just got the chance to publish and introduce him to you. How about it? He¡¯s really handsome, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Daniel looked the man up and down, scanning him from head to toe, and immediately felt insecure. However, in his mind, Daniel still couldn¡¯t believe that this man was Deasy¡¯s current boyfriend.


    ¡°It¡¯s not convincing that he¡¯s your new boyfriend.¡±


    Deasy smiled mockingly, though inwardly cringing. The sly Magic Com in front of her was doubting whether she could get a boyfriend with a more handsome face.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t it convincing? Do you underestimate me?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± replied Daniel. ¡°But¡­ if he¡¯s really your boyfriend, I feel really outssed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be insecure. When I was dating you, I was just having eye problems.¡±


    Deasy turned to Lucas, giving him a signal with a wink, inviting him to y along.


    ¡°Oh my, darling, look at this. Can you believe that Daniel doesn¡¯t believe we¡¯re dating?¡±


    Lucas, who was originally anxious and confused, tried to maintain aposed expression. It wasn¡¯t the fact that Deasy lied to Daniel by iming he was her boyfriend that worried him. Since the beginning, Lucas had been praying in his heart, hoping that Deasy wouldn¡¯t recognize him as the ¡°Lucas Cupu¡± who had been her subordinate all this time.


    ¡°Are you really Deasy¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Daniel asked directly to Lucas before he could respond to Deasy¡¯s earlier statement.


    Lucas smiled. Feeling sorry for Deasy and wanting to help preserve her dignity in front of her ex, he agreed to y along with what Deasy was doing.


    ¡°Yes, we are both in a serious rtionship.¡±


    A bright smile instantly appeared on Deasy¡¯s face. As if getting a breath of fresh air, she silently thanked the handsome man beside her for agreeing to help convince Daniel. Deasy was confident that after this, her ex-boyfriend would remain silent and would no longer belittle or mock her.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, what¡¯s your name?¡± Daniel asked, seeming dissatisfied.


    Lucas hesitated for a moment, thinking quickly to answer Daniel¡¯s question.


    ¡°My name is Lucas.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. She felt a sense of familiarity with the name mentioned by the handsome man beside her. Somehow, her mind was automatically drawn to the man she had slept with twice.


    Deasy knew that the name Lucas was not unique in the world. But in her heart, she hoped that this handsome Lucas beside her was the same one she had invited to sleep with and had given her virginity for free, not the geeky Lucas who was like a little toy to her older brother.


    Meanwhile, Lucas had his reasons for mentioning his real name. He thought it would be highly improbable to use a different name. Let¡¯s not forget that his father had advised him that night to introduce himself to the business associates who were present at the inauguration event as his sessor and recement.


    Most importantly, Deasy and Daniel didn¡¯t recognize and realize his disguise all this time. After all, they were his superiors in the office.


    ¡°Lucas? Amon name, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°As long as his looks and wallet aren¡¯tmon,¡± Deasy defended when Daniel tried to mock.


    Feeling defeated, Daniel chose to leave. He walked away, leaving Lucas and Deasy without saying much more.


    ¡°Thank you for helping me,¡± Deasy murmured shyly. She kept gazing at Lucas¡¯ face, seemingly enchanted and hypnotized by the charm he disyed.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Lucas replied briefly. He even prepared to leave before Deasy bombarded him with many questions.


    ¡°But, is your name really Lucas?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, your face looks really familiar,¡± Deasy honestly said. For whatever reason, she still believed, even more convinced that the man in front of her was the same person she made out with in her apartment a while ago. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve met you before.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Lucas panicked because Deasy still remembered this. He should have listened to Felix¡¯s advice not to apany Deasy in his true identity, without disguise.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably just your imagination. This is actually the first time we¡¯ve met.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Deasy shook her head, trying to refute his im. But before she could protest further, someone called out to Lucas.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, you¡¯re asked to join now. Ms. Devina and the other guests are already waiting.¡±


    Lucas nodded and turned to Deasy, smiling briefly before leaving without saying anything.


    Meanwhile, Deasy initially wanted to follow, but Veronica, who had finished talking to someone, called her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home now,¡± Veronica suggested.


    ¡°Go home? The main event hasn¡¯t even started yet,¡± Deasy protested. She wanted to stay longer because she was still curious about the handsome man she had just met.


    ¡°Darwin asked me to pick him up right now.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°Seriously, your husband is really a handful. Besides, I just met the handsome guy I told you about the other day.¡±


    ¡°Which handsome guy?¡±


    ¡°The one I slept withst time.¡±


    Veronica frowned. She was confused by Deasy¡¯s story.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me on the phone yesterday that the guy who slept with you was the same person?¡±


    Deasy pursed her lips, smiling.


    ¡°No ¡­ I¡¯m sure this guy is the one I slept with the other day. I¡¯m positive I¡¯m not dreaming. Even if I was drunk, I remember his face clearly.¡±


    ¡°Then, does he remember you?¡±


    Deasy shook her head helplessly.


    ¡°He said he didn¡¯t know me and that this was the first time he met me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably just dreaming.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Deasy confidently denied.


    ¡°Besides, if he¡¯s attending an important event like tonight, he must be influential and have a high position. I suspect he already has a girlfriend or wife.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, I don¡¯t care. Whether he has a girlfriend or wife, I have to prove that my feelings all this time were right.¡±


    ¡°How do you n to prove it?¡± Veronica asked, curious. Just that day, her friend confessed that she made out while drunk.


    ¡°How? I¡¯ll invite him to sleep with me again. Then I can see if he still bites me like that night.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, girl!¡±

 PHB 12

    A week had passed, but Deasy couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the handsome man she identally met at the inauguration event of thepany¡¯s branch where she worked.


    Until this moment, she kept praying. Hoping that God would bring them together again and, if possible, they could develop a close rtionship. Maybe they could date, or even take it to a serious level like marriage.


    For the sake of God, Deasy was willing. In her mind, she even imagined that even if she got pregnant, she would happily bear the child of a handsome man like Lucas.


    Remember! Lucas, the handsome one. With a six-pack body and undoubtedly smelling good. Not the nerdy, thick-sses-wearing guy who wasn¡¯t attractive from any angle.


    Even though Lucas Orion insisted that he was the one Deasy had made out with twice, she still believed that the handsome Lucas was the one who slept with her thest night.


    It didn¡¯t matter to Deasy if Lucas Orion was the one who had tattoos of betta fish, catfish, or piranhas all over his body. In her opinion, the handsome Lucas could be the one responsible. But she intentionally asked Lucas Orion to admit it.


    ¡°Anyway, I have to find that handsome guy again until I meet him. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s the soulmate that God sent for me.¡±


    Deasy made up her mind. She convinced herself to continue searching for the man she liked since their first encounter.


    But just as she gathered her determination, Veronica¡¯s words from the other day disturbed her thoughts again.


    ¡°Imagine this. Let¡¯s say you meet this guy again. Then you start a serious rtionship, and it leads to dating or even marriage. What if he finds out that you¡¯re not a virgin anymore?¡±


    Veronica¡¯s question felt piercing. Although nowadays virginity is not as big of an issue, there are still some men or families who hold firm to the principle of the sacredness of a rtionship, where one of the requirements is to be a virgin.


    Don¡¯t forget that Deasy had slept with two men who were not her husband. In fact, thest time she was unsure with whom she had given herself.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I want to convince him and find evidence that he¡¯s the guy who slept with me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say this handsome Lucas indeed slept with you. But he wasn¡¯t the one who took your virginity first, right? Are you sure he would ept you as you are?¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. Veronica¡¯s questions were difficult for her to answer. Especially the next question that sounded even more frightening.


    ¡°Suppose you get pregnant, and it turns out that the child in your womb has the blood of the first guy who slept with you, how would you handle that?¡±


    Deasy grumbled. Why did her life have to be soplicated? Why did it have to be Lucas Orion, who took her virginity without anymitment? It was just her luck!


    Lost in thought, contemting her uncertain fate, Deasy didn¡¯t even realize that someone had been calling her. This time, they even knocked on the table several times.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy.¡±


    Deasy blinked, shifting her gaze to find Lucas Orion standing in front of her desk. For God¡¯s sake, why does this guy always disrupt her peace?


    ¡°What now? Why do you always like to disturb my peace?¡± she scolded. Lucas rolled his eyes, not knowing why he was getting lectured.


    ¡°I¡¯m not disturbing you. It¡¯s just that I need to get some reports. I¡¯ve called you three times, but you didn¡¯t respond; you were lost in thought,¡± he said. His eyes narrowed, followed by a teasing smirk. ¡°Daydreaming about something naughty, huh?¡±


    Deasy scowled. This subordinate of hers was so disrespectful.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯m not daydreaming about anything naughty. I¡¯m actually thinking.¡±


    Lucas seemed surprised, but upon scrutinizing the expression on the woman¡¯s face in front of him, he realized that Deasy seemed to be deeply contemting something.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about why my life had to be cursed with meeting you that night.¡±


    Lucas nodded, finally understanding what was on Deasy¡¯s mind. Apparently, it was about the awkwardness and the great concern she had for them being together.


    ¡°Oh¡­ you¡¯re thinking about the fact that we¡¯ve slept together twice?¡± Lucas whispered softly. He deliberately lowered his voice so that anyone passing by their office wouldn¡¯t hear their conversation.


    Deasy widened her eyes. Why was Lucas so nonchnt about discussing this? Imagine, she had lost her virginitypletely!


    ¡°That¡¯s one of the things,¡± Deasy replied curtly. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ll never ept that you took my virginity!¡±


    Lucas blinked. A momentter, he couldn¡¯t ept the usation that clearly cornered him. Why was he being treated as the main perpetrator of this misconduct when both parties had enjoyed what had happened?


    ¡°Why do you speak as if I¡¯m the main viin here?¡±


    ¡°Because all of this is because of you, right?¡±


    ¡°But you enjoyed what we did together, right? We did it twice, you know.¡±


    Deasy grimaced. Goodness, was she really that foolish? Falling into the same trap twice. Was it really an ident, or was she addicted?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°And why do you keep helping me? Why did you pretend to be nice and even offer to apany me back to the apartment? Or was it all just an act? After all, we slept together twice, it¡¯s too coincidental. You must have nned all of this, right?¡±


    Lucas shook his head in disbelief. In his mind, didn¡¯t Deasy have any gratitude? He helped her kindly, and she insulted and used him of all sorts of things. If he knew that, he would have just left her on the side of the road when she was drunk.


    ¡°Miss, I apologize. Despite how ugly it looks, I¡¯m not a bad guy with a perverted or criminal mind. In case you¡¯ve forgotten, let me remind you. Who was it that suddenly got into my car while drunk the first time? You, right? I didn¡¯t even try to flirt with you. And who forced me to drive you to your apartment? You did. I was just trying to be kind and help you get home. But after Ipleted my duty, you insisted that I sleep with you.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡±


    ¡°Listen,¡± Lucas quickly interjected. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking yet. I admit that I made a mistake the first time. But for some reason, fate brought us together in the wrong situation again. During the second encounter, you were heavily drunk and causing a scene. I was the only one who knew you and could help you get home. But what happened? Once again, you prevented me from leaving and insisted on me staying the night. You were the one who initiated and undressed me first. I refused multiple times, but you pounced on me like a starving lion.¡±


    Deasy swallowed hard and shook her head repeatedly. Although it was true, she still tried to deny the truth that Lucas was stating.


    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t be how? Your apartment has CCTV. Check it yourself, and you¡¯ll see who was aggressive and attacked first. I should have been the one who got angry,¡± Lucas continued. Since he had already started exining, he decided to speak at length. ¡°You were the one who forcibly took my virginity. You could even say that you raped me. Twice, at that. If I wanted to, I could report you to the police for rape and coercion.¡±


    Deasy was utterly stunned. But she immediately began thinking hard. Was there such a thing in this world as a woman raping a man? It couldn¡¯t be possible.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, don¡¯t get drunk so often. As you know, alcohol is dangerous. Look at the situation now. You¡¯re the one regretting it, right? If I may, I¡¯ll follow your lead. If you want responsibility, no problem.¡±


    Damn it!


    Deasy couldn¡¯t respond to Lucas¡¯s words. She felt that he now viewed her as a male rapist predator. It was embarrassing, but Deasy also didn¡¯t appreciate beingbeled like that.


    ¡°Enough¡­ enough¡­ let¡¯s not discuss it anymore! I¡¯m getting a headache from listening to your rants,¡± Deasy finally said, at a loss for words.


    ¡°You started it, Miss. Besides, I¡¯ve offered multiple times to take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re thest man on Earth, I still wouldn¡¯t want to marry you, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make empty threats. Don¡¯t act so disgusted by me. During our make-out sessions, you were clearly addicted. You even insulted my older brother¡¯s size. But once I was inside, you wanted more.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!!!¡±


    Deasy eximed while ring at him. Lucas¡¯s mouth was seriously too brazen and deserved to be shut up!


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to ramble on so much! Fine, let¡¯s talk about something else.¡±


    Instead of delving further into the topic, Deasy decided to put an end to this meaningless discussion. ¡°Why did youe looking for me? Do you need to take a report?¡±


    ¡°I need to take the financial report from Mr. Daniel. There¡¯s a file I need to check.¡±


    Deasy let out a long sigh. She retrieved the key box from her drawer and handed it over to Lucas without suspicion.


    ¡°Here, you can find it all in there. Everything is in one ce.¡±


    Lucas immediately took the key box from Deasy. Since he had what he needed, he prepared to return to his desk.


    ¡°I¡¯m also going to take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Leave?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? Starting tomorrow until a few days ahead, I¡¯ll be on leave to visit my sick parents in my hometown. So, some of my tasks will be handled and temporarily reced by Sta.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s good then. I won¡¯t have to worry about meeting you all the time.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯ll be safe with me gone?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be sure? You¡¯re underestimating me.¡±


    Lucas shook his head immediately.


    ¡°I would never underestimate you. In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    Deasy then waved her hand nonchntly, signaling for Lucas to return to his desk.


    ***


    ustomed to having Lucas assist her with everything, Deasy felt really troubled these past two days. Even though Sta was there to help during Lucas¡¯s absence, Deasy couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Sta wasn¡¯t as quick, efficient, or nimble as Lucas inpleting tasks.


    ¡°Oh my¡­ Can I evenin? I was so used to having Lucas handle everything. Just two days of his leave and I¡¯m already overwhelmed. And he¡¯ll be gone for quite some time.¡±


    Deasy massaged her forehead. She was clearly stressing herself out. Truly, she waspletely at a loss. Especially since these past two days, she had to help prepare everything to wee the new boss who would be joining theirpany.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you ready, Miss. Deasy? Everyone is already gathering in the main lobby.¡±


    Sta stood at the door¡¯s threshold, purposely approaching Deasy to remind her boss toe out and join the others on the ground floor of the building.


    ¡°Has the new boss arrived?¡±


    Sta shook her head.


    ¡°Not yet, Miss. But all the department heads and managers are already gathering in the main meeting room.¡±


    Deasy sighedzily. Getting up from her seat, she followed Sta¡¯s advice and left the room.


    Deasy walked leisurely and eventually arrived at the main meeting room. She took a seat, joining the others as they waited for the important person who would lead them from now on.


    After a short while, the awaited figure finally arrived. Deasy could see Andreas Morales, the owner of thepany, entering the room, followed by his assistant and severalpanymissioners.


    The middle-aged man greeted everyone warmly. Then, he called someone whom Deasy believed to be their new boss, instructing them to enter the meeting room.


    At first, Deasy was nonchnt. However, shortly after, she was taken aback. Her pupils dted as she clearly recognized the person entering the room.


    ¡°Lucas?¡±

 PHB 13

    ¡°Pa¡­ are you sure about introducing Lucas to all the staff and executives at Quantum Tech today?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you ready?¡±


    Before heading to the office, Lucas made a deliberate stop at his father¡¯s residence. Today, as instructed, he would be introduced for the first time as the new leader.


    ording to the agreement of thepany executives andmissioners, Lucas was chosen to rece Andreas Morales and take over the leadership of Quantum Tech, which was a subsidiary of the Dalton Group.


    Actually, as the youngest son and the mostpetent heir, Lucas was destined to be chosen as his father¡¯s sessor sooner orter. Moreover, the leadership position at Quantum Tech had been vacant for the past year.


    However, Lucas did not expect it to happen so soon. It¡¯s not that he was unprepared. Lucas just thought that there were still many important tasks that he had not yet taken responsibility for orpleted.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about being unprepared or unwilling. It¡¯s just that the task you gave me to clean up Quantum Tech from the mischievous rats is not finished yet. Almost there, I promise everything will be clean without a trace.¡±


    Andreas, who had just finished his breakfast, simply smiled. He got up from his seat and moved to the car, then invited Lucas to get in and head to the office together with him.


    ¡°I purposely asked you to be present at Quantum Tech to make your job easier, Luc.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Pa?¡±


    Andreas smiled, looking at his son.


    ¡°If you¡¯re there and with your current position, you¡¯ll have easier ess to everything. Besides, sooner orter, you have to be introduced to all the staff, right? Moreover, I can¡¯t keep on stalling themissioners who are pressing for a new leader for Quantum Tech.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t it wait for three or four months, Pa? Let everything be clean first.¡±


    A heavy sigh escaped Andreas¡¯s lips. The middle-aged man smiled while shaking his head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, they¡¯ve been pressuring me all this time. Some even threatened to propose other candidates if I didn¡¯t prepare one soon. And I think it¡¯s better for you to step up instead of someone else leading.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. He was now torn and conflicted.


    ¡°And what about Lucas¡¯ disguise? How could Lucas, the regr staff, just disappear like that? People will be suspicious.¡±


    This was also the haunting question that troubled Lucas. From the beginning, he had suggested to his father to change his name and assume a new identity.


    However, fearing that he might not be responsive to a new name, leading to suspicion, his father asked Lucas to keep using the same first name. The old man argued that there were many people with the same name in the world and even in the same ce.


    ¡°Just manage it as you see fit, Luc. You can promote him or, if necessary, transfer the regr staff Lucas to another head office. Or make up a reason that Lucas resigned because he got a much better job. Just be smart about it.¡±


    This time, Lucas sighed deeply. As expected,plex problems like this would eventually arise.


    However, there was no other way. Everything had already happened. Instead of running away from the issue, it was better to slowly resolve it while praying that no one would recognize him when he assumed the position as the leader of Quantum Tech.


    After a satisfying conversation along the way to the office, Lucas was asked to get ready. Exactly ten minutester, the car he and his father were in finally arrived at the Quantum Tech building.


    From the car window, Lucas could see several staff members gathering in the lobby. As he stepped out of the car, he was warmly weed and guided to the meeting room.


    Once inside the meeting room, with his gaze sweeping across the room, Lucas could see how many managers and division heads had already assembled there.


    Among the many people present, Lucas suddenly stopped at one point. At the same time, a woman was looking at him with a surprised expression.


    Deasy!


    Lucas pursed his lips slightly, deliberately giving her a smile before shifting his gaze and walking straight ahead. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for him to show any rude expressions. Deasy might start wondering.


    While Lucas took his seat, Andreas opened the meeting. He spoke briefly and then gave Lucas the opportunity to introduce himself to the executives, managers, and various division heads who were gathered.


    ¡°Thank you for the time you¡¯ve given. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lucas Morales. Starting today, I will be taking over the previous leadership to lead Quantum Tech towards a better and more sessful future. As the new leader, I am open to constructive criticism and suggestions from executives and colleagues to work together in creating the prosperity of thepany. Therefore, with humility and respect, I seek your cooperation.¡±


    A round of apuse resounded as Lucas finished his brief introduction. Many people in the meeting room were impressed with what he had said.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Meanwhile, Deasy couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. She couldn¡¯t even blink as she looked at the man she had dreamed of, who was now working in the same office and sitting so close to her. What shocked her even more was finding out that Lucas was the son of thepany¡¯s owner.


    ¡°Oh¡­ so your boyfriend from yesterday is Mr. Andreas¡¯ son? No wonder his face looked familiar.¡±


    Daniel, who purposely took a seat next to Deasy, immediatelymented. Turning to her, he had a facial expression that was hard to interpret ¨C it seemed mocking, annoyed, or envious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, Daniel, that I am beautiful. I¡¯m more suitable as apanion to a corporate leader like Lucas.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re dating a rich and handsome big shot boss, why didn¡¯t you publish it? You usually like to show off everything.¡±


    Deasy fell silent for a moment. Daniel¡¯s question actually made sense. Usually, when girls like her get a partner, especially one who is exceptionally good-looking, they¡¯d unt it everywhere.


    ¡°I intentionally didn¡¯t show off. I didn¡¯t want people to be envious and heartbroken.¡±


    Deasy looked relieved. Finally, she could give a reasonable exnation to Daniel and put an end to his questioning.


    ¡°Your reason is so clich¨¦, Des. Just admit that you didn¡¯t want to lose to me.¡±


    ¡°Why would I need a reason? It¡¯s the truth. Besides, it¡¯s not difficult to find someone better than you, Daniel. I¡¯ve said it multiple times, dating you was just a momentarypse.¡±


    Deasy continued to boast. Instead of feeling embarrassed, especially if it turned out that she had no connection at all with their new boss, she preferred to show off. Whether it was true or not, she would deal with itter. What mattered now was not to be belittled by her ex-boyfriend, Daniel.


    ¡°A momentarypse, but why were you so upset when I broke up with you? ording to the others, you were frustrated and started drinking heavily at the bar because you couldn¡¯t handle me getting married.¡±


    ¡°Come on, who said that?¡±


    Deasy frowned. Daniel, trying to act all smart, was mocking her and iming that she was frustrated because of the breakup.


    ¡°People who saw you, that¡¯s who.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an exaggeration,¡± Deasy tried to deny.


    But to be honest, she was hurt when he broke up with her and, on top of that, she discovered that he had been cheating on her. However, no matter how painful it was, Deasy was determined not to lose. She vowed never to be belittled by a guy like Daniel. Not a chance!


    ¡°I was drinking because I was stressed about work,¡± Deasy continued their conversation. ¡°Why would I be frustrated over you getting married? You¡¯re just one guy in the world. Besides, after thinking about it carefully, it seems that the office gossip about me being under some spell when I dated you might be true.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Daniel whispered, looking intrigued.


    ¡°Well¡­ the gossip is that I actually dated you because I was under a love spell.¡±


    Daniel stared, ready to retaliate with equally cutting words.


    However, seeing that the meeting was over and people were starting to stand and leave the meeting room, both Daniel and Deasy quickly got up and followed the new leader, who was exploring the room before heading to the main executive office.


    ***

 PHB 14

    ¡°Have you understood everything? If there¡¯s nothing else to ask, I have to go back, Son.¡±


    Andreas, who had been talking in Lucas¡¯s office, was ready to leave. He reminded his son to focus on the new responsibilities he had been given.


    ¡°Alright, Dad. I¡¯ve got everything.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for Daniel and Daniel¡¯s reports as soon as possible. Hopefully, everything will be gradually settled next month, and after that, you can focus on preparing for the wedding.¡±


    Lucas simply nodded. He was honestly not eager to discuss the topic of marriage with his father. However, to avoid a lengthy argument, he agreed with what was asked of him.


    Meanwhile, in the finance division¡¯s office, the staff members were gathered, talking excitedly. They were all busy gossiping about the new boss, who would begin his long-vacant duties today.


    Deasy herself appeared to be eavesdropping from her office. Somehow, she became interested in what her staff members were gossiping about this morning.


    ¡°Wow, our new boss is such a refreshing sight. Handsome, tall, fair-skinned, and even smells good.¡±


    De, the blonde girl, was heard gushing. She had been praising Lucas¡¯s dazzling appearance since earlier.


    ¡°How do you know he smells good?¡± the bespectacled male staff asked curiously.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Oh my God, Andro. Lucas passed by our room earlier. I¡¯m sure his perfume is a luxurious brand. The fragrance lingered for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Exaggerating. We, guys in this room, smell good too.¡±


    ¡°Not the same. Lucas¡¯s scent is incredible. It makes my heart skip a beat.¡±


    ¡°What are you, a koi fish or something, Del? Talking about skipping a beat,¡± Andro teased.


    ¡°But, speaking of perfumes, I feel like I¡¯ve smelled it before, like a familiar scent,¡± Sta chimed in, trying to recall. For some reason, she was certain of what she was feeling.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just your imagination. Acting like you¡¯re familiar with his scent and all.¡±


    ¡°No, really, I am. But I can¡¯t put my finger on where I¡¯ve smelled it before.¡±


    ¡°Enough about that. Let¡¯s talk about whether he has a girlfriend or not.¡±


    ¡°He probably does. Someone as handsome as him.¡±


    ¡°It would be such a shame if he¡¯s already taken. But as they say, before the wedding day, we¡¯re all still avable, right?¡±


    ¡°If you want a single guy, you and Lucas Orion should go for it. He¡¯s single until the end of time,¡± Andro said and instantly made De roll her eyes in annoyance.


    ¡°Just because they both have the name Lucas doesn¡¯t mean their destinies are the same,¡± De retorted.


    ¡°Besides, even if our new boss is single, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d be interested in corporate underlings like us, Del,¡± Sta said, trying to bring De back to reality. ¡°More likely, he¡¯ll go after someone like Ms. Deasy, the model.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± De¡¯s response surprised the others. ¡°Compared to Daniel, Ms. Deasy is more his type, sophisticated and beautiful. Perfect match.¡±


    Andro groaned. He was getting tired of hearing his female colleagues gossiping about their new boss.


    ¡°Instead of talking about his looks, why don¡¯t we just observe and see what this new boss is capable of? He might be all looks and no substance.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, so jealous,¡± Sta retorted, not wanting to hear her newfound idol being spoken ill of.


    ¡°Not jealous. I¡¯m just worried that he¡¯s all about looks butcks the skills. Besides, who are we? Why are we even ying matchmaker for our new boss and Ms. Deasy?¡±


    In her office, Deasy kept eavesdropping, smiling to herself. What were they saying? She believed that she would be a perfect match for a handsome guy like Lucas, the kind she had been dreaming about for some time now.


    Lost in her thoughts, the inte on Deasy¡¯s desk rang. It was her new secretary, asking her to meet with Lucas and bring some financial reports for him to review.


    As fate would have it, Deasy happily went to meet Lucas in his office. Without much ado, she handed over the files that Lucas had requested. She hoped that she would use this opportunity to ask him some questions, especially about the man she believed had been with her before.


    ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Lucas. Here are the files you asked for.¡±


    Lucas nodded, epting the folder that Deasy handed to him.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else you need, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas looked up, thinking about what he might require. Since he had ess to information that he previously didn¡¯t have, he wanted to make use of it.


    ¡°Can I get the financial reports of all the managers at Quantum Tech, without exception?¡±


    Deasy immediately nodded.


    ¡°Sure, Sir. When do you need it?¡±


    ¡°As soon as possible. I want to check and review them right away.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll collect and provide the files right away.¡±


    Lucas nodded and let Deasy leave. Fifteen minutester, she returned with the requested files.


    ¡°I¡¯ve put everything in the folder, Sir. The rest is in soft file format, and I¡¯ll send the documents to your special email.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you. You can go back to work.¡±


    Deasy nodded but still didn¡¯t leave. Even though Lucas had given her permission to continue working.


    ¡°Why? Is there something you want to say?¡± Lucas questioned when he noticed Deasy still standing there without moving.


    ¡°I want to make sure of something, Sir.¡±


    Lucas looked at her, observing her closely. His gaze didn¡¯t shift away from Deasy, who was standing in front of him.


    ¡°Make sure of something? What is it?¡±


    ¡°That¡­ uh¡­ Sir.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°I just want to make sure that we¡¯ve met before, right? At one of the Bars?¡±


    Lucas smiled and shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never met you before. The first time we met was at the inauguration event.¡±


    ¡°Really, Sir? But I feel like I¡¯m so familiar with you.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean my face ismon?¡±


    Deasy immediately shook her head, denying what Lucas had just said. With courage she didn¡¯t know she had, she sought certainty from her boss.


    ¡°N-no, Sir. That¡¯s not what I mean. It¡¯s just that, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ve met before and even did something.¡±


    Lucas raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Did something? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Deasy didn¡¯t reply immediately. She seemed lost in thought.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lucas pressed.


    ¡°Something like making out.¡±


    Lucasughed again. Then he casually looked at Deasy.


    ¡°How could I make out with you if I don¡¯t even know you?¡±


    Deasy shook her head again. Stepping forward and leaning in a bit, she unbuttoned her zer slightly to show something that was previously hidden.


    ¡°But seriously, you made this betta fish tattoo on my chest, right? Just admit it, Sir.¡±

 PHB 15

    Lucas continued to scrutinize one by one the financial data that Deasy had just given him yesterday. Currently, at his home, there¡¯s Felix, his assistant, along with three members of the audit team who are busy helping him. They checked repeatedly while looking for loopholes in the suspected embezzlement of fundsmitted by some staff members who have been working at Quantum Tech for many years.


    Having been left unchecked for years, Lucas just found out that the missingpany funds had reached tens of billions of rupiah. No wonder his father¡¯spany suffered losses and almost went under. Lucas also realized that the dirty games within his father¡¯spany were quite well organized.


    It took him a long time to investigate. Out of several suspects, only two individuals were proven to have embezzledpany funds. Unfortunately, those caught were involved in embezzling rtively small amounts.


    That¡¯s why this PR (problem or issue) was so draining for Lucas. He had to go undercover to gather information from lower-level staff who might know about or have received bribes from superiors intentionally misappropriating funds.


    ¡°I¡¯ve checked Daniel multiple times, Sir. ording to the data, he has never usedpany funds even once. I couldn¡¯t find anything suspicious,¡± Felix expressed his opinion, exining carefully about his findings from what he had been working on all this time.


    ¡°You¡¯ve checked everything, right? It has been cross-referenced with the data we obtained before, right?¡± Lucas asked.


    Felix nodded. ¡°I audited and cross-checked everything multiple times. The result is zero. In fact, I found other oues that harmed thepany as well.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. He furrowed his brow.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Daniel indeed never usedpany money. However, he abused his position and even received a massive bribe from one of the investors to secure the tender auction held by Quantum Tech for the construction of a mall in the Northern region.¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. Leaning back on the sofa¡¯s armrest, he tried to find the mostfortable seating position while contemting. His head felt overwhelmed, thinking about the next steps he should take to promptly stop the issues and losses that thepany had been experiencing recently.


    ¡°So, what does Mr. Lucas want to do now? Daniel should still be held ountable, right?¡± Felix continued the conversation. ¡°Even though he didn¡¯t usepany money. But, he was deceitful by epting a bribe from one of the investors to facilitate the tender auction.¡±


    Lucas nodded. As he is now the leader, he must be decisive and make the necessary decisions.


    ¡°Besides Daniel, who else has been proven to be involved?¡±


    ¡°Previously, there was Thomas, the head of Procurement. Argantara, Medina, and now Daniel.¡±


    Lucas nodded while rubbing his chin repeatedly. After a short moment of thought, he gave his response.


    ¡°So, what about Daniel? Until this moment, have we found any evidence of him misappropriating or embezzlingpany funds?¡±


    Felix nodded. Lucas then turned to the two members of the audit team who had been assisting him.


    ¡°Have both of you also not found any suspicious data rted to Daniel?¡±


    Both members of the Audit team shook their heads. One of them immediately exined to Lucas.


    ¡°Mr. Daniel is clean, Sir. His financial data since he joined Quantum Tech until nearly 10 years of service shows no signs of anything suspicious. Even from the wealth data you provided, his ie growth each year isn¡¯t significantly substantial. Besides, hees from an affluent family.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Lucas nodded. It had been exined in detail, yet for some reason, he still felt unsatisfied. Even when he went undercover as Lucas, a financial staff, he didn¡¯t find any loopholes. Deasy also assured him that her ex-boyfriend was clean. However, Lucas still felt something was bothering him about that particr man.


    ¡°But¡­ why do I have this uneasy feeling about him? It¡¯s as if he¡¯s the mastermind behind all this.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re still unsure, we can investigate again, Sir,¡± Felix suggested, and Lucas immediately agreed with a nod. ¡°Perhaps Mr. Daniel has savings in foreign ounts, and that wealth data might not be recorded. Or¡­¡±


    Felix paused, creating curiosity in Lucas.


    ¡°Or what?¡±


    ¡°Or it¡¯s possible that Mr. Daniel doesn¡¯t keeppany money in his personal ount. He might beundering money by putting or entrusting the funds into his girlfriend¡¯s, wife¡¯s, sibling¡¯s, or even invested in a business.¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement; what Felix said made sense.


    ¡°So, what do you think I should do?¡±


    ¡°My suggestion is to investigate the closest people first, Sir. Start with Ms. Deasy because she had a long rtionship with Mr. Daniel. Then proceed to Arindi, who is now his wife. Both of them are Quantum Tech staff, so it should be rtively easy to dig into their financial data.¡±


    Lucas nodded. But shortly after, he let out a long sigh. For some reason, hearing Deasy¡¯s name made him feel uneasy. It¡¯s as if misfortune was lurking around when he got close to that woman.


    In the past, when he first joined Quantum Tech, he was genuinely attracted to Deasy. However, after getting to know her personality, madness, and audacity, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver at the thought of her.


    ¡°Oh, I really don¡¯t feel like investigating Deasy. It¡¯s tooplicated. I don¡¯t know why, but anything rted to Deasy always ends up chaotic. Besides, I heard shees from a wealthy background, right?¡±


    Felix nodded.


    ¡°She graduated from a foreign university. Before joining Quantum Tech, she served as the vice CEO of Carribean, a subsidiary of VortexGroup, Sir. Her circle of friends is also impressive. She¡¯s close friends with Veronica, the CEO of VortexGroup, and Sean, the CEO of ckGold.¡±


    This time, it was Lucas who nodded.


    ¡°Despite having influential friends, why does she behave like a clown? She doesn¡¯t carry herself gracefully as a woman.¡±


    Lucas was reminded of an incident two days ago. Deasy unexpectedly and crazily showed him a kiss mark on her chest. She forced Lucas to confess that he had left that mark.


    Even though it was indeed him who left the mark, there was no way Lucas would admit it just like that. It could mess up the disguise he had been maintaining all this time.


    Because of that incident, he swore to himself. In the future, he would not leave any traces that might make Deasy suspicious.


    Hold on!


    Lucas, who was lost in thought, suddenly jolted and quickly tried to think. Why did he even think of rekindling a romantic rtionship with Deasyter on? Oh, goodness. What kind of thoughts were these?


    ¡°Maybe I got contaminated by Mr. Daniel, huh?¡± Felix chimed in and was met with a stern look from Lucas.


    ¡°Hush! Why are you being so cheeky?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Sir. I guess I caught your mannerisms. Besides, it¡¯s the first time in my life that I¡¯ve encountered someone so daring and crazy after a breakup.¡±


    Realizing there was someone else in the room, Lucas immediately red at Felix and silently signaled him to stop talking about Deasy.


    ¡°Alright then, please investigate Arindi. Let Deasy be my concern.¡±


    Felix seemed to agree. Before leaving Lucas, he gave one more warning.


    ¡°Be careful, Sir.¡± Felix¡¯s assistant¡¯s face looked unusually serious.


    ¡°Why should I be careful?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that if you get too close to Ms. Deasy, you might end up genuinely falling for her. Especially since you¡¯ve already¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough¡­ enough¡­¡± Lucas interrupted quickly. He knew what Felix was about to say. ¡°Don¡¯t exaggerate, will you?¡±


    Felix burst intoughter. But shortly after he left, Lucas couldn¡¯t help but think about it as well. He imagined what it would be like if he actually fell for someone as strange as Deasy.


    ***

 PHB 16

    Deasy closed her eyes while massaging her forehead repeatedly. In front of her was Veronica, who was there to keep herpany.


    This weekend, she intentionally took Veronica out, to chat and have dinner together at a famous restaurant. She wanted to share the embarrassing incident she had just experienced with her friend.


    ¡°I¡¯m so embarrassed, Veronica, really.¡±


    Deasy let out a long sigh, while Veronica in front of her burst intoughter.


    ¡°And what were you doing on the first day of meeting your new boss? Instead of maintaining yourposure and dignity, you went all out showing weird stuff.¡±


    ¡°Well, I just wanted to make sure,¡± Deasy tried to defend herself.


    ¡°But did you have to show him your betta fish tattoo too, Des? That¡¯s insane! Lucas is your boss, you know. I bet he was shocked when you suddenly unbuttoned your shirt to show the kiss mark that he didn¡¯t even leave.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s shoulders slumped. No matter what, she often acted recklessly. But for some reason, this time she felt incredibly embarrassed.


    ¡°I thought that by showing the hickey on my chest, Lucas would understand and confess that he was the one who did it and slept with me. But, contrary to my expectations, he just looked shocked and couldn¡¯t say anything. What should I do, Ve? I feel like I want to jump into the sea.¡±


    Veronica burst intoughter again, finding Deasy¡¯s story not pitiful, but rather amusing.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky you didn¡¯t get fired right away. Your actions were way over the top, Des. Anyone would feel ufortable.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She even cursed herself for her foolishness. Despite Lucas Orion insisting that he made the gesture, Deasy still believed it was the handsome Lucas who left the mark on his chest.


    ¡°Everything excessive is not good, except money, Ve. What else can I do? I just wanted to make sure. But whether it was him or someone else who put me to sleep yesterday, I¡¯m still going to pursue and win Lucas¡¯ heart. That perfect handsome boss has to be mine.¡±


    Veronica raised her eyebrows. She looked dismissive and thenughed. Actually, when it came to confidence, Deasy was the expert.


    ¡°Are you sure you can win over your new boss? What if he has his own standards for a partner? Just imagine if none of the qualities he¡¯s looking for match with you?¡±


    Deasy sighed. Instead of being supportive, Veronica was belittling her efforts.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get all heated up, Ve. I¡¯m not a pushover. So, no need to heat things up, especially like this. What¡¯s so hard about improving myself to be his ideal type? Whatever it takes, I¡¯ll do it to catch Lucas¡¯ attention.¡±


    Veronica shook her head. Deasy was undeniably crazy.


    ¡°Well, okay, if it¡¯s about self-improvement, I believe you can do it. But what if the problem is that Lucas already has a girlfriend or maybe a fianc¨¦e?¡±


    ¡°Come on¡­ Sharks eat nkton. Well, let it be. Like the saying goes, until the yellow coconut leaf waves, it means it¡¯s still shared, right? Besides, do you really think I¡¯m too chaotic for the outstanding seed like Lucas?¡±


    Veronica ran out of words. It was tiring to deal with Deasy, who always had aeback for every piece of advice and criticism she gave.


    Ending their random discussion, Veronica and Deasy decided to leave. Just as they were about to get up, Deasy seemed to strike gold.


    It was like fate had perfectly prepared this encounter. Or maybe it was destiny that couldn¡¯t be avoided. Deasy identally met Lucas. And as she observed, their eyes eventually met and shed.


    ¡°Ve¡­ Veronica!¡± Deasy whispered, never taking her eyes off Lucas, who was walking into the restaurant.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°My handsome prince is here.¡±


    Veronica looked puzzled.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± answered Deasy in a whisper, then tilted her chin to signal to Veronica about the direction of the man she was talking about. ¡°There, at 3 o¡¯clock. He¡¯s wearing a ck shirt. Seriously, he¡¯s so handsome.¡±


    ¡°At 3 o¡¯clock? It¡¯s already 9 o¡¯clock, Des.¡±


    ¡°Veronica, ugh! I¡¯m serious.¡±


    Ignoring the embarrassment that had settled and, of course, disregarding Veronica¡¯sck of cooperation, Deasy shed her best smile at Lucas.


    To her delight, Lucas even responded with a friendly smile. Unexpectedly, he approached her and greeted Deasy as they got closer.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, good evening.¡±


    ¡°Good evening. Ms. Deasy, are you also dining here?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes, sir. I just finished and was about to leave.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a shame. We could have had dinner together.¡±


    Deasy blushed like a salted worm. She was flustered when talking to Lucas. She couldn¡¯t stay calm!


    ¡°But¡­ if Mr. Lucas insists, I don¡¯t mind eating again.¡±


    Veronica turned and rolled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t fathom Deasy¡¯s behavior. Her friend had eaten a lot before.


    ¡°Who are you with, Mr. Lucas?¡± Deasy dared to ask.


    Lucas smiled.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I¡¯m with ¡ª-¡±


    ¡°My dear¡­¡±


    From behind Lucas, another woman appeared, tall and elegant, with flowing hair and a beautiful appearance. Approaching Lucas, she immediately held his hand, as if they were an inseparable couple.


    Seeing this, Deasy fell silent. Surprised, or perhaps heartbroken, she realized that the Lucas she had set her sights on was actually here with someone else.

 PHB 17

    On that afternoon, in the meeting room, Deasy appeared sulky. In the past few days, her mood had been fluctuating. It all startedst weekend when she identally met Lucas at a restaurant.


    At first, she was overjoyed. Ecstatic because, once again, fate had brought her together with the handsome prince, the love of her life.


    However, just as she was about to approach Lucas, the atmosphere suddenly turned annoying and unpleasant. While they were engaged in conversation, another woman, equally beautiful and graceful, suddenly approached. She joined in, even unexpectedly getting close to Lucas with familiarity and intimacy.


    Unfortunately, in Deasy¡¯s eyes, the two of them looked so harmonious. One handsome, the other beautiful. A perfect match. My goodness, what kind of sight was this?


    Initially, Deasy wanted to protest. After all, she was the one who met Lucas first and wanted to get closer to him. Why was there suddenly this unfamiliar woman who just squeezed in? But after finding out who the woman was, she felt like disappearing from the face of the earth. So embarrassed!


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to introduce her. This is Devina,¡± Lucas said, deliberately introducing the woman next to him to Deasy.


    Keeping up the appearance of being friendly, polite, and perfect, even though her heart felt hot, Deasy extended her hand and gave the sweetest smile while introducing herself to the woman next to Lucas.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Deasy Winterborne.¡±


    The woman in front of Deasy greeted her with a handshake and responded with a graceful smile. However, her next words instantly shocked Deasy to the core.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too. I¡¯m Devina, Lucas¡¯ fianc¨¦e.¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°fianc¨¦e¡± emphasized in her voice shattered Deasy¡¯s heart into pieces. Earlier, before meeting Lucas, she had been boasting. She was so arrogant when she answered Veronica¡¯s words not to give up and to try to win Lucas¡¯ heart even if he already had a partner. Deasy¡¯s life motto was never to give up until Lucas became hers.


    Now, faced with the reality that Lucas indeed had a partner and she was directly confronting her, Deasy¡¯s courage instantly vanished. Reced by feelings of heat, heartbreak, utter devastation, and other misfortunes.


    And on the way home, Veronica kept on provoking. Instead of calming her friend down, she intentionally fueled the fire, making Deasy¡¯s emotions even more mixed with sadness, frustration, and confusion about what action to take.


    ¡°See, I told you so. Your handsome prince must already have a partner. I mean, just from the looks of him, he¡¯s so good-looking. And he¡¯s wealthy, apany executive to top it off. You can bet he already has a partner. And now what? My words have proven true, right?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She was unsure of how to respond to Veronica¡¯s remarks, especially since her heart was still burning.


    ¡°Enough¡­ maybe you should stop your madness, Des. There¡¯s no benefit in chasing after a guy who clearly has a fianc¨¦e. Besides, it¡¯s so weird how you¡¯re chasing after him just because you think he slept with you. But, deep down, you¡¯re still just specting, right?¡±


    Deasy turned to Veronica, pouting her lips, and finally responded to Veronica¡¯s incessant lecturing.


    ¡°Ve¡­ can you please be a little more empathetic towards this love-stricken soul of mine? At first, I chased Lucas to make sure if he was truly thest guy I was with. But as time went on, I realized I actually have genuine feelings for him. You know about love at first sight, right? I think I¡¯m experiencing that.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, melodramatic!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, no matter what. When I meet him, my heart beats strangely fast and strong.¡±


    ¡°You must have a heart condition or something,¡± Veronica teased mercilessly.


    ¡°Veronica, ugh! I¡¯m serious, and you¡¯re making jokes.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Veronica rolled her eyes, sighingzily. A momentter, she shook her head repeatedly whileughing at Deasy¡¯s behavior, which she deemed so naive.


    ¡°You can like him all you want. The problem is, he doesn¡¯t like you back, Deasy. Realize it, okay! Your boss already has a fianc¨¦e. So, don¡¯t waste your time on something futile.¡±


    ¡°But, Veronica, Lucas is so incredibly handsome. I¡¯ve never met a guy nearly as perfect as him. It would be such a waste not to end up with him. He¡¯s a top-notch catch. And if we have kids, they¡¯ll undoubtedly be good-looking.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pointless to be handsome if you can¡¯t be with someone. Whatever, rtionship is about two people who like each other. If it¡¯s just one-sided like yours, that¡¯s called DELUSION. You¡¯d better get rid of your feelings. Instead of wasting time chasing after someone uncertain, try finding someone else. Or how about dating the first guy you slept with? What¡¯s his name?¡±


    Deasy immediately turned around. ¡°Who? Are you talking about Lucas Orion?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one. You said he was single and unattached, right?¡±


    ¡°Ugh, spare me!¡± Deasy showed a disgusted expression, as if Lucas Orion was a germ to be avoided at all costs. ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine being in a rtionship with someone like him. Until now, I regret being stupid enough to sleep with Lucas Orion. Imagine, he¡¯s my subordinate, Ve. What would the world think? Arghhhh!¡±


    Deasy grumbled in frustration. She was annoyed with herself for the foolish act she hadmitted with Lucas Orion, who was clearly her subordinate.


    ¡°Who regrets something but then does it twice? Is that regret or addiction, Des? Besides, you yourself told me that even though you forgot the guy¡¯s face at that time, you vividly remember how enjoyable it was in bed.¡±


    Deasy red. She felt embarrassed about her previous rambling. But when she thought about it again, the two times they were intimate, she only remembered the pleasure, pleasure, pleasure, and eventually being carried away.


    Besides his face, she couldn¡¯t forget how she was treated that night. His touch, his kisses, his hugs, his caresses. And, ah¡­ goosebumps suddenly rose all over Deasy¡¯s body for no reason.


    Wait, what¡¯s wrong with Deasy? Why is she daydreaming and remembering the recent incident of making out with Lucas?


    Could it be that she¡¯s addicted to the service Lucas provided her?


    Deasy shook her head repeatedly, trying to reject what she was thinking.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to get into a rtionship with Lucas Orion. Besides, why didn¡¯t you support me from the beginning?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t support you. I just wanted you to wake up from your dream.¡±


    ¡°Scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs. Fine, I¡¯m aware I¡¯m not attractive. So, it¡¯s impossible for me to win Lucas Morales¡¯s heart, who¡¯s almost perfect. That¡¯s what you meant, right? I¡¯m like a mess but hoping to get a guy who¡¯s top-notch.¡±


    Deasy should have followed Veronica¡¯s advice for the sake of her sanity and well-being. But for some reason, she still couldn¡¯t ept it. Even now, after several days have passed, Deasy still feels heartbroken. This even affects her daily life at the office.


    Indeed, in the past few days, she appeared gloomy. Lacking enthusiasm. She looked exactly like someone who was sick.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay, Ms. Deasy? Your face looks really pale.¡±


    De, who was also present in the meeting room that day, dared to ask. Seeing Deasy¡¯s unusual behaviortely, and now with her pale and weak appearance, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder. She was afraid that something worrisome might have happened to her boss.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Deasy replied casually.


    De, feeling unsatisfied with Deasy¡¯s answer, stood up from her seat. She handed a bottle of mineral water to her boss.


    ¡°While waiting for Mr. Lucas, just drink some water, Ma¡¯am. But seriously, are you not feeling well? You look so weak.¡±


    Deasy epted the offered mineral water from De. In truth, she wasn¡¯t thirsty at all. However, out of respect for her caring staff, she drank half of the water and then responded to De¡¯s curious expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m really fine. It¡¯s probably just premenstrual syndrome. That¡¯s why I¡¯m experiencing mood swings and feeling weak.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s words held some truth. Most women often feel weak, pale, experience stomach cramps, and, above all, unpredictable emotions during PMS. Sometimes stable, sometimes dramatically low and mncholic. Sometimes they explode and are always prone to anger. Yes¡­ perhaps Deasy was indeed going through that phase.


    Fortunately, a few minutester, Lucas arrived and the meeting began promptly. Since the discussion about work didn¡¯t face many obstacles, the internal meeting waspleted in just two hours.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, this is the summary of all the deadlines you requested yesterday. Should I bring them now? Or what would you prefer?¡± Deasy asked as Lucas was about to leave the meeting room.


    ¡°That¡¯s about seven to eight projects, right?¡±


    Lucas stood up from his seat. He then asked Deasy to walk with him as they left the conference room.


    ¡°If there are a total of eight, could you please send the soft files through email? Tomorrow and the following days, I¡¯ll be heading to Singapore, and it won¡¯t be feasible to carry all the documents. It¡¯s easier to read and evaluate via email.¡±


    Deasy nodded in understanding and agreed to what Lucas requested. She thought it would be easier to submit her work through email.


    ¡°Alright, sir. After this, I¡¯ll send all the files to your email.¡±


    After concluding the work-rted conversation, they arrived at the elevator together, along with the other staff, each heading back to their respective offices.


    However, while waiting, Deasy showed unusual signs. Unexpectedly, she lost her bnce and eventually passed out.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy!¡±


    Lucas, who was taken aback, quickly caught Deasy¡¯s body. The other staff members rushed over to help.


    ¡°It seems Ms. Deasy is indeed not feeling well, sir. Since she entered the meeting room, her face has been really pale,¡± De said, describing Deasy¡¯s condition to Lucas. She even helped support her boss¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s better to take her to the hospital, just in case. Besides, ourpany clinic¡¯s doctor is on leave.¡±


    ¡°In that case, please help me take her to my car. I¡¯ll take her to the hospital right away.¡±


    De and the others then assisted in carrying Deasy¡¯s body to Lucas¡¯ car, which was parked in the lobby. They carefully ced her inside andid her down gently.


    ¡°Should I apany you, sir?¡± De offered. ¡°Or, we can take her to the hospital, me and the others. Perhaps you have urgent work that can¡¯t be left behind.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take her to the hospital myself. You all can continue with your work.¡±


    Lucas swiftly drove Deasy to the hospital. Once they arrived, he immediately asked the medical staff to take care of her as she remained unconscious.


    Lucas waited for almost thirty minutes. At first, he nned to leave Deasy since he had a prior business appointment. But before he could go, the doctor attending to Deasy came over and exined the reason behind her unconsciousness.


    ¡°Are you the husband of the patient named Deasy Winterborne?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Lucas hesitated. He decided to answer the doctor¡¯s question.


    ¡°So, the patient is in a state of anemia. Her hemoglobin levels are also low. This is what caused her to lose consciousness and faint.¡±


    ¡°But is it dangerous, doctor?¡±


    The doctor shook his head. ¡°As long as it¡¯s properly handled, it won¡¯t be dangerous. Besides, it¡¯s amon urrence in pregnant women. That¡¯s why it needs to be given extra attention.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. One of the doctor¡¯s recent remarks caught his attention immensely.


    ¡°W-what, doctor? Pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The patient is currently pregnant.¡±

 PHB 18

    ¡°Sir, how about it? Can we go to Mr. Andreas¡¯ office right now? He just contacted me.¡±


    Felix had indeed helped take Lucas to the hospital to bring Deasy, who suddenly lost consciousness.


    While Lucas apanied Deasy, who was receiving medical treatment from the emergency room team, Felix chose to wait for his boss in the car. However, after sixty minutes had passed, Lucas had not returned to the car.


    Felix naturally felt puzzled. As there was a scheduled meeting with Andreas Morales, who is Lucas¡¯ father, this afternoon, he decided to follow up. As he entered the hospital lobby, he found Lucas sitting quietly, looking down in front of the Emergency Room, as if pondering a serious problem.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡± called Felix in a slightly loud voice. But Lucas didn¡¯t pay any attention to him. ¡°Is everything alright, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas, who was initially motionless, then looked up. He stared intensely at Felix, showing an expression that was difficult to interpret.


    For God¡¯s sake, Lucas seemed speechless. Stammering. It felt difficult for him to move his lips. He had prepared many words, but it seemed impossible to utter them.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Felix called again. ¡°It was Ms. Deasy who fainted. Why does Mr. Lucas look pale? What¡¯s really going on? Are you feeling unwell too, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. Calctingly, he then answered his assistant¡¯s question.


    ¡°Felix¡­ this is serious. It¡¯s serious, no matter what.¡±


    Felix was taken aback. The man returned his gaze with an expression full of questions. He had no idea what Lucas had just said. He even wondered what exactly his boss meant by ¡°serious.¡±


    ¡°What is serious, sir? Is Ms. Deasy¡¯s condition severe? Or what?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. Rising from his seat, he then moved closer to his assistant and spoke in a half-whisper.


    ¡°It turns out Deasy is pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so Ms. Deasy fainted because she¡¯s pregnant,¡± Felix replied nonchntly and without burden. Then, a few secondster, he widened his eyes as if he had just realized the news Lucas had just given him. ¡°What, sir? Ms. Deasy is pregnant?!¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± Lucas reprimanded, while ring at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I¡¯m seriously shocked. So, Ms. Deasy is currently pregnant?¡±


    This time, Lucas nodded. Cupping his face with both hands and groaning, he seemed to be confused about what to do.


    Actually, from the beginning, unintentionally sleeping with Deasy and realizing that he hadn¡¯t used protection, Lucas had anticipated that something like this could happen.


    That¡¯s why he reassured Deasy several times that if something happened to her, as a gentleman, he was ready to take responsibility. However, Lucas never expected that the very thing he was worried about would happen so quickly.


    While the task given by his father was not yetpleted, Lucas had also not sessfully called off the wedding with Devina. So, how could he just marry Deasy as he pleased?


    Felix was equally shocked. He knew very well what had happened between Lucas and Deasy recently. From Lucas kindly escorting Deasy home because she was heavily drunk, to the unfortunate event that involved both of them.


    ¡°Felix¡­¡± Lucas called in a soft voice. He now looked quite confused, fortunately not insane. ¡°What should I do? Deasy is pregnant now. When she wakes up, what should I say?¡±


    ¡°Who knows, maybe Ms. Deasy is pregnant with someone else¡¯s child, not Mr. Lucas¡¯s.¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He looked up and then gazed back at his assistant. In his heart, he denied that Deasy was pregnant with another man¡¯s child.


    Lucas vividly remembered having been intimate with her. He also remembered that they had even engaged in intimate rtions twice, not too far apart.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s pregnant because of what we did twice. You also saw how she sought evidence and convinced everyone that she had been with Lucas Morales. It proves that only Lucas Orion and Lucas Morales have been intimate with her. Besides, I¡¯m the one who took her virginity.¡±


    Felix nodded. It made sense, considering what his boss had exined. In his opinion, if Deasy hadn¡¯t slept with another man, then the fetus inside her belly must be Lucas¡¯s own flesh and blood.


    ¡°It seems Mr. Lucas is quite the yboy,¡± Felix identally muttered, inviting a scowl from Lucas.


    ¡°Felix! How could you make such ament?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sir. It slipped out. Actually, if Mr. Lucas and Miss Deasy¡¯s rtionship were official, Mr. Andreas would be happy and soon have a grandchild. But the problem now is that Mr. Lucas is currently engaged to Miss Devina. People can¡¯t know that Mr. Lucas impregnated another woman. The Morales family would be embarrassed.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s shoulders slumped. His head suddenly felt dizzy, thinking about what steps he should take. But before he could find a way out, his phone rang. His father¡¯s name was disyed as the caller.


    ¡°Oh my, Felix. What should I do? I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t run away from my responsibilities. It¡¯s just that, in the beginning, what should I do to handle everything safely and under control?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Andreas has called several times. My advice is to go see him right away. He must have been waiting for you because there¡¯s an important matter he wants to discuss urgently.¡±


    Felix reminded him again. The man urged Lucas to get up from his seat and hurry.


    ¡°But, what about Deasy? She still hasn¡¯t woken up until now. What if she finds out about the pregnancy and asks questions?¡±


    Felix appeared to be thinking quickly, trying to find a temporary solution to theplicated problem facing his boss.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, you go first. I¡¯ll take care of Miss Deasy.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ what if something happenster?¡±


    Lucas felt uneasy. Regardless, Deasy had fainted and was now pregnant because of his actions too.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright¡­ Trust me, sir. I¡¯ll handle it. We can discuss everything at Mr. Lucas¡¯s home after meeting with Mr. Andreas. I know Mr. Lucas isn¡¯t the type of man to shirk responsibilities. Together, we¡¯ll figure out the next steps to take. We¡¯ll do our best to keep everything under control.¡±


    Upon hearing Felix¡¯s exnation, Lucas tried toply. Eventually, he decided to leave the hospital, even though he felt far from calm. Just imagine, there was a woman who was now pregnant with his child. No matter what, Lucas was 1000% certain that Deasy was indeed carrying his baby.


    Meanwhile, Deasy, who had been in the examination room all this time, slowly began to regain consciousness. As soon as she realized she was in the hospital, she immediately got up and called the medical staff who had been waiting for her.


    ¡°Nurse, how long have I been here?¡±


    The attending nurse nodded and even helped Deasy get out of bed.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for quite some time. You arrived at the hospital unconscious.¡±


    ¡°Do you know who brought me to the hospital?¡±


    The nurse nodded.


    ¡°There were two men who brought you to the hospital earlier. They seemed to be around the same age. One wore sses, and the other was tall and fair-skinned. But the tall one left as soon as he brought you in. Now, the one with sses is waiting for you outside the room.¡±


    Deasy tried to recall, attempting to match the description given by the nurse to the people she knew at the office. As far as she could remember, there were many staff members at Alexis who wore sses and had fairplexions. So, who could this nurse be referring to?


    ¡°Am I allowed to go home now?¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can. The doctor has examined you too.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m fine, right? I mean, it¡¯s not a big concern, even though I remember feeling suddenly dizzy and passing out.¡±


    Deasy herself was confused as to why she suddenly felt dizzy and then lost consciousness. But after waking up, she didn¡¯t feel anything different or unusual about herself.


    ¡°After the examination, the doctor diagnosed you with low blood and low hemoglobin levels. So, the doctor prescribed medication to increase and raise your hemoglobin levels.¡±


    The nurse then handed Deasy a package containing various medications and provided further exnations before allowing her to leave the room.


    ¡°These are the medications you need to take and finish.¡±


    ¡°For medical treatment and medication expenses, can I go directly to the administrative department?¡± Deasy asked to confirm before stepping out.


    ¡°The medicine and hospital expenses have already been paid in full by the man waiting for you outside. So, no need to worry, and you can go home directly.¡±


    Deasy became even more curious to meet this person. She wondered who was the one who had escorted her, covered the hospital expenses, and was now waiting for her.


    ¡°In that case, thank you very much, Nurse.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I pray for you and your baby to be healthy always.¡±


    Initially, Deasy wanted to leave. However, the nurse¡¯s final sentence left her extremely surprised.


    ¡°Huh? W-what, nurse? Baby-to-be? Pregnancy?¡±


    The nurse who apanied Deasy smiled widely.


    ¡°Yes, Miss. So, what happened to you ismon and usually urs in pregnant women. Or perhaps you didn¡¯t know that you are currently pregnant?¡±


    Deasy gaped. She reflexively shook her head, showing her confused expression, which elicited another smile from the nurse in front of her.


    ¡°So, you are indeed pregnant. The gestational age is now at seven weeks. Congrattions! I wish you and your baby good health.¡±


    Deasy felt as if she had been struck by lightning. In all innocence, she brought a hand to her face, pinching her right cheek, hoping that she was still in a dream.


    Oh God, this is real.


    I¡¯m pregnant.


    Walking out of the Emergency Room in a daze, she seemedpletely speechless. Not because of anything else, but because she was both confused and overwhelmed. Veronica¡¯s fears all this time had finallye true.


    Where can I hide my face?


    And whose child is this, oh my goodness?


    Then, a question arose in Deasy¡¯s mind. To whom should she seek answers? Lucas Orion, perhaps?


    Oh God¡­ why do life¡¯s trials have toe to this point?


    Her mind was suddenly in turmoil. She thought it was not funny at all to marry that nerd of a man.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy¡­¡±


    Lost in her thoughts, she heard someone call out and approach her. Lifting her face, Deasy found a man she had seen before.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Felix, Mr. Lucas¡¯s assistant. I was assigned to apany and take you back home.¡±


    Setting aside the dizziness and confusion she was feeling, Deasy recalled what the nurse said when she was in the Emergency Room. ording to her, two people had apanied her to the hospital. So, who was the other person? Could it be Lucas Morales, her boss?


    ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Felix, for your help in bringing me to the hospital. Is Mr. Felix alone here?¡±


    Felix shook his head.


    ¡°I was here with Mr. Lucas originally. But because of an urgent matter, he had to leave first. So, I was assigned to wait and apany you after the examination.¡±


    Deasy then nodded. Soon after, panic set in. It was dangerous if Lucas Morales found out about her current situation.


    ¡°But Mr. Lucas didn¡¯t meet with the doctor or anything, right?¡±


    Felix shook his head again.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas was only here briefly with you. He escorted you and then left immediately. I¡¯ve been waiting here the whole time.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Deasy breathed a sigh of relief. With her head pounding, she decided to head home. While contemting what actions she should take next.

 PHB 19

    At home, while sitting in his office lost in thought, Lucas appeared visibly restless. Anxious, troubled, and agitated.


    Throughout the afternoon, during his meeting with his father, Lucas waspletely unfocused. His mind wandered, thinking about how to handle the issue of Deasy¡¯s pregnancy.


    Felix had promised to help him find a way out. That¡¯s why Felix was now standing there, waiting for Lucas to make a decision.


    ¡°I handled things at the hospital, sir. I made sure all the medical team, including the doctor who treated Deasy, keeps quiet about your knowledge of her current condition.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then what should I do now?¡±


    Felix approached, asking permission to sit down, and then faced Lucas, who was massaging his forehead.


    ¡°As nned, per your father¡¯s instructions, Lucas Orion must immediately return to Quantum Tech and start the process of resigning while Lucas Morales is away on duty in Singapore.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ Lucas Orion indeed has to resign so Lunas Morales can be free to work at Quantum Tech. What about Deasy¡¯s situation?¡±


    Felix took a deep breath, patiently facing his boss, who was now in turmoil.


    ¡°Wait, sir. Let¡¯s discuss one thing at a time until everything is clear. Since Lucas Orion needs some time to finish his remaining work before resigning, you can gradually approach Deasy.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Lucas interrupted, seemingly not understanding. ¡°So, you think Lucas Orion should approach Deasy? You know, Deasy really hates Lucas Orion because he¡¯s ugly and nerdy. It¡¯s just not right to consider them as a couple.¡±


    Felix nodded, affirming Lucas¡¯s words.


    ¡°It¡¯s even less likely for Lucas Morales to approach Deasy, sir. Deasy herself knows very well that she slept with him, her subordinate, Lucas Orion. Like it or not, the one responsible is Lucas Orion, not Lucas Morales. Besides, until this moment, she has no evidence that the second man she slept with was Lucas Morales, right?¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply. Dealing with two different personalities wasplicated and confusing.


    ¡°But how can I take responsibility? Lucas Orion doesn¡¯t know about Deasy¡¯s pregnancy.¡±


    Felix nodded. He needed to borate on his well-thought-out n.


    ¡°Once you return to work, you don¡¯t need to ask or discuss it right away to avoid arousing suspicion. While at the office, wait and see if Deasy mentions her pregnancy.¡±


    ¡°And if she doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Then, observe her movements while at work. Pregnant women usually show clear signs like easily getting tired, vomiting without any reason, mood swings, and so on. Whenever you get the chance, address the topic and gently probe until she confesses. Once that happens, be straightforward. Tell her that you are willing to take responsibility.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. Despite Felix¡¯s well-thought-out n, it still felt ufortable.


    ¡°Truth be told, I admit that what I did was a huge mistake. I don¡¯t mind taking responsibility, even if it means marrying someone I don¡¯t love. It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what, sir?¡± Felix asked curiously.


    ¡°What if Deasy agrees to my responsibility? How am I supposed to marry her? I¡¯m already engaged to Devina.¡±


    Felix snapped his fingers.


    ¡°Exactly! In that case, you have to be honest with Mr. Andreas. Tell him the truth about Deasy being pregnant with his grandchild. Moreover, Miss Devina doesn¡¯t want to marry you either, right? But she doesn¡¯t have a way to cancel it.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°Devina doesn¡¯t want to marry me either. I have a feeling she already has someone else.¡±


    Felix clicked his tongue.


    ¡°There you go! That could be used as a proper reason for Miss Devina and you to cancel the engagement.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making it sound so easy,¡± Lucas grumbled, pulling his face. ¡°And you¡¯re sure I won¡¯t be ughtered like a sacrificial animal for bringing shame to the Morales family?¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Felixughed. He had to think realistically and rationally, after all.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be embarrassed if everything is handled properly, sir. Cancelling the engagement with Mr. Andreas won¡¯t be that difficult. Besides, it¡¯s not hard for him to marry you to Deasy. The real issue now is whether you¡¯re ready to face all this?¡±


    Lucas fell silent. He pondered for a moment, thinking about what Felix had just asked him.


    Numerous questions arose in his mind. Was he ready to marry a woman he didn¡¯t love at all? Furthermore, to be a father to the baby Deasy was carrying?


    ¡°Ready or not, I have to take responsibility, Felix. Especially now that she¡¯s pregnant. There¡¯s my flesh and blood in Deasy¡¯s womb. You know what my biggest fear is right now?¡±


    Felix quickly responded, ¡°What is it, sir?¡±


    ¡°Deasy clearly doesn¡¯t like Lucas Orion. I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t marry him because he¡¯s ugly and nerdy, and she might be desperate enough to abort the baby.¡±


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Felix immediately eximed.


    ¡°Should I just confess and reveal my true identity? Just tell her honestly who I really am. After all, Deasy likes Lucas Morales. Instead of going through all this trouble, maybe if I admitted I was the handsome Lucas, she would immediately agree to marry me.¡±


    Felix shook his head. Rather than agreeing, he strongly rejected Lucas¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, sir. It¡¯s not the right time. Besides, Mr. Andreas¡¯s mission isn¡¯t fullypleted yet. If your disguise is exposed now, it mightplicate the investigation. In my opinion, it¡¯s better for you to focus on finishing your father¡¯s mission first.¡±


    Felix¡¯s words made sense. Instead of rushing, it was better for him to focus onpleting his father¡¯s task.


    ¡°While finishing the mission, gradually approach Deasy,¡± Felix advised. ¡°Later on, you can also find out if Deasy is truly different from other women out there.¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brow.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s undeniable that almost every woman is vying for attention and hoping to get close to you, sir. They¡¯re attracted to you because visually you¡¯re good looking, and on top of that, you have a good financial standing. Who wouldn¡¯t want to be your partner?¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Lucas cursed loudly.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I agree that you should approach Deasy as Lucas Orion. It can also serve as a test to see if Lucas Orion, despite his looks, can win over Deasy¡¯s heart, who is inherently beautiful. Besides, God has a way of changing people¡¯s feelings. Who knows, if you persistently pursue her, Deasy might eventually be won over by the regr Lucas. After everything bes clear, then slowly exin to her who you really are and why you assumed this identity.¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly. He finally agreed with Felix¡¯s detailed exnation.


    Now, all he could do was pray. Hopefully, everything nned so meticulously would go smoothly without any hurdles.

 PHB 20

    ¡°Luc, are you really going to resign from Quantum Tech?¡±


    Several staff members from the finance division gathered in front of Lucas¡¯ desk. After learning that the bespectacled man intended to resign from thepany, they all swarmed in, awaiting rification and a more detailed exnation for why someone who had been dedicated to the finance department for over a year was now deciding to leave thepany.


    Lucas¡¯ performance and career at thepany had been impressive. He was even expected to receive a promotion soon to the position of assistant manager.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    However, just before the promotion could happen, Lucas made a decision that was highly surprising. Out of the blue, after returning from a few days of leave, he announced his decision to resign. It was ironic.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s final. Once I finish all my pending tasks at Quantum Tech, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±


    ¡°But why so sudden?¡± De asked, looking lost. She admitted that Lucas had willingly helped her with many of her tasks.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Andromeda chimed in. ¡°Why is it so sudden? Did you get a job offer from anotherpany?¡±


    Lucas smiled, feeling touched by his friends¡¯ reluctance to ept his decision. He acknowledged that even though he had been undercover for just a year, there were so many moments of joy and sorrow that he had experienced with his team, and they were still very dear to him.


    ¡°But to be honest, I¡¯ve already been offered a position in anotherpany. The sry and benefits there are significantly higher than at Quantum Tech. Plus, the most important thing is that the office is close to my parents¡¯ house. If I want to visit them, I don¡¯t have to wait until the weekend. You all know that my mother has been frequently illtely.¡±


    De nodded understandingly. From Lucas¡¯ stories, she knew that he rented a ce separately from his parents and lived quite a distance away. Recently, she learned that Lucas¡¯ mother had been frequently falling sick. During his recent leave, Lucas had deliberately spent time apanying his mother, who was hospitalized.


    Perhaps, for this reason, Lucas was seeking a new job closer to his parents¡¯ residence.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame you have to move. Our team will be losing a great leader,¡± Sta said sadly. Despite his nerdy appearance, Sta and the others admitted that Lucas had been a significant help, especially with their work. As a team yer, the bespectacled man always contributed greatly with brilliant ideas that often impressed their superiors.


    ¡°But there are others on the team. We have Andromeda, Dion, and Nata. They are all equally talented.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s you who always lightens up the mood and is the most organized in our work,¡± Sta replied.


    ¡°And no one else offers quick solutions when we suddenly encounter problems.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Dion responded. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have money, I¡¯d be borrowing from anyone.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you idiot!¡± Sta eximed with a click of her tongue.


    Lucas smiled. After tidying up his desk, he stood up from his chair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. In reality, we¡¯re all the same. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll all find a better recement for me. Besides, I¡¯ve reached this point because of all of you.¡±


    Seeing Lucas¡¯ firm decision, his colleagues could only resign themselves. No matter how they tried to persuade him, De and Sta felt that Lucas¡¯ decision was beyond their ability to challenge.


    ¡°Oh, by the way¡­ has Ms. Deasy note to work yet?¡± Lucas asked. He had been working for three days, but he hadn¡¯t seen his boss around the office as usual. There were no urgent tasks or out-of-town assignments for her to handle.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s still resting at her apartment due to illness,¡± De confirmed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? It¡¯s unusual for her to be absent from work. I¡¯ve been working under her for a year, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen her take sick leave.¡±


    Everyone nodded in agreement. They all knew Deasy as a strong woman. Sometimes, even when she was sick, she would push herself to work. This was the first time she had taken extended leave.


    ¡°Yesterday, when you were absent, Ms. Deasy fainted in front of the elevator. Mr. Lucas took her to the hospital. She looked so pale. It seemed like she had low blood or was experiencing fever. Those were the usual symptoms.¡±


    In his heart, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. At least his office colleagues didn¡¯t know Deasy¡¯s real condition. They all believed she was simply sick, not pregnant and carrying his child.


    ¡°By the way¡­¡± De continued, ¡°you have the task of summarizing the monthly office funds, right? My suggestion is to go directly to Ms. Deasy¡¯s apartment. Get her signature and inform her that you¡¯ll be resigning next week.¡±


    ¡°Do I really have to go to Ms. Deasy¡¯s apartment? Wouldn¡¯t it bother her?¡± Lucas asked hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯m worried it might disturb her rest, especially when she¡¯s sick.¡±


    De shrugged. There was no other choice but to visit their boss¡¯s residence in person.


    ¡°What else can we do? The task requires her signature, right? We can¡¯t be sure when she¡¯lle back to work, and we can¡¯tplete the task without her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, De¡¯s right,¡± Andromeda chimed in. ¡°If we wait for her to return to work, your task will never be finished. It might even hinder your resignation process.¡±


    Lucas pondered for a moment. After thinking it through, he realized his colleagues¡¯ suggestions were valid. Besides, he needed an excuse to check on Deasy and ensure her current condition.


    Still, Lucas felt anxious. He worried that Deasy might do something reckless, intentionally trying to terminate her pregnancy to avoid marrying him.


    ¡°Okay, Luc. Just go and visit her. If you needpany, I¡¯lle with you,¡± De offered sincerely.


    ¡°No need.¡± Lucas shook his head. It might be risky if his colleague apanied him. ¡°I¡¯ll visit Ms. Deasy¡¯s apartment this evening on my own.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about going alone?¡±


    Lucas nodded confidently. ¡°Yeah, if we all go together, she might feel disturbed. Let me handle everything myself this evening.¡±


    ***

 PHB 21

    For the past three days, Deasy had secluded herself in her apartment. Taking advantage of the fact that she had suddenly fainted earlier, she chose not to go to work, citing illness as the reason.


    However, physically, Deasy was perfectly fine. It was her mental state that had been shaken after hearing the medical diagnosis.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, Deasy! Remember, you¡¯re P-R-E-G-N-A-N-T,¡± she said, emphasizing each letter. ¡°Finally, what you feared has happened. So, who are you going to hold responsible?¡±


    She had repeated that sentence countless times. Deasy tried to deny the reality that she was pregnant. Many thoughts crossed her mind, from finding a potential father to support and take responsibility, to hiring a husband or, worst of all, terminating the pregnancy.


    But one thing was for sure: Deasy did not want to marry Lucas Orion under any circumstances.


    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head repeatedly. ¡°Even if it¡¯s doomsday, I will not marry Lucas Orion. No way!¡±


    Despite Lucas¡¯ earlier offer to take responsibility before she knew about her pregnancy, Deasy had vehemently refused. And now that the situation had be a reality, she remained obstinate.


    ¡°Deasy!!!¡±


    Lost in her thoughts, Deasy heard a half-shouted call from someone she knew very well. Turning around, her intuition was right. Veronica, her friend, strutted into the apartment and took a seat without waiting to be invited.


    Moreover, Veronica had an easy way of entering the apartment. From the beginning, Deasy had given Veronica ess to her apartment keys to make visits easier.


    For the past few days, Veronica had been trying to contact her. From sending text messages to phone calls. However, Deasy ignored everything, needing time to contemte and calm down.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you sick? Feeling unwell? Upset? Why haven¡¯t you answered any of my messages or calls? Are you angry with me or something?¡±


    Veronica bombarded her with questions the moment she arrived. Deasy¡¯s head began to ache from her friend¡¯s rapid-fire inquiries.


    Ignoring Veronica¡¯s questions, Deasy remained silent.


    ¡°Deasy!!!¡± Veronica reached out and turned Deasy¡¯s face to make them face each other.


    ¡°Des, what¡¯s wrong? If there¡¯s a problem, just tell me as usual.¡±


    Deasy could only take a deep breath. She gazed at Veronica¡¯s face for a moment before finally speaking.


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, Ve.¡±


    Those were the only words Deasy could utter. However, instead of being shocked or surprised, Veronica remained nonchnt, as if Deasy¡¯s pregnancy was something ordinary.


    ¡°Oh, so you disappeared because you were upset about being pregnant?¡±


    Deasy turned to her, unable toprehend Veronica¡¯s remarkably casual response.


    ¡°Ve¡­ I¡¯m pregnant, and you¡¯re acting so casually about it.¡±


    Veronica pursed her lips, still smiling, and replied with the same expression.


    ¡°So, how do you want me to react? Cry? Orugh? Besides, I¡¯ve always emphasized to you to be careful. Whether it¡¯s the third time, second time, or the first time you have intercourse, if you don¡¯t use protection, there¡¯s a 90% chance you¡¯ll get pregnant. And now? My words have been proven right. So, when you engage in sexual activities, be responsible. Remember to be safe, Des. Now it¡¯splicated, right?¡±


    Deasy let out a long sigh. Instead of receivingfort, she got a long lecture.


    ¡°Please, Veronica Ashborne. I need support, not a lecture. Aren¡¯t you sympathetic to my situation? There¡¯s no ¡®women supporting women¡¯ here. It¡¯s like you¡¯re delighted that I¡¯m facing this difficulty.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Veronica immediately shook her head.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a difficulty, Des. It¡¯s a blessing. Good news. Besides, why should I feel sorry for you? You¡¯re perfectly healthy. If you want someone to take responsibility, just contact the guy who got you pregnant. Didn¡¯t you say he repeatedly assured you he¡¯s ready to take responsibility if anything happens to you? So, why should I be worried?¡±


    Deasy felt like she was going crazy. Swearing for anything, Veronica¡¯s current attitude was so annoying. She must have caught it from her husband, Darwin.


    ¡°Are you okay with me marrying a guy who-¡±


    ¡°Is ugly and nerdy? Why shouldn¡¯t you be okay? If I were you, I would just ept his offer to take responsibility. It¡¯s better than having a fatherless baby. It¡¯s more pitiful and embarrassing.¡±


    Deasy sighed. She disagreed with marrying Lucas, a guy she didn¡¯t like at all. Were there no other men in the world?


    ¡°I¡¯d rather hire someone to be a temporary husband. The important thing is this baby has a father, right?¡±


    ¡°Renting someone like that would be tooplicated,¡± Veronica scoffed, dismissing Deasy¡¯s argument once again. ¡°The biological father is clearly ready to take responsibility. Why are you still in denial? He¡¯s alive and ready to be your husband whenever you want.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, Veronica. I really don¡¯t want to! Instead of having to marry my super nerdy and unattractive subordinate, I¡¯d rather terminate the pregnancy.¡±


    Veronica shook her head vigorously. She couldn¡¯t believe Deasy¡¯s current train of thought. How could she be so casual about ending an innocent life growing inside her?


    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Veronica asked in a displeased tone, staring intensely. It was as if she wanted to dissect Deasy, who was sitting in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re alreadymitting a big sin just by conceiving. Now that it¡¯s happened, you want to throw it away like that? Do you have a brain? It¡¯s your own flesh and blood, Deasy Winterborne!¡± Veronica¡¯s voice filled with anger and frustration. She openly vented her emotions and irritation. ¡°Out there, many people struggle to have children, but they¡¯re still not blessed. And you? You can have a child easily, and yet you want to get rid of it just like that.¡±


    ¡°This is a different case, Veronica,¡± Deasy retorted, not epting the debate. ¡°Those people who want children out there, they make the decision willingly. Based on love with their life partners. Not like me, identally getting pregnant with someone I don¡¯t like at all.¡±


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t like him, you still enjoyed it, didn¡¯t you? You made out with him twice. With the same person. What does that mean? You¡¯re meant to be with him.¡±


    ¡°Arghhhhh!!!¡±


    Deasy groaned in frustration, running out of words to respond to Veronica¡¯s piercing statements.


    ¡°Enough, don¡¯t go crazy thinking about getting rid of it all. It¡¯s a sin and dangerous, Des!¡± Veronica reminded again. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want it, then after it¡¯s born, just give the baby to me. I¡¯ll take care of it and raise it. Better than getting an abortion. It¡¯s pitiful.¡±


    Deasy turned to Veronica, staring intently.


    ¡°You want me to keep this baby? I¡¯d be so ashamed, Ve. What will people say if they find out I¡¯m pregnant with Lucas Orion¡¯s child? Right now, I can still hide my pregnancy. Butter, when I¡¯m four or five months pregnant, everyone will know and suspect.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s even more embarrassing if you¡¯re pregnant and there¡¯s no father,¡± Veronica retorted immediately. What was wrong with Deasy¡¯s thinking? ¡°Besides, you¡¯re funny, you know. The other day, you weren¡¯t ashamed in front of God. You were showing off and reveling in it. Now that you¡¯ve been given a baby as a bonus from the Almighty, you¡¯re suddenly ashamed of what people say. I can¡¯t wrap my head around your thinking.¡±


    Deasy let out a long sigh. Someone, please take Veronica away from her right now. Instead of calming her down, Veronica was making her more stressed with her endless ranting and nagging. And to make matters worse, her tone sounded more snarky and judgmental over time.


    ¡°Fine¡­ I won¡¯t terminate the pregnancy. But I still refuse to marry Lucas in the end. I just won¡¯t do it!¡±


    ¡°Is Lucas Orion really that repulsive to you? Don¡¯t be so sure, Des. You never know, God might be displeased, and you might end up pursuing him in the future. Remember! It¡¯s not difficult for God to change your feelings for him. Besides, hate and love are just a thin line apart.¡±


    Deasy scowled. She was determined in her decision.


    ¡°Oh, please! Whatever. Until the end of time, I won¡¯t ever want to get married, let alone fall in love with him.¡±


    Veronica nodded. Tired of arguing, she decided to end this never-ending conversation.


    ¡°Whatever you want to do from now on is up to you. Just be careful not to dare to abort the baby in your womb. Be careful! I won¡¯t stay silent and let youmit a grave sin.¡±


    Deasy just sighed. She was no longer interested in responding to Veronica¡¯s constant warnings and nagging.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going home now. If you need anything or if there¡¯s anything, contact me immediately. Tomorrow night, you have to go to the obstetrician for a check-up on your pregnancy. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    Deasy simply nodded, letting Veronica prepare to leave her apartment unit.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ¡°Remember, Des! Don¡¯t mess around.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Just be careful not to even think about aborting your pregnancy.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Veronica. Okay! I know.¡±


    ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ll keep monitoring your condition.¡±


    Veronica then left Deasy alone. However, not even five minutes after the apartment door closed, the doorbell rang again.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Veronica! What else do you want? Rest assured, I won¡¯t abort my pregnancy!¡±


    As soon as she opened the door to her apartment unit, Deasy immediately retorted with the same words, as if she was fed up with Veronica¡¯s constant warnings.


    However, as the words left her mouth, she was shocked. It wasn¡¯t Veronica standing in front of her; it was the man she knew too well.


    ¡°L-Lucas.¡±


    The man in the ck shirt blinked in confusion.


    ¡°W-what? Did you just say Miss Deasy is pregnant?¡±


    Deasy widened her eyes. She made a mistake speaking without looking around first. Now, her secret that she should have kept hidden was known to the one person she wanted to avoid the most.


    ¡°No. You misheard,¡± Deasy denied, trying to close the door to her apartment unit. ¡°Next time, if you want to visit, please ask for permission. I¡¯m not feeling well and need some rest.¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t let Deasy close the door to her apartment unit. He intentionally blocked her way and walked in without asking for permission.


    ¡°Could I discuss Miss Deasy¡¯s pregnancy in front of your neighbors?¡± he said.


    Deasy swallowed her saliva. She regretted her earlier words, as Lucas¡¯s response had caught her off guard.


    ¡°To be straightforward, what do you want here?¡±


    ¡°I originally came here for work-rted matters. But after finding out that you¡¯re pregnant, I changed my mind.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Besides, who¡¯s pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Miss Deasy. You just said it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You misheard,¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°I actually suspected that this would happen. That¡¯s why I offered to take responsibility from the beginning.¡±


    Deasy shook her head. She was firm in her decision not to ept Lucas¡¯s offer to take responsibility, let alone marry the man.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t need your responsibility.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s my potential child in your womb that I have to think about and care for.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Deasy rejected again. ¡°You don¡¯t have to bother with taking responsibility. Just consider that we never did anything. And consider that I¡¯m not pregnant with your child.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Lucas protested, unwilling to ept her rejection.


    ¡°Why is it impossible?¡±


    ¡°Regardless, there¡¯s my potential child in there,¡± Lucas pointed directly at Deasy¡¯s belly. ¡°That¡¯s why I have to take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Lucas, strawberry mango donuts, I¡¯m not interested. Anyway, I won¡¯t ever marry you.¡±


    Deasy then grabbed Lucas¡¯s arm forcefully, pulling him and leading him to leave her apartment unit.


    ¡°Whether I¡¯m pregnant with your child or not, just never dream that I¡¯ll ept you.¡±


    ¡°But ¡ª-¡±


    Before Lucas could finish his sentence, Deasy had already closed the door. Leaving Lucas to sigh and silently pray in his heart.


    ¡°Just wait, Deasy. You¡¯ll see, you¡¯ll be the one chasing after me.¡±

 PHB 22

    After contemting for about four days and taking some time off, Deasy finally made up her mind to return to her activities.


    She pushed away the feelings of turmoil that had briefly taken hold of her and tried to act as normal as possible so that no one would suspect what she was currently going through.


    In any case, Dessy was determined. Not a single person should know that she was expecting a baby at the moment.


    When she arrived at the Quantum Tech building, Deasy was warmly weed by several staff members who had been part of her core team under her division. Some even dly escorted her to her office, and she resumed her usual routine.


    Deasy felt immensely thankful and grateful to God for blessing her with responsible subordinates who had a high level of loyalty to their superiors and thepany. When she returned to the office, all the deadlines she had left behind had beenpleted neatly without any remaining tasks. It only required a single review and her signature.


    ¡°If you need anything, just call me. Don¡¯t hesitate. Fortunately, I don¡¯t have much work today,¡± De, who had helped Deasy when she lost consciousness yesterday, offered her assistance sincerely. She was concerned that her boss¡¯s condition might not bepletely improved or back to normal.


    ¡°Thank you very much for your offer. But, my condition is already very good. You just continue with your work. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, if you need anything, just call us as usual, Ma¡¯am,¡± Sta, standing next to Deasy, also offered her help.


    Deasy smiled, giving them a sideways nce with a questioning look in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re acting all nice, but you don¡¯t have any ulterior motives, do you? Or maybe there are some tasks you haven¡¯tpleted. Be careful; if I find anything undone, I might just rearrange your seating in the office.¡±


    De and Sta quickly shook their heads. Knowing that Deasy was the most perfectionist and strict boss, they dared not make even the slightest mistake, lest they receive a lecture for seven nights straight.


    ¡°No, Miss Deasy. Oh my. We genuinely offer our help. We¡¯re not trying to gain favor or cover anything up.¡±


    Deasyughed at Sta¡¯s slightly fearful expression. Perhaps she was worried that Deasy would scold her as usual.


    ¡°Rx, no need to be so tense. Besides, I was just kidding. But again, thank you for your help and concern. You can go back to work now. If I need something, I¡¯ll call one of you.¡±


    De and Sta nodded obediently and left Deasy to continue working.


    Meanwhile, Deasy gathered all her concentration and tried to refocus on the remaining tasks that she had toplete promptly.


    However, just as she pressed the ¡®ON¡¯ button on herptop on her desk, her hearing caught the sound of repeated knocks on the door. At the same moment, a man she had been trying to avoid from the beginning entered and casually walked over to her desk.


    ¡°Good morning, Miss Deasy.¡±


    Lucas greeted her very politely, shing his sweetest smile. He ced a food box he had brought with him into the room onto Deasy¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Have you had breakfast? I brought you some food, just in case you left for work this morning without eating anything. It¡¯s good to have something to fill your stomach.¡±


    Deasy lifted her gaze, looking closely at Lucas, then responded to what her staff had just offered her. It was indeed thoughtful, almost like a boyfriend paying attention to his partner.


    ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t like breakfast.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled a chair and sat directly across from Deasy.


    ¡°Why not? Breakfast is essential to maximize our productivity.¡±


    Most of the people she knew always made time for breakfast before starting any activity. But strangely, Deasy didn¡¯t like it. Was this part of the diet program she was on? But Deasy was pregnant; she couldn¡¯t be on a diet.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t like breakfast.¡±


    ¡°But breakfast is crucial.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your opinion. What are you going to do about it if I don¡¯t like it?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to remind you. It¡¯s better to start the day with breakfast. Because the other day when I started my day with a smile, I ended up hungry by noon.¡±


    ¡°Weird Guy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Lucas. Not Weird Guy.¡±


    Deasy felt like screaming. Why did this strange creature like Lucas have to appear early in the morning, just when she was trying to calm herself down?


    ¡°Besides¡­¡± Lucas continued, half-whispering. For some reason, he leaned forward, almost as if he was about to gossip. ¡°Now that you¡¯re pregnant, breakfast is even more important. So that the baby in your belly doesn¡¯t go hungry.¡±


    Deasy raised an eyebrow. How could Lucas, at the workce of all ces, bring up something she had deliberately concealed? Lucas talked way too much!


    ¡°Lucas! Watch your mouth.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one will hear. The team is all on duty. Besides, I don¡¯t have any other time to discuss this except at the office. We still have unfinished business regarding your pregnancy and the child, right!¡±


    Deasy sighed. Could she have just one peaceful day without being constantly reminded that she was pregnant?


    ¡°What else do you want to discuss? I¡¯ve already told you, you don¡¯t need to get involved. Whether I¡¯m pregnant or not is none of your business.¡±


    Lucas shook his head. Before answering, he stood up from his seat, walked to the main door, and made sure no one, not even an ant, could eavesdrop from outside. Once he was certain that there was no one around, he closed the door tightly and returned to face Deasy, as if he were about to discuss something serious.


    ¡°How can I not get involved when there¡¯s a new life inside Ms. Deasy¡¯s womb, and that life is my flesh and blood?¡±


    Deasy scoffed. Her face disyed an expression of dismissal.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too confident that the baby in my belly is yours.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about confidence,¡± Lucas argued. He had prepared all kinds of arguments. In any case, he couldn¡¯t lose this debate with Deasy. ¡°It¡¯s just the way it is. If Miss Deasy has forgotten, we didn¡¯t just have intercourse once. We did it twice. And I distinctly remember that in every encounter, my older brother always appeared without protection.¡±


    Oh God, Deasy wanted to cry. Someone, please kidnap Lucas so he would stop talking.


    ¡°Still, the baby in my belly may not be yours!¡±


    Lucas shook his head.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be. That¡¯s definitely my child,¡± Lucas argued again, bringing out all his debating skills to make sure Deasy couldn¡¯t counter his points.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, no matter what, you were the one who took my virginity. So, please take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like I¡¯m the lecherous one here,¡± Deasy retorted.


    Lucas almostughed at Deasy¡¯s indignation at being used of taking her virginity.


    ¡°But that¡¯s the truth. Even during our two encounters, it was you who was passionate and aggressive. I just had to bnce things out. But, by the way, as a beginner, I must admit that you were really good that night.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Really?¡±


    Lucas nodded, confirming what he had just said.


    ¡°Seriously. Every time I changed positions, you seemed to understand and adjust immediately. And after I observed, it seemed like Miss Deasy preferred the woman-on-top position. Is that right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ yes, that¡¯s true,¡± Deasy nodded. She confirmed what Lucas was talking about regarding the different positions they tried during their make-out sessions some time ago. ¡°Because in that position, you can move freely and express yourself. It¡¯s easier to find the perfect position for climax, and it feels more liberating.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Lucas snapped his fingers. He agreed with what Deasy said. ¡°After two make-out sessions together, I was already suspicious because you always took the top position. I, as the one underneath your control, just went with the flow. Even though sometimes it felt rushed and impatient.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? So you think I¡¯m too hasty?¡±


    ¡°More like impatient. It felt like we were making out while being chased by the police. But if it¡¯s slower and enjoyed, I¡¯m sure Miss Deasy could feel satisfied multiple times.¡±


    ¡°Actually, in theory, I know a lot. I¡¯ve learned many different positions and techniques forsting longer in bed. But so far, the execution has never been sessful,¡± Deasy said without embarrassment. ¡°Besides, everyone I¡¯ve made out with before you didn¡¯tst long. You¡¯re really the only one who¡¯s new. So, if I seem awkward or impatient, please understand.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same thing. But for a beginner, your performance is far from good. You just need to hone your skills a bit more for improvement.¡±


    Deasy nodded, seeming to agree with the constructive criticism and advice that Lucas had given her. She was determined not to repeat the same mistakes in the future.


    ¡°Alright then. In our next encounter, I¡¯ll take it slow and gentle. So that we can both¡­ wait a minute?¡± Deasy then jolted. Her eyes widened, and her mouth was ready to curse. ¡°Why are we even sharing about bedroom positions? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s being so candid!¡±


    Lucasughed and quickly covered his mouth. Why was he suddenly the one being med for this conversation?


    ¡°Why is it my fault, Miss? It¡¯s as if I can never do anything right in Miss Deasy¡¯s eyes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just naturally annoying.¡±


    Lucas sighed. He kept himself from losing his patience with the naturally irritating Deasy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve turned you down nicely several times, but you insisted, right? So, instead of wasting it, I just agreed.¡±


    Deasy yfully pinched Lucas¡¯s arm in frustration.


    ¡°You¡¯re exasperating! Just stop talking about this. Regardless of whether I¡¯m pregnant or not, it¡¯s none of your business.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I want to take responsibility. I¡¯m not the type of guy who enjoys the sweetness and then abandons everything. I¡¯m also aware that I¡¯m not the ideal husband type. That¡¯s why, it¡¯s up to Miss Deasy whether you want to marry me or not.¡± Lucas paused for a moment, gazing at Deasy briefly before continuing as if he hadn¡¯t poured out his feelings enough. ¡°But what¡¯s certain is that as long as you¡¯re carrying my child, I¡¯ll make sure to meet all its needs until it¡¯s born. Even if you don¡¯t want to raise the baby after it¡¯s born, please just give it to me. I¡¯ll dly take care of the baby.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. She was at a loss for words to respond to what Lucas had just told her.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Luc. I¡¯m exhausted. You better leave before I get nauseous and throw up.¡±


    ***

 PHB 23

    ¡°Do I really need to go to the obstetrician?¡±


    Deasy entered Veronica¡¯s car with a grumpy expression. She had juste home from work, and before she could even lie down and rest, her friend hade and insisted on taking her to the obstetrician for a check-up on her baby¡¯s condition.


    Deasy admitted that Veronica was a good and caring friend, but she really didn¡¯t want to go to the obstetrician.


    ¡°It¡¯s necessary. So that you know exactly how your pregnancy is progressing.¡±


    Veronica nonchntly fastened Deasy¡¯s seatbelt for her, then continued driving to the hospital.


    Upon arriving at their destination, Veronica wasted no time and ushered Deasy into the obstetrician¡¯s office. After waiting for about ten minutes, they were called in and invited to enter the examination room.


    ¡°Please lie down here, so I can perform the examination,¡± the obstetrician requested as she prepared for the procedure.


    A nurse helped guide Deasy to the patient¡¯s bed. She was allowed to lie downfortably, and a momentter, the doctor began the examination.


    ¡°At this point, the pregnancy is already at eight weeks. Usually, in the early trimester of pregnancy, a pregnant woman¡¯s mood can fluctuate frequently. You may often feel dizzy, easily tired, nauseous, and even vomit. Once again, it¡¯s normal.¡±


    ¡°So far, I¡¯ve only felt weak and easily tired, doc,¡± Deasy confirmed.


    ¡°Nausea? None at all?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°Fortunately, none at all. So far, I haven¡¯t experienced any nausea or vomiting.¡±


    ¡°Good. Later on, I¡¯ll prescribe some anti-nausea and anti-vomiting medication just in case. I rmend that you don¡¯t overexert yourself and try to avoid stress during this early trimester. Exercise is allowed, but don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    ¡°Besides all that, what else usually happens to pregnant women, doc?¡±


    Veronica, sitting in a chair nearby, also inquired. Despite having been pregnant twice, she was still interested in knowing what Deasy should do during pregnancy.


    ¡°Pregnant women usually get sleepier. Eating habits can also be unpredictable. Sometimes you¡¯ll lose your appetite. Sometimes you¡¯ll want to eat constantly. The same goes for the desire for sexual intercourse. In this trimester, some pregnant women lose their interest in sex. But some others might actually have a higher sex drive than usual. So, from the beginning, I want to remind you. Having sex is allowed during pregnancy, but the frequency should be reduced and done with caution.¡±


    The doctor provided a detailed exnation. Before leaving, Deasy was prescribed various medications and vitamins that she would need to take regrly every day during her pregnancy. It was indeed a hassle, especially for someone like Deasy, who had a habit of forgetting and wasn¡¯t diligent about taking medications at the same times.


    ¡°After entering, I reminded you to change clothes immediately. Then continue with dinner, take your vitamins, and go to bed right away. Don¡¯t think too much, especially staying upte. It¡¯s not good for pregnant women.¡±


    Upon arriving home, in front of Deasy¡¯s apartment unit door, Veronica gave another warning, making sure that Deasy followed all the doctor¡¯s rmendations.


    ¡°Yeah, all done. You¡¯re quite a nag, you know.¡±


    ¡°Even if I¡¯m nagging, it¡¯s for your own good.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have to keep repeating it, Ve.¡±


    ¡°So you won¡¯t forget. Well then, I¡¯ll go home now. If you need anything, just call.¡±


    Deasy let Veronica say her goodbyes and leave. Just as she closed the door tightly, the doorbell rang. Deasy reluctantly opened the door and found Lucas standing there with his characteristic smile.


    ¡°Oh my, Lucas. What are you doing here again? Can¡¯t you leave me alone for just one day?¡±


    Lucas maintained his smile. Choosing to stand in front of the apartment unit¡¯s door, he handed over what he had brought specifically.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ma¡¯am. I won¡¯t stay long. I stopped by to bring you dinner. There¡¯s a heavy meal and some snacks in the paper bag I just handed over. As far as I know, pregnant women get hungry at night. So, I intentionally bought this to make it easier for youter.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s intentions were genuinely good and caring. But for some reason, he always seemed to be in the wrong in Deasy¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. And again, you don¡¯t have to act so caring, Luc. No matter what you do, your efforts won¡¯t melt my heart.¡±


    ¡°I like bread, and you like doughnuts. I¡¯m being half-dead attentive here. And yet, you couldn¡¯t care less.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a tomato in the beetle¡¯s food. I really couldn¡¯t care less, Bambang.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Lucas, Ma¡¯am. Not Daniel, Nerd, or Bambang. I really like changing people¡¯s names.¡±


    ¡°Well, the bottom line is you don¡¯t need to waste your time pretending to be caring.¡±


    Lucas smiled again. He was not at all offended by what Deasy had just said.


    ¡°No need to be arrogant, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m not doing this for you.¡±


    ¡°Well, then?¡±


    ¡°For my child, of course. After all, you¡¯re carrying my flesh and blood. So, let¡¯s work together for the next nine months.¡±


    Deasy blushed. Lucas had managed to embarrass her.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Alright, Sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Well then, hurry up and leave.¡±


    Deasy seemed to be shooing him away. She had even prepared to close her apartment unit¡¯s door.


    ¡°There¡¯s a fridge next to the chopsticks. Babang Lucas asks for permission to leave, please don¡¯t make his heart sad to the point of crying out loud.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Lucas grinned. Before Deasy could get angry, he bid farewell once again, although Deasy didn¡¯t care at all.


    ¡°I¡¯m going home now. Have a good night¡¯s sleep. Hopefully, you¡¯ll dream of me tonight.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±

 PHB 24

    I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s just Deasy¡¯s feeling or if it¡¯s actually the fact that day by day feels like it¡¯s dragging on for so long. Well, what does it mean, anyway? Anyway, Deasy feels like the days are passing by very slowly.


    If she could ask God for a favor, she would want her pregnancy to instantly be nine months old. Can you imagine that?


    It does sound impossible, though. But, to be honest, she feels overwhelmed. It¡¯s not about taking care of the little baby inside her belly. It¡¯s more about worry and embarrassment, especially as her belly gets bigger, it¡¯s bound to attract attention from people around.


    But, because she¡¯s aware that she¡¯s covered in sin, it feels undeserving to ask for anything from God. As Veronica says,


    ¡°Be grateful! Who asked you to keep getting drunk and not taking care of yourself? Sleeping with just anyone. Twice, even. Now you¡¯re pregnant, suddenly you¡¯re all worked up and dizzy.¡±


    As a friend, Veronica falls into the category of Luck-nut friends. Instead of helping find a solution or a way out, Darwin Walters¡¯s wife seems to be happy about the trials that Deasy is currently facing.


    Not to mention the presence of Lucas Orion, who often deliberately disturbs Deasy¡¯s peace. Making her think she just wants to disappear from the face of the earth.


    ¡°Good morning, Miss Deasy.¡±


    What did Deasy say? Just as discussed, the nerdy guy with sses finally arrives. Like yesterday, Lucas brings a paper bag containing special food and then gives it to Deasy.


    As the man said before. As long as there¡¯s a potential child in Deasy¡¯s belly, whatever it is, whether it¡¯s protection, attention, and all sorts of things Deasy needs, Lucas will make an effort to provide.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first. Today, I brought the famous crispy chicken fried rice for you.¡±


    Deasy silently observed as Lucas took out a bento box filled with food. He then ced it neatly on Deasy¡¯s work desk,plete with a drink and various snacks. Quite attentive, but Deasy still didn¡¯t like it!


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Besides, why do you bring me breakfast every day?¡± Deasy said.


    Lucas just smiled, used to hearing Deasyin like this.


    ¡°So that my child in the mother¡¯s belly won¡¯t go hungry,¡± Lucas casually whispered. ¡°Besides, I only have five more days to prepare breakfast for Miss Deasy. After I¡¯ve truly resigned-¡±


    ¡°After you resign, you won¡¯t bother me anymore, right? You won¡¯t bring me breakfast every morning?¡± Deasy interrupted. She had just remembered that her subordinate would be leaving soon. Feeling a breath of fresh air and a glimmer of hope that she wouldn¡¯t be disturbed anymore, Deasy wanted to confirm this directly with him.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Lucas replied casually. A mischievous grin was clearly visible on his bespectacled face. ¡°Even though I¡¯ve resigned, it doesn¡¯t rule out the possibility that I can still deliver breakfast to Miss Deasy.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I can either deliver it directly to your apartment before you leave. Or I can send food using a food delivery service. Anyway, for our beloved future child, I have many ways to ensure the mother gets proper nutrition and food.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s shoulders slumped. She had been happy to hear that Lucas would be resigning soon, which meant she wouldn¡¯t be bothered anymore. However, after hearing Lucas¡¯s exnation, her earlier hopes were quickly dashed.


    ¡°You¡¯re really annoying, you know! Besides, who gave you permission toe and go to my apartment as you please?¡±


    ¡°No one, really,¡± Lucas replied nonchntly. ¡°But, even if Miss Deasy forbids it, I will stille to make sure you¡¯re doing well.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath, trying to patiently deal with the truly irritating Lucas.


    ¡°Just so you know, I can report your actions to the authorities, Luc. Furthermore, what you¡¯ve been doing has disrupted my peace for a while now.¡±


    Lucasughed. Deasy didn¡¯t know what was funny about her statement. In fact, if you thought about it, he had just received a threat.


    ¡°Report where, Miss? To the police station? Well, it¡¯s fine if Miss Deasy wants to report me. Then, when questioned by the authorities, I¡¯ll just exin that my actions are an expression of concern because we previously slept together, which resulted in Miss Deasy bing pregnant and-¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Deasy rose from her seat. She raised her right hand and covered Lucas¡¯s mouth to stop him from talking.


    ¡°When you speak, you have no regard for the location, do you? Amazing! I¡¯ve already warned you not to discuss such matters in the office.¡±


    ¡°So, where should we discuss it? Miss Deasy¡¯s apartment, perhaps? We haven¡¯t really resolved this issue. Or should Miss Deasy just resign herself to marrying me in the near future?¡±


    Deasy struggled to contain herself from exploding. Today, she just didn¡¯t want to waste her energy getting angry.


    But, please, God.


    Please, just take Lucas far away or make him disappear so that I can have a peaceful life.


    Deasy continued to silently pray, taking repeated deep breaths to keep her emotions in check.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Okay¡­ tonight, we¡¯ll discuss everything until it¡¯s settled.¡±


    ¡°At your apartment, right? Or do you want to meet at my ce?¡±


    Deasy gave him a sharp look. It seemed that she was the one being asked toe over.


    ¡°You¡¯re the oneing to see me. And please make sure toe on time. You know I don¡¯t like people who are not on time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you want, I¡¯ll be there by seven.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not exactly like that, Lucas.¡±


    Lucasughed, shifting to sit in his office chair. He opened the breakfast box he had bought and prepared to eat.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s eat breakfast first. If it gets too cold, it won¡¯t taste goodter, Miss.¡±


    Deasy shrugged her shoulders. She still resisted, refusing the breakfast that Lucas had bought for her.


    ¡°No! I already said I don¡¯t want breakfast. How many times do I have to say that I don¡¯t like breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lucas asked, staring intently. He smiled, then slowly scooped up a spoonful of the Fried rice in front of him. ¡°This is delicious. Seriously.¡±


    He then continued to enjoy the meal he had bought, intentionally tempting Deasy with his expressions. He savored the food with enthusiasm, making appreciative sounds so that Deasy continued to watch him.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ this is seriously so delicious, I swear. The rice is so tender, and the chicken is so soft.¡±


    Lucas kept spooning up the Fried rice, bite by bite, into his mouth. This continued to capture Deasy¡¯s attention, and it even made her swallow her saliva.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to try?¡± Lucas asked again.


    ¡°No! I said no, and that means no.¡±


    ¡°Alright then. You¡¯ll be the one missing out because you don¡¯t want to try this incredibly delicious food.¡±


    Lucas continued to enjoy the food on his spoon. Meanwhile, Deasy seemed to be fighting her temptation. She carefully observed the expressions Lucas was making, which made her feel hungry as well. But¡­ it would be embarrassing to ept with pleasure what her subordinate had brought for her.


    ¡°Lucas¡­¡±


    From the door, Doni appeared, calling Lucas and asking him toe over.


    ¡°Is your breakfast finished? Mrs. Amel called. She wants you to sign the resignation letter.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He finished his drink, then got up and went to the HRD room toplete the resignation process that he had submitted some time ago.


    Meanwhile, Deasy, after making sure there was no one else in the room, slowly opened the box of food that Lucas had bought.


    As soon as it opened, the distinctive aroma of Nasi Kebuli wafted out, greeting her sense of smell. Whether it was just her imagination or not, the scent of the food was so enticing and mouthwatering.


    Not wanting Lucas to find out that she was enjoying breakfast, Deasy hurriedly spooned the nasi kebuli from the bento box into her mouth. She devoured it quickly while savoring the delicious taste.


    ¡°Oh my, it really is delicious,¡± Deasy continued to chew while nodding her head. Meanwhile, in another corner, Lucas was peeking and deliberately waiting for Deasy to finish the food in her box.


    ¡°How is it? Delicious, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Lucas¡¯sment momentarily froze Deasy. She wanted to stop, but there was only one more bite of rice left in her box.


    ¡°Why stop? Just finish it. Don¡¯t be shy. I won¡¯t protest, in fact, I¡¯m happy that the food I bought is finally being finished.¡±


    Deasy felt extremely embarrassed. However, since she had already gone this far, what could she do? Rather than wasting it, she finished thest bite of rice while grumbling in her heart.


    ***

 PHB 25

    ¡°Sir, my audit team and I have checked multiple times. Arinda, Mr. Daniel¡¯s wife, doesn¡¯t have any foreign ounts or suspected involvement in moneyundering or anything of the sort. The investigation has been thorough. I can assure you we won¡¯t be wrong.¡±


    In the office space in his home, Lucas received a report from Felix. One task had been sessfullypleted by his assistant. Now, it was up to him to slowly investigate Deasy. Whether his boss had foreign ounts suspected to be where Daniel had hidden thepany¡¯s money.


    ¡°So, we can remove her from the list.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir. Now it¡¯s just Ms. Deasy. For her, I leave it entirely to you, Mr. Lucas.¡±


    Lucas nodded his head and reached for the documents that Felix had provided earlier, reading them once more.


    ¡°At first nce, Deasy¡¯s documents are clean, white, like Eid clothes. There¡¯s no stain.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°But, it doesn¡¯t rule out the possibility that she received illicit funds from Mr. Daniel, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, all those possibilities are there,¡± he continued to examine what he held in his hand, reading it slowly while responding to his assistant. ¡°But when you think about it, Deasy is originally wealthy. It¡¯s unlikely that she¡¯d ept dirty money like this, willingly putting herself in such a mess. Besides, 10 billion is a small amount. I believe her personal savings would be more than that, without needing money from Daniel.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense, sir,¡± Felix agreed. ¡°However, nothing¡¯s impossible. Maybe Mr. Daniel just entrusted it.¡±


    Lucas frowned instantly.


    ¡°That would be really idle of him to entrust it to Deasy. If she¡¯s valuable, they wouldn¡¯t part ways, right?¡±


    Felix nodded again.


    ¡°So, are you nning to continue the investigation, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll keep investigating. The oue of this Deasy investigation will determine whether Daniel is truly harming thepany or not.¡±


    Felix nodded once more and then said something that got Lucas thinking.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s a fast way to investigate all this, sir.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Deasy¡¯sptop. I don¡¯t know why, but I have a feeling that all the answers we¡¯ve been looking for are right there.¡±


    Lucas snapped his fingers, as if he had juste up with a brilliant idea he had never considered before.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Why didn¡¯t I think of that before?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s not easy for us to take or borrow her personal belongings like that. Especially herptop. We can¡¯t just steal it; that would be a criminal act.¡±


    Lucas nodded. What Felix said was indeed true. He needed to figure out how to borrow Deasy¡¯sptop, at least for an hour to transfer all the documents stored on it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about how to do it. We have to be careful so that Deasy doesn¡¯t get suspicious.¡±


    Lucas then nced at the watch on his wrist. A momentter, he got up, grabbed his car keys, and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Where are you going, Mr. Lucas?¡± Felix wondered. It wasn¡¯t usual for his boss to leave without his supervision.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Deasy¡¯s apartment. There¡¯s something that needs to be discussed and resolved quickly regarding her pregnancy and the baby in her belly.¡±


    ¡°Is Mr. Lucas nning to marry Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Lucas shrugged. Up to this point, he was even confused about what actions to take to avoid causing harm to both parties.


    ¡°To be honest, whether I get married or not doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is that the baby in Deasy¡¯s womb is born safely without anyplications. I¡¯ll do my best to ensure that Deasy doesn¡¯t do anything foolish like getting an abortion.¡±


    ¡°If you do end up getting married eventually, Mr. Lucas, will you reveal your true identity to Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Lucas shook his head.


    ¡°ording to the initial n, I won¡¯t reveal my identity until the task my father gave me is trulypleted. We¡¯ll see how things go in the future. I can¡¯t say much right now.¡±


    Lucas then left. As promised, he hurried to Deasy¡¯s apartment and arrived exactly at eight o¡¯clock in the evening. After knocking on the door for a moment, Deasy opened the door.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Deasy said.


    Lucas quickly entered, following her lead, and then sat on the avable sofa in the living room.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point. I don¡¯t like beating around the bush or wasting time.¡±


    Deasy initiated the conversation, wasting no time and going straight to the core of the discussion.


    ¡°Regardless of how things may turn out, I don¡¯t want to marry you. Whatever you want to do in the future, whether it¡¯s acting caring, protective, delivering food every day, and so on, I don¡¯t care, and I won¡¯t object. But please, don¡¯t force me to marry you.¡±


    Lucas nodded, acknowledging Deasy¡¯s firm decision. It seemed pointless to argue.


    ¡°Sure, it¡¯s up to you. Once again, I won¡¯t be at a disadvantage if you don¡¯t want me to take responsibility by marrying you officially. Anyway, if your belly grows and someone asks who your husband is, you¡¯ll have to deal with that yourself.¡±


    Deasy grumbled in frustration. Why was her life soplicated? What sins had shemitted in her past life to bear such a heavy burden?


    ¡°I can hire another man to be my pretend husband,¡± Deasy replied casually.


    ¡°Why waste money hiring a fake husband, ma¡¯am, when there¡¯s a free one avable? If you don¡¯t want to be my wife permanently, we can have a temporary marriage, a contract marriage, a secret marriage, or whatever you want to call it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Like in those drama movies. We can get married temporarily until the baby in your belly is born. The important thing is that the baby has an official status. After it¡¯s born and we get a divorce, you can go back to your normal life as usual.¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯d be a widow then?¡±


    Lucas raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, it¡¯s pretty much the same. I¡¯d end up being a widower, too, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Widower?¡±


    This time, Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes, a cool widower.¡±


    Deasy felt like vomiting. When it came to confidence, Lucas seemed unbeatable.


    ¡°Don¡¯t exaggerate. Besides, whether it¡¯s a temporary marriage, a contract marriage, or whatever, I¡¯d still have to acknowledge you as my husband. What will people say if I get married and impregnated by my own subordinate? It¡¯s you we¡¯re talking about. It would seriously damage my reputation.¡±


    Lucas sighed heavily. Deasy was clearly underestimating him. If only the woman in front of him knew how handsome and wealthy he was, she wouldn¡¯t insult him like this.


    ¡°What else can I say? That¡¯s the reality of it. Plus, we¡¯re both single. Why not just get married? It would make things a lot easier.¡±


    Lucas stared intently at Deasy, suppressing a mischievous grin, and said once more, ¡°An empty barrel makes the most noise. Your heart is emptier than that barrel; I¡¯d be a better fit.¡±


    Deasy wanted to cry. Why, at such a serious moment, was Lucas throwing absurd rhymes and jokes?


    ¡°No, this can¡¯t be.¡±


    This couldn¡¯t be allowed to continue.


    ¡°Two, three stingrays. You¡¯re not handsome, that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to own you.¡±


    ¡°Four times four equals sixteen. Sooner orter, I¡¯ll make sure my heart you win.¡±


    Deasy then red at Lucas, signaling him to stop this utterly pointless banter.


    ¡°Stop, okay? This isn¡¯t aedy show. Stop with the rhyming!¡±


    ¡°Well, you seem really tense.¡±


    ¡°Listen¡­ do you think I¡¯d marry your father?¡±


    ¡°Rather than me calling you ¡®darling¡¯? Which one would you prefer?¡±


    ¡°ARGHHH!!!¡±


    Deasy growled in frustration. She wanted to curse, but she remembered that she couldn¡¯t waste her energy like that.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the original topic. If you keep babbling rhymes, you might as well go home.¡±


    Lucas chuckled. Holding his cramping stomach, he slowly tried to steer the conversation back to the initial topic.


    ¡°Continuing from our previous conversation, I think it¡¯s better for you to have a husband while pregnant than not having one, right? Just temporary, though. After our child is born, we can get a divorce. You don¡¯t need to worry or be afraid of any trouble. Once the baby is born, I¡¯ll take care of it and cover all the expenses 100% without needing any assistance from you, Ms. Deasy.¡±


    Deasy seemed to ponder, thinking hard about the decision she should make.


    ¡°So, what do you say?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sticking with my initial decision not to marry you. Besides, you¡¯re not my type, Luc. I don¡¯t like nerdy guys, especially homebodies like you.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s harsh. Are you really not into homebodies?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Yes, absolutely.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll pray that someday Ms. Deasy will find her soulmate among homeless people since she¡¯s rejected a homebody like me.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    ¡°Also, I¡¯ll pray that Ms. Deasy will forever be head over heels in love with me.¡±


    Deasy grimaced. Lucas was being so annoying with his prayers.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dream too much! That¡¯s not going to happen, Luc.¡±


    Deasy then got up. Feeling that there was nothing more to discuss, she intended to hurry Lucas out.


    ¡°Is it all settled then? Go home quickly. I want to rest.¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t object or protest. Considering that Deasy was pregnant and needed rest, he prepared to leave.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll head home.¡±


    Deasy simply nodded. She then escorted Lucas to the front door of her apartment unit.


    However, just as Lucas was about to leave, Deasy appeared dizzy. A momentter, she lost consciousness and ended up fainting.

 PHB 26

    Discovering Deasy suddenly staggering, then losing consciousness, Lucas promptly reached out to catch her so she wouldn¡¯t fall to the floor.


    Exerting all his strength, Lucas then carried Deasy and brought her to the bedroom, where he gentlyid her on the bed.


    For a moment, Lucas took a deep breath. Trying not to panic, he hurriedly contacted the apartment¡¯s receptionist, requesting assistance in summoning a doctor to examine Deasy¡¯s condition as soon as possible.


    Fortunately, in the apartmentplex, there was a standby doctor. It only took five minutes for the doctor to arrive and begin the examination.


    ¡°So, how is she, doc?¡±


    Lucas and the doctor both stepped out of the room. They sat on the living room sofa, discussing Deasy¡¯s condition and the reasons she had lost consciousness.


    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Pregnant women often experience various symptoms in the early trimester. Some feel nauseous and vomit frequently. They may also struggle to eat. Mood swings aremon, sometimes leading to unexined crying. Some may feel consistently weak and even lose consciousness,¡± the doctor exined. Meanwhile, Lucas chose to listen attentively. ¡°And it¡¯s likely the patient experienced a loss of energy. My suggestion is that she takesplete rest for the next three days.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°But, it¡¯s not dangerous, is it, doc?¡±


    The doctor shook his head.


    ¡°As long as her nutrition and diet are well-maintained, both she and the baby will be fine. I¡¯m prescribing some supplements to strengthen her. She should take them after breakfast along with the prenatal vitamins I rmended earlier. If after three days ofplete rest, she still feels weak and struggles to get up, take her to the hospital for further evaluation.¡±


    ¡°Alright, doc. I¡¯ll monitor her closely.¡±


    The doctor then got up. Before leaving, he offered some advice to Lucas.


    ¡°Make sure your wife consumes nutritious food. If she has difficulty eating, you can supplement with fruits and some healthy snacks. Milk is fine if she likes it. The key is to keep her stomach from being empty at all times. If she feels tired, try giving her a massage.¡±


    ¡°A massage?¡±


    The doctor nodded.


    ¡°Pregnant women generally enjoy massages on their legs, back, and lower back. It helps them rx and sleep better. Give it a try; I¡¯m sure it will be very helpful.¡±


    Lucas nodded in understanding, recalling everything the doctor had rmended.


    Ensuring there were no more questions to ask, he concluded the consultation session. He escorted the doctor to the front door of the apartment unit and then returned to the bedroom to check on Deasy.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Deasy. You poor thing. It must be tough in this condition.¡±


    Lucas murmured softly. He pulled the nket over her, covering her entire body to keep her warm. Then, he sat down on the edge of the bed, extending his hands to massage Deasy¡¯s legs, alternating between them.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re carrying my baby, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re in the best possible condition.¡±


    Lucas continued to massage. For the first time in his life, he was willing to exert effort to massage a woman. Realizing that Deasy was carrying his child, Lucas was determined to do his best to ensure that Deasy¡¯s condition would remain stable until the time of childbirth.


    ¡°Luc¡­¡± Deasy called out as she began to regain consciousness.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Lucas quickly rose to help Deasy lean her body against the bed¡¯s backrest. After cing a pillow and ensuring Deasy was sittingfortably, he resumed his seated position next to her legs and continued massaging as before.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°ying Piano.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m massaging you. Why you ask?¡±


    Deasy sighed. She had asked sincerely.


    ¡°I mean, why are you still here?¡±


    Deasy then turned her face, looking at the digital clock on the nightstand not far from the bed.


    ¡°It¡¯s past 10 o¡¯clock. Why are you still here?¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply. Was Deasy really not remembering anything? While continuing the massage, he gave a lengthy exnation. He wanted Deasy to understand why he was still staying in her apartment.


    ¡°I was about to leave earlier, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes. So why are you still here?¡±


    ¡°Well, when you suddenly fell and lost consciousness, I had to call a doctor to make sure you were okay. I couldn¡¯t just leave you alone when you fainted, right?¡±


    ¡°An excuse! So, why the massages?¡±


    ¡°Just to make you feelfortable. The doctor rmended it, and I just followed the advice.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. Still feeling weak and not in the mood for arguments, she simply nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯ste now. I¡¯m awake. You should go home now.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re feeling better, Ms. Deasy? I mean, will it be okay if I leave?¡±


    Deasy nodded. Despite feeling weak, she felt fine. She thought that after getting some rest, her condition would improve.


    ¡°I really am okay.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Or would you like me to stay here tonight?¡±


    Deasy immediately gave him a stern look. Lucas had some nerve trying to take advantage of the situation. He¡¯d be overjoyed if Deasy allowed him to stay overnight.


    ¡°No way! Who said you could stay here? No way. My home is not a hotel.¡±


    ¡°If all it takes is a scolding from you to make you feel better, Ms. Deasy, then you must be healthy already. Besides, it¡¯s not like this is the first time I¡¯ve slept in your apartment. It¡¯s the second time, actually. And it was on this bed too.¡±


    Deasy widened her eyes again. Lucas had the audacity to bring up how many times they¡¯d been in this situation.


    ¡°Lu-¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Lucas quickly interrupted. ¡°No need to get mad. Just teasing.¡±


    ¡°How can I not get mad? Whenever you¡¯re around, you always act so cheeky. That¡¯s why it¡¯s better if you stay far away.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Antarctica is far enough. Between us? No way! Besides, there mighte a time when you start craving for me and don¡¯t want to be far away.¡±


    Deasy immediately scowled.


    ¡°Not a chance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. I¡¯ll pray to God every night for that. Maybe someday, you¡¯ll be head over heels in love with me.¡±


    Deasy immediately made an unhappy face. She was about to retort to Lucas¡¯s words, but he quickly got up and raised his hand, signaling her not to nag.


    ¡°Yeah, I know I should leave quickly, right?¡±


    Lucas then prepared to leave. Just as he took a step towards the exit, he turned back around.


    ¡°Anything else, Lucas?¡± Deasy asked. She immediately felt uneasy.


    ¡°If, for example, in the middle of the night, you suddenly feel hungry, try having some noodles. But if you happen to miss me, just give me a call.¡±


    Deasy grabbed a pillow and threw it immediately. However, Lucas had already closed the door before the pillow she threw could reach him. Meanwhile, outside, the bespectacled man chuckled, looking satisfied for once again making Deasy feel irritated.


    ***

 PHB 27

    ¡°You¡¯re really diligent, being at the office so early in the morning.¡±


    Andromeda immediately addressed Lucas when she found him sitting neatly in his office at eight in the morning. Everyone knew that Lucas had officially resigned and was even going to leave for good in a few days. So, why bother being this diligent?


    Instead of hanging around the office early in the morning when no one was even there yet, Andromeda wondered why he didn¡¯t juste whenever he felt like it. After all, work attendance was no longer being counted.


    ¡°I want to hand over the remaining tasks to Mrs. Sofia.¡±


    Lucas wasn¡¯t entirely boasting. Today, he did have to hand over the remaining work obligations as requested by the nning manager. The rest of his time, he used to investigate Daniel¡¯s financial data, which he could only ess from Deasy¡¯sputer in the office.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Unfortunately, despiteing early in the morning and sneaking around, he hadn¡¯t found anything yet. As his assistant had said, most likely all the private data that Deasy considered important was kept specifically on her workptop.


    ¡°So, once this is all done, you¡¯ll head back immediately?¡±


    Lucas nodded. Besides, he did have to leave soon to check on Deasy¡¯s condition and apany her for breakfast.


    ¡°Really just a waste of time, Luc,¡± Andromeda said, unable toprehend.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, is Miss Deasy noting to work today?¡±


    From outside, De and Monica approached, asking about Deasy who once again didn¡¯te to work.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s sick. Her condition doesn¡¯t allow her to work today.¡±


    ¡°Really feel sorry for her,¡± De looked sympathetic, feeling pity for Deasy, who had just started working and now had to take leave due to illness.


    ¡°But how do you know that Miss Deasy is sick?¡± Andromeda inquired, probing for information. Squinting, she seemed to seek more exnation from Lucas. ¡°Could it be that you have a special rtionship with Miss Deasy?¡±


    Andromeda had reason to be suspicious because, of all people, only Lucas knew that Deasy was sick. Usually, if something happened, Deasy would contact De or Sta, not Lucas.


    ¡°Well, how could I not know? Lucas shares an office with Miss Deasy. Besides, Lucas is her deputy,¡± De chimed in to defend Lucas.


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Andromeda nodded. ¡°But who knows, maybe Lucas really does have a special rtionship with Miss Deasy. No one knows.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak thoughtlessly. That¡¯s impossible,¡± Lucas objected as if he couldn¡¯t ept the idea. In reality, he had no idea what his rtionship with Deasy was like right now. It wasplicated!


    ¡°Why is it impossible? Fate can be unpredictable, Luc. Maybe Miss Deasy is out there looking for a partner, and her destiny turns out to be right in front of her.¡±


    Lucasughed while shaking his head. It seemed impossible to him that he could be romantically involved with Deasy. Just being approached by his boss made him ufortable.


    ¡°Destiny may not go anywhere, but thepetition is everywhere. Besides, I doubt Miss Deasy would be interested in someone like me.¡±


    ¡°Come on! Don¡¯t be so self-deprecating,¡± De defended him. ¡°From my perspective, you¡¯re naturally handsome, Luc. And a little makeover would make you even more charming. How about I help you with a makeover at my favorite salon?¡±


    Lucas immediately shook his head vigorously. Worried that De¡¯s scrutiny would expose his disguise, Lucas chose to leave right away. Besides, it was almost half past eight, and Deasy probably hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet.


    As he left the office building, Lucas deliberately stopped by to buy food and some snacks, as well as fruits. Once he felt he had enough, he hurried to Deasy¡¯s apartment to prepare breakfast.


    Upon arrival, Lucas knocked on the door. It didn¡¯t take long for Deasy to open it.


    ¡°Sorry if I¡¯mte, Miss.¡±


    ¡°Whether you¡¯rete or not, I don¡¯t care, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Lucas replied with augh as he entered the apartment without needing an invitation. Walking to the dining area, he immediately served the food he had bought.


    ¡°Should I consider hiring a house assistant to keep Miss Deasypany during her pregnancy? Because it¡¯s really a pity that you have to do everything alone. So, if I¡¯mte, Miss Deasy¡¯s breakfast, dinner, and everything else are already prepared. I¡¯m also worried if something happens while you¡¯re alone. It could be dangerous.¡±


    Deasy, who was about to sit down, turned to look at him. Lucas¡¯s behavior was starting to resemble that of a caring husband towards his wife.


    ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t need to overdo it, and you¡¯re getting toofortable. Once is enough, okay? Your behavior is starting to look like those husbands who are too busy taking care of their wives.¡±


    ¡°Well, I am Miss Deasy¡¯s future husband.¡±


    ¡°Ugh,e on.¡±


    ¡°Nikita Willy, Nikita Mirzani. Does Nikita just want to be friends? Doesn¡¯t Miss Deasy want more? Instead of being single, it¡¯s better to be my wife, Miss.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Lucas. Go to Solo, go to Belgium. Just let me stay single for the rest of my life. What¡¯s important is to be happy.¡±


    Lucas sighed. He put on an intentionally teasing expression. He couldn¡¯t believe that anyone could be happy by choosing to stay single or be alone for their entire life.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dream too much, Luc.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming, Miss,¡± Lucas debated. While opening the food box he brought, he scooped up a bite and fed it to Deasy while continuing to talk to her.


    ¡°I bet you, in three months, Miss Deasy will be the one chasing and insisting on bing my wife.¡±


    ¡°On what basis can you say that?¡±


    Deasy unconsciously epted the spoonful of food that Lucas offered. She chewed while continuing to watch him talk.


    ¡°On the basis that we¡¯ll be meeting often in the next nine months. Anyone, no matter how uninterested they are at first, could end up liking someone eventually. And also, I¡¯ll pray day and night for God to soften Miss¡¯s heart.¡±


    ¡°No way. I still don¡¯t like you.¡±


    ¡°You never know. Maybe two or three months from now, my face suddenly bes handsome. Then, Miss Deasy might regret rejecting me multiple times.¡±


    Even though Deasy wasn¡¯t feeling nauseous at the moment, hearing Lucas¡¯s words made her want to vomit.


    ¡°Enough already. I¡¯m tired of arguing with you. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°Oh, before you shower, finish your breakfast, Miss. Just two more bites.¡±


    Deasy was surprised. She finally realized that she had been unconsciously enjoying the breakfast that Lucas had been feeding her. Feeling embarrassed and not wanting to say much, she epted thest two spoonfuls before getting up to get ready for her shower.


    While Deasy was cleaning up, Lucas was seen tidying up the dining table that had been filled with the food he had bought.


    Convinced that everything was in order, Lucas then moved to the living room and sat on the sofa. At that moment, Deasy¡¯s room was open. Turning his head, Lucas spotted something he had been eyeing.


    Knowing that Deasy was in the shower, Lucas took advantage of the situation. Walking quietly, with the intention of grabbing Deasy¡¯sptop and borrowing it briefly. Even if he didn¡¯t have time to transfer her data, at least Lucas would know where Deasy kept her important documents.


    Slowly, Lucas tried to turn on theptop. A few secondster, a taskbar appeared, asking for the password to ess theptop.


    Lucas sighed. Of course, Deasy must have set a password to prevent others from easily essing her important belongings.


    Since he had already turned it on, Lucas tried to enter random numbers, including Deasy¡¯s birthdate and other possibilities. But it was all in vain.


    After a while, he remembered something and immediately tried to enter a number that he believed might unlock theptop.


    One by one, Lucas entered the digits. Until, not long before it actually worked, he heard a surprising call.


    ¡°Lucas, what are you doing?¡±

 PHB 28

    Lucas was taken aback. His hand was already poised to input the numbers to unlock Deasy¡¯sptop. However, upon hearing his name being called, he turned. To his surprise, he found Deasy standing there, gazing at him with a look of curiosity.


    ¡°Lucas¡­ what are you doing with myptop?¡±


    Thinking quickly about how to respond, Lucas couldn¡¯t admit that he was currently inspecting his boss¡¯sptop without permission. That would surely get him in trouble.


    ¡°Me? What am I doing? I¡¯m just hunting down germs that might be lurking on Ms. Deasy¡¯s belongings.¡±


    Deasy red at him. Why did Lucas always respond with such silly answers whenever she asked something serious? Couldn¡¯t the guy stay focused on the matter at hand? It was baffling!N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Why were you trying to ess myptop without permission? You¡¯re caught.¡±


    Lucas then pulled out his phone, opened the messaging app, and showed something to Deasy for her to read.


    Sofia: Lucas, there¡¯s a missing LJ report. Can you send the remaining part right now? I need it urgently for Legal to process. I¡¯m waiting for your reply ASAP.


    ¡°See, Ms. Deasy? I was asked by Ms. Sofia to send the remaining part of the report urgently. So, my intention was to borrow yourptop to send it. I even tried calling you for permission, but it seems you were busy taking a shower, so you didn¡¯t hear me.¡±


    Deasy then read the short message from Sofia, her colleague. Believing the message to be genuine, Deasy nodded, approached herptop on the table, entered something in the password field, and handed it back to Lucas.


    ¡°I¡¯ve unlocked the password. Please use it outside. I need to get dressed. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for you to send your work from my room, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly. Instead of receiving a scolding, Deasy gave him ess to herptop. Luckily, Sofia had indeed requested him to send the report urgently. So, this could serve as a valid reason for him to have essed something he shouldn¡¯t have.


    Not wanting to waste any time, Lucas quickly got up and left the room. While Deasy dressed, he hurriedly essed whatever was stored on herptop. As he carried out his task, Lucas silently prayed, trying to open every storage device and searching for what he and Felix had been looking for all along.


    ¡°Come on¡­ it must be here. I¡¯m sure everything is stored in thisptop.¡±


    However, after nearly ten minutes of searching through various storage locations on theptop, Lucas didn¡¯t find anything suspicious. In fact, he ended up copying all the stored documents to reviewter with Felix.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going? Are you finished?¡±


    Deasy, who had finished getting dressed, stepped out of the room and approached Lucas. She wanted to make sure her subordinate hadpleted his task.


    ¡°Is it done, Lucas? Have you sent the report to Ms. Sofia?¡±


    Lucas nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve sent the report to Ms. Sofia.¡±


    Deasy nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°All right then, please turn off theptop and put it over there,¡± she said, pointing to the sideboard next to the bedroom door. ¡°You can go home once you¡¯re done. I need to rest after this; I¡¯m really tired.¡±


    Lucas agreed with a nod. He gathered his belongings and intended to leave promptly.


    ¡°Have a good rest, Ms. Deasy. I¡¯ll be backter tonight with dinner. Is there anything specific you¡¯d like me to bring?¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. It seemed she had made a mistake by granting Lucas ess and allowing him toe and go to deliver meals.


    ¡°Whatever you want. I don¡¯t feel like thinking right now.¡±


    Lucas then bid farewell, feeling a mix of nervousness and curiosity. He hoped that his investigation would yield results at another time.


    ***

 PHB 29

    ¡°Oh my¡­ I thought it was Lucas who wasing.¡±


    Veronica entered Deasy¡¯s apartment unit with a puzzled expression. She quickly sat down on the sofa, and Deasy followed suit.


    ¡°Lucas? Which Lucas are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Lucas Orion. The nerdy Lucas.¡±


    Veronica burst intoughter. However, seeing Deasy¡¯s annoyed expression, she quickly covered her mouth.


    ¡°Oops¡­ sorry. But why did you think Lucas Orion wasing?¡±


    Deasy leaned against the back of the sofa, taking a deep breath as if she had just gone through something very exhausting.


    ¡°Just so you know, Lucas and I have made an agreement and a pact.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Veronica was taken aback, but she quickly became curious. She wondered what kind of agreement had been made between her friend and the guy who had impregnated her.


    ¡°What kind of agreement?¡± Veronica¡¯s eyes widened. As if remembering something, she grabbed Deasy¡¯s wrist and eximed rather loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting married? Oh my¡­ finally. So, are you really getting married? Is it a temporary marriage? A contract marriage? Or what?¡±


    Deasy frowned disapprovingly. She yfully hit Veronica with a sofa cushion to keep her from talking recklessly.


    ¡°Me? Marry Cupu? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! There¡¯s no way, Ve. Where would my dignity be if I married him?¡±


    ¡°But if you¡¯re not getting married, what kind of agreement did you make? Besides, why not just get married? It¡¯s clear who the father is. And besides, Lucas is more than willing to take responsibility. It¡¯s not easy to find a guy who willingly takes responsibility when he¡¯s the one who deflowered you. Seriously, that¡¯s rare. Everywhere else, guys just want an easy way out.¡±


    This time, Deasy pinched Veronica¡¯s arm until she yelped in pain. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a flick to the forehead or a tug on Veronica¡¯s lips to keep her from bbering recklessly.


    ¡°Ouch, Des! You¡¯re a torturer!¡±


    ¡°Well, you were talking nonsense. It¡¯s easy for you to tell me to marry a guy who¡¯s not my type.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s the biological father of the baby you¡¯re carrying. Like it or not, he¡¯s also the one who took your virginity, right?¡±


    ¡°Arghh¡­¡± Deasy growled in frustration. Why did Veronica always bring this up and repeat it? She really didn¡¯t like it. ¡°Don¡¯t repeat it over and over; I¡¯m tired of hearing it. I¡¯m also tired of making it clear to you that I¡¯ll never marry Lucas Orion, even if doomsdayes. I¡¯d rather be an old maid with just one guy in the lineup.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then what kind of agreement have you two made?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She was reluctant to exin it to Veronica.


    ¡°Do you really want to know?¡±


    Veronica sighed while nodding. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m curious. I¡¯m just afraid you¡¯ve made an unreasonable agreement.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, Ve. I agreed to let Lucas handle all my needs while I¡¯m pregnant with his child. That includes taking care of meals and other things. So, he¡¯s allowed to ess my apartment during my pregnancy.¡±


    ¡°See, if he can handle this and that, it¡¯s better to just get married. And what if your belly gets bigger, and people start asking who the father is? What will you say, Des?¡±


    Once again, Deasy took a deep breath. Indeed, this had been a challenging question from the start.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about thatter. The important thing is don¡¯t ask me to marry Lucas. I really don¡¯t want to. Period! It¡¯s good enough that he takes care of me like this. We don¡¯t need to get married, live together, or share a room. Arghhh, no!¡±


    After saying those words, at the same moment, Deasy fell silent. She clearly exhibited unusual behavior as she quickly got up and rushed to the sink.


    Veronica, puzzled, followed her. In the kitchen, she found Deasy suddenly vomiting repeatedly, even holding onto a chair because she felt weak.


    ¡°Des, are you okay?¡±


    Veronica helped guide Deasy to sit in one of the chairs in the dining area. She ran to get a ss of warm water and handed it to Deasy.


    ¡°Drink this to feel better.¡±


    Deasy took a deep drink of the water Veronica offered. Afterward, she took several deep breaths while massaging her throbbing temples.


    ¡°I swear, my stomach feels so nauseous.¡±


    Just as she said that, Deasy vomited again. She walked back to the sink, immediately expelling the water she had just drunk.


    ¡°Oh my God, Deasy.¡±


    Veronica eximed, walking closer, helping massage Deasy¡¯s shoulders while holding onto her friend¡¯s body, fearing that Deasy might be weak and lose her bnce.


    ¡°Come on, sit down slowly. I¡¯ll help with a massage, okay?¡±


    Deasyplied, moving from the dining area to the living room. She sat there feeling weak and extremely dizzy.


    Meanwhile, Veronica immediately fetched some eucalyptus oil, which was always avable in the kitchen drawer. She brought it to the living room and started massaging Deasy¡¯s shoulders and feet alternately.


    ¡°Should we go to the doctor?¡±


    Deasy shook her head. She felt toozy to make repeated trips to the doctor, especially when her check-up results were usually the same.


    ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re so weak like this. I suspect it might be pregnancy-rted.¡±


    Deasy nodded in agreement. ¡°It could be. Could you please get the medicine with the purple packaging from the sideboard drawer? It¡¯s anti-nausea and anti-vomiting medicine prescribed by the doctor. Let me take that. Maybe I won¡¯t feel nauseous after this.¡±


    Veronica nodded and quickly retrieved what Deasy had requested. Once she had it, she helped open the packaging and handed it to Deasy for her to take.


    ¡°Have you been craving anythingtely?¡± Veronica asked.


    Deasy shook her head. She hadn¡¯t felt any unusual cravings at all.


    ¡°Nope. I¡¯ve been feeling pretty normal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pray that you start craving something, but not food.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Deasy looked puzzled.


    ¡°Craving not to be far away from the baby¡¯s father.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Deasy suddenly scowled. Veronica was being really mean, wishing something like that for her.


    ¡°You¡¯re wicked!¡±


    ¡°Just so you know how it feels. So, do you want to eat anything? Or is there anything you want? I can get it for you.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want anything.¡±


    Shortly after, Veronica¡¯s phone rang. Her husband was calling and asked her toe join him. Reluctantly, Veronica had to leave Deasy, who was still feeling very weak.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay if I leave?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You go home; Darwin will be upset if you¡¯rete.¡±


    ¡°But what about you? Later-¡±


    Veronica¡¯s words were cut off as a knock sounded at Deasy¡¯s apartment door. Choosing to answer the door first, Veronica found a man standing there, visiting her friend¡¯s home.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Is Ms. Deasy here?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I¡¯m Lucas. I came here to-¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Veronica nodded repeatedly. ¡°You¡¯re Lucas Orion?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Because she talks about you every day.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Lucas replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    ¡°I¡¯m Veronica, Deasy¡¯s friend. Nice to meet you. By the way, are you here to take care of and apany Deasy? It¡¯s quite convenient. I also need to head home soon. But before that, Deasy was vomiting and feeling very weak, so I was a bit hesitant to leave her alone.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. After Veronica was invited inside, he immediately approached Deasy, who was sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy? Are you okay, Ms. Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Deasy replied nonchntly.


    ¡°Please keep herpany,¡± Veronica continued the conversation. ¡°Make sure she has dinner too. She¡¯s probably feeling very weak with an empty stomach.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I brought dinner specifically for Ms. Deasy. I¡¯ll make sure she finishes it,¡± Lucas assured.


    To ensure that Deasy would be fine in his absence, Veronica decided to head home.


    Meanwhile, Lucas took out the food container he had purchased earlier specifically for Deasy. He approached her, intending to feed her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, Ms. Deasy. So you won¡¯t feel weak.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an appetite,¡± Deasy rejected, as usual.


    ¡°I understand. Maybe Ms. Deasy doesn¡¯t have an appetite due to pregnancy. Or perhaps it¡¯s because of my presence. But, at the very least, please don¡¯t be selfish just this once. There¡¯s another life that Ms. Deasy needs to consider inside her. The life of a baby who didn¡¯t have the choice of whose womb to reside in.¡±


    Deasy fell silent. Lucas¡¯s words had struck a chord. Upon careful consideration, she realized he was right.


    ¡°Please eat, Ms. Deasy. Even if it¡¯s just a little, as long as you eat something. I¡¯ll help you. If you want something else, just let me know, and I¡¯ll get it for you right away.¡±


    Deasy then epted the spoonfuls Lucas offered. She chewed and swallowed slowly. But when she found that the food Lucas had prepared matched her taste, she unconsciously finished it all.


    Lucas didn¡¯t stop there. After feeding her, he even took the trouble to cut and prepare various fruits as snacks for Deasy.


    While she ate, Lucas chose to sit cross-legged at her feet. He extended his hand and gently massaged her, making Deasy feelfortable.


    ¡°Finish the fruits, Ms. Once you¡¯re feeling better, I¡¯ll take you to your room.¡±


    ¡°In that case, please take me to my room now.¡±


    Lucas agreed and got up first. Deasy thought he would help her to her room, but unexpectedly, Lucas did something entirely unexpected. Without asking for permission, he picked up Deasy¡¯s body and carried her to the bedroom.


    Deasy was naturally startled and ready to protest. However, once she caught a whiff of the Lavender-scented perfume Lucas wore, she suddenly fell silent. It was as if something had hypnotized her, making her feel incrediblyfortable.


    And so, Deasy chose to remain silent. Until a little whileter, Lucas had indeedid her down on the bed.


    ¡°You can go ahead and sleep, ma¡¯am. Let me massage your feet again.¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t refuse, as she usually did. She allowed Lucas to continue rubbing gently while massaging her feet.


    Feeling how incredibly soothing Lucas¡¯s touch was, and with the nausea that had been bothering her earlier now gradually fading away, Deasy couldn¡¯t help but rx, experiencing an inexplicable sense offort.

 PHB 30

    ¡°Out of all the documents I copied, you didn¡¯t find a single piece of data we need?¡±


    Lucas rubbed his temples. He felt like his efforts had been in vain. He had gone to great lengths, sneaking around and even getting caught trying to ess Deasy¡¯sptop, only to discover that none of the data he had copied contained any clues to solve the Daniel case he had been working on.


    Felix and the audit team, who had been helping him all along, had spent thest two days frequently hanging out at Lucas¡¯s residence, meticulously reviewing the copied data. Now, after hoping for more, it turned out they hadn¡¯t found the desired results.


    ¡°We¡¯ve checked multiple times, one by one, even the smallest details. But we still couldn¡¯t find anything suspicious, Sir. So, it can be concluded that there is no suspicious data at all,¡± Felix exined in detail.


    Lucas took a deep breath, trying to calm himself in the face of disappointment. He had hoped for at least one piece of evidence to incriminate Daniel in the alleged embezzlement of funds that had been going on at Quantum Tech for years. However, after hearing Felix¡¯s exnation and that of his two colleagues, Lucas had lost hope of immediately implicating Daniel as the main suspect.


    ¡°So, ording to all of you, up to this moment, there¡¯s no evidence to suggest that Daniel is guilty?¡± Felix nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Sir. There¡¯s no data or evidence pointing to Mr. Daniel, as you¡¯ve suspected all along. Besides that, from the thorough examination, Ms. Deasy is also clear. There¡¯s no indication that she received funds from Daniel.¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply. His once-high hopes had been dashed. Now, he wondered about the future of the case he was handling.


    ¡°Oh God, is it possible that only the cases of Daniel and Argantara have been sessfully uncovered? But what they did wasn¡¯t that significant. And where did the rest of the losses we managed to calcte disappear to?¡±


    Lucas looked visibly frustrated, trying to think of any possibilities.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why¡­¡± Lucas continued the conversation. ¡°I still feel like something is bothering me. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something significant that hasn¡¯t been revealed yet.¡±


    Felix fell silent for a moment. He, too, shared the unease that Lucas was feeling. Nearly a year of trying to uncover and being certain about who was behind the chaos, yet stillcking evidence to bring the suspect who had caused so much harm to thepany to justice.


    That¡¯s why Felix tried to consider all possibilities. Eventually, he spoke again as if he had found a clue that might help themplete the task they were currently working on.


    ¡°Sir, I think I¡¯ve got something.¡±


    Lucas was startled, his gaze fixed on Felix, hoping his assistant had found a breakthrough to help solve the problem.


    ¡°This is just my perspective, but it could serve as a guideline and be worth a try.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Felix leaned in, narrowing the distance between himself and his boss.


    ¡°If I may ask, has Mr. Lucas been storing all the important data in yourptop?¡±


    Lucas shook his head.


    ¡°No, Felix. I¡¯ve always been ustomed to keeping everything on an external hard drive. And, in fact, I make backups just to be safe, afraid that the primary data I¡¯ve saved might get corrupted or be inessible.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    Felix snapped his fingers. At that moment, Lucas seemed to understand what his assistant was talking about.


    ¡°Oh my, Felix, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s possible that Daniel has stored all the important and confidentialpany data on an external hard drive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Sir. He might have kept everything in one secure ce.¡±


    Lucas nodded, then fell silent for a moment. He remembered something that he believed could hinder his work.


    ¡°But¡­ when ites to Daniel, I can¡¯t possibly take his external hard drive. In the near future, Lucas Orion has to leave Quantum Tech because of resignation. As for Lucas Morales, how could he possibly do something like this? His actions would surely attract the attention of other staff, right?¡±


    ¡°Let us handle it, Sir,¡± one of the audit team members named Dony interjected. ¡°Since I often deal with Mr. Daniel, and our offices are even next to each other, it seems like I can find a moment to sneak in or borrow his hard drive for us to make a copy.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°In that case, I leave Daniel¡¯s matters to you. I hope we can get an answer at thetest by next week.¡±


    ¡°But, Sir¡­¡± Felix interrupted Lucas¡¯s statement. ¡°I still think Mr. Lucas should investigate Ms. Deasy. There¡¯s a possibility that Mr. Daniel¡¯s personal data is indeed stored on her hard drive. There¡¯s always that possibility, isn¡¯t there?¡±


    Lucas agreed with Felix¡¯s suggestion. If he wanted to be thorough, he had to investigate everything without exceptions.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright¡­ for Deasy, maybe I can slowly search for information when I visit her house. As soon as I get the chance, I¡¯ll execute it as quickly as possible. Hopefully, there will be some rity after this.¡±


    ***

 PHB 31

    ¡°Have you taken your medicine? Are you still feeling nauseous or vomiting like yesterday?¡±


    A few dayster, Veronica visited Deasy again. She looked worried, considering that Deasy had previously experienced severe nausea and vomiting, which had left her pale and weak.


    Veronica wanted to take her to the hospital, but Deasy kept refusing, iming she was fine.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken my medicine, actually. The nausea stilles and goes. The vomiting has lessened.¡±


    Veronica then took something out of the paper bag she had brought with her. It was a box of healthy food that she had intentionally bought for Deasy to eat.


    ¡°Well, how about trying to eat now? You haven¡¯t eaten, right?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°No, not yet. Honestly, I haven¡¯t had much of an appetite these past few days. The smell of food makes me nauseous. And if I can¡¯t bear it, I¡¯ll vomit right away.¡±


    ¡°Alright, try the food I brought. Maybe you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    Veronica slowly opened the bento box she was holding. However, before it could fully open, Deasy abruptly stood up, covering her mouth, and rushed to the sink, where she started vomiting.


    ¡°Oh dear, Deasy.¡±


    Once again, Veronica rubbed Deasy¡¯s shoulders and neck. After she seemed to have settled, Veronica guided her back to the sofa.


    ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t stand strange smells. They make me nauseous, and if I can¡¯t take it, I end up vomiting like this.¡±


    Veronica quickly stood up, fetched a ss of warm water, and handed it to Deasy.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, no matter what. I truly didn¡¯t mean to make you vomit like this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine, really.¡±


    ¡°Then, you haven¡¯t eaten anything?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ve.¡±


    Veronica nodded, cing the food box she had brought back into the paper bag, sealing it tightly to prevent any odors from escaping and causing Deasy to feel nauseous and vomit again.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, next week your pregnancy will be three months, right?¡±


    Deasy shrugged, seeming indifferent or maybe just unwilling to calcte the exact age of her pregnancy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I have no interest in counting or knowing anything about the baby in my stomach.¡±


    ¡°But, it¡¯s your child, Des.¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡¯s child. Not mine,¡± Deasy emphasized.


    ¡°However you look at it, it¡¯s both of your child.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath, nodding in agreement with Veronica¡¯s words.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah¡­ it¡¯s up to you. Instead of worrying about whose child it is, it¡¯s better to think about my future in the next one or two months when my belly starts to grow bigger, and people around me start to notice.¡±


    Veronica sighed. She had mentioned this several times already. It was Deasy¡¯s constant denial that was the issue.


    ¡°It¡¯s annoying, right? I¡¯ve been suggesting from the beginning that you should hurry up and marry Lucas, rather than having people gossip when they find out you¡¯re pregnant with no father in the picture.¡±


    ¡°It would be even more gossip if they found out it¡¯s Lucas who got me pregnant, Ve.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re so embarrassed by the office gossip, why don¡¯t you just change jobs?¡±


    Deasy was startled.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, go back to the Caribbean or Vortex Group. Besides, your position was quite good there. Why did you resign and end up joining a smallpany like Quantum Tech?¡±


    ¡°Enough, Ve,¡± Deasy retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve exined this before. I wanted a change of scenery, right? I¡¯ve been with you for eight years. Like Sean, I wanted to have a career outside of myfort zone.¡±


    ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d rather expand yourte father¡¯spany. Instead of joining a smallpany that¡¯s not even at your level.¡±


    ¡°Quantum Tech is not a smallpany, Ve. Although it¡¯s rtively new, its growth and annual increase are very significant. Besides, I feelfortable working here.¡±


    ¡°But still, your position here is just a manager. Whereas elsewhere, you could get more than this. And if you were to expand your father¡¯spany, you could even be the top leader.¡±


    Deasy couldn¡¯t bring herself to respond further. Somehow, when discussing herte father, her heart felt sad and full of loss.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, today you¡¯re apanying me to the doctor¡¯s appointment, right?¡± Deasy changed the subject.


    Veronica smiled. However, instead of nodding, she shook her head and wore a regretful expression on her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but I can¡¯t apany you to the doctor¡¯s appointment for your check-up today.¡±


    Deasy nodded, understanding that Veronica was busy and couldn¡¯t apany her for a medical examination. Besides, there was plenty of time for that.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. No problem. I can go to the doctor tomorrow, the day after, or next week. Besides, I still have the vitamins and some of the prescribed medicine.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Veronica shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re still going to the doctor tonight, Des.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Deasy looked puzzled. Hadn¡¯t Veronica just said she couldn¡¯t apany her?


    ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t. So, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re still going to the doctor tonight for your check-up. It¡¯s just that I won¡¯t be the one apanying you.¡±


    Deasy became even more puzzled. If it wasn¡¯t Veronica, then who would apany and support her?


    ¡°So, who is it?¡±


    ¡°Who will apany you-¡±


    ¡°Good evening, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    From another direction, a man¡¯s voice suddenly greeted them. Deasy turned to see Lucas entering the living room, wearing a smile. Since he had ess to Deasy¡¯s apartment, he could enter whenever he pleased.


    ¡°Lucas?¡±


    Deasy immediately looked to Veronica for an exnation, her eyes filled with questions.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ don¡¯t give me that look, Des.¡±


    ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    Veronica took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to exin to Deasy.


    ¡°Well, today I really can¡¯t apany you for the check-up. Instead of postponing it, I thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt if Lucas apanied you. After all, he has more right because there¡¯s his child in your womb, right?¡±


    In an effort to bring Deasy and Lucas closer, Veronica had personally contacted Lucas, exchanged phone numbers, and even made an agreement that in the future, when she couldn¡¯t apany, Lucas should be ready to apany Deasy as he was doing today.


    ¡°But, Ve-¡±


    ¡°Enough, no buts. After thinking about it, it¡¯s more appropriate for Lucas to apany you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am,¡± Lucas added. ¡°I have plenty of time to apany and support you for your check-ups. As the father, I also want to see the progress firsthand.¡±


    Deasy sighed. Two against one? Of course, she would lose in such a situation.


    ¡°Both of you are really something!¡±


    ¡°Enough, no more protests,¡± Veronica said with augh. She stood up, preparing to leave. ¡°Lucas¡­¡± Veronica called out. ¡°I¡¯m leaving Deasy in your care. Please take her to the hospital for her pregnancy check-up as usual. After it¡¯s done, bring her home and make sure she goes to bed on time.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Ms. Veronica. I¡¯ll make sure Ms. Deasy is safe until she returns to her apartment.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, she hasn¡¯t eaten yet. After this, it¡¯s your responsibility. Please take good care of her.¡±


    Veronica then left casually, leaving Deasy to respond with a deliberate expression of annoyance and frustration at what she had just done. Deasy was irritated because Veronica had taken action without prior notice.


    When Veronica returned from Deasy¡¯s apartment and before taking her to the hospital, as usual, Lucas prepared dinner for Deasy to enjoy.


    Unlike the food Veronica had brought, which had made her nauseous, what Lucas brought, as usual, piqued her interest and whetted her appetite.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a senior citizen or disabled, Luc. How long are you going to spoon-feed me like this?¡±


    Lucas smiled. Ignoring Deasy¡¯s words, he scooped up some chicken porridge from the container and offered it to her mouth.


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t protest, Ms. Enjoy it. What¡¯s so difficult about it? Besides, I¡¯m not asking for payment or charging a fee for this.¡±


    ¡°But what you¡¯re doing is excessive.¡±


    This time, Lucasughed.


    ¡°You should be grateful, Ms. Out there, not every pregnant woman is taken care of like this by their husbands.¡±


    ¡°Husband? You¡¯re not my husband, okay! Please make that clear.¡±


    ¡°For now, you¡¯re right, Ms. Who knows, next week or next month you might change your mind. So, don¡¯t rush to dere. God is all-powerful. In the next five minutes, if He wants, you might suddenly like and fall in love with me.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± protested Deasy, not epting it.


    ¡°Nothing is impossible, Ms.¡±


    ¡°But what you¡¯re saying doesn¡¯t make sense. There¡¯s no-¡±


    ¡°Enough, Ms.,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°Instead of protesting so much, you should just finish your dinner. Take it easy. After all, I¡¯m not asking for much or setting a fee for this.¡±


    Deasy sighed. Why did her subordinate have so much confidence?


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of listening to your nonsensical talk, Luc. Let¡¯s go to the doctor now.¡±

 PHB 32

    Compared to Deasy, Lucas was the one who seemed most enthusiastic about heading to the hospital. He couldn¡¯t wait to find out the results of today¡¯s obstetric examination. Along the way, Lucas also thought about consulting with the doctor. He really wanted to ask about what he should do as a ready and vignt expectant father.


    From the beginning, he knew that Deasy was carrying his flesh and blood, and he was determined to bepletelymitted. He would do anything to care for, protect, and provide the best for their unborn child.


    ¡°Please step out, dear.¡±


    Once they arrived at the hospital lobby, Lucas promptly got out of the car and opened the door for her. He reached for Deasy¡¯s wrist without being asked, and then casually held her hand as he guided her slowly toward the obstetrics department.


    ¡°What? Dear? No need to be so formal, Luc. Who allowed you to call me ¡®dear¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Well, instead of calling you ¡®Ms. Deasy¡¯ or using other formalnguage, people might think something else. If I call you ¡®dear,¡¯ they¡¯ll assume we¡¯re husband and wife, right? Besides, I¡¯m doing all this so Ms. Deasy doesn¡¯t feel embarrassed. Not out of mischief or without reason. So, just ept it.¡±


    Deasy was surprised by Lucas¡¯s behavior. Even though it seemed simple, and she had received attention from him before, for some reason, this time it felt different. It was as if the ¡°Act of Service¡± that Lucas was disying had a strange effect on her.


    As a beautiful woman who had been in rtionships with several men before, none of them had acted as sweet and gentlemanly as Lucas.


    Take Daniel, for example. He had never opened the car door for her, held her hand while walking together, let alone fed her or massaged her when she was tired. No, never. It was only Lucas who did these things.


    Again, this was actually quite trivial. But because she was experiencing it for the first time, Deasy honestly felt her heart beating abnormally. No¡­ it wasn¡¯t a feeling of love. It was too early to conclude that. Deasy could be sure of that. But it was more of a feeling of surprise and unfamiliarity. Nevertheless, Deasy liked it.


    ¡°Are you thirsty? Would you like a drink?¡± Lucas asked as they waited in line to see the doctor.


    Since she happened to be thirsty, Deasy nodded. At that moment, Lucas got up and went somewhere, but when he returned, he had a bottle of mineral water in his hand, which he promptly handed to Deasy.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    After waiting for a while, they finally entered the obstetrician¡¯s practice room. While Deasy was being examined, Lucas chose to observe every action and exnation the doctor provided. Among the many exnations, one of them caught his attention.


    ¡°The condition of the baby in Ms. Deasy¡¯s womb is developing very well. So far, I haven¡¯t found any problems or abnormalities. If you look at it and pay attention, the pregnancy is proceeding normally, as it should. However, I¡¯m sure that during this first trimester, Ms. Deasy has been experiencing frequent nausea and vomiting.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Doctor,¡± Deasy nodded. These past few days, she had been feeling quite unwell, often experiencing nausea and vomiting. It wasn¡¯t like this before. ¡°My sense of smell has be extremely sensitive. Sometimes, just the smell of food makes me feel nauseous and vomit until I feel weak.¡±


    The doctor smiled and gently helped Deasy to get up. At the same time, Lucas, who had been sitting attentively, approached, offered his hand, and helped Deasy shift from the patient¡¯s bed to a chair right beside him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, and don¡¯t panic. What¡¯s happening to Ms. Deasy is perfectly normal. In the second trimester, the nausea should gradually subside on its own. Besides theseints, have you experienced anything else that might be bothersome?¡±


    Deasy nodded. In this opportunity, she tried to make the most of the moment and time to discuss what often bothered her or what she felt.


    ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been experiencing frequent headaches and fatigue. Even my back and lower back often feel sore and painful.¡±


    The doctor smiled, fully aware of what Deasy wasining about. While writing a prescription for medication and vitamins, he exined what Deasy had mentioned earlier.


    ¡°Simr to nausea and vomiting, theints you¡¯re experiencing, once again, are very normal during pregnancy. It¡¯s not just headaches or fatigue; pregnant women usually also have difficulty sleeping or resting. But don¡¯t worry. All of these will gradually diminish on their own. My suggestion is to try a light massage for ten or fifteen minutes before deciding to sleep. This will provide afortable feeling that can help you sleep soundly.¡±


    ¡°Okay, doctor. I¡¯ll try that.¡±


    ¡°Any otherints?¡± the doctor asked again.


    ¡°What about mood swings, doctor? Will they return to normal eventually? Sometimes, I feel like getting angry. But at other times, I often feel low.¡±


    ¡°Actually, at the end of the first trimester and as you approach the second trimester or mid-pregnancy, the mood of pregnant women also gradually improves. What¡¯s more important, the desire for intimacy also enters a normal phase and even increases because the pregnant woman¡¯s body responds better over time.¡±


    ¡°So, you mean in the next trimester, a pregnant woman¡¯s sexual desire increases more than before?¡±


    Surprisingly, it was Lucas who posed the question to the doctor. For some reason, this topic piqued his interest.


    ¡°That¡¯s absolutely correct, sir,¡± the doctor responded seriously. ¡°From the end of the first trimester into the second trimester and beyond, most pregnant women have a stronger desire for sexual intimacy. This happens because of an increase in estrogen hormone levels, which enhances blood flow in the genital area and makes it more sensitive, resulting in increased sexual arousalpared to before.¡±


    ¡°But inviting a pregnant woman to engage in sexual intercourse is not a problem, right, doctor?¡±


    The doctor nodded immediately.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not a problem at all, as long as it¡¯s done very carefully. That¡¯s why, during pregnancy, it¡¯s a good idea for the husband to treat his wife more gently, provide the best service, and prioritize the wife¡¯s satisfaction first. Just don¡¯t be surprised if in the near future, your wife asks to be pampered continuously. As a husband, be ready and maintain your stamina.¡±


    Lucas smiled meaningfully. He quickly turned to Deasy, whose face turned red with embarrassment after hearing what he had discussed with the doctor just now.


    Deasy was definitely embarrassed. How could Lucas ask such embarrassing questions? What¡¯s wrong with her sexual desire? Besides, Lucas wasn¡¯t nning to have sex with her, was he? Ugh, he¡¯s unbelievable!


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Deasy retorted when she noticed Lucas still gazing at her with a teasing smile.


    Lucasughed suddenly. He shook his head and replied with a deliberately teasing tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear. I¡¯ve just been imagining what the doctor said. I can¡¯t wait to see how you¡¯ll be after this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t exaggerate. I¡¯m not going to ask for anything weird from you. It will never happen!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Let¡¯s see together how it turns out.¡±


    The doctorughed, finding Lucas and Deasy¡¯s expressions amusing.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ms. Deasy. Whatever happens to you in the near future, just ept it. It¡¯s a phase. Moreover, it¡¯s good if the sexual desire of one partner increases. It can enhance intimacy and marital harmony, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Doctor,¡± Deasy eximed with wide eyes right then. ¡°Please stop this discussion. It makes me so ufortable.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear,¡± Lucas said again. ¡°From here on, I know what to do in the future. If you ever need something, don¡¯t hesitate to ask for it first. Whenever that is, I promise I¡¯ll be ready to please you. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    ***

 PHB 33

    At exactly ten o¡¯clock at night, Lucas and Deasy finally arrived at their apartment. Entering the unit, Lucas carefully led Deasy to the bedroom.


    While Deasy changed into her sleepwear, Lucas decided to make warm milk before leaving.


    However, as he was about to enter the bedroom, the tall man was stunned. He could clearly see Deasy sitting on the room¡¯s sofa, massaging her back alternately.


    Earlier, during the consultation, Lucas had indeed heard Deasyining about frequent back and headache pain.


    Feeling sorry for Deasy, who had been tired and was still massaging her back, Lucas intended to help. He approached her while handing her a ss of milk and then sat right behind her.


    ¡°Is your back hurting a lot, Ms. Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Let me help with the massage.¡±


    ¡°No need to bother,¡± Deasy declined. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself. You should go home now. It¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock. Besides, the pain will go away on its own by tomorrow, as the doctor said.¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t respond. He chose to get up for a moment and then walked over to the vanity table to retrieve a neatly arranged bottle of olive oil. He brought it back to the bed and sat down again.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make thingsplicated, Ms. Deasy. I¡¯m just offering to help,¡± he insisted. ¡°Besides, didn¡¯t you yourselfin to the doctor earlier about your back pain? I¡¯m serious about wanting to help. Who knows, after a massage, you might sleep better tonight. You won¡¯t know until you try.¡±


    Deasy, of course, didn¡¯t immediately agree to what Lucas was offering. She thought for a moment while casting a probing gaze at the man beside her.


    Deasy continued to delve into Lucas¡¯s dark eyes for a few moments, trying to ascertain whether the man in front of her was sincere or perhaps had ulterior motives.


    ¡°I¡¯m just serious about wanting to help and make youfortable,¡± Lucas reiterated.


    Once again, Lucas tried to reassure her, and after a while, Deasy finally gave her answer.


    ¡°Okay. This time, I¡¯ll allow you. But remember, never think of anything inappropriate or do anything excessive. Be careful!¡±


    ¡°Why? Ms. Deasy, are you afraid of being tempted?¡±


    Deasy scoffed. Lucas was being cheeky.


    ¡°Who, me? No way. Who would be tempted by you?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? If you weren¡¯t tempted, how could we have made out twice, Mrs.?¡±


    Deasy stared. Why was Lucas talking about that stupid incident that had happened twice?


    ¡°Lucas, seriously, please. Be aware. I slept with you while intoxicated, which means I wasn¡¯t fully conscious. There¡¯s no way I would have allowed that to happen if I were 100% sober. It was a big mistake to sleep with you.¡±


    Lucasughed again. He wasn¡¯t the least bit offended by Deasy¡¯s words.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah¡­ I¡¯m not your ideal man, am I? We¡¯ll see someday whether you¡¯ll be tempted or not.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking so much. Are you going to give me a massage or not? If not, you might as well go home. I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Sure, beautiful. You¡¯ve been nagging since forever. Your charm will fade away. But before the massage, can you take off your nightgown?¡±


    Deasy immediately turned to look at him. She stared sharply, preparing to scold.


    ¡°What? Do you mean I should undress? Why? Are you trying to be inappropriate?¡±


    ¡°Why inappropriate?¡± Lucas protested in confusion. ¡°How can I apply oil for the massage if your back is covered like this? Besides, I¡¯ve seen all of you, Ms. Deasy. Twice even. So, don¡¯t be shy. You were the one who said nothing I do would tempt you, right?¡±


    Deasy sighed. What Lucas said was actually true. How could he apply olive oil to her body if she was still dressed as she was now?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    And again, he was right. Lucas had seen her body twice. Damn!


    So, what¡¯s the use of being shy?


    After thinking for a moment, Deasy finally agreed. With her back to Lucas, she pulled down the nightgown she was wearing, revealing a ck bra that clung to her body.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy¡­¡± Lucas called. ¡°I apologize. I¡¯m really sorry. I have permission to touch her back. Whatever I doter, please don¡¯t get angry. I just want to help and make Ms. Deasyfortable.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Lucas,¡± Deasy cut in. ¡°Hurry up, for heaven¡¯s sake. You¡¯re chattering like a parrot. If you take too long, I might catch a cold!¡±


    Lucas swallowed the words he had wanted to say earlier. He chuckled for a moment, then began to apply oil to every inch of Deasy¡¯s smooth back. With both his hands, he started massaging gently.


    As Lucas¡¯s handsnded on her skin, Deasy¡¯s body instantly tingled. It was as if she was being electrified, and she felt a strange sensation at first, ticklish but gradually turning into something incrediblyfortable and pleasant.


    Deasy just enjoyed the moment as Lucas continued to massage her back with tenderness and care. In her mind, she briefly wondered why she hadn¡¯t asked Lucas to give her a massage sooner, considering he was practically at her apartment almost every day.


    ¡°From what I can see, you have a talent for being a masseur, Luc,¡± Deasy murmured. ¡°By the way, apart from me, how many other women have you serviced like this?¡±


    While continuing the massage, Lucas smiled again and replied.


    ¡°No one else. I wouldn¡¯t dare do this with any other women. The only one I¡¯ve shared a bed with is you.¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°It makes sense, I guess. Besides, where would you find a woman willing to be massaged or seduced by an average-looking guy like me?¡±


    Lucas couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter any longer. Being used like that made him want to respond to what his boss had just said.


    ¡°So, what about you, Ms. Deasy? Haven¡¯t you been in simr situations with Mr. Daniel or your exes?¡±


    ¡°Hey! Spare me. You took my virginity, remember? What if I had done strange things with other guys before?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same,¡± Lucas debated. ¡°After all, you took my virginity, Ms. Deasy. Besides, I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m not good-looking. So, how could I have done such things before? I¡¯ve only been this attentive to Ms. Deasy. I¡¯ve never been like this with anyone else before.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. Lucas¡¯s recent words somehow made her feel ttered. Being the first to be touched and treated in such a way made her feel valuable and special.


    In the next few minutes, Deasy chose to once again savor the massage that Lucas had been providing. The massage, as it continued, only made her thoughts be increasingly scattered and unfocused.

 PHB 34

    For a God sake, and for whatever it¡¯s worth, Deasy could feel quite vividly how Lucas¡¯s hands continued to move. Massaging from the neck, then slowly descending to the shoulders.


    Deasy had never felt thisfortable before. Massaged with gentleness. Full of feeling and so earnest. Making her previously tense back slowly rx and feelfortable.


    Actually, what Lucas provided was already more than enough. But, for some reason, she seemed to be enjoying it. Very pleased to receive the service her subordinate was offering. In fact, she appeared quite content to linger and didn¡¯t want Lucas to stop his hand movements.


    ¡°So, how is it, Ma¡¯am? My massage really feels good, right?¡±


    Deasy sighed. She was sozy when she was enjoying herself like this, and now she was being asked to entertain Lucas¡¯s chatter.


    ¡°Enough, Luc. No need to ask so many questions. Just focus on the massage. I need a massage, not to listen to your pointless chattering.¡±


    ¡°Well, who knows, maybe my massage isn¡¯t good. Or maybe you want to change positions?¡±


    ¡°This is just a regr massage, Luc. I think it¡¯ll feel the same for everyone. What effect can it have other than beingfortable?¡±


    ¡°Many things, Ma¡¯am. It¡¯s not just aboutfort. Maybe I can¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh, quiet! Better to continue the massage than talk too much.¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t respond further. She chose to remain silent while continuing to enjoy it. Anyway, she didn¡¯t have time to chat or entertain. If possible, she just wanted to savor every massage Lucas gave. While it¡¯s free.


    Meanwhile, Lucas justughed. Hearing Deasy¡¯s scolding, he refocused on the massage. He tried his best to provide the best service so that his boss could feelfortable and enchanted.


    Lucas kept using both his hands to apply olive oil, then massaged from the upper shoulders. Then, slowly moving downward. Spreading the oil, his hands massaged with gentle strokes and asional circr motions.


    Going up again to return to the upper part, this time Lucas aimed at Deasy¡¯s neck. Repeatedly massaging there. A momentter, he drew his fingertips down to the front of her shoulders. He continued downward and then stopped to massage right at the corbone or more precisely, above Deasy¡¯s chest.


    Lucas¡¯s massage this time caused a strange sensation in Deasy. Somehow, it felt like there was an electric shock followed by an unusual sense offort that lingered within her.


    Especially when Lucas¡¯s soft andrge fingers seemed to touch her neck. Instantly, Deasy felt goosebumps.


    Deasy seemed enchanted. She didn¡¯t know where this crazy thought came from, but to be honest, she hoped Lucas would do more than just massage.


    Lucas himself, as if he could read Deasy¡¯s mind, deliberately let his hand, which had been massaging her corbone, slowly and unexpectedlye to a halt right on Deasy¡¯s breasts, which were still neatly covered by the ckce bra she was wearing.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    Deasy was immediately startled.


    Although deep down, she did desire something more. But what Lucas had just done still took her by surprise.


    ¡°Luc, don¡¯t be like that!¡±


    While continuing to hold both of Deasy¡¯s breasts, Lucas, who was sitting right behind Deasy, advanced his face and rested his chin on her shoulder. Getting close to her ear, he whispered softly and seductively.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ying around. I just want to make you asfortable as possible, that¡¯s all. Besides, you did give me permission to touch from the beginning, right? And, whatever I do, you said you wouldn¡¯t be tempted, right?¡±


    Hearing Lucas¡¯s words just now, Deasy hurried to react. As she turned towards Lucas, unexpectedly, he reached for her lips and nted a sudden kiss, leaving Deasy unable to avoid it.


    Without warning, Lucas immediately engulfed Deasy¡¯s lips, which could potentially protest vehemently, in a deep and addictive kiss. Devouring them. Savoring the softness Deasy offered there.


    Lucas vowed to himself. Today, he had to ovee Deasy¡¯s ego and pride as solid as a rock. If earlier, she had boasted and even boldly imed that she wouldn¡¯t be tempted in the slightest, then it was time for Lucas to seduce her to the fullest.


    If possible, he would make her feelfortable, addicted, and helpless. Anyway, after what Lucas had just done and with Deasy now fully conscious, he prayed in his heart to God that Deasy would be addicted to what he had done. And in the days toe, it would be her who begged him to be touched.


    As if anticipating every move of Deasy, one of Lucas¡¯s hands extended. It moved to Deasy¡¯s neck. Holding it there for a while. Meanwhile, his other hand effortlessly began to unsp the ckce bra still clinging to her breasts. He pulled it off, then tossed it aside carelessly. As a result, Deasy¡¯s breasts hung freely without any cover.


    Deasy could clearly feel how Lucas¡¯s lips continued to move in a sensuous dance. Continuously kissing, tasting, and then massaging both sides of Deasy¡¯s lips alternately. She wanted to resist. But, for some reason, Deasy seemed to have lost the ability to do so.


    While Lucas¡¯s hand that hadfortably rested on Deasy¡¯s breasts was now in motion. Slowly squeezing with gentle movements that made Deasy increasingly restless.


    Deasy struggled to restrain herself from the surging desire that was getting stronger. Now, that feeling had returned. Soaring to an incredibly high level. Making her sway in a sea of passion.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Deasy appeared to be losing control of herself as time passed. She seemed to be enjoying all the gentle actions Lucas was performing on her.


    However, previously she had sworn not to be tempted. Previously, she had boasted that she would never repeat the foolish things she had done with Lucas twice.


    Now?


    None of those words proved to be true.


    Like a braggart, Deasy seemed to surrender as her two hands also began to move. Slowly creeping, willingly encircling Lucas¡¯s neck.


    In their kiss, Lucas smiled meaningfully. Sensing how Deasy, slowly but surely, began to ept all the actions he had just given her.


    So, the next thing he did was to lean Deasy¡¯s body against the sofa. Then, he redirected his lips elsewhere. Tracing Deasy¡¯s neck, then nting wet kisses there for a few moments, then slowly descending.


    Until he stopped right between her breasts. Lucas then resumed kissing and alternately suckling them. Before eventually sucking on one of them.


    While his mouth continued to suck, Lucas¡¯s hands were also at work. Deliberately cupping Deasy¡¯s bare breast. Then, he kneaded it teasingly.


    Deasy¡¯s eyes opened wide. Half-consciously, she seemed to think for a moment that she had never received treatment like this in her entire life. But, for some reason, Deasy liked it. Oh, no¡­ no. Deasy admitted to herself, she liked every touch that Lucas gave.


    That¡¯s why, with a hazy gaze, Deasy, who had initially wanted to resist, now felt sofortable and enjoyed it.


    Thinking that everything was over, Deasy had to repeatedly hold her breath when she felt Lucas¡¯s wet lips distinctly sweeping over her two breasts alternately. It made her growl before finally closing her eyes again, savoring what Lucas was doing to her.


    Lucas, on the other hand, continued to enjoy the soft and fragrant surface of Deasy¡¯s chest with his lips. He kept ying there.


    While one of his hands resumed its exploration. Pausing for a moment on her stomach. Gently caressing it with circr motions on Deasy¡¯s still visible skin. Then, it descended again. Just kept going down. Trying to pull off the rest of the nightgown that Deasy was wearing until it came off perfectly.


    While continuing to suck on Deasy¡¯s nipple alternately, Lucas¡¯s hand kept working. This time, he deliberately used his fingers to caress sensually. Then, he stopped right at the inner thigh. Slowly pulling his fingers. Lightly stroking. Then slowly trying to slip into the gap of Deasy¡¯s underwear.


    ¡°Lucas, stop!¡±


    As if realizing what Lucas was about to do, Deasy immediately pushed away Lucas¡¯s hand, which was just about to touch something beneath her underwear. She shook her head repeatedly, giving a stern warning for Lucas to stop from going any further.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away,¡± she said firmly. It was quite a struggle for her to gather her consciousness amidst the tumultuous waves that still lingered around her.


    Lucas then released his lips from Deasy¡¯s chest. He looked up. Then, he stared deeply at her while wearing a faint smile.


    ¡°Stop?¡± he asked, as if wanting to confirm it. ¡°Is Ms. Deasy sure she wants to stop right here?¡±


    In her seated position, leaning against the sofa, Deasy¡¯s chest rose and fell noticeably. She was panting as she tried to catch her breath. Trying to regain herposure, she slowly replied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to tempt me, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Why not? Is Ms. Deasy starting to be tempted?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Why? Just admit it. Besides, as I said earlier, I just want to make Ms. Deasy happy andfortable tonight. So, try to enjoy what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    For a moment, Lucas fell silent. But in the next moment, he grinned again. His hand, which was still resting on Deasy¡¯s thigh, slowly moved. Caressing the surface of her skin gently once more. Trying once more to touch what he had intended to reach earlier.


    When Deasy attempted to push him away for the second time, Lucas promptly thwarted her intention. Adjusting his position, he aligned his face with Deasy¡¯s and nted another deep kiss on her.


    While continuing to kiss her, giving kisses that left Deasy entranced again, Lucas skillfully untied the knot at the end of Deasy¡¯s underwear until it opened.


    Then, with calction, Lucas pulled one of Deasy¡¯s thighs slightly open. As if confident, he used his fingers to caress what he had been eyeing all along.


    In their kiss, Deasy widened her eyes when she felt something foreign touching her most intimate part. She tried to resist, but Lucas¡¯s touches gradually drove her crazy.


    Intentionally, he teased her by caressing it slowly. ying with it. Stroking up and down with unpredictable movements. Which eventually made Deasy react naturally. She was torn between wanting to resist, but her body betrayed her because she undeniably enjoyed what Lucas was giving her.


    Deasy felt dizzy. The rocking motion Lucas created made her truly feel like she was swaying. And when Lucas¡¯s fingers delved deeper into her, she could do nothing but surrender to his worship.


    Seeing Deasy starting to enjoy his touch, Lucas became even more passionate. While still kissing her, his fingers continued to caress down there. While continuing to kiss her, his fingers kept caressing down there. From being slow, they gradually moved with a slightly faster rhythm. To the point that it made Deasy squirm.


    Then, after just a few seconds, he could feel something tensing and slightly mping down there. Simultaneously, Deasy started to suck his lips forcefully. In an instant, Lucas was sure that Deasy was drowning in the wave of release that had just washed over her.


    Slowly withdrawing his hand from there, Lucas then embraced Deasy¡¯s body, unable to be resisted by the woman. He held her tightly for a moment, smiling with satisfaction at having sessfully given Deasy a unique pleasure.


    Before Deasy could catch her breath, Lucas pulled back slightly. Unexpectedly, he lifted and carried Deasy¡¯s body. He quickly moved her to the bed.


    Gentlyying her down, Lucas, without hesitation, crawled up on top of Deasy. Once again, hended kisses on her lips. Kissing her rhythmically. Making Deasy close her eyes again, enjoying and responding to what Lucas was giving her.


    With great tenderness, Lucas continued to kiss her. Savoring every sensation there. So deep, so intimate, utterly intoxicating. Making Deasy once again unable to do anything but surrender.


    When Deasy began to enjoy all the attention Lucas was giving her, he immediately withdrew without a word. Moving his lips to her forehead, he kissed it for quite some time before whispering.


    ¡°How about that? Ms. Deasy feels happy andfortable, right?¡±


    Deasy, still with her eyes closed, nodded repeatedly. She struggled to respond to what her husband was asking.


    ¡°I could even provide more pleasure that might make Ms. Deasy even more infatuated,¡± Lucas whispered afterward. Bringing his hand, he resumed caressing Deasy¡¯s still open thighs. Deliberately teasing Deasy, who still seemed utterly powerless.


    ¡°But¡­ I think tonight¡¯s game is more than enough. If you want something more challenging, Ms. Deasy, you¡¯ll have to ask for it first.¡±


    Lucas then smiled suggestively. With one swift move, he shifted away from Deasy¡¯s body. Sliding down and then decided to leave. Leaving Deasy with an overwhelming feeling.


    ¡°Lucas, you are BASTARD!¡±

 PHB 35

    After the events of that night, when Lucas deliberately teased Deasy and left the game hanging, the man didn¡¯t apologize in the slightest. He didn¡¯t even appear once, let alone call or send a short message. It¡¯s been more than a week, and Lucas hasn¡¯t shown his prominent nose.


    You could say that Deasy was starting to feel lost. How Lucas used to visit, apany, and even give her attention every morning and evening. He¡¯d feed her and make sure she was full. And now? The man had disappeared from the scene.


    Even though every morning and evening, Deasy still received food deliveries, it wasn¡¯t delivered directly by Lucas as usual but through a courier or delivery service.


    ¡°Seriously, Lucas is so irresponsible. He promised to take care of things for nine months. How old is it now, a few weeks in, and he¡¯s already gone. Typical guy, they¡¯re all the same! Can they ever keep their promises?¡±


    In her office, while sitting and staring at her phone screen, Deasy could be heard grumbling. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was genuinely annoyed or if she was missing him because it had been nearly two weeks since they¡¯dst met. How funny¡­ missing him.


    When it¡¯s like this, you start looking for him. Yesterday, when he was right in front of her, Deasy acted all high and mighty and always refused. For some reason, most women often acted this way. ying hard to get. Once he¡¯s gone, they start to panic.


    Not to mention thattely, her workload had piled up. She had grown ustomed to being helped and even having some taskspleted by Lucas. Now, she had to willingly ept being busier and handling everything on her own.


    ¡°Should I be the one to contact Lucas first? He¡¯ll think I¡¯m really desperate. He¡¯ll assume I¡¯m always in need of him. Ugh, I can¡¯t be bothered! I¡¯d rather preserve my dignity.¡±


    Deasy muttered to herself. She didn¡¯t know what she had beenining about on her desk.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Deasy.¡±


    From outside the room, there was a knock on the door, followed by a greeting from De, a staff member who worked under her team. As Deasy snapped back to reality, she immediately invited De to enter the room.


    ¡°Yes, De?¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to remind you that in fifteen minutes, there¡¯s a meeting in the conference room with all the managers and the legal department, including top management. The agenda is to discuss thend expansion for the One Stop Shopping development in the Emerald area.¡±


    Deasy nodded and then smiled.


    ¡°Yes, thank you for the reminder.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, ma¡¯am,¡± said De, preparing to leave.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, De,¡± Deasy paused for a moment. It seemed like she had something she wanted to ask the girl.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡± De turned and adjusted her position to face Deasy directly.


    ¡°Does Ms. Deasy need something?¡±


    Deasy shook her head. She didn¡¯t really need anything. It¡¯s just that for some reason, there was one thing she wanted to ask.


    ¡°Is it true that Lucas has already resigned?¡±


    De nodded once.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Before resigning, he had a farewell gathering, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    De¡¯s response just now startled Deasy. Afraid that De might find it odd, Deasy tried her best to maintain a casual expression. She was looking for the best words to avoid any strange perceptions.


    It wouldn¡¯t be funny if De started thinking all sorts of things and ended up gossiping with other employees about Deasy asking about Lucas Orion¡¯s details.


    ¡°So, before leaving, he held a farewell party?¡±


    For the umpteenth time, De nodded. She even took a step closer. She deliberately moved closer to Deasy¡¯s position to make it easier to talk.


    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly a party, ma¡¯am. On Lucas¡¯sst day here, during lunch break, he invited all the finance department staff to have lunch together. Then, in the evening, he invited us to have dinner at an expensive restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Howe I didn¡¯t know about this?¡±


    De tried to recall before finally giving an answer.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, his farewell event was when Ms. Deasy was on sick leave.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. At that time, Lucas even gave all the kids on our team some gifts as souvenirs.¡±


    This sentence once again made Deasy flinch. Apparently, during her two days of absence from work, there was a lot of information she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Gifts? Lucas gave you guys something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Ms. Deasy, those expensive Montnc pens. He gave themplete with each of our names engraved.¡±


    Deasy sighed inwardly. Lucas was really something else. Deasy held a direct managerial position over him at the office. Why didn¡¯t she receive any souvenir like everyone else? Was she not valued at all? At the very least, why wasn¡¯t she appreciated as his manager?


    Was it because Deasy often acted annoyingly? Was that why Lucas excluded her?


    Oh dear!


    Why did she feel so irritated?


    ¡°So, each of you got an expensive pen as a gift?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. We were thrilled. It¡¯s also surprising how Lucas has so much money. Those Montnc pens cost hundreds of thousands each. Just multiply it by almost ten of us on the team.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes in annoyance. Anyway, when she saw Lucas next, she swore she would tease him.


    ¡°So, after the farewell event yesterday, did Lucas contact any of you?¡±


    De shook her head. She then took her phone out of the zer pocket she was wearing.


    ¡°On a personal level, no, ma¡¯am. Thest time he appeared was in the WhatsApp group, and that was a week ago,¡± De said while showing thest conversation in the group with Lucas.


    ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s the case.¡±


    De put her phone back. Curious as to why Deasy, who seemed to want to know a lot about Lucas¡¯s departure, De mustered the courage to ask.


    ¡°I apologize for asking, ma¡¯am, but why is Ms. Deasy inquiring about Lucas? Did he leave unfinished tasks or pending deadlines?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I was just asking.¡±


    Deasy quickly denied. Instead of letting De specte, it would be better to end this conversation.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for the meeting, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Y-yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave now.¡±

 PHB 36

    Upon arriving in the meeting room, Deasy could see her fellow managers had already gathered. Daniel, the Tricky Magic Com guy, was alreadyfortably seated in his chair.


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t attending the meeting because you haven¡¯t been around.¡±


    As Deasy took her seat, Daniel immediately remarked. Their chairs happened to be right next to each other.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way someone as important as me would skip a meeting. Besides, my girlfriend would worry if she didn¡¯t see me here.¡±


    Deasy continued to boast in front of Daniel, confidently acknowledging that Lucas Morales, their boss, was her boyfriend. Even though she knew her boss seemed to have a partner already.


    Meanwhile, Daniel visibly cringed. It was clear he was fed up with Deasy constantly unting herself.


    ¡°I bet your rtionship won¡¯tst long. You¡¯re not even in the same league.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to be a fortune teller predicting people¡¯s fates.¡±


    Daniel burst intoughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m not pretending to predict the future. But, judging from your statuses, it¡¯s like night and day.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you think I am?¡±


    ¡°A human being, Des. Not a ghost. I mean, if your partner is Mr. Lucas, he¡¯s way too high for you.¡±


    Deasy narrowed her eyes, moved closer, and asked point-nk.


    ¡°What kind of person do you think is suitable for me?¡±


    ¡°Someone as handsome as me.¡±


    Deasy felt like gagging. Seriously, why did she ever like and get into a romantic rtionship with Tricky Magic Com next to her?


    ¡°Gosh, Daniel. If you¡¯re considered handsome, what about the models?¡±


    ¡°Deasy, don¡¯t be pretentious. If I had asked you to get back together yesterday, you would¡¯ve said yes, right?¡±


    ¡°Strawberry mango donut. Sorry, I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°Not interested, but you were insanely jealous when you found out I was getting married to Arindi.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s jealous? Don¡¯t exaggerate. Besides, I¡ª¡±


    Deasy¡¯s sentence was left hanging. Before she could finish arguing with Daniel, Lucas Morales appeared from the door. The tall, model-like man entered the meeting room with Felix, his assistant.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start the meeting right away.¡±


    Lucas then opened the meeting, inviting the legal team to present the topics to be discussed.


    ¡°Lucas¡­ Lucas¡­ so handsome. But, unfortunately, unattainable.¡±


    Instead of paying attention to the meeting, Deasy indulged in various daydreams. She spent nearly two hours admiring the charisma and authority of Lucas Morales as he provided evaluations and various inputs.


    ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else to discuss, I¡¯ll conclude the meeting. Don¡¯t forget that for those of you who aren¡¯t too busy, we have a celebration tonight for our sessful expansion abroad.¡±


    Deasy immediately stood up from her seat, ready to leave the room, but once again, Daniel interrupted her.


    ¡°Des, do you want to go for lunch?¡±


    Deasy nced over, feeling very reluctant to indulge.


    ¡°Why, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Wanna join? I will treat you.¡±


    In truth, Deasy had already prepared an answer. Of course, she wanted to tly reject Daniel¡¯s invitation.


    However, before she could respond, Lucas suddenly appeared unexpectedly. Out of the blue and quite surprisingly, he addressed Deasy, who was engaged in a conversation with Daniel.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy, want to have lunch, right? Just with me.¡±


    Deasy immediately shed a broad smile. It seemed like God was favoring her today. For some reason, it was as if Lucas Morales intentionally came to her rescue whenever she faced difficulties. Or perhaps, could it be that the two of them were actually destined for each other?


    Now, Deasy didn¡¯t need to bother rejecting Daniel. She had a reason to make her ex-boyfriend even more heated.


    ¡°Sorry, Daniel. Instead of having lunch with you, I¡¯d rather eat with my handsome boyfriend.¡±


    After whispering, Deasy walked away. She approached Lucas, then followed him to the car and headed to a restaurant to have lunch together.


    In her heart, Deasy was certainly delighted. She never imagined that she would be invited to lunch by the man she had secretly desired to dine with.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy, what would you like to eat?¡± Lucas asked when they had arrived and were sitting in a Japanese restaurant.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the original Ramen Katsu, please.¡±


    ¡°And for a drink?¡±


    ¡°Just mineral water.¡±


    Lucas nodded and then called the waiter to order their food. While waiting, they engaged in light conversation until the food they had ordered arrived and was served.


    ¡°Please go ahead and eat.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, Mr. Lucas.¡±


    Lucas nodded and began eating from his bowl.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy, don¡¯t forget toe to the celebration event at SkyHouse tonight. There will be a lot of people there.¡±


    This time, Deasy nodded. If she was invited directly by such a handsome guy, how could she possibly refuse?


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Lucas. I will definitely be there tonight.¡±


    They slowly enjoyed their meal. To lighten the mood, Lucas once again engaged Deasy in conversation.


    ¡°Do you like Japanese food?¡±


    Deasy, who was blowing on her hot ramen, immediately looked up. Smiling, she gave her response.


    ¡°Not really, Mr. I actually prefer Indonesian Food or Chinese Food.¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°I see. Out of all the foods, what¡¯s your favorite?¡±


    ¡°Beef ck pepper, Fuyunghai, and Mango Rice .¡±


    ¡°Wow, our tastes are so simr!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Mr. Lucas likes those three too? You look like a Western food kind of guy. I thought you would prefer Western cuisine.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°I actually prefer Indonesian food over Western food. It suits my pte better.¡±


    As they chatted, a somewhat familiar woman appeared from behind. Deasy thought she would be enjoying lunch alone with Lucas Morales. However, it turned out there was another woman joining them, and of course, she considered it an intrusion.


    ¡°Devina,¡± Lucas greeted. ¡°Are you here too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I just finished at the salon.¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Devina shook her head.


    ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m looking for a ce. Oh, and I ran into you here.¡±


    ¡°Well then, what would you like to eat?¡±


    ¡°Just the usual.¡±


    Lucas then signaled the waiter. Knowing Devina¡¯s preferences well, Lucas promptly ced her order.


    Initially, Deasy thought this lunch would be a romantic or at least enjoyable affair for her. But unfortunately, everything changed after Devina, Lucas¡¯s girlfriend, showed up.


    What made Deasy even angrier was that Lucas shamelessly disyed his affection in front of her. He helped cut the steak into small pieces for Devina, presumably to make it easier for her to chew.


    Even more than that, in front of Deasy, Lucas unabashedly fed Devina. This naturally made Deasy feel even more irritated.


    ¡°This Lucas is unbelievable. Being all lovey-dovey in front of me. Does he think the world belongs to the two of them? And here I am, feeling like a third wheel?¡±


    Deasy muttered to herself. While continuing to observe, she tried to remain patient.


    ¡°Strawberry mango pineapple. Come on, Deasy, don¡¯t get worked up. Just pretend Lucas and Devina are invisible beings.¡±


    Deasy kept reassuring herself to stay patient. Somehow, in moments like this, she couldn¡¯t help but remember Lucas Orion, the man who used to shower her with attention. Even when they were about to eat, Lucas always fed her, making sure she finished everyst bite without leaving anything behind.


    For heaven¡¯s sake, was Deasy really missing Lucas Orion, the man who had satisfied her sopletely in bed?

 PHB 37

    Deasy walked casually as she entered one of the coffee shops in Pacific ce. While carrying herptop bag in her right hand, she continued to move toward Sean, who had been there with Veronicafor a while.


    Seeing Deasy acting differently than usual, Sean immediately grew suspicious. For some reason, he was quite sure that something was amiss with his long-time friend.


    That¡¯s why, when Deasy sat down, Sean quickly asked a question. He wanted to make sure, with genuine concern, what was really happening to Deasy.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Des? You look kind of down. Are you sick? Or not feeling well?¡±


    Deasy nodded slowly. She took several deep breaths while massaging her forehead, which was pulsating with pain.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I¡¯m really tired,¡± she said softly. asionally, her eyes closed as if she was truly feeling something ufortable within herself.


    ¡°Tired?¡± Sean¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He didn¡¯t quite understand what Deasy meant by that. ¡°Tired of what? Is your workload piling up? Many deadlines? Or what?¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. Why did Sean have so many questions? But, aside from her chatty friend, Deasy really felt that her life waspletely out of control now.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s probably just some guy trouble,¡± Veronicachimed in, as usual.


    ¡°It¡¯s not trouble with guys, Veronica.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? You look like you haven¡¯t eaten for a week. Your face is all folded up like that. Tell us if there¡¯s a problem.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m just exhausted. Exhausted from this pregnancy,¡± Deasyined softly. Just by looking at her, it was clear she was struggling. She appeared weak, tired, listless, andcking enthusiasm.


    ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, I really feel like I can¡¯t handle it sometimes. I get nauseous all the time. Hard to eat, hard to sleep. Easily tired. Not to mention my mood swings.¡±


    ¡°Deasy,¡± Sean responded. ¡°I thought you had a major issue rted to thepany earlier. I had no idea you were feeling down due to pregnancy.¡±


    Hearing Sean¡¯s seemingly dismissive response, Deasy¡¯s emotions were immediately triggered. Narrowing her disapproving eyes, she replied with a fiery tone.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a big issue too?¡± Deasy asked curtly. ¡°You¡¯re a guy, after all. So, you¡¯ll never understand what it¡¯s like to feel nauseous, dizzy, and have trouble eating. That¡¯s why you should tell your wife to get pregnant, so you can know what it¡¯s like to take care of a pregnant woman. So you won¡¯t just speak without thinking,¡± Deasy ranted. As if not satisfied, she grumbled again. ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. Your wife can¡¯t possibly get pregnant. You never even touch her. So how could she get pregnant!¡±


    Deasy rambled on at length. Her previously pale face now turned slightly red, perhaps due to frustration at Sean¡¯s seemingly nonchntment.


    Deasy admitted that in recent days, her condition and emotions had been extremely unstable. She had initially feltfortable, but now she had to endure constant nausea, dizziness, and frequent vomiting. Not to mention her mood swings.


    Despite the doctor¡¯s assurance that the second trimester would be much better than before, she felt no significant change in herself.


    ¡°Oh dear, Deasy. Why are you so angry? I apologize if my words offended you. I swear, I didn¡¯t mean to make you mad or emotional like this.¡±


    Deasy waved her hand in the air, signaling Sean to stop his rambling. She didn¡¯t want to be provoked any further.


    ¡°Enough, forget it. And stop saying things that make me emotional, or I might just hit you.¡±


    Sean nodded. Meanwhile, Veronicughed gleefully at her friend¡¯s behavior. Shortly after, she handed over the drink she had ordered earlier.


    ¡°Enough with theints. You¡¯re such a habitualiner. Here, have some melon juice. I deliberately ordered it for you. When you feel better, then we can continue our conversationfortably.¡±? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Deasy agreed with a nod. She took the ss Veronicaoffered and started sipping the melon juice, while trying to calm her emotions and regain herposure.


    Before she could finish the juice, her phone rang. Looking at the name disyed on the screen, she saw ¡°De¡± written there.


    ¡°Ohe on, can¡¯t people see I¡¯m trying to rx.¡±


    Deasy was a bit reluctant to answer De¡¯s call at first. But, worried that it might be important news, she picked up the call.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Deasy?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s Taylor Swift,¡± she quipped, causing Sean and Veronicato burst intoughter. ¡°What¡¯s up, Del?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am, if I¡¯m bothering you. Is Ms. Deasy noting to the office celebration event?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m just not up for those events.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite lively here, ma¡¯am,¡± De responded. ¡°Earlier, Mr. Lucas even asked about Ms. Deasy.¡±


    Deasy was surprised. Upon hearing the news from De, for some reason, her heart jumped. She never expected Lucas Morales to be looking for her.


    ¡°W-what? Mr. Lucas is looking for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Mr. Lucas asked me and Sta about Ms. Deasy twice. He wondered why he hasn¡¯t seen you. So I decided to contact you.¡±


    Deasy smiled. Of course, she was happy to be sought after like that, especially by the top executive of theirpany. Plus, he was handsome. But when she remembered Lucas¡¯s attentive behavior towards his partner during lunch earlier, her happiness quickly faded, reced by endless annoyance.


    ¡°Ah, just let Mr. Lucas look. Besides, with or without me, the party will go on, right?¡±


    ¡°So, Ms. Deasy still doesn¡¯t want toe here?¡± De asked again to make sure. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Daniel isn¡¯t here.¡±


    As if she knew Deasy didn¡¯t want to face Daniel, De made sure to confirm her ex-boyfriend¡¯s absence. But despite that, Deasy had no interest in joining the party.


    ¡°Just let Mr. Lucas search. I really don¡¯t feel like going to a party right now. Besides, I¡¯m not feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± De understood. Given her boss¡¯s recent unstable condition, she couldn¡¯t force Deasy to attend. ¡°Okay then, Ms. Deasy, just rest. If Mr. Lucas asks again, I¡¯ll let him know you¡¯re not feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, please do that. Just let him know. Don¡¯t forget to send my regards to everyone there. Have a great time, you guys. Especially since tomorrow is a holiday.¡±


    Ending the call, Deasy went back to what she was doing, sipping the melon juice Veronicahad given her until it was finished without a drop left.


    Seeing Deasy¡¯s unusual behavior, Veronicacouldn¡¯t help but wonder. After all, she knew that her friend had been chasing after Lucas Morales, the new head of thepany where Deasy worked.


    ¡°So, is your office having a party?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Usually, it¡¯s a celebration for a big sessful tender.¡±


    ¡°So, why aren¡¯t you going?¡±


    ¡°Just not in the mood.¡±


    Veronicachuckled.


    ¡°Not in the mood? Unusual. If I heard correctly, that¡¯s the handsome version of Lucas who was looking for you, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Deasy nodded. ¡°ording to De, he looked for me twice. This afternoon, during lunch, he reminded me several times toe to the event tonight.¡±


    ¡°Well then? Why aren¡¯t you going?¡±


    Deasy shrugged her shoulders, clearly showing howzy she felt right now.


    ¡°I¡¯m just annoyed.¡±


    ¡°Annoyed again? Weren¡¯t you chasing after him just the other day? Calling him sweet, handsome, ideal type, and all that. Why are you suddenly annoyed?¡±


    Veronicacouldn¡¯t forget Deasy¡¯s previous enthusiasm. Every time they met, her friend would always talk about Lucas Morales, whom she considered so handsome and charming.


    ¡°Better to drink something bitter but soothe your soul, than Lucas, who looks sweet but hurts your heart.¡±


    ¡°Come on, that¡¯s almost a rhyme.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Veronica, but Sean who protested. He, who was listening seriously, was annoyed because his friend often acted carelessly and unseriously.


    ¡°Just to ease the tension. Besides¡­¡± Deasy continued. ¡°I admit, Lucas Morales is handsome, husband material, and sweet. But, unfortunately, he already has a partner. Just imagine, this afternoon he invited me to lunch. I was happy to be invited to lunch by the boss. I thought maybe we could get closer and he would charm me. Suddenly, his girlfriend arrived. And they were both showing off their affection, ying the feeding-each-other game and all.¡±


    Veronicaand Sean burst intoughter. Both of them thought that maybe this was what was making Deasy so annoyed.


    ¡°I warned you from the beginning. It¡¯s impossible for a good-looking guy to not have a partner. Even if he¡¯s gay, someone must have already imed him.¡±


    See, Veronicacouldn¡¯t help but tease again. What kind of friend was she, really?


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m annoyed. This afternoon, Lucas was acting like he was deliberately showing off and making me angry with his affection for his partner. And now he¡¯s casually looking for me and asking why I¡¯m noting to the party. What¡¯s his deal?¡±


    Veronicaburst outughing. It was quite amusing to see Deasy grumbling like this.


    ¡°You should just go for Lucas Orion instead. He¡¯s single, attentive, and waiting for you to ept his marriage proposal. It¡¯s better, polite, and considerate.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Deasy sighed at that moment. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Lucas Morales or Lucas Orion, it¡¯s all the same. They both said they¡¯d take care of me for the next nine months. It¡¯s been almost two weeks, and he hasn¡¯t shown up to take care of me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Just say you miss him.¡±


    Deasy squinted. She didn¡¯t like being used like that.


    ¡°Me?¡± she pointed to herself. ¡°Miss Lucas Orion? No way.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe you¡¯ve been getting emotional and grumbling because it¡¯s been so long since you¡¯ve seen or been taken care of by Lucas Orion?¡± Veronicaasserted confidently.


    Deasy rolled her eyeszily. She really hated it when Veronicaused her like this.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense. Why would I miss him?¡±


    ¡°Well, then, why are youining about Lucas Orion¡¯s absence?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m notining, Ve. It¡¯s more like I¡¯m annoyed that he didn¡¯t keep his promise.¡±


    Veronicagrinned. No matter how much Deasy tried to convince her, she still didn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Des. Admit it. Deep down, you miss him, don¡¯t you? Or maybe you¡¯re actually falling in love for real? Feel the regret.¡±


    Deasy clenched her jaw. Honestly, arguing with Veronicawas exhausting. For whatever reason, she always ended up on the losing side.


    ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s up to you. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯d rather go home.¡±


    ¡°What? Go home already?¡± Sean hurriedly questioned. ¡°You haven¡¯t even ordered food.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry anymore. I just want to go home. Besides, you two are annoying.¡±


    ***

 PHB 38

    Lucas had been looking around from side to side for a while, scanning every corner of the room in an attempt to find Deasy. For whatever reason, tonight he really hoped that she would be present at the office celebration party.


    However, after nearly thirty minutes of searching, Lucas still hadn¡¯t found Deasy anywhere. He wasn¡¯t sure if she hadn¡¯t arrived yet or if she deliberately chose not to attend the party tonight.


    In truth, Lucas felt guilty. Lately, due to being so busy with work, he hadn¡¯t been able to visit Deasy as usual. Yet, he had promised to take care of her, protect her, and look after her during her pregnancy.


    However, even though he couldn¡¯t take care of her directly, Lucas still made an effort to send and ensure that Deasy had her daily meals. He hoped that after all his work was done, he could visit and apany her as before.


    Honestly, sometimes Lucas felt a longing. He had grown ustomed to Deasy¡¯s nagging, andtely, her absence had made his life feel empty.


    ¡°De¡­¡± Lucas called when he saw De passing by. Lucas thought that the staff under Deasy¡¯s supervision should know where their boss was at the moment.


    ¡°Yes, sir? Can I help you with something?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Deasy? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡±


    Before answering, De looked around. She also hadn¡¯t seen her boss for a while.


    ¡°Maybe she hasn¡¯t arrived yet, sir.¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement. What De said could be true.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡±


    ¡°If Ms. Deasyester, I¡¯ll let her know that Mr. Lucas is looking for her. Or if she¡¯s noting at all, I can help contact her.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucas simply nodded and then mingled with the partygoers to enjoy the celebration.


    After forty minutes, he called De again to inquire about Deasy¡¯s whereabouts. He couldn¡¯t contact Deasy directly, considering his position as thepany¡¯s leader.


    ¡°Has Ms. Deasy arrived?¡±


    De shook her head.


    ¡°I called Ms. Deasy earlier, sir.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Lucas responded with enthusiasm, hoping for some good news about Deasy.


    ¡°Yes, sir. I asked her why she hadn¡¯t shown up yet. She said she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Not feeling well?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s just my feeling or if it¡¯s true, but recently, Ms. Deasy seems unwell. Different from her usual self.¡±


    Lucas nodded in understanding. Knowing that Deasy was pregnant, he could understand if she was tired or feeling unwell. He didn¡¯t want to force her to attend the event if she had these reasons.


    ¡°Alright then. You continue with the party. It¡¯s okay if Ms. Deasy can¡¯t join us tonight.¡±


    De walked away, and Lucas chose to rejoin the other executives who were gathered.


    However, fifteen minutester, Felix approached. The man, who worked as Lucas¡¯s assistant, came closer, wearing a serious expression, and whispered to Lucas.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s an important phone call.¡±


    Lucas looked puzzled. How important could this call be for Felix to whisper as if no one else should hear?


    ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Deasy.¡±


    ¡°Deasy?¡±


    Felix nodded.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you whispering?¡±


    ¡°The thing is, she called Lucas Orion¡¯s phone number, not Lucas Morales¡¯s.¡±


    Lucas was startled. As long as he had known Deasy as Lucas Orion, no matter how urgent or important the matter, she had never contacted him first. For the past few days when he had been absent, Deasy hadn¡¯t even inquired about him through text messages, let alone phone calls. Lucas knew that Deasy would neverpromise her dignity like this. Why would she suddenly contact him? Had her longing finally made her give up her pride and contact him first? Or, perhaps, something urgent had happened? It was possible, right?


    Not wanting to be overheard, Lucas chose to leave the party to find a quiet andfortable spot before answering the call. He was worried that if he took Deasy¡¯s call inside, someone might eavesdrop, and it could cause amotion and spection.


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Deasy. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡­ please¡­ help me¡­¡±


    Lucas was startled. Hearing Deasy asking for help, he became deeply concerned.


    ¡°Help? What¡¯s wrong, Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Instead of responding, Deasy¡¯s call suddenly disconnected. Without any further dy, Lucas decided to leave immediately, intending to meet Deasy as soon as possible because he was worried that something bad might be happening to her.

 PHB 39

    That evening, after a heated argument with Veronicaand Sean, Deasy decided to head home right away. Along the way, she grumbled to herself. She was really irritated, once again bing the subject of mockery by her two friends.


    Deasy thought to herself, it¡¯s so easy for her to be called longing for Lucas Orion. She admitted that for the past few days, she had indeed been searching, but, please underline, not because of missing him. She was just annoyed that the guy hadn¡¯t kept his promises.


    From the start, Lucas had insisted on getting married. Then he offered, asking for permission to take care of and provide for all of Deasy¡¯s needs during her pregnancy with his child.


    However, after Deasy had agreed and only a few weeks had passed, the bespectacled man had disappeared. Well, yes, Lucas still sent food to Deasy every day.


    But, he didn¡¯t fulfill his promise to serve and meet Deasy¡¯s other needs. Wait a minute. What did she mean by other needs? Needs rted to pregnancy or maybe even biological needs? Well, who knows, maybe after thest hanging service Lucas provided, she had gotten addicted.


    Furthermore, even if he was busy or involved in something important, Deasy at least wanted Lucas to keep her informed. That way, she would be morefortable. No need to go searching anymore.


    Huh? But why should Lucas bother giving updates?


    After all, Lucas wasn¡¯t Deasy¡¯s boyfriend or anything.


    ¡°A guy¡¯s not a guy if he doesn¡¯t tell a lot of lies. Whether he¡¯s handsome or ugly, it¡¯s all the same in their behavior.¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As she grumbled, Deasy continued walking towards her apartment unit. Just as she arrived at the front door, the courier who usually delivered her food also appeared.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ma¡¯am. As usual, I¡¯m here to deliver your food.¡±


    Deasy nodded and epted the paper bag the courier handed her.


    ¡°Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Ma¡¯am. Good evening, enjoy your meal.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡±


    Deasy stopped the courier who was about to leave. Somehow, there was something she really wanted to ask the man in front of her.


    ¡°What is it, Ma¡¯am? Is there something missing from the order?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°No. I just want to ask. Does the person who orders this food for me, do theye to the restaurant directly or something?¡±


    The courier smiled and shook his head. Then he exined what he knew.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, who orders this food, always orders via phone, Ma¡¯am. For payment, he usually transfers. Only in the beginning did he order in person to take home. Lately, it¡¯s always by phone.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Deasy responded, nodding. ¡°Okay, thanks for the information.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Ma¡¯am. Anyway, you¡¯re really lucky.¡±


    ¡°Lucky?¡±


    Deasy blinked. Why was she suddenly being called lucky? Besides, it¡¯s just food, what¡¯s so special about it?


    ¡°Yeah, Ma¡¯am. You¡¯re really lucky,¡± the courier repeated while nodding repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s great to have a super nice partner. He¡¯s handsome, generous, and caring too. That¡¯s why I say you¡¯re lucky.¡±


    Deasy made a strange face. She even repeated what the courier had said.


    ¡°What? Handsome?¡±


    The courier nodded confidently once again, affirming what he had just said.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. He¡¯s handsome, caring, and kind to everyone.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s not wrong to call Lucas handsome?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s definitely handsome, Ma¡¯am, his girlfriend says so.¡±


    Deasy awkwardly nodded without suspecting anything. She thought that the definition of handsome could be rtive, and everyone had different standards for it, right? So, if in the courier¡¯s eyes, Lucas Orion was handsome, what could she say?


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll excuse myself, Ma¡¯am. Once again, enjoy your dinner.¡±


    After the courier left, Deasy carried the paper bag containing the food to the dining table. She unpacked it and saw that tonight, Lucas Orion had sent her ck pepper beef, stir-fried vegetables, and various fruits for dessert.


    Originally, Deasy was quite hungry. But because she was angry, she decided not to eat the food.


    For some reason, on her way home earlier, she had been thinking about eating chicken curry noodles with scrambled eggs mixed with various vegetables and some bird¡¯s eye chilies.


    As a result, Deasy went to the kitchen. Humming to herself, she boiled water in a pot to cook. Afterward, she chose to quickly freshen up and then prepared to cook and have dinner.


    However, as soon as she finished showering and stepped out of her room, Deasy was startled. As she slowly walked toward the kitchen, her sense of smell detected a pungent and overpowering odor. Instantly, her head began to ache, and her stomach churned. Deasy was certain that this overpowering smell wasing from a gas leak in the kitchen.


    Deasy¡¯s body felt weak. Fortunately, she was holding her phone at that moment. Leaning against the wall, she tried to leave while contacting the security personnel who were usually on standby in the apartment. However, despite her numerous calls, none of them answered. She tried calling Veronicabut her friend¡¯s phone was busy.


    Deasy had only one hope left: Lucas. Reluctantly, she put aside her pride and dialed Lucas Orion¡¯s number, hoping he would respond ande to her aid.


    On the first call, he didn¡¯t answer. Even when Deasy tried a second time, Lucas still didn¡¯t respond. Almost desperate, she tried again. Fortunately, the man on the other end finally answered.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Deasy¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡­¡± Deasy whispered weakly. Her breath wasbored as she struggled to endure the overwhelming smell. ¡°Help¡­ please help me.¡±


    ¡°Help? Ms. Deasy, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Deasy couldn¡¯t respond any further. Right in front of the main door, she tried to get out and save herself. However, before she could even turn the handle, she lost consciousness. After that, Deasy forgot what happened next.


    ***

 PHB 40

    After receiving a sudden call from Deasy, who requested help and left him confused, Lucas immediately grew worried and anxious. Ignoring his colleagues who were still gathered at the office celebration party, Lucas decided to leave right away.


    Felix, equally puzzled, apanied him, driving Lucas to Deasy¡¯s apartment.


    Upon arriving at Park Avenue, as soon as he got out of the car, Lucas hurriedly made his way to Deasy¡¯s unit on the seventh floor. He was deeply concerned because he had been trying to reach Deasy all along the way to the apartment, but she hadn¡¯t answered any of his calls.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas¡­ you¡¯re still in your sses and your shirt is unbuttoned.¡±


    Felix, realizing that his boss hadn¡¯t changed his appearance, quickly caught up with him, bringing Lucas Orion¡¯s usual attire along with some other essories. Felix also brought along several security personnel and apartment staff, fearing that something dangerous might have happened to Deasy.


    Upon reaching the front of Deasy¡¯s apartment unit, Lucas had already detected the overpowering smell emanating from inside. Fortunately, he always carried the ess key to Deasy¡¯s apartment in his wallet, so he could easily unlock the door.


    Once the door was opened, Lucas found the woman he had been worrying about lying unconscious. He quickly lifted Deasy¡¯s body and carried her to the lobby before taking her to the health center avable in the apartmentplex.


    While Lucas was taking care of the unconscious Deasy, Felix was assigned to clean up the mess that had urred in Deasy¡¯s apartment. Lucas also instructed Felix to handle various parties and inquire about the apartment¡¯s safety systems that were not functioning properly.


    ¡°How¡¯s my girlfriend doing, doc?¡±


    Lucas was getting himself confused. With the obstetrician, he referred to Deasy as his wife. Now, with another doctor, he had to acknowledge Deasy as his girlfriend. Who knows what he¡¯ll have to admit tomorrow regarding the woman carrying his child.


    ¡°Fortunately, Ms. Deasy was rescued promptly. So, after the examination, I can assure you she¡¯s in good condition. She likely fainted because she couldn¡¯t tolerate inhaling the sharp smell from the gas leak for too long.¡±


    ¡°But, seriously, is everything okay, doc?¡±


    The doctor then smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ms. Deasy is perfectly fine.¡±


    A few minutester, after the doctor left, Deasy finally regained consciousness. As soon as she opened her eyes, Lucas approached and helped her sit up.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy.¡±


    Fortunately, Lucas had already changed his appearance back to Lucas Orion. Otherwise, Deasy might have fainted again out of shock if she had seen Lucas Morales suddenly helping her.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Deasy rushed into a hug with Lucas. She held him tightly, expressing herself, possibly feeling scared because she had just gone through an unpleasant experience.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy, are you okay? I¡¯m sorry I arrivedte.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She let go of the hug and then spoke softly.


    ¡°For whatever reason, I was afraid when there was no one to save me earlier. I wasn¡¯t ready to die, Luc. I have so many sins.¡±


    Lucas, who had felt touched, couldn¡¯t help butugh. It was amusing to see Deasy, who had been scared, speaking in such aical way.


    ¡°The important thing is that Ms. Deasy is okay. No injuries, scratches, or any problems with the baby either.¡±


    Deasy agreed with a nod. She silently thanked God for being merciful and sending Lucas to save her life.


    This time, Deasy really had to thank her subordinate. There was no denying that she owed her life to Lucas Orion.


    ¡°Thank you so much for helping me. Although I was originally annoyed because you broke your promise.¡±


    Lucas suddenly furrowed his brow. He wondered which promise he had broken that had made Deasy so upset.


    ¡°Broke a promise?¡±


    ¡°Yes! You said you would take care of me for the next nine months. It¡¯s only been two weeks, and you disappeared without a word? So irresponsible!¡±


    Lucas finally realized. It seemed that Deasy was upset because he had been absent for the past few days and hadn¡¯t taken care of her as usual.


    In reality, Lucas hadn¡¯t disappeared. After all, they saw each other every day at the office. It was just that Deasy hadn¡¯t noticed.


    ¡°Oh, I see. So, Ms. Deasy was looking for me? I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been busy with my new job. I really didn¡¯t have any free time.¡±


    ¡°Excuses!¡±


    Deasy sighed heavily. Her expression was just as it usually was when she was angry with Lucas. ¡°You¡¯re so busy that you can¡¯t even send a message to let me know you¡¯re okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really busy. Besides, did you miss me so much in just a few days that you didn¡¯t see my face or hear from me? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure to call you regrly from now on.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes. This was what made her reluctant to be honest with her subordinate. She knew Lucas would tease her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not overdoing it,¡± Lucas argued. ¡°So, if I propose marriage, just say yes, and you won¡¯t have to worry about me disappearing or having to search for me like this. I can always be by your side, taking care of you every moment, and you won¡¯t feel lonely at night anymore.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, that¡¯s what you want.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what you want too, right? Just admit it,¡± Lucas teased with a mischievous wink.


    ¡°Enough of your chattering, Luc. I could give you some cyanide if you keep talking nonsense.¡±


    Lucasughed. While helping Deasy to stand up, he responded spontaneously.


    ¡°Would you prefer cyanide, pesticide, or me who¡¯s always there?¡±


    ¡°Lucas! Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Lucas continued tough. He was delighted to see Deasy¡¯s expression when she was annoyed like this. It meant that the woman he impregnated was back to her normal self.


    ¡°But, by the way, how¡¯s my apartment? Is it ready to be upied now? Or does it still smell of a gas leak?¡±


    While walking and supporting Deasy, Lucas provided an exnation. Fortunately, he had already taken care of all the mess that had urred.


    ¡°It¡¯s safe now. The apartment management has fixed everything. Your unit is safe and can be used again.¡±


    Once they arrived, Lucas immediately led Deasy to the bedroom. He helped her sit on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Do you need anything, Ms. Deasy? Or do you want something? Let me get it for you.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. Shortly after, she seemed to clutch her stomach.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is your pregnancy hurting?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m really hungry, Luc. I wanted to eat earlier. But then the gas leak incident happened.¡±


    ¡°Oh my¡­ Ms. Deasy, you haven¡¯t eaten yet?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. To make it worse, her stomach made some rumbling noises shortly after. Her stomach seemed to be staging a protest.


    Believing that ordering food would take too long, Lucas chose to go to the kitchen. He checked the food ingredients and then prepared a meal.


    Fortunately, Deasy¡¯s refrigerator was full of vegetables and various ingredients that could be used for cooking. So, Lucas decided to make fried rice with a variety of vegetables, eggs, and fried chicken, as it was the easiest and quickest meal to prepare.


    In less than thirty minutes, Lucas, who had initially left the room, returned with a tray of food in his hands. He approached Deasy, who was stillfortably sitting on the bed.


    ¡°You cooked? I thought you left the room to buy food.¡±


    Lucas smiled and nodded. Approaching Deasy, he intended to feed her.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°I made fried rice for you. Ordering food delivery might take a long time, and it¡¯ste. But I¡¯m really sorry for the messy kitchen. I¡¯ll clean it up as soon as you finish eating.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you cooked this?¡±


    ¡°Of course. How awesome am I when ites to acts of service? Attentive, caring, understanding, and a good cook. You won¡¯t regret being my wife.¡±


    ¡°Too bad you¡¯re not handsome enough, Luc,¡± Deasy thought to herself.


    Deasy rolled her eyes. Instead of entertaining Lucas¡¯s banter, she chose to ept the spoonful of fried rice that Lucas offered. She ate it with relish, finding it surprisingly delicious. Deasy was sure she would sleep soundly tonight because she could eat her fill. She hadpletely forgotten about her initial craving for chicken curry with scrambled eggs and various vegetables.


    ¡°Thank you once again for helping me and making me fried rice, Luc,¡± Deasy sincerely repeated after finishing her meal and getting ready to rest.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. If anything happens tomorrow, don¡¯t hesitate to contact me immediately. I¡¯ll help as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Now go home.¡±


    ¡°Go home? Oh my, am I being kicked out?¡±


    Deasy nodded casually. She thought everything was under control now. She had eaten, taken her medication and vitamins, so she no longer needed Lucas¡¯s assistance.


    ¡°Besides, everything is settled. You should just go home.¡±


    Lucas sighed. His face clearly showed annoyance.


    ¡°Crab and turtle. I¡¯m really not important, am I? After the sweet moments, I¡¯m just thrown away like trash.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Luc. There¡¯s a reason for everything. Your presence is no longer needed because everything is safe now. And why would you want to linger in my apartment?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He had stood up, but now he sat back down beside Deasy. He reached out his hand and gave her a mysterious smile.


    ¡°After giving it some thought, for your safety and well-being, I¡¯ve decided to stay in your apartment from tonight onwards.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. She needed to confirm what she had just heard.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°I said, starting tonight and for the nights toe until the next nine months, I¡¯ve decided to stay in your apartment. So that I can easily monitor, take care of, and watch over you to prevent any bad incidents like earlier from happening again.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc, you can¡¯t just-¡±


    ¡°No need to protest. Besides, there won¡¯t be anyone to get angry if I stay here. If we live in the same apartment, there¡¯s no way the public order enforcement will raid and arrest us. Who knows, if we live together for a while, you might eventually melt and agree to marry me.¡±


    ¡°What? Did you just say what I think you said?¡±


    ¡°Yes, M ¨C A ¨C R ¨C R ¨C I ¨C A ¨C G ¨C E, marriage. Or do you want us to live together without getting married? I¡¯m not really a fan of that, but if you insist, I¡¯ll consider it, and we can try moving to another country where couples can live together without marriage.¡±


    Deasy was stunned. She was at a loss for words in response to Lucas¡¯s sudden decision. What would her life be like now, living alone with the nerdy man who had impregnated her? Would it really turn out to be a happy experience, or would it be a disaster?

 PHB 41

    After thinking it over, Deasy realized that it might be a good idea and beneficial to let Lucas stay in her apartment temporarily.


    Last night, as she was getting ready to sleep, the man truly took care of her. He didn¡¯t stop massaging and stayed with her until she fell asleep.


    Even when she woke up this morning, Deasy initially didn¡¯t find Lucas. She briefly thought that he might have decided to go home.


    However, after getting cleaned up and stepping out of her room, she caught a whiff of the enticing aroma of cooking. Following her instincts, Deasy headed for the kitchen. And sure enough, there was Lucas, dressed neatly and busy with something on the stove.


    Wearing her pink Hello Kitty apron, Lucas looked cute. Deasy couldn¡¯t help butugh at his appearance, which should have resembled that of a professional chef but ended up looking more like a young masterchef on television.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    Deasy called out intentionally. Curious, she wondered what the man was cooking that had him looking so serious in front of the stove.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy.¡±


    He turned and greeted her. Sporting a wide smile that, upon closer inspection, turned out to be quite sweet. Wait a minute¡­ seriously, Lucas looked really sweet this morning. His aura was noticeably different from usual.


    ¡°Wearing a hat, wearing a bracelet. Good morning, my dear.¡±


    Just as she was greeted, Lucas had turned into a skilled charmer. Deasy wondered why he was resorting to rhyming and teasing so early in the morning.


    ¡°No need to start, Luc.¡±


    Lucas chuckled. While continuing to cook, he spoke again.


    ¡°Are you already up? I thought you were still asleep.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m up. It¡¯s almost eight, Luc. I have to work, so I can¡¯t afford to oversleep.¡±


    Lucasughed again. Seeing Deasy approaching, he quickly intervened.


    ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t get too close.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Just in case, you will fall in love with me, my dear.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±


    Lucas chuckled. He turned around, pulled a chair, and guided Deasy to sit down.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might get sshed with hot oil. So, it¡¯s better to sit here,¡± he said, then returned to the stove. ¡°By the way, how was your sleepst night? I noticed you slept really soundly. You could probably be transported by aliens to another, and you wouldn¡¯t even notice, that¡¯s how deep you were in slumber.¡±


    ¡°Exaggerating,¡± Deasy responded to Lucas¡¯s hyperbolic statement.


    But, in reality, it couldn¡¯t be denied. Despite experiencing an unpleasant incident, as far as sleep was concerned, Deasy¡¯s night had been of exceptional quality. She hadn¡¯t experienced any dreams, restlessness, or waking up like in the nights before. Was it due to fatigue or because she feltfortable with Lucas by her side?


    ¡°So, what were you doing, messing up my kitchen?¡± Deasy continued her interrogation.


    ¡°Me?¡± Lucas asked, turning around. ¡°What was I doing? Trying to gossip with the fish in the neighbor¡¯s aquarium.¡±


    ¡°Luc!¡± Deasy scolded. She was trying to be serious, but Lucas was just joking.


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking, of course. Why do you keep asking?¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re cooking.¡±


    ¡°So, why ask?¡± Lucas protested. He enjoyed debating and teasing Deasy until she got annoyed or frustrated. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re trying to find a topic to chat and get closer to me?¡±


    Deasy sighed. Asking ¡°What are you doing?¡± had led the conversation in various directions.


    ¡°What I mean is, what are you cooking? You seem really busy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see, just say it directly from the beginning. Is Ms. Deasy doing this on purpose to make our conversation longer?¡±


    Deasy sighed wearily. For heaven¡¯s sake, how could she have a normal conversation with Lucas?


    ¡°Oh, there are tomatoes being sold by the vendors. Whatever! It¡¯s up to you what to cook.¡±


    See, Lucas liked it when Deasy got irritated and wore a sulky expression like she did now. For some reason, her beauty multiplied when she was annoyed and sulky like this.


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking olive rice with butter-fried chicken,¡± Lucas revealed as he served the dish he had prepared earlier.


    Seeing Deasy still pouting, Lucasughed again. This time, he also pulled a chair. He seated himself, then grabbed a spoon, ready to feed Deasy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. I was just kidding. Let¡¯s eat first. If we¡¯rete in eating, our child in your belly will get hungry.¡±


    Deasy sighed and then reluctantly epted the spoonful that Lucas offered to her lips. She chewed slowly, trying to savor the various vors that emerged from the food she was eating.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± Deasy said honestly. ¡°Where did you learn to cook? I¡¯m a woman, and I¡¯m not even good at cooking.¡±


    Lucas smiled.


    ¡°Thanks to YouTube. I watched cooking tutorials on YouTube, Darling.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Deasy replied with narrowed eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you learned to cook this well just from YouTube.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Do I need to show you my old scars to make you believe?¡±


    ¡°Oh my, that sounds like an oldmercial, Luc. It really gives away your age.¡±


    Lucas and Deasy bothughed afterward. But it couldn¡¯t be denied that when it came to cooking skills, Lucas had been honing them since his school days. Living on his own abroad forced him to be self-sufficient and do everything by himself without the help of others.


    ¡°But, my cooking is delicious, right?¡± Lucas asked again to make sure.


    While chewing her food, Deasy nodded. Whether it was food that Lucas bought or food he cooked himself, it all tasted great to her. From the beginning until now, whatever Lucas offered or spoon-fed directly into her mouth, she never threw up or spat out any of it.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    It always suited her pte and made her feel full. Veronicaoncemented to Deasy that perhaps she didn¡¯t vomit or feel nauseous because the baby in her belly liked anything his father gave. Proof of that was when she ate porridge that Lucas sent, she ate it eagerly. Meanwhile, when she had bought the same porridge herself, she couldn¡¯t stomach it.


    ¡°That means your baby just likes and wants to eat what Daddy gives, Des. Look, when I sent you chicken porridge, you ate it happily. But when I bought it from the same ce, you couldn¡¯t eat it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡±


    ¡°Let me be dramatic; that¡¯s your child, right?¡± Veronicaquipped.


    ¡°Lucas¡¯s child, Ve.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s for both of us, you know. So, both of your kids.¡±


    Upon reflection, Veronica¡¯s words had some truth to them. Even if Deasy bought food, she felt unsatisfied until she had the menu that Lucas sent to her apartment every day.


    It was strange, indeed. But it was genuinely happening. If Lucas knew about her odd cravings during pregnancy, he would probably be surprised and even more conceited.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t lie; your cooking has been delicious since yesterday. What you send every day suits my taste.¡±


    ¡°See? Especially when I feed you. Oh, it must be even more enjoyable.¡±


    ¡°No, really. It¡¯s just normal. Proof is, when you disappeared, I happily ate on my own. Your child inside me didn¡¯tin either.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s once cheerful face turned sour. She was irritated thinking about Lucas, who had disappeared for a few days.


    ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re sulking again. I¡¯ve already apologized so many times. I was genuinely busy. That¡¯s why I¡¯m paying off the debt of disappearing a while back by staying here with you, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc¡­¡± Deasy interrupted the man beside her. She felt that something needed to be rified here. ¡°Are you seriously nning to stay here for the next nine months?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, we¡¯ve been separated for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, please forgive my sins.¡±


    Deasy was frustrated. She was confused about how to talk to Lucas so that he wouldn¡¯t keep joking with her.


    ¡°Luc, I¡¯m really serious.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry. But about your question, I¡¯m not joking. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t stay for free. If needed, I¡¯ll pay monthly rent and even clean up here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s starting to sound like hiring a housekeeper.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s better than you hiring all sorts of house help. I¡¯d rather help. It¡¯s free, after all. Plus, I don¡¯t want what happenedst night to repeat. You have no idea, all the way to the apartment, I was worried. I was afraid something would happen to you. If I had been even a littletest night, I don¡¯t know how you would be.¡±


    Lucas¡¯sst statement, though casual, sounded so honest that it surprised Deasy. It had a meaning where she felt so important and valuable that Lucas was so concerned about what was happening to her.


    In terms of looks, Lucas was far from Deasy¡¯s ideal type. But his behavior, acts of service, and lovenguage made him mean so much to Deasy. And Lucas often pampered her. Truly, Deasy had never received such special treatment before.


    ¡°Thank you for helping me. Even if you had beente, I might not be sitting in front of you right now.¡±


    ¡°The most important thing is that you¡¯re okay now. Whether today, tomorrow, or anytime in the future, I will do my best to take care of you from anything.¡±


    Deasy nodded. After finishing the meal, she got up and prepared to go to work.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Lucas stopped her before Deasy left. ¡°Is it okay if, outside of working hours like this, we talk informally?¡±


    Deasy rotated the ball in her hand. After a while, she nodded in agreement. After all, it wasn¡¯t a serious issue if Lucas called her by her first name.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. Instead of you calling me ¡®Ma¡¯am¡¯ all the time. It¡¯s like I¡¯m married to your father.¡±


    Lucasughed. He approached Deasy and then led her out of the apartment unit.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take you to the office first. Later in the afternoon, I¡¯ll try to pick you up.¡±


    Deasy was stunned for a moment. She felt awkward hearing Lucas speak to her so familiarly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re busy, you don¡¯t have to. I can go home with the office driver or with Veronica.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,ter it will inconvenience Mrs. Veronica. Anyway, I¡¯ll let you knowter in the evening whether I can pick you up or not. Just don¡¯t go home alone.¡±


    ***

 PHB 42

    This morning, at Deasy¡¯s request, Lucas drove her to the office using Deasy¡¯s personal car. This was done so that people wouldn¡¯t be suspicious or start questioning if they saw Deasy being driven in the Yaris, which Lucas usually uses.


    After ensuring that Deasy entered the building, Lucas immediately turned the steering wheel. Approaching a car that had been waiting in a secluded area not far from the officeplex.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas,¡± Felix called out while tapping the car window that Lucas was driving. He observed the surroundings, then signaled for Lucas to get out of the car.


    ¡°Have you prepared all my belongings in the car?¡±


    Felix nodded. Fortunately, he was used to moving quickly. So, as soon as Lucas gave the order, he immediately carried out what had been assigned.


    ¡°Yes, sir. Everything is ready without exception. And I think, Mr. Lucas should hurry. In thirty minutes, Union Group representatives will being to visit. They want to discuss the coboration for the construction of the mall in the Johor Baru area.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He remembered this schedule. That¡¯s why, as soon as he got out of Deasy¡¯s car, he rushed to his red Ferrari that Felix had brought. Meanwhile, his assistant was tasked with parking Deasy¡¯s car in a safer ce for the time being.


    Making sure no one was watching, Lucas sped towards the Quantum Tech building. Upon arrival, he immediately prepared for the meeting. Discussing business for three hours. Until it ended with an agreement.


    With a smile on his face, Lucas walked to his office. While Felix followed. Following the man until he entered the room.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, is it true that Mr. Lucas will be staying at Ms. Deasy¡¯s house?¡±


    Lucas, who had just sat down, nodded. There was no doubt visible on his handsome face.


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, sir,¡± Felix replied uneasily. He was afraid that his previous statement might have offended Lucas. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that if Mr. Lucas stays under the same roof as Ms. Deasy, Mr. Lucas¡¯s disguise could be exposed.¡±


    This time Lucas smiled. The man¡¯s demeanor still appeared so rxed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. Besides, I didn¡¯t choose to live together without a reason.¡±


    Felix was astonished; he couldn¡¯t quite grasp the purpose and intention behind Lucas¡¯s decision, which was clearly so risky and posed a threat to his own position.


    ¡°What do you mean, Sir?¡±


    ¡°You said I should investigate Ms. Deasy more thoroughly, right? Well, who knows, by living together, I might be able to dig up important information about Daniel or maybe even more than that.¡±


    ¡°But what if you end up truly falling in love with Ms. Deasy by constantly living together, what then?¡±


    Lucas chuckled and then his face turned serious.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯m not bothered by matters of love, Felix.¡±


    ¡°And are you sure you want to marry Ms. Deasy? What about Ms. Devina, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas stared intently at his assistant. There was no hint of him being troubled, anxious, or anything of the sort.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already discussed this matter, haven¡¯t we? With or without Ms. Deasy, I¡¯ve always had a n to cancel the wedding from the start.¡±


    ¡°I know about that, Mr. Lucas.¡±


    Lucas sighed. Shortly after, he leaned forward with his arms folded on his chest.


    ¡°When I think about it, it¡¯s better for me to marry Ms. Deasy, who I¡¯ve clearly slept with twice and who is now carrying my child, rather than marrying Devina, whom both of us don¡¯t want to marry and have no love for each other. Besides, She is beautiful, Felix. I admit that. It¡¯s understandable that she has high standards for a future partner.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the problem, Sir.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lucas replied so calmly, as if everything he was doing had been carefully calcted. ¡°I¡¯ve predicted it all. Just as you suggested, and precisely because I know what kind of partner Deasy expects, I¡¯m even more challenged to win her over using the face and personality of Lucas Orion. I¡¯m confident that in the near future, I¡¯ll conquer Deasy.¡±


    ¡°But, Sir¡­¡± Felix interrupted again, as if there were endless questions in his mind. ¡°Once again, Mr. Lucas, are you sure and ready for genuine love with Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Lucas smiled. At the end of the conversation, he nodded with full confidence.


    ¡°I¡¯m also on the way to learning to genuinely love her.¡±


    ***


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, I apologize. I didn¡¯t know you needed my helpst night.¡±


    Deasy and Veronicawere currently at a coffee shop. As usual, after work, they decided to meet and chat.


    Deasy, of course, recounted the misfortune and tragedy that had befallen herst night. Because of this, Veronicabecame worried and felt guilty for not answering her friend¡¯s phone callst night.


    ¡°Let it go. I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡±


    ¡°But, by the way, who eventually helped you?¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡­ Lucas Orion,¡± Deasy replied casually while sipping on the apple juice she had ordered.


    ¡°Lucas? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded repeatedly. ¡°Your ears didn¡¯t deceive you. Since no one else could help, I had to call Lucas for assistance.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you say he had been missing for several days?¡±


    Deasy shrugged. She had also thought that if Lucas had remained absent yesterday and had not answered her calls, she might not be alive now.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. But luckily, when I called him, he immediately responded and helped me. He¡¯s the one who took me to the health center to make sure I was okay.¡±


    Veronicasighed with relief. However, she was thankful that Deasy received assistance and ultimately came out unscathed.


    ¡°Thank goodness. The important thing is that you¡¯re okay. It means you owe him your life, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, because of this incident, he made a decision on his own, Ve.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s brow furrowed reflexively. What other decision did Deasy mean this time?


    ¡°Huh? What decision?¡±


    ¡°Because of what happenedst night, Lucas made the decision to stay in my apartment for the next nine months. He said he¡¯s afraid that an incident likest night might happen again, and no one would see or help me. He also said he¡¯s worried about my well-being. Isn¡¯t that excessive?¡±


    Veronicashook her head. Leaning on both her elbows, she propped up her chin while looking at Deasy¡¯s face.


    ¡°Not excessive at all, Deasy. That¡¯s so sweet. Imagine, he¡¯s genuinely concerned about you. Oh my, Lucas is really sweet, isn¡¯t he? From the moment we met, I liked how tenderly he treats you.¡±


    ¡°Stop it,¡± Deasy grumbled.


    ¡°I¡¯m being honest. The other day, when he brought food to your apartment and tried to take care of you, he was so gentle, Des. Darwin doesn¡¯t do anything like that for me.¡±


    ¡°Darwin is just not the romantic type as a husband. He married me out of necessity, Ve.¡±


    ¡°Damn! But seriously, try to open your heart a little,¡± Veronicacontinued. ¡°Compared to your exes, he¡¯s the only one who seems so appreciative, caring, and loving.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe it¡¯s because he has a child on the way.¡±


    ¡°No, Des,¡± Veronicashook her head repeatedly. ¡°I think Lucas is just naturally gentle and loving. You should be grateful to have a partner who cares so much.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. Did she hear correctly just now? Veronicamight be talking about her partner.


    ¡°What? What did you say just now? Partner?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Veronicanodded. ¡°I predict that you¡¯ll be all ¡®Lucas, Lucas¡¯ soon. Most likely, you¡¯ll be sending out wedding invitations in the near future.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t dream.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s dreaming? I¡¯m wide awake.¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t bother responding to Veronica¡¯s words. At the same time, the person they had been talking about just called, so Deasy quickly answered the call.


    ¡°Yes, Luc?¡±


    ¡°Are you still with Mrs. Veronica?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still at the coffee shop.¡±


    ¡°Is it okay if I pick you up now?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there in five minutes.¡±


    True to his word, five minutester, Lucas arrived at the coffee shop where Deasy and Veronicawere meeting. Without much ado, Deasy said her goodbyes and got into the car to head back to the apartment.


    Nothing special happened. Everything went as usual. Until the evening came, before going to sleep, Lucas, as usual, performed his nightly ritual. He sat on the edge of the bed while massaging Deasy¡¯s feet one by one.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to massage my feet like this every night, Luc.¡±


    Lucas smiled. As he applied olive oil to Deasy¡¯s feet, he replied casually.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind. Besides, we made this promise. It¡¯s a matter of principle not to break our promises. You might get angry and nag like you did when I disappearedst time.¡±


    Deasy smiled instead. Apparently, Lucas remembered how upset she had been when he had disappeared for a while some time ago.


    ¡°I¡¯ve forgiven you. So, there¡¯s no need to discuss it again. But anyway, no matter what, thank you for everything you¡¯ve done for me.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°No need to thank me. I admit, my looks aren¡¯t as impressive as an actor¡¯s. But remember, my attention to you will never fade.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ttery.¡±


    ¡°Well, okay then. Let¡¯s go to sleep. It¡¯s already 10 PM.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow is a holiday, Luc. It¡¯s okay if we sleep in.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t sleep in toote. Tomorrow, I n to take you out for a movie and dinner.¡±


    What?


    Deasy was taken aback.


    After deciding to live together so casually yesterday, now Lucas was inviting her to watch a movie and dine out without any hesitation.


    Is this a date?


    ¡°For what asion? You¡¯re pretty confident to invite me to watch a movie and eat out.¡±


    Lucas chuckled softly. And for whatever reason, Deasy admitted that if you looked closely, that smile on his face could really melt someone¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be confident? Besides, once in a while, it¡¯s not a problem, is it? So we don¡¯t get bored staying at home. But if you¡¯re embarrassed to go out with me, I understand.¡±


    Hearing Lucas¡¯s lowered tone, Deasy somehow felt uneasy. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t care at all about what he wanted.


    ¡°Well, not like that, Luc. If it¡¯s just watching a movie and eating out, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s allowed.¡±


    ¡°So, you agree?¡±


    Deasy nodded once again.


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s okay once in a while. It¡¯s free, right?¡±


    Lucas smiled broadly. He guided Deasy to lie down. He pulled up the nket and covered her entire body so she wouldn¡¯t get coldter.


    ¡°Alright, good night. You don¡¯t have to dream about me tonight. Just getting a good night¡¯s sleep is more than enough. Good night, Queen. See you tomorrow.¡±

 PHB 43

    Lucas fulfilled what he had promisedst night. For the first time, today went ording to n, and he would take Deasy for a stroll together.


    It all began with preparing a special breakfast. As he sat down to eat with Deasy, Lucas, as usual, seemed very attentive. He made sure Deasy finished the chicken porridge he had prepared.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Finish it up, okay? Just two more spoonfuls, and it¡¯s done.¡±


    Deasy nced at her te. Her stomach already felt so full. But, not finishing it seemed like a waste. The food Lucas had cooked for her this morning was truly delicious, and Deasy admitted she liked it.


    ¡°But, I¡¯m already so full.¡±


    ¡°Just a little bit left. Or¡­ you take one more bite, and I¡¯ll finish the rest.¡±


    Deasyughed at Lucas¡¯s remark. She couldn¡¯t quite understand what was funny about what Lucas had just said.


    ¡°Do you want to finish it? It¡¯s my leftovers, Luc. Aren¡¯t you disgusted?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. After all, why should he be disgusted with eating good leftovers?


    ¡°Why would I be disgusted?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s my leftovers.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°So, what if it¡¯s yours? Am I going to catch a contagious disease or something?¡±


    ¡°Who knows, right? What if I have a contagious disease?¡±


    ¡°Exaggerating much? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t catch anything from eating your leftovers. Besides, it¡¯s still good and not dirty food. It would be a waste to throw it away. Just one more bite. God might get angry if we waste it.¡±


    Deasy was touched. It wasn¡¯t the first time that Lucas¡¯s actions had warmed her heart instantly. So many of Lucas¡¯s actions had made her feel incredibly valued, even in the smallest ways. If she paid close attention, Deasy began to understand that Lucas was the kind of man who truly appreciated women. He was so gentle, quite different from herself, who often let her emotions get the best of her.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve finished eating, you should take your medicine and vitamins now. I¡¯ll get them for you. Just wait here.¡±


    Lucas then got up, walked to the nightstand, and returned to the dining table with several bottles of prescribed medicine and pregnancy vitamins for Deasy. He carefully opened each one and handed them to Deasy to take right away.


    ¡°All done, Luc. So, what time are we going out?¡± Lucas nced at the clock on his wrist, thought for a moment, and then responded to Deasy¡¯s earlier question.


    ¡°You wait for me in the TV room. I¡¯ll wash the dishes and tidy up for a bit. After that, I¡¯ll prepare some fruit snacks for you to have on the roadter. Once everything¡¯s ready, we¡¯ll head out for our nned outing.¡±


    Deasy nodded and then made her way to the TV room. She settled on the couch and decided to watch some gossip news on the television. Meanwhile, Lucas appeared busy cleaning and organizing the dining table.


    Without any hint of disgust, he washed the dirty dishes piled up in the sink. When he finished, Lucas promptly peeled some different fruits. He then neatly arranged them into a lunchbox, which he wouldter bring as snacks for Deasy while they were in the car during their outing today.


    ¡°How about now? Ready?¡±


    Lucas, havingpleted all his tasks, approached Deasy in the TV room. While putting the fruit box into a bag, he extended his hand, inviting Deasy to get up from her seat.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go now.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s use my car for the trip,¡± Deasy requested as usual.


    ¡°Why? Are you embarrassed to go in my old car?¡±


    Deasyughed. While walking towards the exit, she shook her head. She quickly rified and exined why she asked Lucas to use his car for the outing today.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be offended, Luc. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to ride in your car. It¡¯s just that, you should know, I don¡¯t like riding in small and low sedans. I always feel nauseous and dizzy. Plus, I¡¯m pregnant right now. It wouldn¡¯t be funny if I got sick on the road. Our outing could be a total disaster.¡±


    Lucas smiled and nodded, trying to understand and amodate Deasy¡¯s request. It wasn¡¯t a problem at all to use her car; it all worked out the same.


    That¡¯s why, once they were both in the car, Lucas started driving. He drove slowly, taking Deasy to one of therge malls in the city center.


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here,¡± Lucas invited as he opened the door. As usual, he extended his hand to help Deasy step out of the car.


    ¡°Thanks. So, are we going to watch the movie right away, or do we have other ns first?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Lucas replied as he guided Deasy. ¡°Let¡¯s buy tickets first, then take a quick walk around. We¡¯ll start watching the movie around one o¡¯clock.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to watch a movie with me?¡±


    ¡°You can choose. Do you want a romance, action, or a sad story? I¡¯m up for whatever you like.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go with romance. If we watch a sad story, I¡¯ll end up getting emotional, and I wouldn¡¯t want to cry in front of everyone. That wouldn¡¯t be funny.¡±


    Lucas chuckled. It would indeed be amusing if Deasy cried in the cinema.


    ¡°But if you end up crying, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here to provide a shoulder for you to lean on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so cheesy.¡±


    ¡°Not cheesy, I¡¯m serious.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it over between us?¡± Deasy replied, just as Lucas had said to her in the past.


    Ending the conversation, right when they arrived at the cinema, Lucas bought tickets. Since their showtime was about an hour away, Lucas decided to take Deasy for a walk first.


    He even treated her to some ice cream at one of the shops. In any case, he was determined to make Deasy¡¯s day enjoyable.


    ¡°How¡¯s the ice cream? Do you like?¡±


    While devouring her ice cream, Deasy nodded. Normally, she wasn¡¯t this enthusiastic about it. But for some reason, today, when eating the ice cream that Lucas had bought for her, she found it exceptionally satisfying and delicious.


    Even when Lucas tried to engage in conversation, she paid minimal attention. Her focus was solely on finishing the ice cream in her hand, as if she couldn¡¯t bear to leave even a trace of it behind.


    ¡°Want more?¡± Lucas offered when he noticed how eagerly Deasy was devouring her ice cream.


    ¡°No, this is more than enough.¡±


    ¡°Sure? If you want more, I can get you another one.¡±


    Lucas said this while helping wipe the ice cream off Deasy¡¯s lips. He had done this before, but it still caught Deasy¡¯s attention, especially since people around them were also watching what Lucas was doing.


    ¡°Why?¡± Lucas asked when he noticed Deasy¡¯s eating had stopped, and she was gazing at him.


    ¡°I can clean it up myself, Luc. It¡¯s really awkward to be watched by people around us.¡±


    Lucas smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll help you clean it up. You got some on your face. Besides, it¡¯s all in good taste, right? Unless I help clean it up with my lips. Is that what you want?¡±


    Deasy widened her eyes, then quickly shook her head. She knew Lucas could be daring, but she continued eating instead. She finished the remaining ice cream in her cup, then got up hastily, urging Lucas to go.


    ¡°Do you want a waffle?¡± Lucas offered before they prepared to go watch the movie.


    ¡°No,¡± Deasy shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t really like waffles. They¡¯re too sweet.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, especially if you eat them while staring at my face. You might get diabetes.¡±


    Deasy sighed in exasperation. Could Lucas please get rid of his narcissism?


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have it? I already had ice cream. I might get too full.¡±


    Seeing no interest on Deasy¡¯s face, Lucas just bought a tiramisu waffle for himself.


    As they walked toward the fifth floor where the cinema was located, Deasy observed how Lucas enjoyed his waffle. Somehow, even though she didn¡¯t like waffles, she felt her appetite awaken as she watched Lucas relishing the food he had just bought.


    But what could Deasy do besides swallowing her saliva? Earlier, Lucas had offered it to her twice already. It was her own pride that made her refuse both times.


    ¡°Why?¡± Lucas asked, realizing that Deasy had been watching him. ¡°Do you want some?¡±


    Deasy was restless. She really wanted to respond with a ¡®yes¡¯ to Lucas¡¯s question, but it felt too embarrassing.


    ¡°Just try it; it¡¯s really good.¡±


    Lucas, understanding her hesitation, extended the waffle in his hand directly to Deasy¡¯s mouth, encouraging her to take a bite.


    Shyly, Deasy opened her mouth. In her heart, she was delighted to finally taste what she had been craving. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit fickle.


    ¡°Shall we watch now, then? After the movie, I¡¯ll take you out to eat.¡±


    Deasy nodded and allowed Lucas to hold her hand as they entered the cinema building.

 PHB 44

    For over two hours, they enjoyed the romantic movie that Lucas had chosen. Although it was a sweet romantic story, for some reason, perhaps due to the baby or her deep emotional connection to the characters, Deasy became emotional and shed tears. There were parts of the film that touched her deeply and moved her to tears.


    Lucas even reached for Deasy¡¯s shoulder, pulling her close, and tried to soothe her emotions to prevent her from getting too lost in the movie they were watching.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Deasy nodded again. Inside, she felt embarrassed for being so emotional that she cried in front of Lucas.


    She knew there were no sad scenes or separations of lovers in the movie. So why was she shedding tears?


    ¡°Shall we eat?¡± Deasy redirected the conversation.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s eat. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry too.¡±


    Lucas then took Deasy to one of the restaurants he believed would suit her taste.


    They ordered some dishes, and when the waiter came and prepared to serve, Lucas was ready to feed Deasy. However, realizing they were in a public ce, Deasy quickly declined. She felt embarrassed about being treated like a child in front of so many people.


    ¡°I can eat by myself, Luc. If you feed me, your food will get cold.¡±


    ¡°Usually, it¡¯s fine,¡± Lucas replied casually.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. But when we¡¯re outside like this, I¡¯d rather eat by myself. It¡¯s embarrassing to be spoon-fed.¡±


    Lucas agreed and let Deasy enjoy her meal on her own. After all, it was better than her feeling ufortable and not eating at all.


    ¡°After this, shall we go home?¡± Deasy asked during their meal.


    Normally, Lucas would be the one to break the ice and start a conversation, but this time, Deasy put her ego aside and initiated the conversation. She felt uneasy facing Lucas, who had been silent and focused on his meal.


    ¡°Do you want to go somewhere else?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Lucas replied. ¡°Let¡¯s explore a bit more. It¡¯s only 5 o¡¯clock. It¡¯s too early to go home, don¡¯t you think? Are you tired, or can you handle taking me for a walk?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Deasy replied confidently. She had been enjoying herself the whole time and didn¡¯t feel tired or bored. ¡°So, where do you want to take me?¡±


    ¡°I want to y a bit.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°y?¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. She couldn¡¯t have heard that correctly, could she? Were they, both in their thirties, going to y?


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lucas nodded. After finishing their meal, he once again took Deasy¡¯s wrist and held it tightly. Nonchntly, he led her towards one of the indoor entertainment centers that were well-known in the mall.


    ¡°Trans Studio? You want me to y in there?¡±


    Deasy was momentarily stunned. She wondered why Lucas had stopped right in front of the entrance to the indoor y area.


    ¡°Yes, I want to take you to y inside,¡± Lucas said, pointing with his finger toward one of the y arenas that looked crowded from the outside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around, Luc,¡± Deasy shook her head in disbelief. Imagine, they were already in their thirties. Deasy herself was 33 years old. Could Lucas really be inviting her to y in an area filled with children?


    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I really want to take you inside to y. Besides, let me ask you, when was thest time you yed in a ce like this?¡±


    Deasy was reluctant to entertain the idea. But for some reason, her brain and mouth found it challenging topromise. It was as if she had to answer Lucas¡¯s question. So she tried to remember for a moment before finally giving a response.


    ¡°Maybe back in elementary school.¡±


    ¡°That means it¡¯s been decades, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°You could say that.¡±


    ¡°Alright,e on in. Besides, I¡¯m treating you, and don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take you on any extreme roller coaster rides or anything.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She didn¡¯t think for a moment that Lucas would challenge her to an adrenaline-filledpetition on extreme rides. She was sure Lucas was fully aware of her pregnancy.


    So, pushing aside any negative thoughts, Deasy epted Lucas¡¯s outstretched hand and followed him into the y area. After that, he led Deasy to ride on a carousel, or as she fondly called it, a merry-go-round, which went around twice.


    At first, Deasy was concerned. But after getting on one of the horses, she felt happy andfortable. Her memories were drawn back to decades ago when her parents had taken her to ces like this.


    It wasn¡¯t just the carousel that Deasy tried that day. Lucas also took her to see a funhouse, a giant princess, an acrobatics show, and a colossus drama. Thest stop was a haunted house.


    ¡°You¡¯re making a big mistake by taking me to ces like this, Luc,¡± Deasymented as they prepared to board the carriage for the haunted house.


    ¡°Why? Are you scared?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not scared of this stuff. If you think I¡¯ll get scared and cling to you, I can assure you that won¡¯t happen.¡±


    Lucas burst intoughter. Even though that was his n. Deasy had already seen through him, and he didn¡¯t mind.


    As they entered the haunted house area, it seemed normal at first, and there was no fear visible on either of their faces. However, when they reached a certain point, it was Lucas who became restless, especially when they encountered a ghost that resembled Suzzana. The ghost reached out to embrace and hug him.


    Without hesitation, Lucas screamed in fear and immediately hugged Deasy. He tried to hide his head as the carriage they were riding in exited the haunted house area.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be brave, but just seeing a ghost like that, you¡¯re already out of breath,¡± teased Deasy,ughing. She continued tough at Lucas as they walked out of the y area.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fear, it¡¯s more like surprise.¡±


    ¡°Excuses! Once a scaredy-cat, always a scaredy-cat.¡±


    Deasy kept walking. As she descended the stairs and headed toward the parking lot, she decided to take a brief rest. Her heels were tired after a day of walking.


    ¡°Why? Tired?¡± Lucas asked.


    Deasy nodded. Her heels were indeed very tired. Despite being just a short walk away from the car park, she felt exhausted.


    Lucas couldn¡¯t bear to see her like that. He immediately sat down and, without any hesitation, reached for Deasy¡¯s ankles. He massaged them for a while until Deasy feltfortable again.


    ¡°Feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a bit. But it¡¯s not a big deal. We just need to walk a little more to reach the car, right?¡±


    Lucas continued to observe how Deasy walked. Seeing that she still felt ufortable, he once again persuaded Deasy to step aside.


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡±


    ¡°What? No way!¡± Deasy protested. She would be embarrassed if Lucas had to carry her, especially in front of so many people.


    ¡°Why not? I¡¯ll carry you to get to the car faster.¡±


    ¡°But people will see, Luc.¡±


    ¡°So what? It¡¯s great if people see, especially the singles, so they¡¯ll be jealous.¡±


    Lucas was just being reckless!


    But Deasy had to admit there was some truth to what he said. Besides, there weren¡¯t too many people passing by. So, the chance of being seen by many was quite low.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s gettingte. If we keep thinking about it, it¡¯ll be morning, Des. Besides, it¡¯s about to rain.¡±


    ¡°Fine, let it be. We¡¯re taking the car anyway.¡±


    ¡°Oh my Godness, Deasy. You¡¯re arguing even now. Come on, let¡¯s go quickly.¡±


    Deasy gasped but then quickly agreed to let Lucas carry her to the car.


    Unfortunately, what Lucas had feared actually happened. As they were walking towards the parking lot, it suddenly started raining. Consequently, their clothes got a bit wet from the rain. Although it wasn¡¯t too much, they were still damp.


    Throughout the walk, theyughed as if what they had just experienced was hrious.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry,¡± Deasy replied, wiping her wet face with a tissue. ¡°Seriously, today has been so random. I cried during the movie, wasn¡¯t scared at the haunted house, and now we¡¯re caught in the rain even though our car is right in front of us.¡±


    Lucasughed too. They both found it amusing and enjoyed what they had done together today.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry that you got wet like this, but you¡¯re still happy, right? I mean, with our little adventure today?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. She couldn¡¯t deny it, even though she had initially said she felt nothing. What Lucas had done for her today had truly made her happy.


    ¡°I¡¯m so happy. I¡¯ve never been this happy before. By the way, thanks for taking me out today, Luc.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. And after I get back from my trip, I¡¯ll take you out again.¡±


    Deasy was surprised. Lucas¡¯s words caught her attention.


    ¡°Trip? You¡¯re going on a trip?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°I have a two-day business trip starting tomorrow. I hope you don¡¯t mind me leaving you for a little while.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She agreed with it, but for some reason, deep down, she didn¡¯t feelfortable with Lucas leaving. Even though he assured her it would only be for two days.


    When they reached the apartment, Deasy remained silent. She might still be feeling a bit reluctant. It was funny how she imed to have no feelings about it, but once Lucas mentioned his trip, she became restless and grumbled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s change our clothes so we don¡¯t catch a cold. Or do you want to take a bath? I¡¯ll prepare it for you,¡± Lucas said, guiding Deasy to sit on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a bath.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He went to Deasy¡¯s bathroom and prepared some warm water. After that, he handed a towel to Deasy.


    ¡°Alright, get in the bath. The water is ready. I¡¯m going to clean up as well.¡±


    But there was one thing that caught Deasy by surprise. As Lucas entered her bathroom, he was topless. Whether it was intentional or because his shirt was wet, Deasy couldn¡¯t be sure, but it made her quite flustered.


    Why?


    Lucas casually walked back and forth in front of her without wearing a shirt, disying his fair and well-built chest. His abs were visible, showing that he was someone who enjoyed exercising.


    ¡°Oh my God. What¡¯s wrong with my eyes and my brain!¡±


    Deasy muttered to herself while averting her gaze. But not looking felt like such a waste.


    His eyes.


    His lips.


    His chest.


    His abs.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, please clear my dirty thoughts!¡±


    So, Deasy continued to silently watch, suppressing a nervousugh and enjoying the breathtaking view in front of her.


    Then, after a while, Lucas, who had already prepared the medication and vitamins on the nightstand, turned to her. Their eyes met.


    This took Deasy by surprise. Like a person caught doing something, she immediately averted her gaze, acting as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything before.


    ¡°The medicine and the vitamins are ready, just need to be taken. After this, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Luc,¡± Deasy interrupted immediately. She pulled Lucas¡¯s wrist, urging him to sit beside her.


    ¡°Why? Do you need something else? Or¡ª¡±


    Lucas¡¯s sentence came to a halt. It was reced by readiness and a profound surprise. How could he not be startled when Deasy, for the first time, came closer and nted a kiss right on his lips without warning?


    And would this be just a kisster on? Or would it end up more like the two nights they had spent together before?

 PHB 45

    Say what Deasy is doing right now is absolutely crazy. Or¡­ maybe her modesty haspletely disappeared without a trace.


    Otherwise, how could she behave so boldly? The fact that Lucas is topless, pacing in front of her, she¡¯s acting like a horny Angora cat meowing.


    Deasy repeatedly seemed to be holding her breath, swallowing saliva while struggling to control the sudden surge of desire within her. But, in reality, all her efforts seemed in vain.


    To protect Deasy from embarrassment and the gossip of devoutizens, let¡¯s just me it on the pregnancy syndrome she¡¯s currently experiencing.


    The doctor has repeatedly said that a pregnant woman¡¯s sexual desire increases from the end of the first trimester until the second trimester. Not without reason. This happens because of the significant increase in progesterone and estrogen hormones. This is what ultimately makes Deasy more passionate and immediately aroused when she sees Lucas looking so sexy.


    Yes, in her current view, Lucas is incredibly sexy.


    From his eyes.


    Both of his lips.


    Down to his surprisingly well-built chest.


    Not to mention, the man¡¯s abdomen is actually quite chiseled. Deasy is tempted to touch or even pinch it hard.


    That¡¯s why, unable to resist any longer, Deasy ignores her sanity. Ah, she¡¯s been crazy for a while now.


    Forget that Lucas might be a little goofy and not the ideal type Deasy had always dreamed of. After all, they¡¯ve already had intimate moments twice, just like a husband and wife. Honestly, even when drunk, she enjoyed every bit of it, didn¡¯t she?


    If not, how did she end up pregnant like this?


    Because of the devil¡¯s provocation that keeps echoing in her head, Deasy thinks it¡¯s okay to kiss the man this time. Ah, anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is satisfying her curiosity and thirst for desire.


    That¡¯s why Deasy keeps nibbling. Meanwhile, Lucas, who was initially surprised, chooses to surrender. He just lets Deasy¡¯s lips explore and press against his freely. Kissing without restraint. Pecking every corner of Lucas¡¯s lips with such desire.


    For a moment, in their kiss, Deasy seems to think. She realizes that as adults, that night won¡¯t be enough if they just spend it on kissing. No, Deasy clearly wants something more. It¡¯s not fun to be in bed like this and waste it on just kissing.


    So, Deasy gently pushes Lucas¡¯s body until he¡¯s lying on the bed. Secondster, in one swift move, Deasy slowly crawls on top of the incredibly sexy Lucas.


    In a hurry, the woman begins to unbutton his shirt one by one. She pulls it off and tosses it on the floor. Even her ck bra, which had faithfully supported herrge and confident breasts, she removespletely.


    Meanwhile, Lucas can only swallow hard. He can only watch Deasy, who now looks as bare-chested as he is. Seeing Deasy¡¯s face filled with desire makes his hair stand on end.


    Especially when she intentionally rubs the outside of the jeans she¡¯s wearing. Then, after that, she starts massaging repeatedly. This makes Lucas feel breathless and eager.


    Watching Deasy, Lucas¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moves up and down. He sighs in frustration, driven to madness by the boldness Deasy is showing. Swear to anything, Deasy is more wild than when she¡¯s drunk.


    Afterward, Deasy is seen crawling back up onto Lucas¡¯s body. Her soft hands begin to explore Lucas¡¯s face, cupping it gently, then moving closer and closer. Pressing her body tightly against his, Lucas can feel something firm, very solid, yet soft pressing on his chest. If he didn¡¯t remember himself, Lucas would want to squeeze it hard. Maybe even kiss, nibble, suck, or bite it because he feels so eager.


    Meanwhile, Deasy keeps getting closer. A momentter, she kisses Lucas¡¯s wet face with slow and passionate movements. Starting from the forehead, then moving to both eyes alternately. Slowly descending to the cheeks, then stopping right at the man¡¯s lips.


    Without much hesitation, Deasy resumed kissing. Savoring, then kissing with desire and insistence. Continuously moving both of her lips there. Which eventually tempted Lucas to respond and do the same.


    Then, their lips shed in a passionate kiss. Exchanging back and forth without pause. As if it were apetition, one could say they were attacking each other.


    After feeling satisfied, Deasy slowly unraveled their kiss. While gazing deeply into Lucas¡¯s eyes, her hands roamed. Intentionally tracing Lucas¡¯s body and stopping just below the man¡¯s stomach. Caressing gently there. Slowly descending, then pulling off all of the jeans that Lucas was wearing without a trace.


    Deasy shed a meaningful smile. Seemingly pleased to see Lucas¡¯s helplessness, she continued to tease him.


    Her seductive gaze was in contrast to what the woman was doing. For the umpteenth time, Deasy delicately stroked Lucas¡¯s stomach. With slow movements, asionally circling, and intentionally moving downward. Lower and lower. Then stopping right at Lucas¡¯s perfectly erect member.


    ¡°Oh my, Deasy!¡±


    Lucas growled. He felt as if an electric shock was coursing through his entire body when Deasy cupped, then confidently squeezed and yed with what she held.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y around,¡± Lucas whispered, trying to catch his breath.


    Meanwhile, Deasy smiled broadly again. Ignoring Lucas¡¯s words, she continued to move her hands. Massaging gently the part of Lucas that was now under her control.


    And in a way Lucas had never imagined before, she lowered her body. Momentster, she lowered her face to be able to kiss and wetly kiss the tip of Lucas¡¯s member that she held in her grasp. Then¡­ without calction, she took it into her mouth repeatedly.


    Lucas¡¯s eyes widened with gasping breaths. Unable to endure just sitting there, with whatever sanity he had left, Lucas grabbed Deasy¡¯s face. A momentter, he pulled her body to switch positions.


    Somehow, he found himself on top now. Leading the entire game. If necessary, he would finish itpletely and without a trace. Anyway, Lucas would pay back for everything Deasy had toyed with earlier.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you y with me, Des. I¡¯ll pay you back,¡± Lucas dered.


    With both hands around Lucas¡¯s neck, Deasy looked at him suggestively and let out augh. Her expression clearly mocking Lucas.


    ¡°Sure, what can you do?¡±


    Lucas shed a grin, lowered his face, then aimed for Deasy¡¯s enticing lips. He intensified his advances with a deep and sensual kiss.


    Not only that, his mischievous fingers deliberately roamed. As if searching for sensitive spots to touch and satisfy.


    Deasy¡¯s eyes blinked repeatedly. What Lucas was doing made her crave more intimate affection.


    With great intent, Lucas kissed nearly every inch of Deasy¡¯s skin. Deliberately leaving behind red and wet marks. This made Deasy even more captivated, causing her to close her eyes.


    Unconsciously, she let out a soft moan. Relishing the increasingly intoxicating and soul-stirring caresses. Going down further, continuously descending. Then, he focused on her neck.


    While still kissing, Lucas slowly and surely removed Deasy¡¯s pants that had clung to her body. He then pulled them off and tossed them on the floor.


    Raising his head for a moment, Lucas seemed hypnotized. He gazed in awe at Deasy¡¯s now bare body. Unable to contain his desire, he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time.


    Like a hungry lion, Lucas appeared more than ready to pounce on Deasy at any moment. So, the next thing he did was bring his lips back into y. Continuing the exploration that had been momentarily dyed.


    Lucas¡¯s lips continued to nt light kisses on every inch of Deasy¡¯s body. Going down, past her corbone, and culminating at her chest. He paused to tease and y around for a while. When satisfied, Lucas descended once more, this time choosing to tantalize Deasy¡¯s stomach with wet kisses.


    Deasy was clearly restless. She felt increasingly helpless as time passed. Every touch she received, especially when Lucasnded his lips above her navel, then slowly descended and stopped at the lower part of her abdomen, left her disoriented.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Lucas repeatedly kissed that area, causing her to feel adrift. He moved erratically, and she felt an overwhelming pressure that made her increasingly unable to control herself.


    ¡°Deasy¡­¡±


    Lucas¡¯s voice sounded so heavy, implying a pressure that the man could no longer endure. It made Deasy close her eyes, trying to divert her thoughts from the impending encounter.


    Although this wasn¡¯t the first time, the nervous feeling persisted. Remember, Deasy had never been intimate with another man before.


    Count her exes, there were ten of them, but Lucas remained the only man who had seeded in passionately exploring and experiencing her body. And this time, he was going to do it again.


    Deasy could feel Lucas¡¯s kisses once more, deep and intense. Soon, she felt the weight of Lucas¡¯s body pressing against her. It felt strange at first, but quickly turned enjoyable, especially as Lucas began to position himself. With precision and speed, he united their bodies seamlessly.


    With tenderness and care, mindful of Deasy¡¯s pregnancy, Lucas began his rhythm with gentle and rhythmic movements. He could even see how Deasy¡¯s initially tense face gradually rxed and, over time, turned into one of enjoyment.


    Deasy¡¯s hands moved, pulling Lucas closer to her. Her movements beneath him spurred Lucas on, increasing his passion while maintaining restraint. Until at one point, they both felt the same overwhelming wave of pleasure and ecstasy. Lucas was confident that Deasy too felt satisfied with what he had given her.


    Lucas then copsed onto Deasy¡¯s body. Trying to regte his breath, he raised himself slightly. Looking at Deasy, who seemed defenseless, he smiled. He leaned forward without permission and briefly kissed Deasy¡¯s lips before moving. Changing positions, hey down beside her.


    With gentleness, Lucas embraced Deasy¡¯s body and nted a kiss on the top of her head while hugging her from behind. Strangely, Deasy didn¡¯t resist at all, simply feeling Lucas as they both gradually fell asleep.


    ***

 PHB 46

    This morning, Lucas woke up earlier. Slowly opening his eyes, he found Deasy still sound asleep in his embrace.


    For a moment, Lucas broke into a wide smile. Somehow, there was a surge of happiness in his heart. Like there was something that made him want to keep smiling. Perhaps it was the effect ofst night¡¯s lovemaking, or maybe he was starting to feel something deeper for Deasy.


    Continuing to gaze, Lucas brought his hand up, gently pushing aside the scattered strands of hair on her face. Then, he softly stroked her cheek, moving down and stopping right at Deasy¡¯s swollen lips. Of course, this was because of his relentless kissing and nibbling from the night before.


    ¡°Lucas¡­¡±


    The hoarse voice came from Deasy, who had just awakened from Lucas¡¯s touch. She slowly opened her eyes, realizing that she was under the same nket as Lucas, and startled, she quickly sat up, covering herself with the nket.


    ¡°I-uh¡­ we¡­st night we already¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± Lucas whispered immediately. He looked intently, nodding. ¡°I know. If you¡¯re ufortable, we don¡¯t have to discuss it. I won¡¯t bring it up, and if needed, I¡¯ll forget it so you can feelfortable.¡±


    Lucas tried to reassure Deasy. He knew that she might be feeling embarrassed or uneasy, especially since she had been quite aggressivest night, taking the initiative and openly inviting Lucas to be intimate.


    Meanwhile, Deasy felt uneasy. After all, she had initiated everythingst night. So why did she now feel like someone whocked self-control?


    If she thought about it, what was Lucascking? He was kind, attentive, gentle, and always there for her. Career-wise, he was also sessful. It was just his appearance that had bothered Deasy from the beginning.


    But when she thought about it again, Lucas was quite proportional. He had a tall, well-built body, fair skin, a broad chest, and even a chiseled abdomen.


    As Veronicahad said some time ago, ¡°Oh, Des, looks can be improved. No matter how unattractive someone is, with the right makeover, even someone who looks like a catfish can be a Korean oppa. Especially Lucas. If you look at him as a whole, he¡¯s actually handsome. It¡¯s just his style that needs a makeover. Try asking him to ditch those thick sses and change his middle-parted hair to an undercut or a spiked style, and he¡¯ll look great. The rest can be taken care of by a beauty doctor.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s words made sense. If Deasy was embarrassed by Lucas¡¯s appearance, there was no harm in gradually giving him a makeover.


    Moreover, Deasy felt veryfortable with him. Most importantly, he was the first man who had touched her body, and vice versa. So why not ept his proposal for marriage? After all, she was currently pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child. If getting married seemed too early, they could explore the possibility for a month or two.


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Lucas said when he noticed Deasy was lost in thought while sitting up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Oh, or perhaps you¡¯re ufortable with me here? If so, I apologize, and I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Lucas prepared to get out of bed. Just as he was about to leave the covers, Deasy stopped him and shook her head.


    ¡°No,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯m not ufortable with you here.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about what we both didst night.¡±


    ¡°About that-¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luc,¡± Deasy interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault at all. I¡¯ve always been the one to invite you before. That¡¯s why I¡¯m thinking about it now.¡±


    ¡°Thinking about what?¡±


    ¡°About your promise to take responsibility and marry me.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. He never expected that on this cold morning, Deasy would suddenly bring up the topic of marriage. Could it be that their lovemakingst night had finally melted her resistance and changed her mind?


    ¡°And¡­ are you okay with marrying me?¡±


    Deasy shook her head, and her answer left Lucas puzzled. If she didn¡¯t agree to get married, what did she want now?


    ¡°I think¡­ it would be better if we get to know each other first.¡±


    ¡°Meaning like dating? Getting to know each other first?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly, confirming what Lucas had just said.


    ¡°I just want to make sure that my decision is right and that I won¡¯t regret itter. This is about marriage, Luc. I don¡¯t want it to fail and regret it.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Lucas replied with a smile. ¡°From the beginning, I¡¯ve given you the freedom to choose, Des. Whether you ept or decline my marriage proposal, I¡¯ll still take responsibility for the baby you¡¯re carrying. But if you want to slowly build a rtionship now, that¡¯s fine too. Take your time. When you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll propose and marry you.¡±


    Deasy agreed with a nod. A momentter, she pulled Lucas closer and hugged him without hesitation. For some reason, she had found a new habit that made her feelfortable and safe.


    ¡°I-uh¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Can I¡­ can I hug you?¡±


    Lucas smiled, allowing Deasy to hug him for a while. Then, after a brief moment, he lowered his head, gently cupping Deasy¡¯s chin, asking her to look at him.


    ¡°Let alone a hug, you ask for anything else, and I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± Deasy replied with a smile. Especially when Lucas, for the umpteenth time without warning, and without much talking, immediately disappeared into her lips in a deep, demanding kiss. He slowly savored the softness that Deasy¡¯s lips offered him.


    As they continued to kiss, Lucas¡¯s hand began to move again. It slipped under the nket and cupped one of Deasy¡¯s visibly full and firm breasts. He massaged it gently and tenderly, causing Deasy to be increasingly restless.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Not content with just ying there, Lucas¡¯s lips moved again. He lowered his face slightly and stopped at one of Deasy¡¯s exposed breasts. He gave it a brief kiss before gently sucking on it.


    ¡°Luc¡­¡±


    Lucas smiled broadly as he heard Deasy sigh his name. Especially when she seemed to grow more restless and agitated, feeling all the temptations and adoration he had been offering her since earlier.


    Lucas¡¯s exploration continued. He continued to suck on one breast, then moved to the other. Meanwhile, his hand took the initiative again. It moved downward, slipping under the nket and stopping at Deasy¡¯s inner thigh. With great tenderness, Lucas caressed her there. Momentster, his fingers deliberately ventured into the tantalizingly sensitive area, moving up and down. It started slowly, gradually increasing in speed, and then gently applying pressure, causing Deasy to moan again.


    ¡°Luc, stop. Don¡¯t y around like this,¡± Deasy¡¯s voice sounded husky. Her chest heaved as she tried to control the waves of desire that were overwhelming her, while Lucas looked up. He released his lips from Deasy¡¯s breast, then smiled broadly.


    ¡°Why, do you feel ufortable?¡± he asked, intentionally teasing.


    Deasy nodded immediately. She reached out her hand and pulled Lucas closer to her.


    ¡°Can we just get to the point?¡±


    Lucasughed heartily. He happily granted Deasy¡¯s request, slowly pulling her legs apart and then slowly joining her. They paused for a moment as he entered her fully and filled her.


    Believing that Deasy was nowfortable, Lucas began to move slowly. His hands continued to squeeze both of Deasy¡¯s breasts simultaneously. This action drove Deasy almost insane.


    Moans continued to escape from Deasy¡¯s lips as Lucas continued to move gently on top of her. She could feel Lucas growingrger and fuller with each movement. They continued to move, racing toward the pleasure they both sought. Until finally, Deasy and Lucas reached the same point, where they felt entranced, floating, and finally sinking into boundless pleasure.


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re mine, Des. I won¡¯t let any other man get close to you, let alone touch you,¡± Lucas whispered as Deasyy in his arms.


    Easing the hug slightly, Lucas brought his hand to touch various parts of Deasy¡¯s body that he liked while murmuring softly.


    ¡°From now on, these beautiful eyes can only be used to look at me. And these lips, they can only kiss and whisper my name.¡± Then, Lucas gently kissed Deasy¡¯s lips. In the next moment, his hand moved lower, exploring several parts of Deasy¡¯s still exposed body, without any cover. ¡°These breasts, this stomach, only I can touch them. Especially this part.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s hand stopped right at Deasy¡¯s sensitive spot. He deliberately caressed it, causing Deasy¡¯s hairs to stand on end, and her hand reflexively squeezed Lucas¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Only I can touch like this. And you need to remember, only I can enter it,¡± he emphasized.


    In Lucas¡¯s embrace, Deasy smiled and nodded. Ignoring his words, she chose to hug him tightly, not allowing Lucas to move away from her side.

 PHB 47

    ¡°So, today you¡¯re really going on a work trip out of town?¡± Deasy looked sulky on the edge of the bed, observing Lucas intently as he was tidying up his ck shirt wrapped around his body.


    As mentioned yesterday, Lucas did indeed have a two-day work schedule out of town. Whether she liked it or not, Deasy had to ept being left alone again. It was quite a pity.


    Just when Deasy had started to nurture feelings for the new rtionship she and Lucas had started, now, when they were about to enjoy and experience the sweetness of the rtionship, the man who had impregnated her had to leave again. Even though it was just for a short while, for some reason, it felt heavy. To be honest, Deasy wanted Lucas to be with her right now.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll only be gone for two days. It won¡¯t be long.¡±


    ¡°Not long?¡± Deasy retorted coldly. If you looked closely, her beautiful face still had a sulky expression. Maybe she was still upset because they had just met three days ago, and now he was going to disappear again. ¡°I¡¯m still going to be alone, Luc. You just appeared, and now you¡¯re about to disappear again.¡±


    Seeing Deasy¡¯s unchanging expression, Lucas smiled. He turned around, approached Deasy, and sat down beside her.


    ¡°Just wait a bit. I promise, as soon as everything¡¯s done, I¡¯lle back here immediately. I promised to stay with you, didn¡¯t I?¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    ¡°I know!¡± Deasy replied. While staring into Lucas¡¯s jet-ck eyes, she continued to grumble in a petnt and affectionate tone. ¡°Then, if I have cravings or get tired, who will massage me? Who will feed me if I want breakfast or dinner? And who will apany me to sleep?¡±


    Lucas chuckled. It was amusing to hear Deasy¡¯s long, uninterruptedints like a never-ending train. Because of his fondness for her, he even pinched her nose yfully while responding softly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you when I get back. Seriously, this won¡¯t take long. If it¡¯s not absolutely necessary, I wouldn¡¯t go.¡±


    Deasy continued to gaze at Lucas¡¯s face, which disyed a pleading expression. It was as if he was asking Deasy to allow his departure this time.


    In reality, Lucas found it quite amusing. He hadn¡¯t expected Deasy, who was usually blunt, cold, and often annoying, to change 180% and be so affectionate. Just like a child. But that was fine. Lucas liked it. He preferred seeing Deasy like this, not being shy to show her other side, no longer feeling awkward to be affectionate and longing for him. Rather than her usual tendency to get angry and rant aimlessly.


    ¡°Over there, you¡¯ll be up to all sorts of things,¡± Deasy muttered with a sad expression on her face.


    Respectedizens, please remind Deasy who it was that said Lucas wasn¡¯t her ideal type. Who was it that said Lucas was the kind of guy who would never attract anyone because of his in and ordinary appearance.


    So, why is she now worried that he might do something while they¡¯re apart?


    ¡°Oh my sweetheart, how could I do anything like that? With an average face like mine, who would want to be with me, really?¡±


    ¡°Well, you never know,¡± Deasy argued with a slightly raised voice. ¡°These days, there are plenty of beautiful women with ordinary-looking guys. There are also rich and beautiful women with guys who don¡¯t meet the typical standards. Why? Because the guy is really good at sweet-talking, just like you.¡±


    Rather than getting offended, Lucas burst intoughter at Deasy¡¯s argument. Seriously, was the woman in front of him jealous or something?


    ¡°Banana fritters, tofu from Sumedang. Even though distance separates us. Don¡¯t worry, my love for you will never diminish. So, don¡¯t be afraid that I¡¯ll do anything.¡±


    ¡°See, you¡¯re sweet-talking again.¡±


    Lucasughed again. It was both awkward and amusing to deal with Deasy¡¯s strange behavior this morning.


    ¡°But seriously, I have to go. It¡¯s only two days, okay? Please, give me your permission.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you can go,¡± Deasy reluctantly said. Well, how could she be willing when they had just met? They had only been lovey-dovey and affectionate for a day. Of course, she didn¡¯t feel satisfied and felt like she was losing him again.


    Ah, it seemed like from now on, Deasy would never feel satisfied. Especially now that Lucas had openly shown that he could satisfy her anywhere, including in bed. #eh. ¡°But¡­ before you go, you have to promise something.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s brow reflexively furrowed. What was she going to make him promise this time? There were already so many conditions Deasy had presented for his two-day trip.


    After all, Lucas really had to go for work. He wasn¡¯t just boasting or cosying as Lucas Morales for a few days.


    ¡°Yeah, what do I have to promise?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not busy, call me often.¡±


    This time, Lucas smiled. It seemed like the charm he had given to Deasy was starting to work. He thought she was going to ask for something else. Turns out, she just wanted him to call her frequently in his free time. Easy enough, whether it¡¯s a phone call or video call.


    ¡°Oh my, what did I think? Yes, dear. I promise. Whenever I have free time, I¡¯ll call you right away so you won¡¯t miss me. And if necessary, every night before bed, I¡¯ll video call you, how about that?¡±


    Deasy looked surprised by Lucas¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t about the promise he¡¯d contact her all the time. It was about Lucas suddenly calling her by a term she had never heard before.


    ¡°What was that just now? You called me¡­ ¡®dear¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ ¡®dear.¡¯ Why? Don¡¯t you like me calling you ¡®dear¡¯?¡±


    Deasy shook her head repeatedly. Her face turned red as she tried to contain the excitement inside her.


    Just being called ¡°dear¡± made Deasy¡¯s heart race uncontrobly. Like a fickle teenager, she started grinning.


    Don¡¯t forget, just a few days ago, she was ying hard to get. She even insulted and criticized Lucas in various ways. So why had she suddenly changed her mind and started acting like someone who was head over heels in love?


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just-¡±


    ¡°Just what, dear?¡±


    For heaven¡¯s sake, could Lucas just say ¡°dear¡± without making it sound all soft and indulgent? Deasy was getting more and more smitten hearing it.


    ¡°I-I was just surprised. You suddenly used the term ¡®dear¡¯ like that.¡±


    Lucas grinned. He understood why Deasy might find it unusual or surprising what he had just said.


    ¡°Well, should I call you ¡®Ms. Deasy¡¯ then? I mean, we¡¯re in a rtionship. It doesn¡¯t sound nice or romantic, right? Or do you want me to call you ¡®Mom¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why ¡®Mom¡¯? I¡¯m not your mother. Don¡¯t call me ¡®Mom¡¯ or anything like that.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re going to be the mother of my children, dear. So, what¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    Not Deasy but the virtuousizen who would feel nauseous listening to this. It¡¯s true what they say, excess is not good. Just call each other ¡°dear¡± and don¡¯t overdo it, right?


    ¡°Enough, Luc. Stop sweet-talking. It¡¯s still morning,¡± protested Deasy immediately.


    ¡°Buy a thick book, then buy some nails. I¡¯m serious, from now on, you¡¯re my girlfriend. So, I¡¯ve decided to call you ¡®dear.¡¯ I don¡¯t care, but you can¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Deasy sighed in exasperation. She pinched Lucas¡¯s arm until he groaned. Annoyed in such a serious moment, her boyfriend (aww, boyfriend) was still rhyming as usual.


    ¡°Ouch, dear. Instead of pinching, why don¡¯t you just kiss me?¡± Lucas teased as he rubbed his reddened arm from Deasy¡¯s pinch.


    ¡°No way! You¡¯re annoying.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to kiss me? We¡¯re not going to see each other for two days, you know. I promise you¡¯ll miss my touch, my kisses, my hugs-¡±


    Lucas¡¯s sentence hung in the air as Deasy deliberately pulled Lucas¡¯s face toward hers to silence his ramblings with a deep kiss. They passionately kissed, savoring and alternating between each other¡¯s lips.


    Lucas couldn¡¯t stay idle. In the next moment, he responded eagerly. He pulled Deasy¡¯s neck closer to deepen their kiss. He even deliberately pushed Deasy¡¯s body slowly, guiding her to lie on the bed.


    The kiss that had started as ordinary slowly grew hotter and more passionate. Especially when Lucas¡¯s hands began to roam and paused right at Deasy¡¯s chest. He gently squeezed it, making Deasy moan and squirm.


    Realizing that this morning¡¯s activities could lead to something longer if not stopped, Lucas slowly tried to pull away and unravel the kiss between them.


    From Lucas¡¯s perspective, he could clearly see how unwilling Deasy was to let their short morning activity end just like that.


    ¡°We have to work, dear,¡± Lucas said gently, resting his forehead against Deasy¡¯s, who was catching her breath.


    ¡°You¡¯re mean!¡± she muttered.


    ¡°How am I mean?¡± Lucas wondered, even though he knew Deasy was upset because he suddenly stopped the kiss. ¡°We¡¯ll continue as soon as I get back, I promise.¡±


    Lucas then cupped Deasy¡¯s cheeks. He gazed deeply into her eyes and then gave her a quick kiss on the lips for thest time.


    ¡°You take care of yourself while I¡¯m gone. If you need urgent help, just contact Miss Veronicafor the time being.¡±


    Deasy nodded, agreeing with what Lucas instructed.


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of myself. Are you going to leave now?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He then got up from his seat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive you to work first. After that, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Deasy smiled happily. She thought Lucas was going to leave her just like that. Turns out, not at all. In thest moments before leaving for a few days, Lucas still found the time to drive her to the office.


    Using thetest HRV car model, which Lucas admitted was his office car, Lucas drove Deasy to the front entrance of the Forty-Nine building. Before she got out of the car, he helped her unbuckle her seatbelt and even took the opportunity to give her a quick kiss on the forehead before allowing her to exit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take your medicine and vitamins. I¡¯ll call you as soon as I arrive.¡±


    ¡°You also be careful on the road.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Have a good day at work. Love you.¡±


    Once again, Deasy was left speechless and dazed for a moment. She wasn¡¯t used to receiving such affectionate words from someone who was in a romantic rtionship.


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Lucas called out when Deasy lingered, not opening the car door. ¡°You¡¯re okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh, y-yeah. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll get out now. L-love you too.¡±


    ***

 PHB 48

    ¡°Des, are you perfectly healthy?¡±


    Veronicastared at Deasy in horror. As usual, after work, she had invited Deasy to hang out at the coffee shop.


    After sitting for thirty minutes, Veronicanoticed that Deasy seemed odd. Her friend was smiling to herself as if she were crazy.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Ve? I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you smiling so strangely? Did you forget to take your medication or something?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m crazy?¡±


    Deasy sighed in annoyance. Her friend seemed to think she was crazy and mentally unstable. Furthermore, why was Veronicasuch a nosy friend? Everything that happened to Deasy was alwaysmented on. Couldn¡¯t she just refrain frommenting, let alone getting involved so much? It was starting to irritate Deasy.


    ¡°You don¡¯t usually smile like that for no reason. It¡¯s making me curious. Besides, are you happy about something?¡±


    ¡°Guess, then¡­¡± Deasy replied casually,ughing. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m happy or sad?¡±


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯reughing, you must be happy.¡±


    ¡°There you go. So, why are you bothering me? In the past, when I was frowning, you thought I was frustrated and about tomit suicide. Now, when I¡¯m smiling and happy, you think I¡¯m crazy. My feelings are always misunderstood, it¡¯s so frustrating!¡±


    Veronicughed at Deasy¡¯s rant. She had just expressed her serious confusion at seeing something strange and unusual in her friend, and it turned into a humorous conversation.


    ¡°But¡­ seriously, Des. Are you really okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine, Veronica,¡± Deasy quickly replied.


    ¡°Your pregnancy, how is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s healthy.¡±


    ¡°Your job?¡±


    ¡°No issues.¡±


    ¡°Your rtionship with Lucas?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s getting closer.¡±


    Deasy immediately covered her mouth quickly. She regretted why she had blurted that out. Of course, her quick response raised big question marks in Veronica¡¯s mind.


    Don¡¯t even ask about Veronica¡¯s facial expression right now. It couldn¡¯t be described in words.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°What? What did I say?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Deasy,¡± Veronicaurged impatiently. ¡°My ears are still working fine. I¡¯m pretty sure I didn¡¯t mishear. How¡­ how is your rtionship with Lucas? Getting closer? What?! You¡¯re not kidding, are you?¡±


    Veronicawas excited, which made Deasy sigh in annoyance because she was confused about how to exin this. It could be guessed that after she told the whole story, Veronicawould never stop teasing her and might say all sorts of things.


    ¡°Come on, spill it. How are you and Lucas? Getting closer? Or could it be that you¡¯re getting more intimate after living under the same roof?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Deasy widened her eyes. She was extremely embarrassed by what Veronicahad just said.


    ¡°Ve, what are you saying? Why not use the mosque loudspeaker while you¡¯re at it? So that everyone can hear your gossip.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Veronicaburst intoughter. Seeing Deasy pouting, she immediately covered her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay?¡±


    Veronicathen moved her chair closer, narrowing the distance, and spoke in a half-whisper to Deasy.


    ¡°Come on, spill the beans. How are you and Lucas? Getting closer? I mean, have you two already¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy cut her off. ¡°Everything you¡¯re thinking is correct. I¡¯ve even slept with him again. Satisfied now?¡±


    Veronicaburst intoughter again. It was so amusing to see Deasy¡¯s irritated expression after answering her question.


    ¡°So, the one who said he wasn¡¯t your ideal type is slowly falling for him now? And what¡¯s next? Are you going to get married? Don¡¯t tell me you n to live together without intending to get married.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Deasy immediately replied. ¡°I¡¯m not a child, Ve. This is something I discussed with Lucas some time ago.¡±


    Veronicawas taken aback. She became even more curious about what Deasy was going to tell her.


    ¡°What did you say to him?¡±


    ¡°I agree that he should take responsibility. But, before we move to a serious level, I want the two of us to explore for a month or two.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Veronicaeximed loudly. ¡°If you wait another two months, Des, your belly might get bigger. Aren¡¯t you ashamed to draw so much attention?¡±


    Veronicanaturally considered this aspect. She didn¡¯t want Deasy to end up stressed because she became the subject of gossip when her pregnancy was more noticeable.


    ¡°I know, Ve. But I need more time for us to get to know each other better. I don¡¯t want us to get married right away without truly understanding each other.¡±


    ¡°The key is being sure, Des. Whether you date or explore for years, it doesn¡¯t guarantee a sessful marriage. It all depends on the individuals involved. Besides, I see Lucas as a good guy with many qualities. I¡¯m really sure he¡¯ll make you happy in the future. Don¡¯t make a big deal out of his appearance; it¡¯s not a big deal. After all, he satisfies you, right?¡±


    Deasy widened her eyes. Why was she discussing these bedroom matters?


    ¡°Ve¡­ please!¡±


    ¡°Okay, fine. I admit it. If Lucas¡¯s ¡®service¡¯ wasn¡¯t satisfactory, you wouldn¡¯t have slept with him for the third time. Wait, was it really three times? Or maybe more?¡±


    ¡°Veronica!¡±


    Again, Veronicateased her. It felt good to see Deasy unable to respond.


    ¡°Like I said yesterday,¡± Darwin Walters¡¯s wife continued, ¡°Looks can be easily made over anytime, as long as there¡¯s money. But if you look closely, Lucas isn¡¯t as in as you think.¡±


    Deasy remained silent, digesting Veronica¡¯s words. If she waited two more months, her belly would definitely be much more noticeable. Her weight had already increased significantly. If she didn¡¯t hurry up and get married, people around her would realize she was pregnant.


    ¡°So, do you think I should just ept Lucas¡¯s proposal to get married quickly?¡±


    Veronicanodded. ¡°If you¡¯re sure, go for it. But before that, let me ask, are youfortable with him? This is about your life partner. Marriage isn¡¯t just about status.¡±


    ¡°Well, so far, I¡¯mfortable with Lucas¡¯s behavior. I know I¡¯ve misjudged Lucas all this time. It turns out he¡¯s far beyond my expectations.¡±


    Veronicasmiled, trying not to tease Deasy further.


    ¡°So, if you¡¯re sure and feelfortable, go for it. Especially since you¡¯re not waiting for anything.¡±


    ¡°So, should I just marry Lucas?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get married! If you¡¯re short on money, I¡¯ll help you out,¡± Veronicasuggested.


    Deasy immediately pinched Veronica, not believing what she just heard. Did Veronicathink she needed financial help?


    After their conversation, Veronicaapanied Deasy back to her apartment. She left without making any further stops, confident that everything would be fine.


    Once she entered her room, Deasy quickly cleaned up and changed her clothes. Just as shey down, she received a message from Lucas.


    Lucas: A precious gem in a barrennd. Good evening, my love.


    Deasy chuckled as she read Lucas¡¯s short message and decided to respond in kind.


    Deasy: A snack devoured by a shark. Darling, I miss you.


    Deasy expected Lucas to send a text back, but to her surprise, he immediately initiated a video call.


    ¡°Good evening, beautiful. Are you already home?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°Yes, you saw for yourself that I¡¯m in bed,¡± Deasy replied.


    ¡°Have you eaten? Taken your medicine? Your vitamins?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Deasy replied briefly, trying to maintain her image. In reality, she felt a burst of happiness for some reason, seeing Lucas lying in bed on the screen of her phone.


    ¡°How was your day? Everything okay while I was away? No unexpected events?¡±


    Deasy nodded. Thankfully, the first day she was alone went smoothly, with no drama that made her emotional or overwhelmed.


    ¡°So far, so good,¡± she replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. And how¡¯s our baby doing? Is he being fussy? Maybe he made you feel nauseous, dizzy, or anything like that when I¡¯m not around.¡±


    Deasy smiled. Lucas¡¯s question made her chuckle. He was asking as though their baby had already been born and was acting like a mischievous child bothering his mother.


    She was happy to hear it. Lucas had shown many unexpected sides of himself several times.


    ¡°Fortunately, he cooperated today. So, I¡¯m fine,¡± Deasy replied.


    ¡°Thank goodness. Just be patient for now. I¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow, and I¡¯ll go straight to your apartment. By the way, is there anything you¡¯d like as a souvenir? I¡¯ll bring it back for you.¡±


    On the other side of the phone screen, Deasy shook her head. She didn¡¯t want anything from Lucas right now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a souvenir, Luc. I just want you toe back soon.¡±


    ¡°Aww, missing me so much, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, something like that.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say you miss me? Is it that hard? You¡¯re acting so aloof.¡±


    Lucas yfully pouted. His lips curled into a little frown after hearing Deasy¡¯s response.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cute, you know that?¡± Deasy teased.


    Lucas burst intoughter on his end of the call. He was satisfied to hear Deasy admit that she missed him.


    ¡°Tonight, you¡¯ll sleep alone. If you want to hug someone, hug a pillow. But when Ie back, I¡¯ll keep youpany and give you a foot massage, just like usual.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m toozy,¡± Deasy replied, shrugging. ¡°Why hug a pillow? I¡¯d rather hug you and roll around.¡±


    Lucas burst intoughter again. Why was Deasy suddenly so yful? Throughout their conversation, she had responded to all of his jokes, turning it into a yful banter. Was this what it meant to meet your soulmate? He felt incredibly happy.


    ¡°Okay, Luc. I¡¯m going to bed now. I¡¯m tired from dealing with you,¡± Deasyined. ¡°You should get some rest too. Let¡¯s continue our chat tomorrow if you¡¯re not too busy.¡±


    ¡°Alright, my love. Goodnight. If you miss me, just dream about me. I will be happy.¡±

 PHB 49

    ¡°Sir, why is your smile so unclear like that? You¡¯re not sick, are you?¡±


    In a different ce, thousands of kilometers away from where Deasy lived, there was Lucas, who was currently in one of the hotel rooms in Singapore.


    The man was actually finishing some work but had to postpone it for a while because he had an obligation to keep his promise to contact Deasy whenever he had the opportunity. Moreover, Lucas also had to make sure that Deasy went to bed on time, just as he did when he was with her.


    Felix, who had been in Lucas¡¯s room all this time, looked puzzled. From the beginning, he had been observing Lucas who was engrossed in a phone conversation, and his boss seemed so happy and delighted. Was talking to someone on the other end such a mood booster for him?


    This also made Felix wonder. Who was the person Lucas was talking to on the phone and chatting with?


    ¡°Mr. Lucas?¡± Felix asked again when his boss didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Is it true, Mr. Lucas, that you¡¯re under a spell or something?¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. His focus had shifted to his assistant sitting right in front of him.


    ¡°What? Under a spell? Come on! I¡¯m perfectly fine,¡± Lucas said emphatically. He couldn¡¯t believe that he was being mistaken for something like that when he was perfectly healthy and normal.


    Why couldn¡¯t Felix just let him enjoy his happiness for a moment? Why did he have to be interrogated and asked all these questions?


    ¡°Well, Mr. Lucas, you¡¯ve been smiling unclearly all this time. I even called you, and your response was slow, unlike your usual self. I¡¯m just worried that something might be wrong,¡± Felix exined.


    Lucas sighed and rolled his eyes. Handsome as he was, there was no way he could be possessed or anything like that. ¡°It¡¯s probably just your imagination. I¡¯m really just fine,¡± Lucas replied, trying to dismiss Felix¡¯s concerns. He then went back to his work.


    However, since Felix was already curious, he decided to ask anyway. After all, it was the first time he had been so curious like this.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if this sounds impolite, Mr. Lucas, but may I know why you keep smiling so strangely? It¡¯s not like you, Mr. Lucas, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m concerned.¡±


    Lucas turned to look at Felix and chuckled. Seeing how curious his assistant was, he decided to share. After all, whenever something happened, he always vented to Felix.


    ¡°I just called Deasy. And for some reason, it just made me really happy.¡±


    Felix was startled for a moment. He didn¡¯t hear it wrong, did he?


    Lucas said he was happy?


    But Felix remembered very well that in the early stages when they were assigned to investigate together, Lucas seemed so reluctant because he had to deal with the stubborn and annoying woman like Deasy.


    Then, just a monthter, why does Lucas seem to have changed his mind and behavior? Could it be that Felix¡¯s concerns havee true? Has Lucas fallen in love with Deasy due to frequent interactions?


    It¡¯s not what you think. Felix had lost count of how many times Lucas had smiled. Even after the phone call had ended some time ago, Lucas continued to smile to himself, like a madman. This made Felix worried that something might be wrong with Lucas.


    ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m just happy with her response. Imagine, Deasy, who used to be so curt, often disgusted, and seemed to really hate Lucas Orion, has suddenly changed 180 degrees. Far¡­ very far from before.¡±


    ¡°Power Rangers, is it, sir? Did you transform?¡±


    ¡°Felix!¡± Lucas said in annoyance. He was serious, but his assistant made an offhandment. But if you thought about it, Felix was not that different from himself.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ Sir¡­ Sorry. I slipped up. Go on. Why do you think Deasy suddenly changed like that? Has she repented?¡±


    Lucasughed. Could Deasy be so guilty that she needed to repent and redeem herself in this way? Seriously, looking at it, Felix was just as random as he was.


    ¡°Maybe the spell I cast on her is starting to work. That¡¯s why Deasy seems so happy to be close to Lucas Orion now.¡±


    ¡°A spell?¡± Felix repeated, full of questions. Seriously, did his boss use a spell or something? ¡°Mr. Lucas, did you give a spell to Miss Deasy?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Scrambled eggs, omelet eggs. Deasy didn¡¯t even realize that I cast a spell on her.¡±


    ¡°But where did you go, sir? Why didn¡¯t I know?¡±


    Laughter erupted from Lucas¡¯s lips. Especially when he saw Felix¡¯s face, which had been rxed before but was now tense. He was just joking. Why was it taken so seriously?


    ¡°Just kidding, maybe. Besides, why would I need to use a spell?¡±


    ¡°But, as far as I remember, Miss Deasy used to really hate Lucas Orion. When she found out she slept with Lucas Orion twice, she was really stressed. That¡¯s why I¡¯m surprised to hear Mr. Lucas say that Miss Deasy has changed so much.¡±


    Lucas shrugged his shoulders. He never expected Deasy to change as she has now.


    ¡°Do you know, she even did that? Let alone that, when I disappeared for a few days because I had to be Lucas Morales, it turns out Deasy was looking for me every day and waiting for my arrival. Her reason was that she wanted to remind me of my promise to take care of her for the next nine months.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Lucas nodded again.


    ¡°At first, she was too embarrassed to admit it. But as time went on, Deasy finally confessed that she was upset for a few days without seeing me and not getting attention from me.¡±


    ¡°Miss Deasy said that? She confessed directly to Mr. Lucas?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was surprised too,¡± Lucas said, shifting his body position. His current demeanor was exactly like the neighborhooddies who were busy gossiping about their neighbors. ¡°And¡­¡± he continued. ¡°The important thing you should know is that Deasy finally agreed to marry me.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, sir? Is it true that Miss Deasy wants to marry Lucas Orion? Not Lucas Morales?¡±


    Lucas smiled broadly, confirming what Felix had asked. Even his assistant couldn¡¯t believe that Deasy finally agreed to get married, after previously refusing and clinging to her pride as high as a mountain.


    ¡°As you said before, Lucas Orion must be capable of winning the heart of the beautiful and famously arrogant Deasy Winterborne. And now, that prediction has trulye true.¡±


    Felix nodded. As a more experienced man, he certainly knew the habits, both good and bad, when it came to women. He also knew many tactics and strategies to win the hearts of women out there.


    ¡°Women can be summed up in three factors, sir.¡±


    Lucas was immediately intrigued. He wondered what Felix was about to tell him. Perhaps this could be a lesson for him to deal with women in the future.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Oh, really? And what are they?¡±


    ¡°Attention, time, and money.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? And doesn¡¯t appearance factor into the equation? Isn¡¯t the first thing women notice usually someone¡¯s visual appearance? Especially if they¡¯re good-looking and have a healthy bank ount. Well, the rest can follow.¡±


    Felix shook his head repeatedly. He refuted the argument Lucas had just presented. Although most people, whether women or men, usually base their first impressions on someone¡¯s appearance, there are still other factors that can change someone¡¯s mind, especially women.


    ¡°No, sir. Looks don¡¯t actually factor into the equation.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Lucas seemed skeptical. There was something bothering him. ¡°Take Deasy, for example. She didn¡¯t like Lucas Orion because he looked old-school or uncool. But deep down, I¡¯ve been good-looking from birth. No matter how much she tried to belittle me, there¡¯s still a handsome side to me. But she kept insulting Lucas Orion.¡±


    Lucas was bragging, even though it wasn¡¯t really relevant, but he was proud of it.


    ¡°But in the end, Miss Deasy changed her mind and epted Mr. Lucas, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded, just like a bird being fed.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°It was Mr. Lucas himself who said that Miss Deasy admitted that she had been upset for a few days without seeing you and not getting your usual attention.¡±


    Lucas nodded again.


    ¡°Yes, maybe because she got used to my attention, like when it came to food, taking medicine, vitamins, and I often massaged her before bedtime, whether she was tired or not. So, she got used to it. And when I disappeared for a few days, Deasy felt like she was missing something.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Felix snapped his fingers in the air. ¡°All of that is a form of attention. Because of this, Miss Deasy feelsfortable being with Mr. Lucas.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Lucas agreed.


    ¡°And the second factor is about time. Women fall for men who dedicate special time to them. Basically, men who can make extra time amidst their busy schedules are more valued in the eyes of women. Plus, being generous and not stingy with money. Well, this makes a man¡¯s value go from 100 to 1000. There¡¯s nopetition.¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement once again. Finally, he had some enlightenment from Felix. Now that he knew this, he knew how to act.


    ¡°I agree with this analogy. Even as a man, I wouldn¡¯t want someone who¡¯s indifferent, always acting busy, and stingy. I¡¯d rather go for someone else.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, sir. Looks are lower on the list. In the end, they¡¯ll be outshone by a guy who can give attention, more time, and of course, be generous with money. I¡¯m sure these three things made Miss Deasyfortable and willing to ept Lucas Orion. Despite everything, if she knew Mr. Lucas is good-looking, it would be a huge jackpot. It¡¯s like hitting the jackpot. Imagine this, Mr. Lucas, you¡¯re already good-looking, well-off, well-built, attentive, and kind.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, how could I have been created by God so perfectly?¡±


    Lucas then burst intoughter. He was even smiling to himself, admiring himself. Typical narcissist!


    ¡°Oh,e on, you. I¡¯ll give you a raise, Felix!¡±


    ¡°But, sir¡­¡± Felix continued. His face, which had been cheerful before, now turned more serious. It was as if something was bothering him deep inside. ¡°What if Miss Deasy actually finds out that Mr. Lucas is Lucas Morales?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. Long before Felix asked, he had thought about this many times. He realized that anyone would be angry if they were lied to, no matter how small the lie was.


    However, Lucas argued that if he exined things properly, Deasy would surely understand. After all, his disguise was necessary for urgent matters and thepany¡¯s interests. It wasn¡¯t intentional or meant for deception.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve thought about that too. But I¡¯m confident that if I exin it properly, Deasy will understand. And to be honest, instead of worrying about how Deasy will react, I¡¯m more concerned about how to cancel my engagement and wedding ns with Devina. If I don¡¯t handle it soon, it will only get moreplicated.¡±


    Felix agreed, especially since he knew that his boss¡¯s wedding ns were scheduled for the next few months. If not handled promptly, it could be even more troublesome.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, try talking to Mr. Andreas and Ms. Devina gently. Tell them that you have chosen another woman who is even carrying your child right now.¡±


    Lucas remained silent for a moment, considering Felix¡¯s suggestion carefully.


    ¡°Should I try talking to my father this afternoon after the meeting? Since he¡¯s here.¡±


    Felix appeared to weigh the options and possibilities. After thinking it through, he nodded.


    ¡°You can give it a try, sir. If it doesn¡¯t work, you can try againter. I¡¯m sure that if you¡¯re sincere, there will be a way. Mr. Andreas can be tough, but if we talk and provide evidence, he¡¯ll eventually agree. I¡¯m 100% sure.¡±


    This time, Lucas nodded, hoping that everything would go ording to n. After all, he was starting to feelfortable with Deasy.


    ***

 PHB 50

    Lucas had just finished his meeting today. While waiting for his father, who was still engaged in discussions with his business partners, Lucas took the opportunity to contact Deasy, who was probably also taking a break from work.


    Lucas was curious, trying to guess what Deasy might be doing at the moment. Had she had lunch yet, or was she still busy with her work?


    That¡¯s why Lucas decided to send a short message, hoping for a quick response from Deasy.


    Lucas: Rolling dice, drinking herbal medicine. I miss you; luckily, we¡¯ll meet tomorrow.


    Deasy: There¡¯s a tortoise on the boat. Just kidding, I¡¯m not missing you.


    While sitting in the restaurant, Lucas pursed his lips. He immediately searched for Deasy¡¯s contact and called her right away. Since he was currently disguised as Lucas Morales, he chose a regr phone call instead of a video call like the previous night.


    ¡°Are you serious about not missing me?¡± Lucas asked over the phone.


    ¡°No, just kidding,¡± Deasy replied casually.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll extend my business trip until next week.¡±


    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± Deasy responded immediately, her tone suddenly panicked. Perhaps she was afraid that Lucas was serious about his statement. ¡°There¡¯s a virus, there¡¯s a vine. Meeting you is a must because I¡¯ve missed you a thousand times.¡±


    ¡°Come on,¡± Lucas teased. ¡°You said you weren¡¯t missing me.¡±


    ¡°Just kidding, my dear.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. So this was what it felt like to be called ¡°dear¡± in a soft, gentle tone by the opposite sex? No wonder Deasy¡¯s response was so unexpected. It made him feel light-headed.


    ¡°W-what? What did you just call me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m toozy; there¡¯s no rey.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re so stubborn,¡± Lucas protested. Why were these women so proud? They should reconsider, it¡¯s not that hard.


    ¡°Darling¡­ Lucas, darling,¡± Deasy finally said, and of course, it made Lucas feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. You should call me that more often.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to. I might get bored.¡±


    ¡°No, really. I never get bored with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re such a tterer.¡±


    ¡°What are you up to, my dear?¡± Lucas asked.


    ¡°I just finished work. I¡¯m getting ready for lunch. Have you finished your work?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas replied with a nod. Although, even if he tripped and fell, there was no way Deasy could see it. ¡°I just finished a meeting. Now I¡¯m rxing and getting ready for lunch too.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s next after lunch?¡± Deasy asked curiously. Who knows, maybe everything was done, and Lucas was getting ready to go home.


    ¡°Back to work, of course. It¡¯s scheduled for the whole day.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Deasy said, and her tone seemed to carry a hint of disappointment. Lucas noticed it very clearly. Besides, ording to Felix, when women answered in short sentences, it meant only two things. Either they were sulking or they were very angry.


    ¡°Why, dear? Are you angry?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, just normal.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s response sent a shiver down Lucas¡¯s spine. He knew that when a woman replied with ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± it meant there was definitely something wrong.


    ¡°Are you sure? If I did something wrong, I apologize. If you want something, just tell me.¡±


    ¡°No, seriously, I¡¯m fine,¡± Deasy reassured him.


    ¡°Later, when I finish work, I¡¯ll go out for a bit to buy souvenirs. Are you sure you don¡¯t want anything? Gifts, food, or any souvenirs?¡±


    ¡°No, Luc,¡± Deasy declined. She had already said yesterday that she wasn¡¯t interested in souvenirs, and yet Lucas kept offering them. Didn¡¯t he understand that she wanted Lucas himself, not gifts and such? Wasn¡¯t Lucas sensitive enough?


    ¡°Or do you want me to buy some skincare products? They have a variety of brands here.¡±


    A small sigh could be heard from the other end of the line. Deasy seemed tired of dealing with Lucas¡¯s questions that didn¡¯t match her expectations. She would have preferred it if Lucas had just told her he would being home earlier instead of offering all these different things.


    ¡°Luc, I don¡¯t need skincare products. What I need is just you caring about me.¡±


    Lucas couldn¡¯t help butugh. Was Deasy sulking or just joking? He had been serious about buying her things. Maybe if he bought her various gifts, her mood would improve, and she wouldn¡¯t sulk anymore.


    ¡°Yes, dear, yes. Don¡¯t sulk. I¡¯ve taken two days off from work. I promise, we¡¯ll meet again tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Deasy replied briefly. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m not upset. Go ahead and have your lunch. I¡¯m going to have lunch too.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll end the call now. But promise me you won¡¯t get mad. You might lose your beauty.¡±


    ¡°And if I¡¯m not beautiful, you won¡¯t like me anymore?¡±


    ¡°Who said that?¡± Lucas raised an eyebrow. He quickly denied Deasy¡¯s usation. ¡°The sun may shine brightly, but you¡¯re still the most attractive.¡±


    ¡°Aw,e on.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious.¡±


    ¡°Okay, believe it if you want¡­ Well, well¡­ I¡¯m really going to have lunch now. Later, we can continue discussing work, okay?¡±


    Lucas reflexively nodded. After all, it seemed that his father had finished talking to his business associates as well.


    ¡°Alright, you go ahead and have lunch. I¡¯ll call youter. There¡¯s a shark eating a duck. I love you, beautiful.¡±


    Deasyughed. Not one to be outdone, she replied, ¡°There¡¯s a shark eating a roof. Love you too, handsome.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re something else.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lucas Morales, there¡¯s someone who wants to meet you.¡±


    Suddenly, someone behind him called out. Worried that Deasy might hear what the person had said, Lucas quickly ended the call.


    ¡°Sorry, darling, I have to go.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Lucas got up from his seat and approached the colleague of his father who had just called out to him. He returned the man¡¯s friendly smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet Mr. Lucas, the son of the famous Mr. Andreas,¡± one of the senior business associates, whom Lucas knew well, said.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Stenley. I¡¯m honored to meet the owner of the Cosmix hotelwork. I hope ourpany can grow as rapidly as Mr. Stenley¡¯s.¡±


    After a long conversation, Lucas returned to his father. He invited him to sit together to continue their lunch.


    ¡°Luc, how is the progress with Quantum Tech? Have you made any headway?¡±


    Andreas Morales had barely taken two bites of his lunch when he brought up the topic of Lucas¡¯s assignment. His father had a knack for not noticing when people were enjoying their meals.


    ¡°Just a little more, Pa. I still need to investigate Daniel.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°In that case, do it soon, Luc. If you have solid evidence, go ahead and execute it. I¡¯m getting tired of waiting for too long. If it takes any longer, your wedding might be postponed.¡±


    Out of the blue, while discussing work, Lucas thought it might be a good time to bring up the subject of Deasy as well. After all, it was a rare opportunity to discuss things this seriously with his father. Anxious and hopeful, Lucas silently prayed that his father would listen and approve of his request to cancel the wedding with Devina.


    ¡°Pa, there¡¯s something I want to talk to you about regarding my marriage with Devina.¡±


    Andreas nodded as he continued to enjoy his lunch, inviting his son to share whatever was on his mind.


    ¡°What do you want to discuss? Are you thinking about moving the wedding date forward?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas quickly shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it about?¡±


    ¡°From the beginning, Pa, you know that Lucas doesn¡¯t love Devina, and it¡¯s the same for her.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Andreas interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to cancel the wedding, Luc?¡±


    Andreas¡¯s guess hit the mark. It was as if he could read Lucas¡¯s thoughts. He immediately shook his head vigorously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Son. Don¡¯t embarrass our family by unterally canceling your wedding with Devina. Where will I hide my face if you suddenly cancel this n?¡±


    ¡°Pa¡­¡± Lucas began softly and gently. ¡°Please listen to me first. Lucas and Devina don¡¯t love each other. Devina doesn¡¯t agree with this wedding either. So, what¡¯s the point of us getting married if both of us aren¡¯t willing?¡±


    ¡°Do you think your mother and I got married because of love?¡± Andreas then shook his head while looking intently at his son. ¡°Not at all, Luc. Your mother and I didn¡¯t love each other. But what happened? We still managed toe together, have children, and, most importantly, live happily. So, what else needs to be considered?¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply. When it came to this, it was undoubtedly a challenging issue.


    ¡°But, Pa, Lucas already has another potential partner. Lucas has a woman who-¡±


    ¡°Lucas, stop!¡± Andreas cut him off immediately. He didn¡¯t want his son to continue talking. ¡°Papa¡¯s decision is final. Papa doesn¡¯t want you to cancel your marriage with Devina. You should end your rtionship with the woman who is currently close to you. Most likely, she¡¯s approaching you because you¡¯re wealthy, not because of love or anything else. That¡¯s all nonsense, Luc!¡±


    ¡°Pa!¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Andreas cut him off again, not giving his son a chance to speak at length. ¡°I don¡¯t like to be contradicted, and you know that. I hope you won¡¯t waste your time discussing this matter again. Why? Because it¡¯s pointless. Papa¡¯s choice won¡¯t change. No matter how long you argue, only Devina is worthy of bing Papa¡¯s daughter-inw!¡±


    Lucas fell silent. When he wanted to argue further, Andreas had already risen and left. He left Lucas alone with his thoughts, pondering what he should do to win his father¡¯s approval for his rtionship with Deasy.

 PHB 51

    ¡°Sir, are you really going to stop by here? Don¡¯t you want to go home right away?¡±


    Lucas nodded. In the passenger seat, he seemed to double-check the wristwatch wrapped around his wrist.


    ¡°Yeah, right now. While I have the time. Besides, if I calcte it, the timing is just right.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drop you off and keep youpany.¡±


    Making sure all his work was done without any loose ends, Lucas decided to head home early. Once he reached Jakarta, he asked Felix to take him to meet someone important.


    Usually, they¡¯d meet at a caf¨¦ or restaurant, but this time Lucas chose to meet directly at the apartment.


    Fortunately, when he arrived, the person Lucas was looking for was waiting. As soon as he reached his destination, he immediately engaged in a one-on-one conversation.


    ¡°Why are you suddenly stopping by my apartment thiste?¡±


    Devina promptly weed Lucas and Felix to enter. While she spoke in the living room, Felix chose to wait in the sitting area.


    ¡°It¡¯s only seven, Devina. Still early. Besides, I can¡¯t postpone it until tomorrow. It¡¯s really important.¡±


    Devina chuckled softly. Curious, she wondered what was so important that Lucas had gone out of his way to meet her right after returning from a trip abroad.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s this important thing you want to discuss? Oh, but speaking of important matters, I also want to talk to you about something.¡±


    Lucas raised an eyebrow. He was the one who wanted to share something important. Why was Devina chiming in now? They weren¡¯t a couple, were they? No, they weren¡¯t. Definitely not.


    ¡°Well, you go ahead and talk first until you¡¯re done. Once you¡¯re finished, then I¡¯ll tell you the purpose of my visit tonight.¡±


    Devina nodded. She took a deep breath while studying Lucas¡¯s face. Perhaps she was also thinking about what words would be right to express after this.


    ¡°Devina¡­ let¡¯s talk. I wasn¡¯t asked to just watch you zone out, was I? Don¡¯t waste time. I have a concert after this.¡±


    Devinaughed and rolled her eyes. Annoyed because Lucas seemed incredibly impatient. After all, what was so difficult about waiting a few minutes?


    ¡°This is about our engagement and wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas once again furrowed his brow in confusion, but then, after a brief moment, he leaned forward in his seat to get closer to Devina. The look of curiosity was clearly etched on the handsome man¡¯s face.


    ¡°I came here to talk about our engagement and wedding ns too.¡±


    ¡°Well, what a coincidence. That¡¯s what I wanted to discuss with you, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you go first then. Let me hear it.¡±


    ¡°You go first, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Devina, it¡¯s your turn. If we keep going back and forth, it¡¯ll take all night!¡±


    Devina cleared her throat softly. She seemed to gather her thoughts, then spoke again with a serious expression.


    ¡°After careful consideration, I¡¯vee to a significant conclusion and decision. It¡¯s best for both of us-¡±


    ¡°To cancel the wedding?¡± Lucas confidently interrupted, and his statement was met with a shake of Devina¡¯s head.


    ¡°Cancel the wedding? Why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Then what? What is it? We both know we¡¯re not in love from the beginning. You said it yourself, if we could avoid getting married, it¡¯d be better not to marry me. So, what¡¯s the reason now?¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Devina shook her head again, leaving Lucas puzzled. What did Devina really want?


    Lucas couldn¡¯t forget how many times Devina had admitted she didn¡¯t want to marry him because she wanted to live independently. So, what was the new reason?


    ¡°No, Luc, not that. After thinking it through, it might be better if we elerate our wedding ns. Instead of two or three months from now, how about next month?¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Lucas eximed loudly. He was utterly shocked by Devina¡¯s unexpected n, which did not align with his expectations.


    He had gone through the trouble ofing to her apartment to ask for her help and support in canceling the wedding. However, instead of offering support, she came up with an illogical n to move the wedding date up to next month. This was insane! Moreover, what about Deasy? Lucas couldn¡¯t just leave her in the lurch. He had promised to take responsibility and marry the woman who was carrying his child.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind, Devina? Are you sure you want to marry me? Next month? We don¡¯t even love each other. How are we supposed to get married?¡±


    Devina nodded repeatedly. There was no hint of doubt on her face. It seemed like she was genuinely serious about rushing into marriage with Lucas. But why? Why the sudden change of heart?


    ¡°I¡¯m not crazy, Luc. I¡¯m perfectly sane and healthy. I think there¡¯s no harm in trying this marriage. It seems like we¡¯ll seed in the future.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Lucas tly refused. ¡°You can¡¯t just marry on a whim. Do you think this is a game? I don¡¯t want this, Devina. I came here to ask you to cancel the wedding.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s decision was firm. He had never been interested in marrying Devina from the start. Now, with his growing closeness to Deasy, especially since she was carrying his child, there was no reason not to be responsible and marry her.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to,¡± Devina also refused. She insisted that Lucas proceed with their wedding ns. ¡°I¡¯ve thought this through, Luc. After careful consideration, I believe it¡¯s better to marry you than someone else. The privileges are more guaranteed. Besides, if we get married, our offspring will undoubtedly be good-looking and have excellent genes.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s shoulders slumped. For the sake of anyone who could help, please help Lucas get out of thisplicated situation. If things continued like this, he might actually go crazy.


    Earlier in the afternoon, his father had insisted on rejecting his request to cancel the wedding. Now? It was Devina who was acting against him. What kind of conspiracy was this, anyway?


    ¡°Devina¡­¡± Lucas called out gently, trying to control his breath and find a way to win Devina over while conveying what he wanted to say next. ¡°Please, listen to me first,¡± Lucas pleaded with a deeply pleading expression on his face.


    ¡°Okay, what do you want to say?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath once more, staring earnestly at Devina, urging her to meet his gaze, which now looked like that of a persecuted person.


    ¡°For whatever reason, I can¡¯t marry you.¡±


    ¡°Why, Luc? Am I not enough? I know you don¡¯t love me. I don¡¯t love you either. But don¡¯t worry, love can grow over time. If we get used to meeting and being together, love will naturally develop between us. It¡¯s simple, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Lucas sighed heavily. Devina just wouldn¡¯t stop talking. How could he exin that she needed to be quiet for a moment?


    ¡°That¡¯s not the issue.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? What¡¯s stopping you from marrying me? Am I not pretty enough? Not sexy enough? Not smart enough? Not wealthy enough? What is it?¡±


    ¡°Could you just be quiet for a moment?¡±


    For thest time, Lucas took a deep breath, trying to release the tension that had filled his chest. Then, slowly, he conveyed his intentions to Devina.


    ¡°I can¡¯t marry you because I already have someone else.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have a girlfriend whom I love, and I can¡¯t leave her.¡±


    Devina sighed and shook her head, not epting what Lucas had just told her. She couldn¡¯t believe he was throwing her away just because he had another woman.


    ¡°But you¡¯re engaged to me, Luc. You can¡¯t just cancel it like that.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡± Lucas asked in return. ¡°As long as you help me, we can cancel the engagement and wedding ns immediately. The key is in your hands.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Devina refused outright. ¡°I simply don¡¯t want to cancel our wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas sighed again. He was getting a headache trying to convince Devina to cooperate. Why was she being so difficult now? Just the other day, she seemed perfectly fine with working together.


    ¡°I beg you, Devina. Seriously, I can¡¯t marry you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, Luc. No matter what, I won¡¯t back out of this n. You should just break up with your girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?!¡± Lucas frowned. He had gone to great lengths to ask for her help, and now he was being told to leave Deasy. How could he do that?


    ¡°And the problem is, my girlfriend is pregnant, Devina. How can I just ask her to step aside? Can you imagine me leaving her like that?¡±


    Devina was taken aback. The news Lucas had just delivered shocked her into silence.


    No wonder Lucas was so insistent on asking her to cancel the wedding. It turned out he had impregnated another woman. What a yboy!


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, Luc! How could you impregnate another woman when you¡¯re already engaged to me?¡±


    So, Lucas found himself in a dilemma. It seemed that in the eyes of women, men were always wrong. Now, Lucas was being treated like some kind of womanizer because he had impregnated another woman while being engaged.


    ¡°Come on, Devina. I know I¡¯m in the wrong. I admit that. But that¡¯s not the main issue. What¡¯s most important now is that my girlfriend is pregnant, and I can¡¯t just shirk my responsibility like that. That¡¯s why-¡±


    ¡°You came here tonight to talk to me about this? Because you want to marry that woman?¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly, confirming Devina¡¯s guess.


    ¡°I beg you, Devina. Seriously, I can¡¯t marry you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, Luc. No matter what, I won¡¯t back out of this n. You should just break up with your girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Lucas snapped. He had gone through so much trouble to ask for her help, and now he was being told to leave Deasy. How could he do that?


    ¡°And the problem is, my girlfriend is pregnant, Devina. How can I just ask her to step aside? Can you imagine me leaving her like that?¡±


    Devina was shocked. She needed some time to digest what Lucas had just told her. From his face, it was evident that he was pleading earnestly, hoping Devina would assist him with what he had asked for.


    ¡°For whatever reason, Devina, I¡¯m begging you. I won¡¯t forget your help in this. I can¡¯t just leave her by marrying you. It¡¯s not fair to my future child.¡±


    Devina felt uneasy. As a woman, she knew what Lucas¡¯s girlfriend would go through if he left her to marry another woman while she was pregnant.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it for a moment.¡±


    Lucas thought Devina would immediately agree to his proposal to cancel the wedding, but she wanted some time to think it over.


    ¡°Can¡¯t it be done tonight?¡±


    ¡°Be patient, Luc. I need to figure out how to exin this to my dad and your dad. I have to find the right excuse to cancel our wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas then reached for Devina¡¯s wrist. Looking into her face, Lucas pleaded once more.


    ¡°I need your help, Devina. The fate of my future wife and child depends on you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luc, I know. But I can¡¯t promise that everything will work out. At the very least, try talking to your dad again to cancel our engagement. I¡¯ll pray it works out.¡±


    ***

 PHB 52

    Deasy was getting ready to leave. While waiting for Veronica to pick her up, she decided to check her phone. She didn¡¯t want to miss any calls or messages from Lucas.


    Sure enough, when she checked, she found a short message that made her smile.


    Lucas: Darling, did you know? Physics is hard to forget. But you? It¡¯s hard not to miss you. I miss you so much.


    Deasy couldn¡¯t help butugh. She wanted to call him, but since she was still in the lobby of the Forty-nine building, she decided to reply to his message instead.


    Deasy: If you miss me,e home quickly. So I can hug you right away. Or maybe you don¡¯t really like being with me all the time?


    It didn¡¯t take long for Deasy to wait for Lucas¡¯s response. A few secondster, he replied from the other side.


    Lucas: I do like Harry Potter. But I like ¡°Harry-harry¡± with you even more, darling.


    Deasy: That¡¯s so cheesy.


    Lucas: I swear, I¡¯m serious. Besides, why would I insist on living with you if I didn¡¯t like it?


    Deasy: Alright, I believe you.


    Lucas: So, where are you now? Have you gone home? I¡¯ll call you now, okay?


    Deasy widened her eyes. She quickly replied before Lucas could call her. It could be dangerous if he contacted her while she was still at the office, especially with so many people around. She was afraid of identally saying something that others might hear. Better to be cautious.


    Deasy: No! I¡¯m still in the office lobby. Call me when you get to the apartment.


    Lucas: Okay, if that¡¯s the case. By the way, are you going straight home or making a detour?


    Deasy: I¡¯m not sure yet. It depends on Veronica. I was originally nning to go to the doctor for a check-up. But after thinking about it, I thought it might be better to wait for you toe home.


    Lucas: Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you. So I can see how our baby is developing.


    Deasy: Yes, my love. Done. Well, Veronica is here to pick me up. We¡¯ll continueter tonight.


    Deasy quickly approached Veronica¡¯s car as her friend stopped it right in front of the lobby entrance. She got in and followed wherever Veronica took her.


    ¡°Do you want to grab something to eat?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m good. I¡¯ve already eaten.¡±


    ¡°Alright, in that case, just go straight home. So, are you not going to the gynecologist¡¯s appointment with me? Since I¡¯m also free right now. The kids are all with Darwin at their grandmother¡¯s house.¡±


    Deasy shook her head. Since she had already promised Lucas, she declined Veronica¡¯s invitation to apany her to the gynecologist.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just go with Lucas. Besides, he¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    Veronica chuckled. Not because she found it funny, but because she was happy to see how much Deasy had changed. The woman who used to be irritable and prone to nagging was nowhere to be seen. Maybe her heart had found its anchor.


    Wait a minute, was it too much to call Lucas the anchor of Deasy¡¯s heart? Evidence suggested that he had shaken things up and caused a significant change in Deasy. And as long as it was positive, Veronica was all for it.


    ¡°Aww¡­ going with your future husband, I see.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with the teasing, Ve?¡±


    Deasy¡¯s face turned beet red. She felt embarrassed to be teased like this. It was as if she had just fallen in love like a giddy teenager. Seriously, this was so cheesy!


    ¡°Oh,e on, Des. No need to be all shy about it. I totally get it if you¡¯re starting to have feelings for Lucas now. It¡¯s just human nature. Plus, he¡¯s such a sweet guy, and most importantly, he¡¯s kind and polite.¡±


    Deasy turned her head and sighed as if she was about to say something slightly snarky.


    ¡°How much is Lucas paying you to say all these nice things about him? I swear, you seem to really like praising him. From the beginning, I noticed that you were more on his side than mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about payment or taking sides. It¡¯s just about choosing the side that¡¯s sane.¡±


    Deasy immediately raised an eyebrow. Did Veronica just imply that she wasn¡¯t sane? Seriously, was she crazy or something?


    ¡°What do you mean? Am I not worth defending?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that from the beginning, you weren¡¯t exactly clear about things. You had ns to terminate the pregnancy and all that.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not the case anymore, Ve.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because you were enlightened by Lucas Orion¡¯s sermon, right? I¡¯m so lucky that Lucas finally managed to tame you. I can¡¯t believe you would even consider not marrying him.¡±


    Deasy pouted. Veronica always spoke her mind as if there were no redeeming qualities in her.


    ¡°But, Des, if we¡¯re going to talk about marriage, don¡¯t you already have a n to introduce Lucas to your mom? Right now, your mom probably doesn¡¯t even know you¡¯re pregnant, does she?¡±


    Deasy nodded. Since she had been living independently and rarely saw her mother, it was easy for her to hide her pregnancy.


    Deasy was well aware that her mother would be shocked if she found out she was pregnant without being married.


    ¡°I wonder how I should tell her. She¡¯ll definitely be shocked if she finds out I¡¯m pregnant out of wedlock.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Ya know, you¡¯re really naughty. Acting all flirty like that. But, well, it¡¯s toote for that now. Just take it slow when letting her know. Exin the timeline briefly. I¡¯m sure your mom will understand and give her blessing for you to marry Lucas. After all, Lucas is a good guy, and he¡¯s willing to take responsibility. Even though the real culprit here is actually you.¡±


    Just keep ming Deasy, there really isn¡¯t any good side to her in Veronica¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°So, ording to you, should I bring Lucas along too? Or should I talk to Mom first and then invite Lucas to the next meeting?¡±


    While driving, Veronica shrugged her shoulders.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you, really. In my opinion, just bring him along. So you don¡¯t have to introduce him separately. Just exin it slowly. I¡¯m sure your mom will understand.¡±


    Deasy nodded in understanding. Veronica¡¯s advice seemed like something she should act on soon. She didn¡¯t want her mom to hear this unpleasant news from someone else.


    ¡°Also, Des¡­¡± Veronica continued, never-ending in her talking. ¡°Does Lucas have any intention of meeting your parents? Oh, wait. Your parents are still around, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded. When she was still an employee at Quantum Tech and under its supervision, Lucas had taken leave a few times to take care of his sick or hospitalized parents. She had never heard news that one of them had passed away. So it could be concluded that Lucas¡¯ parents were still alive.


    ¡°As far as I know, they¡¯re still around.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°But, it doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s nning to meet them anytime soon. Besides, we¡¯ve only been close for four days, Ve. Maybe he¡¯ll invite me to meet them as soon as possible. But not right now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Veronica agreed with a nod. ¡°But the most important thing is that he¡¯s willing to take responsibility and marry you. That¡¯s more than enough. Even if Lucas hasn¡¯t invited you to meet his parents yet, you can be the one to invite him to meet your mom first.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll schedule that soon.¡±


    After a long chat, Veronica¡¯s car finally arrived at the Park Avenue apartment lobby. Before actually leaving, as usual, Veronica gave Deasy many instructions to follow when she arrived at her unit.


    ¡°Take a shower and rest immediately. If you need anythingter, just call me, Des. Remember, if you can¡¯t reach me, try calling Sean too. Let¡¯s not repeat what happened the other day.¡±


    Deasy unbuckled her seatbelt. She nodded as she prepared to get out of the car.


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯re being a worrywart. Don¡¯t keep repeating it every day. I¡¯m really tired of hearing it.¡±


    ¡°Let me be worried for your safety. Well, I¡¯m heading home now. I¡¯ll pick you up again tomorrow morning.¡±


    Deasy waved as Veronica left her apartment. As she stepped inside, Deasy reached for her phone from her bag. She checked once again if Lucas had contacted her as he usually did.


    But when she checked, there was no missed call or text message from Lucas. Ignoring it, Deasy slowly walked toward the elevator.

 PHB 53

    As she passed the health center, Deasy identally ran into the doctor who had treated her before. She smiled and greeted him politely.


    ¡°Good evening, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°Good evening, Miss Deasy. Just got off work?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Doctor. I just got off. Is your practice room nearby? Is that handsome boyfriend of yours not with you today?¡±


    ¡°Handsome boyfriend?¡±


    Deasy immediately made a puzzled expression. After the food delivery guy mentioned it yesterday, now the doctor who examined her was saying the same thing.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± the doctor confirmed once more. ¡°The one who carried and waited for Miss Deasy in the health center. What¡¯s his name? Mr. Lucas, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my boyfriend¡¯s name is Lucas,¡± Deasy replied. Well, they were currently in a rtionship, weren¡¯t they?


    ¡°As far as I can see, your boyfriend is really attentive. He didn¡¯t leave Miss Deasy¡¯s side for a moment. He waited eagerly for Miss Deasy to wake up. It touched me.¡±


    Deasy smiled, grateful for the extraordinary attention Lucas had given her. If that man hadn¡¯t rushed to help her, her life might not have been saved.


    ¡°Yes, I was really lucky that he helped me right away.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I say Miss Deasy is really lucky. Mr. Lucas seems very attentive, kind, looks affectionate, and he¡¯s handsome too. Aplete package. He suits Miss Deasy perfectly.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to mention that my boyfriend is handsome?¡±


    ¡°He is handsome, Miss Deasy. I, as a guy, admit it. Anyway, Mr. Lucas looks just right physically and appearance-wise. Especially when he brought Miss Deasy, Mr. Lucas happened to be wearing a ck suit. So, his aura was even more pronounced.¡±


    ¡°A suit?¡±


    Deasy was getting more confused. As far as she remembered, that night Lucas had approached her wearing a ck shirt. Not a suit or any other formal attire.


    ¡°Doctor, are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken? My boyfriend wears sses, doesn¡¯t he?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The doctor shook his head immediately. Then he tried to recall the figure he had seen that night.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas wasn¡¯t wearing sses that night, Miss. As far as I can tell, he looked really neat, like he had juste from a big event. He was wearing a ck suit. His hair was undercut style. I remember it clearly, and there¡¯s no way I could be wrong.¡±


    Deasy shook her head. This Doctor must have confused someone else. Besides, since when did Lucas Orion have an undercut hairstyle? As far as she knew, he alwaysbed his hair in the middle part or sometimes without a part at all.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve got the wrong person, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°No, Miss Deasy. I¡¯m sure it was Mr. Lucas. He was the one who brought you and imed to be your boyfriend.¡±


    Deasy was leftpletely bewildered. She was confused by what the doctor was telling her. Was the person the doctor was talking about really the same Lucas Orion she knew? Or maybe Lucas had just finished attending an event at that time. But an undercut hairstyle and no thick sses? Deasy was somewhat skeptical about this information.


    Ignoring for a moment what the doctor had told her, Deasy, who had just gotten out of the elevator, quickly walked toward her apartment unit.


    However, when she was about to open the door, she was slightly surprised. The door to her unit was unlocked. Deasy was certain that she had closed and locked it tightly this morning. So, why was it open now?


    Holding her phone, Deasy cautiously stepped inside. After closing the door, she immediately turned on all the lights and looked around, both to the right and left. She was afraid there might be a burr or an unfamiliar person who had suddenly entered her apartment without her knowledge.


    Continuing to move quietly, Deasy walked toward her bedroom. She tried to open the door, intending to turn on the lights.


    But before she could even press the light switch, suddenly, a person appeared from behind and immediately hugged her tightly. He even tried to cover both of her eyes.


    Deasy instantly wanted to struggle. But because of the great difference in strength, her efforts seemed futile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Deasy shouted while trying to keep struggling, especially since the person seemed to be trying to embrace her.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Lucas,¡± the man whispered. Thenughter followed, filling the room.


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    Deasy eximed loudly. She quickly turned around and then hugged the man she recognized.


    She almost cried because of Lucas¡¯ surprising actions, which had scared her.


    ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Deasy protested while still hugging him.


    Lucas, who wasughing, then reached for Deasy¡¯s face. He cupped it, then leaned in for a deep kiss.


    For a moment, Lucas was lost in the kiss. He kept on kissing, even passionately kissing both of Deasy¡¯s lips alternately. As if their separation of a few days had fostered an intense longing.


    ¡°I missed you so much,¡± Lucas whispered after releasing their kiss.


    ¡°I missed you too. A lot.¡±


    Lucas leaned in for another kiss. In fact, secondster, he even lifted Deasy¡¯s body and gentlyid her right on the bed. And, of course, right after that, he resumed the kiss that had momentarily unraveled.


    ¡°You¡¯re so mean, scaring me like that!¡± Deasy protested after Lucas released their lip lock.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mean, darling. I just wanted to give you a surprise.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t funny.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not known for my sense of humor, am I? I mean, I rushed home early just so I could keep youpany tonight.¡±


    Deasy smiled with delight, touched by what Lucas had done for her. Lucas was willing toe home early just to be with her and apany her to bed, like the night before.


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Deasy asked Lucas.


    ¡°Yes, I have. I even took a shower. Didn¡¯t you see I¡¯m already in my pajamas?¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll take a shower, and then we can go to sleep. I¡¯m sure you must be really tired.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to cuddle for a bit first?¡±


    Deasy blushed and smiled. She understood the meaning behind Lucas¡¯s question.


    ¡°We have tomorrow, Luc. We see each other every day and spend time together.¡±


    Lucas nodded and let Deasy go to freshen up. After she was done, they both climbed into bed, ready to rest.


    As they cuddled, with Lucas genuinely feeling exhausted, he appeared to fall asleep first. Meanwhile, Deasy, still awake, chose to gaze at Lucas¡¯s peaceful sleeping face.


    After a while, Deasy remembered something. She reached out her hand, trying to grab the sses perched on Lucas¡¯s straight nose.


    For a moment, Deasy was curious. She wanted to know why he always wore his sses almost all the time and, at the same time, she wanted to see how Lucas looked without them.


    So, Deasy reached for Lucas¡¯s sses, then opened them, and what she discovered left her in shock.

 PHB 54

    Currently, Deasy has sessfully obtained the sses that Lucas is wearing. Just as she was about to take them off, Deasy was startled when Lucas suddenly opened his eyes and gently held her hand.


    For a moment, the man gazed at Deasy¡¯s face. He stared closely, then soon smiled and said softly.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet, honey?¡±


    Deasy froze for a moment. She was confused about how to answer Lucas¡¯s seemingly simple and straightforward question. It felt like she wanted to escape. She was incredibly embarrassed to be caught wanting to do something with the man in front of her.


    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Deasy stammered.


    ¡°I what?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I-uh¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Uh? No!¡± Deasy interjected while shaking her head repeatedly. She was still nervous and struggling to figure out what to say to Lucas.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, really,¡± Deasy finally answered. ¡°Actually, before going to sleep, I wanted to kiss you again. When I looked closely at your face, it seemed a bit strange.¡±


    ¡°Strange?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Well¡­ I just thought it was weird that you were sleeping with your sses on. So, I wanted to help you take them off. I was afraid you might have forgotten to remove them, and it could be dangerous if they broke.¡±


    Deasy wasn¡¯t entirely bluffing. Besides wanting to see Lucas¡¯s face without sses, she also realized that Lucas had never taken off his sses in front of her. Even during their intimate moments yesterday, he had kept them on.


    Well, it was perfectly fine to keep sses on during intimate moments. Who knew that without sses, Lucas might have trouble distinguishing between his chest and his stomach, or between his lips and his eyes. Or maybe he¡¯d confuse a swamp for a dense forest.


    For the past two days of sharing a bed, unfortunately, it was always Deasy who fell asleep first. So, she never got to see whether Lucas slept with his sses or took them off. But she had to admit, she was the type of person who fell asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow.


    And when she woke up, Lucas was always neatly dressed. This made her unable to confirm whether Lucas slept with his sses or removed them like most other people.


    Moreover, when she returned from work earlier, she heard a story from the practicing doctor in the apartmentplex who revealed what he had seen the other day. It made Deasy even more restless. So, she was extremely curious and wanted to find out firsthand whether Lucas was really handsome without his sses, as she had heard.


    ¡°Oh, do you want to help take these off?¡± Lucas pointed to his sses. ¡°Do you want to help or are you actually curious to see what I look like without sses?¡±


    ¡°Gosh,¡± Deasy coughed awkwardly. She was truly embarrassed because Lucas seemed to be able to read her thoughts.


    In the next moment, right in front of Deasy, the man indeed removed the sses that had been perched on his sharp nose all this time. Without hesitation, without much thought, he just casually handed them over to Deasy, asking her to ce them on the nightstand.


    ¡°So, are you still curious now?¡± he asked.


    Deasy gazed at Lucas¡¯s face slowly, observing it closely. She noticed that his face without sses wasn¡¯t much different from before.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken off my sses. What else do you want to see?¡± Lucas asked afterward. ¡°You¡¯ve seen me naked before, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Deasy¡¯s face turned red. Seriously, why did Lucas always speak so bluntly?


    ¡°Ugh, what¡¯s with you?¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case, hurry up and go to sleep, honey. It¡¯s alreadyte. Aren¡¯t you sleepy? Aren¡¯t you tired? If you are, we can exercise together at night, so you¡¯ll be able to sleep soundly afterward. I¡¯m ready for that.¡±


    Understanding Lucas¡¯s intentions, Deasy immediately pinched Lucas¡¯s stomach yfully until he let out a loud yelp. She was annoyed because he always teased her and left her speechless.


    ¡°Why do you enjoy teasing me so much?¡±


    Lucas smiled. Brushing aside the strands of hair scattered on Deasy¡¯s cheek, he spoke while gazing at the woman sitting right in front of him.


    ¡°Because you look beautiful when you¡¯re grumbling or blushing like that. Besides, your dad used to be a goat herder, right?¡±


    Deasy furrowed her brows in confusion. As far as she remembered, her father had never sold goats or any other pets. Lucas was just making things up!


    ¡°Huh? Goat herder? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, because your son is so good at making my heart waver.¡±


    Deasy couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Lucas could reallye up with nonsensicalments.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a joker, but¡­ I bet you used to be the child of a tart seller, right?¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t want to be outdone. Feeling like she couldpete with Lucas¡¯s quick-wittedness, she thought of aeback.


    ¡°No, not at all. The truth is, my parents used to sell Padang rice dishes, darling.¡±


    Deasy chuckled. Even though she was joking, she wondered why Lucas took it so seriously.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re no fun!¡± Deasy pouted.


    Amused by Deasy¡¯s irritated expression, Lucasughed heartily. He pinched her cheeks and then spoke again.


    ¡°Okay, forgive me, you sulking little one. Alright, one more time, go on.¡±


    ¡°Your parents used to be tart sellers, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re so good at melting my heart, like a tart.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Lucasughed while holding his stomach because it was funny. He admitted that out of all the women he had known, only Deasy was on the same wavelength and could keep up with his random jokes. It was just a lot of fun.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sleep now. It¡¯s reallyte, sweetheart. We have work tomorrow, and we don¡¯t want to oversleep.¡±


    Deasy shook her head. Even though it was already midnight, for some reason, she didn¡¯t feel very sleepy.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sleepy, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to stay upte? Well, I used to like staying upte too. But now, I only like being with you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with you, Luc? You¡¯re so corny.¡±


    Lucas and Deasy bothughed heartily for a while. Afterward, for the umpteenth time, Lucas tried to persuade Deasy to prepare for rest together. Besides, it wasn¡¯t good for a pregnant woman tock sleep.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to sleep, sweetheart. We can continue tomorrow. If you don¡¯t want to sleep, we can seriously just make out. It¡¯s more productive.¡±


    Deasy sighed and eventually obeyed Lucas¡¯smand.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ alright, let¡¯s sleep now. But you have to hug me. Yesterday, no one hugged me when I slept.¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement. He stretched out his arms, inviting Deasy to snuggle into them.


    Then, he held Deasy tightly. Before sleeping, he took a moment to kiss Deasy¡¯s forehead, both cheeks, and her lips.


    ¡°While you¡¯re weaving, wear the bracelet. Goodnight, my love.¡±


    Deasy stifled augh and tightened the embrace. She buried her face on Lucas¡¯s chest, inhaling his addictive scent. She tried to close her eyes and eventually fell asleep.


    Lucas, on the other hand, shook his head. As he gently stroked Deasy¡¯s exposed arm, he smiled with relief because his disguise wouldn¡¯t be uncovered or noticed by Deasy for now.


    Earlier, while driving from Devina¡¯s house to Deasy¡¯s apartment, Felix, Lucas¡¯s assistant, had expressed concern that a situation like this might ur. That¡¯s why Lucas¡¯s assistant had raised the issue and reminded him.


    ¡°Sir, I want to make sure again, is Mr. Lucas really sure he wants to stay at Ms. Deasy¡¯s house for the next nine months?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, Felix. I even made a promise and I won¡¯t break it. A man is as good as his word. If I can¡¯t keep a promise like this, how can Deasy trust me in the future?¡±


    While driving the car, Felix nodded. He knew that his boss was the kind of man who always tried to keep his promises and uphold his word.


    However, the situation was different now. ording to Felix, it was very dangerous and had the potential to cause chaos.


    ¡°But¡­ even though you¡¯re living under the same roof, Sir Lucas doesn¡¯t intend to share a room with Ms. Deasy, right?¡±


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s my choice whether I sleep in Deasy¡¯s room or wherever I want.¡±


    Felix sighed deeply. He was torn exining because his boss didn¡¯t seem to grasp his point.


    ¡°Not that, Sir. What I mean is, is Mr. Lucas aware of the potential danger that could easily arise if he sleeps in the same room and even the same bed as Ms. Deasy? For instance, the possibility that someone could easily discover Mr. Lucas¡¯s disguise?¡±


    Lucas smiled in his seat. Finally, he understood his assistant¡¯s concerns.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if I take off my sses, for now, I guarantee that Deasy won¡¯t recognize or identify me. Unless-¡±


    ¡°Ms. Deasy pulls off the wig Mr. Lucas is wearing, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded. Until now, the significant difference between Lucas Morales and Lucas Oriony not in their sses but in theirpletely different hairstyles and colors.


    Lucas Morales had an undercut hairstyle with a deep ck color, which was vastly different from Lucas Orion. The corporate guy had a middle part hairstyle or sometimes his hair appeared in a messy style with a slightly brownish hue.


    For Lucas, sses had always been just an essory. Whether he wore them or not didn¡¯t really have a significant impact on his appearance.


    However, Lucas still wore them, using this small item as an essory and a distinctive feature of Lucas Orion to make himself look a bit nerdy or uncool.


    ¡°I hope this disguise remains safe until Mr. Lucas¡¯s mission isplete,¡± Felix expressed with a serious demeanor. ¡°I hope everything goes smoothly, and I especially hope that Ms. Deasy won¡¯t be angry or disappointed once she finds out the truth.¡±


    Lucas briefly pondered these words. As he gazed at Deasy¡¯s peacefully sleeping face, he prayed to God. He hoped that he could ovee all the challenges thaty ahead. This included obtaining Devina¡¯s approval and his wedding ns as well.


    Lucas hoped he could resolve everything. Eventually, he could unite with Deasy and build a happy family together.

 PHB 55

    In recent times, Lucas has appeared to thoroughly enjoy his role. Despite not being officially married and holding the status of a husband, he continues to strive to care for and look after Deasy wholeheartedly and with all his soul.


    Lucas seems so sincere, without ever calcting. In fact, whatever Deasy asks for, he always tries to fulfill it right away.


    Likest night. When it was time to sleep, Deasy was craving like a pregnant woman. Sheined that she really wanted seafood fried rice for breakfast tomorrow, sprinkled with a lot of shrimp flour on top.


    As a result, because he had the skill to cook, Lucas woke up early in the morning. He immediately took a shower, then headed to the kitchen. He checked the refrigerator to take out the shrimp and some other ingredients.


    He started chopping, then washing. Then he cooked and prepared it into seafood fried rice, just as Deasy had requested.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    For some reason, there was a special satisfaction for Lucas if he could grant Deasy¡¯s wishes. He was happy just to see the woman smiling with joy because her request was fulfilled in such a way.


    Lucas thought that if the pregnant mother was healthy, happy, and her mind was at ease, then the baby in her womb would also be healthy, and most importantly, it would grow well.


    ¡°Good morning, Honey.¡±


    Lucas greeted Deasy as she entered the dining room. Quickly rising, Lucas approached her and guided Deasy to sit in the chair he had prepared.


    ¡°From opening the bedroom door, your cooking smells amazing. It¡¯s making my stomach growl even more.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Lucas replied with a broad smile. Then he pulled out a chair and sat down right beside Deasy. ¡°The aroma alone is mouthwatering. Not to mention the taste. It¡¯s so delicious. Besides, I cooked it just the way you requested. Seafood fried rice with plenty of shrimp flour.¡±


    Deasy responded with a smile in her eyes. Without needing any more encouragement from Lucas, she immediately picked up a spoon, scooped some rice and shrimp from the te, and tasted it impatiently.


    ¡°How is it?¡± Lucas asked, curious. He even leaned forward, waiting very eagerly for Deasy¡¯sment on what he had painstakingly prepared.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ how should I put it,¡± Deasy mumbled while chewing the rice in her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s good, but¡­¡±


    ¡°But, what? It¡¯s good, but you still have something to say?¡±


    Lucas grew even more curious. He reached for a spoon and took another bite of the fried rice he had cooked, chewing while trying to figure out if there was something wrong or unusual with his cooking this time.


    ¡°ording to my taste buds, it¡¯s delicious.¡±


    ¡°Well, it is delicious,¡± Deasy quickly interjected. ¡°But there¡¯s something missing, Luc.¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brow.


    ¡°What¡¯s missing, then? Is it not savory enough? Not spicy enough? Not enough seasoning? Or am I being disrespectful?¡±


    Deasyughed and gently pinched Lucas¡¯s cheek, amused by the handsome man¡¯sments.


    ¡°In terms of vor, texture, and content, your fried rice is nearly perfect and meets my expectations, honey.¡±


    ¡°So, what is it, then? What¡¯s missing?¡±


    ¡°Well, there is something missing. Because you didn¡¯t feed me like you usually do.¡±


    Upon hearing Deasy¡¯s response, Lucas immediately breathed a sigh of relief. His expression was as if he had just solved a problem.


    ¡°Oh God¡­ I was wondering what could be missing. Turns out, the fried rice was missing love.¡±


    Laughter once again erupted from Deasy¡¯s lips. Holding the spoon she had just used, she asked Lucas to feed her as usual. Lucas promptlyplied. After all, it was his duty to serve Deasy wholeheartedly.


    ¡°Eat plenty, okay? Until you¡¯re full. If you need anythingter, just tell me.¡±


    ¡°Really, if I want something, will you grant it immediately?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s not asking for the moon or craving to live on Mars. Otherwise, I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill your requests as long as they¡¯re within reason.¡±


    Deasy smiled with joy. Her heart warmed by Lucas¡¯s touching words.


    ¡°Thank you for always being attentive. Thank you for always trying to fulfill my wishes,¡± Deasy said with a serious expression, looking into Lucas¡¯s eyes and studying his face for a while.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s my duty, after all,¡± Lucas replied.


    Deasy nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Thinking about it again, I don¡¯t think we need to wait for a two-month trial period.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. He furrowed his brow, trying to rify what Deasy had just said to him.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°How about we get married next month?¡±


    Lucas gaped. He was sure he hadn¡¯t misheard. Deasy had just asked him to get married. Their trial period wasn¡¯t even one month yet. Lucas couldn¡¯t forget when Deasy had requested to get to know each other for at least two months.


    ¡°So, what was that just now? Marriage? Next month?¡±


    Deasy nodded again, smiling.


    ¡°Yes, Luc. Let¡¯s get married next month. What do you say? Are you okay with it?¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement. How could he refuse? From the beginning, he had been the one pushing Deasy to get married sooner.


    ¡°Yeah, sure. But why the sudden change of heart?¡±


    ¡°I feel like there¡¯s nothing more I need to doubt about you, Luc. The details and adjustments can be worked out after we¡¯re married. What¡¯s important is that we can make it official and live together with a legal status. But¡­¡±


    Deasy deliberately paused in her sentence. Once again, this aroused curiosity in Lucas.


    ¡°But what else? You really love using ¡®but¡¯ all the time.¡±


    Deasy burst into a cheerfulugh. There was indeed one important thing she wanted to discuss with the narrow-eyed man.


    ¡°But before we get married, I want to introduce you to my mom next week. I mean, how can you marry me without knowing who my parents are?¡±


    ¡°Okay, next week, I¡¯ll set a special schedule to meet your mom.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Deasy said happily. ¡°Then, after meeting my mom, it¡¯s your turn to introduce me to your parents and talk about our wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas involuntarily choked on the water he was drinking. He had forgotten that when it came to marriage, both sides would introduce and seek permission and blessings from the parents of the prospective bride and groom.


    And he still hadn¡¯t received his father¡¯s blessing. Furthermore, the issue of his impending revtion would have to be carefully considered and eventually shared with Deasy to avoidplications.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Deasy asked as she wiped Lucas¡¯s wet lips.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, Honey.¡±


    ¡°All right then. You can arrange a schedule to meet your parents. If everything goes smoothly, we can then n a meeting with both sets of parents to discuss our wedding ns.¡±


    ¡°But, darling¡­¡± Lucas interrupted cautiously. ¡°Are you going to tell our parents about your current condition-¡±


    ¡°Pregnancy?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Do you want to bepletely honest with our parents, especially your mom, about your current pregnancy?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She had actually thought about this before.


    ¡°It¡¯s pointless to hide it, Luc. Sooner orter, they will find out. So, it¡¯s better if we tell them everything ourselves, rather than have them find out from someone else.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with you. I¡¯ll make sure to apologize to your parents and ask for permission to make you my wife as soon as possible.¡±


    ***

 PHB 56

    ¡°Sir, what¡¯s on your mind? You seem really troubled.¡±


    For a while now, Felix had been observing how restless Lucas appeared in his office chair. When he tried to discuss things with him, his boss didn¡¯t seem focused and often didn¡¯t respond to what Felix was saying.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas,¡± Felix called out for the umpteenth time, raising his voice slightly to get Lucas¡¯s attention and refocus it on him.


    ¡°Huh? What?¡±


    ¡°Why, Mr. Lucas?¡± Felix inquired, curious.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about Deasy suddenly proposing to get married next month.¡±


    Felix was astonished, but he smiled in response to Lucas¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Congrattions, sir. That means you¡¯ll be getting married soon, and you¡¯ll officially be Ms. Deasy¡¯s husband.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas replied briefly.


    ¡°But,¡± Felix continued, ¡°if Deasy is proposing to marry you next month, when will you tell her about your true identity as her boss all this time? I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be shocked when she finds out.¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply, bringing his hand up to massage his throbbing temple.


    ¡°As for revealing my identity, I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be that difficult, Felix. I¡¯ll just be honest and exin. Even if Deasy gets angry, I¡¯m sure it won¡¯tst long. After all, I disguised myself for the purpose ofpleting the task my father gave me. It wasn¡¯t intentional to get close to, let alone deceive, Deasy.¡±


    ¡°So, if it¡¯s not a big deal, why do you look so troubled, sir?¡±


    ¡°The problem is, up to this point, my father hasn¡¯t given his blessing. He tly rejected my proposal to cancel the wedding ns with Devina. So how can I marry Deasy? However I look at it, I¡¯m obligated to take responsibility. Or¡­ should I just get married without needing my father¡¯s approval?¡±


    ¡°No, sir!¡± Felix eximed emphatically, shaking his head vigorously. He clearly disagreed with Lucas¡¯s proposed n. ¡°If Mr. Lucas rushes into it, it might causeplicationster on. You know how Mr. Andreas is. It¡¯s better to take it slow, talk to him again, and exin things patiently. If he still refuses, let him know about Deasy¡¯s pregnancy. I¡¯m sure Mr. Andreas will eventually agree.¡±


    Lucas nodded, agreeing with what Felix suggested. Before he could respond further, one of his phones began ringing. He saw Deasy¡¯s name clearly disyed on the screen. Worried that it might be an emergency, Lucas quickly answered the call from the woman.


    ¡°Hello, Honey. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Luc¡­ have you finished work?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Not yet. Probably in a little while. Why, sweetheart? Do you need something?¡±


    There was a pause on the phone line. After a few seconds of silence, Deasy spoke again.


    ¡°How about having lunch together? Can you make it? I don¡¯t know why, but I really want to see you.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback for a moment. He was sure Deasy was experiencing a craving right now. The problem was, why during working hours, and why lunch? Why not dinner together to make it easier?


    ¡°Luc?¡± Deasy called out when she noticed Lucas had fallen silent.


    ¡°Yes, dear?¡±


    ¡°Can you?¡±


    Lucas quickly thought, trying to find the right words to respond to Deasy¡¯s seemingly sudden invitation.


    ¡°Lunch together? Right now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. Not next year. I really miss you and want to see you.¡±


    ¡°Oh my¡­ didn¡¯t we see each other every day? I even drove you to work this morning, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. I¡¯m just surprised by this sudden desire to see you. Maybe it¡¯s because of your child.¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply, trying to provide some understanding so that Deasy wouldn¡¯t insist. The issue was, Lucas had a meeting scheduled right after the lunch break. It would be troublesome to change clothes and appearance.


    ¡°How about a video call, dear? I still have some work to finish, and I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll have to wait too long.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Deasy refused, sounding a bit spoiled. ¡°I want to see you right now.¡±


    ¡°What if your friends see us together?¡±


    ¡°Let them! I don¡¯t care anymore. Besides, I¡¯m already at a restaurant. You just need toe here. After lunch, you can drop me back at the office. Easy, right?¡±


    ¡°Alright, you wait for about ten to fifteen minutes. I¡¯ll tidy up some work, thene to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, honey. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    After ending the call with Deasy, Lucas got up in a hurry. He looked at Felix with a facial expression that was hard to decipher.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, sir?¡±


    ¡°Do you know what, Felix? Deasy asked me to meet her at a restaurant right now. She¡¯s craving something and wants me to join her for lunch.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness. But isn¡¯t there a meeting at two o¡¯clock? Are you sure you won¡¯t bete, sir?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He didn¡¯t seem to be concerned about that at the moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what¡¯s bothering me, Felix. It¡¯s that I have to meet Deasy, which means I have to change clothes and my appearance.¡±


    ¡°Well, what can you do, sir? Just be patient.¡±


    Felix wanted tough but also felt sorry for his boss, who was undoubtedly struggling with repeatedly changing his appearance to maintain his disguise.


    Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Deasy sat leisurely. While waiting for Lucas, she chose to y with her phone.


    ¡°Excuse me, Miss Deasy.¡±


    As she was waiting, suddenly a man approached her. He introduced himself and stated his intention for approaching her.


    ¡°Yes, can I help you?¡±


    The man smiled politely and spoke.


    ¡°I apologize for the intrusion. Someone wishes to meet and talk seriously with Miss Deasy. Can I request a moment of your time?¡±


    Deasy¡¯s eyebrows furrowed reflexively. She was curious about the identity of the person who suddenly wanted to meet and talk seriously with her.


    ¡°Who wants to talk to me?¡± she inquired.


    ¡°It¡¯s me who wants to talk to you.¡±


    Deasy turned her head and was startled. From her eyes, she recognized the very familiar figure now standing right in front of her.


    ¡°Mr. Andreas?¡±

 PHB 57

    Deasy: Luc, it seems you don¡¯t need toe over. I have somest-minute business to attend to and must go. Let¡¯s meetter in the evening or after work.


    Lucas had just finished all the work that had piled up on his desk. He grabbed his suit and car keys, preparing to leave, when Deasy suddenly sent him a text message.


    As Lucas checked and read it carefully, it turned out that the lunch invitation from his girlfriend, which she had insisted on earlier, had to be postponed because Deasy had some unexpected business to attend to.


    ¡°Why, Sir? Why are you just standing there like that?¡± Felix, who was still faithfully in Lucas¡¯s office, asked. Felix was currently organizing some documents for Lucas to take to the meeting.


    ¡°Well,¡± Lucas replied, ¡°Deasy is being really indecisive. Earlier, she insisted that I hurry over to the restaurant. Now, as I¡¯m ready to go there, she sends a message saying we won¡¯t be having lunch.¡±


    ¡°She canceled?¡± Felix responded in surprise.


    ¡°Yes,¡± nodded Lucas. ¡°She said she has somest-minute business to attend to. So, lunch is postponed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, Sir,¡± Felix said afterward. ¡°It means Mr. Lucas doesn¡¯t have to go through the hassle of changing clothes and appearance. You also won¡¯t have to rush against time, trying to transform like a chameleon. Besides, there¡¯s an important meeting at two. It¡¯s better to focus on that.¡±


    Felix was right. This time, Lucas could breathe a sigh of relief because he could avoid theplexities of changing clothes, appearances, and all the other things rted to his disguise. If rushed and something was left behind or not done properly, it could lead to trouble.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± Lucas agreed. ¡°Luckily, today¡¯s safe. I don¡¯t know about tomorrow, the day after, and the days after that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should let her know quickly, Sir. So Mr. Lucas won¡¯t have to y cat and mouse with Miss Deasy. Plus, Miss Deasy benefits from seeing Mr. Lucas in his glowing, good-looking version every day, with the added bonus of a healthy bank ount.¡±


    Lucasughed. He thought Felix was the expert when it came to these matters.


    ¡°True, she¡¯s nning to introduce me to her parents soon. Maybe, before the visit, I should confess so that it¡¯s notplicated, and Deasy¡¯s parents won¡¯t be confused. It would be funny to introduce myself and then end up marrying someone else.¡±


    Felix nodded in agreement. Imagining himself in Lucas¡¯s position, it would indeed be quite troublesome.


    ¡°At first, I wanted Mr. Lucas to finish Mr. Andreas¡¯s tasks before revealing his true identity. But since the situation is getting moreplicated, and there¡¯s a potential baby on the way, I think telling Miss Deasy this secret isn¡¯t a wrong move. Who knows, after confessing and exining Mr. Lucas¡¯s main purpose, Miss Deasy might even help and provide important information about whether Mr. Daniel is really cheating in thepany or not.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    Lucas immediately snapped his fingers. He agreed 100% with what his assistant had just said. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking. Right now, it¡¯s impossible for me to dig for information, especially since I¡¯m no longer an employee at Quantum Tech. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to ask Deasy aboutpany secrets.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Sir. Hurry and find the right time, strategize, and most importantly, prepare mentally to slowly reveal everything to Miss Deasy.¡±


    Lucas nodded and sat back down. He appeared to be thinking and considering when the right time would be to implement what Felix had suggested.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m thinking about it. I¡¯m currently looking for the right time to tell her everything.¡±


    Meanwhile, in a different location, at a Korean restaurant, Deasy sat quietly with an expression that was difficult to interpret. It was a mixture of confusion, surprise, and curiosity because suddenly, while waiting for Lucas, her boss, Andreas Morales, approached her for a serious conversation.


    During her nearly three years of working at Quantum Tech as a financial manager, Deasy had only met the owner of the Dalton Group a few times in person. She had also been involved in direct conversations with him only a handful of times. That¡¯s why she wondered what the reason and purpose of this conversation could be.


    ¡°Is your name Deasy Winterborne?¡±


    Andreas cast a scanning look over her, taking in every detail from head to toe. He scrutinized the woman who was currently close to his son.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Deasy Winterborne, Sir.¡±


    Andreas smiled faintly.


    ¡°You¡¯re the financial manager at Quantum Tech and also the daughter of thete Anton Wolf, the owner of Amaris, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded, confirming what Andreas had said.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    Andreas nodded as well, continuing to gaze at Deasy as if he wanted to dissect the woman in front of him.


    He observed with great interest the appearance of the woman who had now captivated his son. A woman who had led Lucas to cancel his carefully nned wedding with Devina.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering why I suddenly asked to speak seriously with you. First, I apologize for interrupting your lunchtime. Because I believe this is important, I intentionally met you here.¡±


    Deasy nodded calmly, trying to maintain herposure. She responded politely.


    ¡°No problem, Sir. But¡­ I¡¯m sorry as well, if I may ask, for what reason does Mr. Andreas want to meet and talk with me? Does this have anything to do with work?¡±


    Andreas chuckled softly. His gaze now seemed dismissive.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point because I don¡¯t want to waste much time. I want you to, from now on, keep your distance from my son. If necessary, never bother him again.¡±


    Deasy blinked and then gasped. She was taken aback by what Andreas had just said.


    How could she be asked to keep her distance when she herself didn¡¯t feel particrly close to the man who was, after all, her boss at the office?


    ¡°Wait a minute, Sir,¡± Deasy interjected, bewildered. ¡°Me? Close to Mr. Andreas¡¯s son? Where did you hear that from? There must be a misunderstanding here.¡±


    Andreasughed. Earlier, on the same day Lucas had expressed his desire to cancel his wedding ns with Devina, Andreas had asked his trusted confidant to investigate the woman who was now close to his son.


    Andreas had learned from his trusted confidant that Lucas was currently close to Deasy Winterborne, the woman who served as the financial manager at thepany Lucas was leading. Moreover, Andreas had gathered all sorts of information about her family background and every detail about the woman.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Deasy. Earlier, Lucas also mentioned that he¡¯s currently close to a woman. Well¡­ he didn¡¯t explicitly mention a name, but is it difficult for me to find out? Lucas even pressured me to cancel his wedding ns with the bride I had arranged for him. Even though the wedding ns were just a few months away.¡±


    Deasy was bbergasted. Throughout the conversation, she had been both amazed and confused by what Andreas was saying.


    ¡°So, what does this have to do with me, Sir? I have no knowledge of or involvement in your son¡¯s sudden cancetion of his wedding ns. Besides, I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s a mistake here. Yes, I am currently close to a man named Lucas, but it¡¯s not Lucas Morales. So, I think you have the wrong person.¡±


    From her perspective, Deasy could clearly see the middle-aged man in front of her chuckling as if there was something funny about what she had just said. Yet, at that moment, Deasy had been speaking with the utmost seriousness.


    ¡°Oh my, Deasy. I can¡¯t possibly have the wrong person or the wrong information. Right now, you are close to Lucas Orion, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Deasy nodded immediately. Yes, indeed, she was close to him, and he was the one who had impregnated her. But it wasn¡¯t Lucas Morales, the son of Andreas Morales.


    ¡°It¡¯s Lucas Orion who is currently close to me,¡± Deasy affirmed Andreas¡¯s statement.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Andreas responded with a nod. ¡°Lucas Orion¡­ Lucas Orion Morales, right? Don¡¯t you know or maybe don¡¯t want to know the full name of your boss or your own boyfriend?¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. Shortly after, she seemed to be thinking and then remembered something. No wonder Lucas¡¯s name on every office document was always written as Lucas O Morales. How could she have never bothered to find out what the ¡®O¡¯ stood for?


    ¡°No¡­¡± Deasy shook her head, trying to deny what Andreas was telling her. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. They are different people. From their appearances alone, they are clearly different, Sir. I¡¯m still certain that you must be mistaking me for someone else.¡±


    Once again, Andreas smiled, understanding what Deasy was trying to convey. Andreas thought that maybe Deasy was genuinely unaware of Lucas¡¯s undercover mission to investigate thepany¡¯s case.


    ¡°In reality, I have no obligation to exin or satisfy your curiosity. What I can confirm once again is that Lucas Orion and Lucas Morales are the same person, and he is my son, who is currently close to you. Here, I am only requesting that you end your rtionship with Lucas. Please understand, Lucas is already engaged, and I will never agree to him canceling the meticulously arranged wedding ns just to marry you.¡±


    Deasy appeared to take several deep breaths. Although her feelings were currently a mix of anger, frustration, and confusion, she tried to remain calm and responded.


    ¡°But what if it turns out I¡¯m currently carrying your grandchild?¡±


    Andreas was not surprised at all. He smiled again, responding casually.


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯re pregnant right now?¡± Andreas said, gazing intently at Deasy. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t use your pregnancy as a weapon to manipte Lucas. Just so you know, no matter what, I still won¡¯t agree to Lucas marrying you. And furthermore¡­ there¡¯s no guarantee that the child in your womb is my grandchild. The Morales bloodline and heritage.¡±


    Deasy clenched her fists tightly, trying to contain her emotions in the face of the usation Andreas had just made against her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a cheap woman as you¡¯re implying,¡± Deasy said with emphasis.


    Nevertheless, Andreas stillughed, as if Deasy meant nothing to him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not, then what should I call a woman who has repeatedly slept with a man without a legally recognized rtionship? Who has be pregnant and is even now living under the same roof without a clearmitment? What should I call her if not cheap? No dignified woman behaves like that.¡±


    ¡°But, the baby in my womb is Lucas¡¯s, Sir!¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see after it¡¯s born. What¡¯s certain is that, from now on, you keep your distance, or if necessary, end your futile rtionship with Lucas. No matter how long it takes, I will never approve.¡±


    Andreas then rose from his seat. Without caring about Deasy¡¯s feelings, the middle-aged man simply left the restaurant.


    ***

 PHB 58

    ¡°De, did you see Ms. Deasy?¡±


    Lucas appeared puzzled. Since he returned from the meeting, he hadn¡¯t seen Deasy in his office at all. He had some work to discuss with her, and her absence was starting to worry him.


    Even when Lucas tried to contact her as Lucas Orion, his girlfriend didn¡¯t respond. This made him both anxious and concerned.


    ¡°She¡¯s not in her office, Sir. It seems like she¡¯s gone out.¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°For a while now? I noticed she hasn¡¯t been around for a bit. There¡¯s something important I want to discuss about work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to find her and get in touch, Sir,¡± De said. ¡°If I locate her, I¡¯ll let Ms. Deasy know to meet you in your office.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you very much for your help.¡±


    After De left the room, Lucas picked up his phone again. He checked repeatedly, hoping for a response from Deasy to the text messages he had sent.


    Lucas: Darling, where are you? Why aren¡¯t you answering my calls? Are you okay?


    Lucas: Darling? Hello? Please reply. Are you mad at me or something?


    Lucas sent numerous text messages, and even when he attempted to call, Deasy didn¡¯t respond at all.


    Lucas wanted to know Deasy¡¯s whereabouts desperately. However, without any information on her location, searching for her would be futile.


    An hourter, precisely at five in the evening, Lucas heard a knock on his office door. As he invited the person inside, he finally found the woman he had been looking for.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy? You finally came. I¡¯ve been looking for you all this time.¡±


    Deasy stepped forward, nodding politely while offering a smile.


    ¡°I apologize for not being in the office earlier. There was an urgent matter I had to attend to outside, Sir. But by the way, what is the matter you¡¯d like to discuss?¡±


    Lucas then moved from his desk to the sofa, inviting Deasy to sit, and began discussing work-rted issues with the fair-skinned woman.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    They spent approximately forty minutes discussing uing work deadlines. Convinced that everything had been discussed, Deasy intended to excuse herself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything after this, Sir. I¡¯ll send the final results to your email shortly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Ms. Deasy. Just let me know when everything is done. I¡¯ll check it and pass it on to the execution department.¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Sure, Sir. I¡¯ll get it done. But¡­ before I leave, is there anything else you¡¯d like to convey, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas appeared to ponder for a moment. Thinking back, he couldn¡¯t think of anything else to discuss with Deasy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Ms. Deasy. We¡¯ve covered everything earlier.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Deasy inquired with a probing expression. ¡°Are you absolutely sure there¡¯s nothing else Mr. Lucas wants to say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing at all, Ms. Deasy. Why do you ask?¡±


    Deasy leaned slightly forward in her seat. She gazed intently at him, then offered a bitter smile to Lucas.


    ¡°You never know, Mr. Lucas. Perhaps you¡¯d like to rify something about Lucas Morales, who apparently has been masquerading as Lucas Orion all this time.¡±


    Lucas was startled. His eyes widened, and he found Deasy disying a face full of emotions and profound disappointment.

 PHB 59

    After Andreas Morales left, Deasy sat there silently, her gaze empty. Her mind was busy thinking while digesting every word Andreas had said to her.


    There was pain.


    There was humiliation.


    How Andreas Morales¡¯s words had left a deep impact, cutting and cornering her.


    ¡°Do you think the Morales family wants a daughter-inw like you, a cheap woman?¡±


    ¡°If not cheap, what should I call it then? What should we call a woman who willingly sleeps with a man, even multiple times without any officialmitment? Because in reality, a dignified woman would never engage in such dirty acts.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply as she recalled this string of sentences. If only cursing parents didn¡¯t bring bad luck, she wished she could utter all the curses she knew.


    She admitted that she was wrong for engaging in a marital rtionship without any formalmitment. But¡­ it was all unintentional. Not exactly a mistake, as Deasy had moments when she felt addicted and repeated it.


    Yes, okay!


    She was wrong, and her behavior of postponing marriage and agreeing to live together without an official status didn¡¯t help.


    No, Deasy wasn¡¯t living with someone outside of wedlock.


    It was absurd topare her to that!


    Deasy wanted to get married. She had even nned everything. But even before she had a chance to meet her parents, she was handed a red card.


    This is just too much!


    Meanwhile, lost in thought, her phone began to ring. Lucas had been sending her messages repeatedly, wanting to know how she was and where she was.


    Lucas: Honey¡­ where are you?


    Lucas: Honey¡­ are you angry? Why aren¡¯t you answering my calls?


    Lucas: Are you busy or something? If you¡¯ve read my messages, please call or reply. Love you.


    Deasy continued to remain silent. Shortly after, she was pulled back into some random moments that had caught her attention. There were instances where people had mentioned a truth she had never realized.


    ¡°Your mom is so lucky to have a boyfriend like Mr. Lucas. He¡¯s handsome, attentive, and even generous. He never forgets to order the most delicious food every day and makes sure that Ms. Deasy eats it.¡±


    One of the delivery drivers Deasy had asked even reassured her twice that the Lucas who had been with her was a handsome man. She thought it was just politepliments the driver was making to catch her attention.


    Even the doctor who practiced in the apartmentplex had said the same thing. When she had an ident and lost consciousness, the handsome version of Lucas had brought her in, stayed for a while, and ensured her well-being.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice being Ms. Deasy? Her boyfriend seems really affectionate. He¡¯s handsome, too. Basically, theplete package.¡±


    It made perfect sense that both of these different people were talking about Deasy¡¯s boyfriend, a handsome man they had all met before-Lucas Morales.


    ¡°Lucas Orion¡­ Lucas Orion Morales.¡±


    Andreas Morales even repeated it twice and emphasized the name of his son to convince Deasy.


    Ironically, he appeared like a fool because, as an employee, he clearly didn¡¯t know the full name of his own boss.


    ¡°Deasy¡­ Deasy¡­ your foolishness knows no bounds! How could you have let yourself be yed like this all this time?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fists. Her expression clearly showed her frustration and disappointment.


    ¡°Lucas¡­ Lucas Orion Morales¡­¡± she said with anger. ¡°You better watch out! You have to pay for what you¡¯ve done to me! How dare you y with me like this. Damn it!¡±


    After thinking for a long time, weighing the pros and cons, considering the consequences and everything else, Deasy decided to leave. Not to run away or escape reality but to go back to the office to meet Lucas and rify everything that had happened.


    That¡¯s why, when she arrived at the Forty-nine building and was about to enter the room, De, who had been waiting, approached her. She conveyed a message from Lucas, who had been looking for her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ Oh my goodness. You finally came,¡± De said as she approached.


    ¡°Why? Are you looking for me? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    De shook her head repeatedly.


    ¡°Not me, but Mr. Lucas. He¡¯s been looking for you. He wants to discuss the project that was talked about in the meeting this afternoon, Ma¡¯am. It seems really important.¡±


    Deasy nodded, understanding what De was telling her.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll go see Mr. Lucas right away. Maybe it needs to be discussed right now.¡±


    Without much ado and because she really wanted to meet him, Deasy immediately changed course and headed to Lucas¡¯s office. When she arrived and entered, she immediately discussed work matters.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    It took a long time, and it was very serious. When it was finally over, Deasy didn¡¯t go home immediately. Once again, she had to rify the truth that she had just heard today from the man who, incidentally, was Lucas¡¯s father.


    ¡°Are you sure Mr. Lucas doesn¡¯t want to say anything to me?¡±


    Lucas looked puzzled. He gazed at Deasy, shaking his head uncertainly. As far as he knew, everything rted to work had already been discussed. So, what else did he need to tell Deasy?


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Deasy smiled. Her facial expression was hard to read. It was a mix of annoyance, anger, disdain, and disappointment. She wanted to mess up Lucas¡¯s face but realized that the man in front of her was undeniably handsome.


    ¡°Well¡­ who knows, maybe Mr. Lucas wants to talk about Lucas Morales, who turns out to be Lucas Orion.¡±


    In her seat, Lucas was taken aback. He couldn¡¯t hide his surprise after hearing what Deasy had just revealed.


    That¡¯s why, while straightening up, Lucas prepared to give an exnation. However, before he could speak, Deasy took the opportunity first.


    ¡°It turns out you¡¯ve just been ying with me all this time, Luc. It turns out, all this time I¡¯ve just been your puppet.¡±


    Deasy looked at him with anger. From her gaze, Lucas could conclude that his girlfriend was deeply disappointed.


    Lucas had prepared to be honest, but he didn¡¯t expect it to happen so suddenly and unprepared.


    ¡°Honey¡­ I can exin everything.¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course,¡± Deasy immediately responded with a cold tone. Her gaze was sharp. There was no warmth, no affection, which she usually showed to Lucas.


    ¡°You really have to exin everything to me.¡±


    Deasy then turned around, taking steps towards the door to leave the room. However, before she could exit, Lucas quickly grabbed her arm.


    ¡°Honey¡­ please. Please listen to me first. I¡¯ll exin everything without leaving anything out.¡±


    ¡°You do have to exin everything. But not here!¡±


    Deasy then brushed away Lucas¡¯s hand on her wrist. She continued walking, choosing to leave in a hurry, but not to return to the office. Instead, she headed home.


    Meanwhile, Lucas appeared to be chasing after her. Ignoring the curious stares of the staff, he continued to pursue Deasy as she walked towards the lobby.


    Once Deasy was within reach, Lucas immediately pulled her arm, leading her to get into the car and head to the apartment.


    ***

 PHB 60

    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, I can exin everything.¡±


    Entering their apartment unit, Lucas immediately pulled Deasy to sit on the sofa. He followed and deliberately sat right next to her while looking deeply into her eyes.


    ¡°First, I apologize. I sincerely apologize for not being honest with you from the beginning. But there are reasons for everything.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? So, you lied for a reason?¡± Deasy replied with a skeptical expression.


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Lucas pleaded. ¡°Please listen to me first until I finish. I¡¯ll exin everything step by step.¡±


    Deasy nodded, allowing Lucas to continue his exnation.


    ¡°From the beginning, I didn¡¯t intend to deceive you. Seriously, even before we met, I was assigned by my father to investigate Forty-nine.¡±


    ¡°Investigate?¡±


    Lucas nodded. Eventually, he had to exin everything without any more concealment.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed or not, but in recent years, Forty-nine seemed to be sessful on the surface. However, in reality, it was in deep financial trouble. There were suspicions that some high-ranking employees were deliberately sabotaging and embezzling. That¡¯s why I was assigned to find out.¡±


    Deasy was surprised this time. Judging from her expression, she was shocked to hear Lucas¡¯s exnation.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s why you went undercover? You intentionally became one of the employees to blend in and conduct an investigation?¡±


    Lucas nodded again, this time reaching out to hold Deasy¡¯s wrist firmly.


    ¡°Yes. So, I went undercover purely to carry out the task my father gave me. Not to deceive you. Besides, our rtionship becameplicated and eventually developed due to coincidences, right?¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t deny this. She had indeed be involved in aplicated rtionship with Lucas because of her own mistakes.


    ¡°But from the beginning, you didn¡¯t exin any of this to me, Luc. Even after we agreed to have a serious rtionship, you continued to maintain your disguise. You could have been honest with me.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. He found himself in aplicated situation, much like what Felix often warned him about.


    Once again, Lucas understood. It was only human for Deasy to be angry and feel deceived. That¡¯s why he had to be patient and carefully exin everything.


    ¡°I apologize. I was wrong. Initially, I nned to keep my identity hidden until Ipleted the task my father assigned me. But, after we started a serious rtionship and you suddenly proposed marriage, I thought about it and prepared the right time to tell you everything. I¡¯m not ying games, Des. I¡¯m serious about this rtionship with you.¡±


    Deasyughed. Her heart couldn¡¯t fully ept what Lucas had just exined.


    ¡°Let¡¯s say I ept all your exnations and apologies. I¡¯m also trying to understand all the reasons behind your disguise. But, it¡¯s still not easy to continue this rtionship, Luc.¡±


    Lucas was startled.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you wonder why I suddenly found out that you¡¯re actually Lucas Morales?¡±


    Lucas was so focused on finding a way to convince Deasy that he hadn¡¯t even considered this.


    Deasy¡¯s words hit home. Why hadn¡¯t he looked into it before? Where and from whom did she learn the secret that he had kept so carefully?


    ¡°For your information, Luc,¡± Deasy continued eagerly, ¡°this afternoon, your father met with me.¡±


    ¡°My father?¡±


    Lucas was shocked. Despite knowing that his father didn¡¯t approve and hadn¡¯t allowed him to cancel his wedding ns with Devina, he never expected this. He also didn¡¯t anticipate that his father would act so quickly to meet Deasy in person.


    ¡°Yes. Mr. Andreas Morales. Your father, right? He took the time to meet and talk seriously with me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this is the reason why you suddenly-¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy replied quickly. ¡°Just as you¡¯re thinking. If you must know, your father even asked me to stay away from you, Luc.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. Her face, which had been filled with anger earlier, now slowly turned sad.


    ¡°I thought that by telling him that I¡¯m currently carrying your child, he would relent. But I was terribly wrong, Luc. Mr. Andreas said that the baby in my belly is not your flesh and blood, not a Morales descendant.¡±


    Lucas was stunned. He didn¡¯t need to be told; he was sure that his father¡¯s words had hurt Deasy deeply.


    ¡°Honey¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a cheap woman, Luc,¡± Deasy interrupted with a mournful tone. ¡°Mr. Andreas said I¡¯m not fit to be a part of their prestigious family. He said I trapped you. Am I really that disgusting that he had to humiliate me like that?¡±


    Right then and there, Lucas pulled Deasy into his embrace, allowing her to cry and release all her emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my love. I¡¯m truly sorry. But I swear to God, what my father used you of ispletely untrue.¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, Luc, it¡¯s still pointless,¡± Deasy continued. She released herself from Lucas¡¯s embrace and looked directly into his eyes.


    ¡°My father also said that you¡¯ll never marry me, Luc. He said you already have a fianc¨¦e. And only that woman is worthy to be with you, not me.¡±


    Lucas shook his head, wiping away the tears that had streamed down Deasy¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°No, sweetheart. That¡¯s not true at all. From the beginning, I promised to take responsibility and marry you as soon as possible. And I will prove it. I won¡¯t break my promise.¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Deasy looked into his eyes again. She held Lucas¡¯s wrist and held it tightly while continuing to gaze at the man sitting beside her.


    ¡°Luc¡­ I know it¡¯s too early. But¡­ if you truly love me, please prove it. Please marry me, no matter how.¡±

 PHB 61

    Just like A-list celebrities who can¡¯t escape the spotlight of the paparazzi and all sorts of news, the entire Quantum Tech staff seemed excited discussing the rtionship between Lucas and Deasy.


    It all began when many pairs of eyes caught an incident where Lucas intentionally chased Deasy along the building corridor to the lobby. Eventually, he seeded in intercepting her and pulled Deasy towards her car.


    This action raised many questions and perceptions. Almost every division considered this unusual moment as hot gossip that would be a great loss if not made the topic of conversation.


    ¡°You must be thrilled to be a trending topic in the office.¡±


    Daniel addressed Deasy as they both entered the elevator. From his expression, the man who resembled Mr Bean appeared visibly annoyed. Perhaps he was tired of hearing the same gossip about his ex-girlfriend all day.


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Deasy replied, tossing her hair deliberately. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve be an instant celebrity.¡±


    ¡°But aren¡¯t you ufortable with everyone finally knowing who your boyfriend is? They¡¯re all buzzing about the two of you.¡±


    Up until this moment, Daniel believed that Deasy had been dating Lucas Morales from the beginning. The man had no objections when Deasy initially stated her reasons for keeping their rtionship secret from the staff to maintain a peaceful work environment and avoid office gossip.


    Back then, Deasy used to boast about it. Turns out, it hade true now. Maybe Deasy¡¯s words were like a prayer. She spoke without much thought, and in the end, God answered. It¡¯s not a big deal. Was this what they called unexpected blessings?


    ¡°Why should I be ufortable?¡± Deasy seemed nonchnt. She didn¡¯t feel like making a fuss or getting emotional about it. ¡°I should be proud to have thepany¡¯s CEO as my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°But you said before that you wanted to keep it a secret so that the jealous women in the office wouldn¡¯t get envious. So why the change of heart now?¡±


    ¡°That was then. It¡¯s different now. Let everyone know. So there won¡¯t be anyone else trying to flirt and fantasize about being with Mr. Lucas Morales. I mean, a handsome guy like him is surely an idol for all the female staff here, right? Even some of the male staff seem to be interested. Creepy!¡±


    Daniel sighed. He couldn¡¯t stand it when Deasy acted so confidently. After all, their behavior was quite simr, and there was no difference between them. Both were equally narcissistic and liked to brag about themselves.


    ¡°You just enjoy being the subject of office gossip, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I always been the subject of office gossip?¡± Deasy smirked, ncing briefly while speaking in a mocking tone. ¡°Especially when I was dating you, right?¡±


    This time, Daniel turned and smiled. The man often said to resemble a rice cooker¡¯s switch seemed to be grinning proudly, even though Deasy hadn¡¯t praised him at all. What a strange guy!


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s definitely worth discussing. After all, we were the most harmonious couple back then. It¡¯s natural for many staff members to envy us and gossip about us.¡±


    Deasy choked. Suddenly, her ears felt itchy. Didn¡¯t Daniel have any self-awareness or something? Could it be that he didn¡¯t realize why people used to gossip about them both.


    ¡°Harmonious couple, you say?¡± Deasyughed. ¡°People gossiped about us because they thought I had an eye infection and was under a spell. Besides, it¡¯s just weird for a girl as perfectly beautiful as me to date someone like you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Des. Arindi is beautiful too. She willingly married me, you know. What does that mean? It means I¡¯m handsome, charismatic, and authoritative. That¡¯s why I¡¯m in demand among women out there.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re like physics, aren¡¯t you? All about style, Daniel!¡±


    ¡°Why all about style? I¡¯m speaking the truth, Des. You even got stressed out when I broke up with you, right?¡±


    Deasy couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. She was in quite a mood listening to her ex¡¯s rambling.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, okay, fine. You¡¯re handsome, charismatic, authoritative, and rich,¡± Deasy replied mockingly. She felt like throwing up while saying that. ¡°But at least be a faithful man, Daniel. Just so you know, even Rexona is faithful all the time. What about you? A cheater. Shame on you,pared to deodorant.¡±


    Daniel grumbled in annoyance. He couldn¡¯t believe Deasypared him to deodorant. He was ready to retort and protest, but Deasy waved her hand and went into her office.


    Inside her office, Deasy noticed several staff members gathering. She didn¡¯t need to guess; she knew they were all currently gossiping about her.


    ¡°What are you all huddled up there for?¡± Deasy asked intentionally.


    ¡°Uh, well, Ma¡¯am¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes? What¡¯s up with your Uh¡­ things, Andro? Flying away?¡±


    ¡°Not like that.¡±


    ¡°The kids are excitedly talking about Ms. Deasy and Mr. Lucas,¡± De chimed in and immediately received sharp res from the other finance team members.


    Deasy just smiled. Getting angry would be pointless and a waste of energy. Since everyone had already guessed and spected all sorts of things, she might as well show off, so they¡¯d know everything.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with me and Mr. Lucas?¡± Deasy inquired.


    ¡°We just didn¡¯t expect it, Ms. Deasy, that you have a special rtionship with Mr. Lucas. We thought he was already engaged,¡± one of the staff members said.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually in a rtionship with him,¡± Deasy asserted deliberately.


    ¡°Seriously, Ms. Deasy?¡±


    They all responded in unison, surprised by Deasy¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Yeah, why would I lie? If you don¡¯t believe me, just ask Mr. Lucas about our rtionship.¡±


    ¡°So, what about Mr. Lucas¡¯s fianc¨¦e?¡± Andro, who was curious, asked right away. He thought maybe Deasy¡¯s answer could be used as the next topic of gossip.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that rich people tend to be arranged in rtionships. So, they were engaged, but they didn¡¯t really love each other. Besides, Mr. Lucas chose me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Lucky you, Ms. Deasy,¡± Andro replied, nodding like a bird.


    ¡°Well, if I were Ms. Deasy, I¡¯d definitely try to maintain a rtionship with Mr. Lucas. After all, he¡¯s top-notch material!¡± Sta eximed excitedly.


    ¡°That exins why Ms. Deasy seems to have gained some weight, right? I thought she was still stressed from Mr. Daniel leaving her. Turns out she¡¯s just really happy because she¡¯s with someone like Mr. Lucas.¡±


    Deasy choked when De voiced her thoughts. She had thought that no one had noticed the recent change in her body shape. It turns out De had realized that she had gained weight. Well, it was understandable; she was currently four months pregnant.


    The staff members were already buzzing with excitement when they found out about her rtionship with Lucas. What would happen if they knew she was carrying his child?


    ¡°You guys are something else. But, I guess what you¡¯re saying is partly true. I¡¯m so happy that I don¡¯t even think about dieting anymore. I¡¯m just really happy to have a partner who¡¯s more attentive and everything.¡±


    ¡°More good looking and better off financially too, for sure, Ms. Deasy,¡± Sta chimed in, elicitingughter from the other staff members.


    ¡°Alright, you guys carry on. I¡¯m going to get ready to go home.¡±


    After grabbing her bag, Deasy left the room and headed to Lucas¡¯s office. She knew that he had just returned from a meeting outside the office and decided to pay him a visit. There was something important she needed to discuss with him.


    ¡°Have you heard the gossip today?¡± Deasy asked as she entered the room and walked over to where Lucas was seated.


    ¡°Gossip because I chased you and invited you into the car yesterday?¡± Lucas smiled, taking Deasy¡¯s wrist and pulling her to sit on hisp.


    ¡°Let everyone know. It¡¯s about time others found out. After all, we do have a special rtionship, don¡¯t we? Even more than just dating or being close friends.¡±


    Deasy nodded, gazing at Lucas while gently caressing his cheek.


    ¡°Yes, a bedmate who will soon be a life partner.¡±


    Lucas smiled again, reaching for the nape of Deasy¡¯s neck to nt a deep kiss on her lips. He nibbled on both of her lips alternately before finally releasing her after feeling satisfied.


    ¡°Soon, my love. I¡¯ll marry you as soon as possible.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Deasy nodded in belief. Besides, Lucas seemed genuinelymitted from his expression.


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot,¡± Deasy suddenly said after they finished kissing. ¡°You¡¯re not busy anymore, are you?¡± she asked to confirm.


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°I just got back from a meeting. There¡¯s nothing else to do, really. Maybe just reading documents or checking emails. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I want to take you somewhere right now.¡±


    ¡°Right now?¡± Lucas repeated, looking surprised. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t answer immediately. She got up from Lucas¡¯sp and then pulled his wrist to make him stand up.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go now.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but where are we going, dear?¡±


    ¡°To my parents¡¯ house. So you can meet my mom.¡±

 PHB 62

    Initially, ording to the original n, Deasy wanted to introduce Lucas to her mother on the next Saturday or any other holiday.


    However, due to the unexpected and sudden chaos after Andreas¡¯s arrival, Deasy decided to introduce Lucas to her mother today itself.


    Anyway, she wanted to quickly resolve each problem one by one. There should be no more obstacles or dys in her wedding ns with Lucas in the future. Regardless of any storm, Deasy had to marry that man.


    ¡°Mom, let me introduce. This is Deasy¡¯s new boyfriend.¡±


    Diana Winterborne was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect her daughter to suddenly visit with her new boyfriend.


    Diana remembered quite well. Some time ago, her daughter was sad for days, acting like a fickle teenager because she had to leave her boyfriend to get married.


    ¡°Deasy, why cry so much over this? It¡¯s not like there¡¯s only one guy in the world! If he¡¯s getting married, then fine, just find someone new. It¡¯s a waste to be pretty but not use it. Wasted!¡±


    Deasy immediately looked up, ring angrily at her mother.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the fact that he¡¯s getting married that bothers Deasy, Mom. Deasy just can¡¯t ept being cheated on like this. And then that Daniel guy broke up with Deasy first. Acting all high and mighty! Deasy should have been the one to break up with him.¡±


    ¡°But the important thing is that it¡¯s over now.¡±


    Deasy scowled, not epting it.


    ¡°But, I¡¯m sure when he tells people, he¡¯ll say he was the one who broke up with Deasy. My pride will be shattered. Deasy won¡¯t stand for it! Just wait, Deasy will get back at him. Deasy will find a guy who¡¯s even more handsome, richer, and everything. Then Deasy will show off to Daniel, all those pimples, scabs, and rashes! That arrogant Magi guy thinks he can look down on Deasy!¡±


    Diana didn¡¯t forget the words and curses her daughter had uttered back then, especially about getting back at Daniel for what he had done.


    Well, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for Deasy to move on quickly and find a recement. Especially the man her daughter had brought this time was truly different from the previous one. Honestly, it was like night and day. This time, his handsomeness was irresistible. People even said he was attractive wherever he went.


    ¡°Oh, really? So he¡¯s your new boyfriend? The recement for Daniel, with all those pimples, scabs, and rashes?¡± Diana replied yfully.


    Lucas chuckled, quite familiar with the terms Devina had just mentioned.


    ¡°Yes, Auntie. Let me introduce myself, I¡¯m Lucas.¡±


    Diana epted the handshake that Lucas offered and immediately made her daughter¡¯s boyfriend feel wee, insisting that he call her ¡°Mom¡± instead of ¡°Aunt¡± for a more friendly atmosphere.


    ¡°Diana winterborne. Just call me Mom, not Aunt. It sounds more familiar,¡± Diana requested casually, but it made Lucas appear even more nervous. ¡°Are you working at the same office as Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Lucas is Deasy¡¯s boss at the office, Mom.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Lucas but Deasy who answered, happily showing off her new boyfriend who clearly outshone her previous partners in various aspects.


    ¡°He¡¯s really handsome, isn¡¯t he? Turns out my daughter knows how to pick a boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Mom,e on,¡± Deasy giggled shyly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who taught me. What can I say?¡±


    Dianaughed. This was how they acted when they met-so familiar, almost like best friends, rather than the formal mother-daughter rtionship.


    ¡°So, how¡¯s it going?¡± Diana asked Lucas next.


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean, Aunt? Uh, I mean, Mom?¡±


    Dianaughed first, understanding that the young man in front of her was still quite nervous.


    ¡°I mean, Lucas, how¡¯s your rtionship? Is it serious? Or are you still getting to know each other? What¡¯s the deal?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re very serious, Mom,¡± Deasy chimed in again. Diana couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at her daughter¡¯s behavior. ¡°Des, can you please be quiet for a moment? You¡¯re talking like a metromini. Mom is interrogating your boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Ma. She¡¯s so chatty.¡±


    ¡°How about it, Lucas?¡± Diana turned to Lucas, looking at her daughter¡¯s boyfriend with a deep and serious gaze. ¡°How long have you been dating Deasy?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still rtively new, Ma. We¡¯ve only known each other for a few months. But I¡¯m serious. I came here to ask for your permission.¡±


    ¡°Ask for permission for what? A date? To go out? What?¡± Diana inquired, especially since Lucas, who had been nervous earlier, now appeared more serious.


    ¡°Actually, my reason foring here is to ask for your permission to propose to Deasy and marry her soon.¡±


    Diana was taken aback once again. She had thought that her daughter¡¯s rtionship with her new boyfriend was still in the early stages of getting to know each other or casual dating. Who would have guessed that it was already progressing towards something more serious like marriage?


    It didn¡¯t matter to her if Deasy wanted to get married right away. After all, in terms of age, her daughter was already very mature. Dying things could be risky, and she might end up bing an old maid.


    ¡°You want to marry Deasy?¡± Diana asked, now wearing a serious expression.


    ¡°Yes, Ma.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°100% sure,¡± Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°But she eats a lot, you know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware, Ma.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s also a bit extravagant and often shops for unnecessary things.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. I have plenty of money,¡± Lucas replied confidently.


    ¡°Not to mention, she¡¯s talkative, and there are moments when she acts a bit crazy, Luc. Plus, her quirks often resurface. Are you sure you can ept her as she is?¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Deasy protested. She wondered why her mother was speaking so candidly. Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly candid, but some things should be kept private, right? They shouldn¡¯t be aired out like this.


    ¡°Just be quiet, Des. Mom is having a serious conversation with your boyfriend,¡± Deasy instructed, putting her finger to her lips to signal Deasy not to blurt out anything before she was done talking to Lucas.


    ¡°But, Lucas,¡± Diana continued. ¡°Honestly, if you had asked for permission to date her and get to know each other first, I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised. But now you want to get married right away? Are you serious? Have you thought all of this through carefully? I¡¯m afraid you might regret it after getting married. Besides, Deasy has a lot of ws. From being a bit temperamental, a perfectionist, unwilling topromise, bossy, vengeful, sometimes possessed, stubborn, spoiled, whiny, and she doesn¡¯t shower much either. Even I can¡¯t handle her.¡±


    Deasy sighed in defeat. Her self-esteem was shattered as her mother revealed all her ws and shorings. It seemed that Lucas might end up feeling repelled by her instead of being sure about their rtionship.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. That¡¯s why you don¡¯t have to bother with Deasy anymore. Let me handle it. I ept Deasy as she is. I¡¯llplement her strengths and weaknesses. After all, married couples shouldplement and support each other. I have plenty of shorings too. I¡¯m not perfect like people may think.¡±


    ¡°But, marriage isn¡¯t as simple as you imagine, Lucas.¡±


    ¡°I know, Mom. They say married life has its ups and downs, it¡¯s not easy. Because simplicity is only found in Padang restaurants.¡±


    Dianaughed briefly. Lucas, who had been serious all along, suddenly lightened the mood with a joke.


    ¡°But, indeed, marriage isn¡¯t easy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I agree,¡± Lucas replied. ¡°But no matter what, I¡¯m ready to ept all the consequences. I¡¯m confident in Deasy. She¡¯s the only woman I want and hope to have as my wife, someone who will stand by me for the rest of my life and care for me until we¡¯re old. She¡¯s also the woman I want to bear my children and be the mother of my future kids.¡±


    Diana¡¯s heart melted. She felt a mix of emotions, both touched and happy, as her daughter had finally found a suitable future husband. From Lucas¡¯s words and gestures, it was clear that he was serious and sincere.


    ¡°Why are you crying, Mom?¡± Deasy asked when she noticed her mother shedding tears. Lucas hadn¡¯t said anything sad or hurtful. He was being serious.


    ¡°You put the Tupperware credit card bill here, that¡¯s why Mama is sad.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, really, Mom? I¡¯m being serious.¡±


    ¡°Well, Mama is moved, so she¡¯s asking why.¡±


    Lucas scratched his head. Why were the mother and daughter in front of him suddenly engaging in yful banter?


    ¡°So¡­ how about it, Mom?¡± Lucas tried to refocus on the main topic.


    Diana then turned to Lucas, smiled, and nodded.


    ¡°Well, it actually depends on Deasy. If she feelspatible andfortable with you, why would I stop her? Besides, it¡¯s her future marriage and family life we¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°So, Mom gives her consent and approves of Lucas¡¯s request to propose and marry Deasy soon?¡±


    Diana nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Yes, I give my blessing and permission. What about your own parents?¡±


    Lucas fell silent. Why hadn¡¯t he thought about questions like this? Everywhere, marriage usually required the consent and blessings of both families, right? He realized it was a mistake toe visit without thorough preparation.


    ¡°About that-¡±


    ¡°Originally, Lucas¡¯s parents don¡¯t know about this wedding n, Mom,¡± Deasy replied again, deliberately talking and taking over the conversation. ¡°But, Mom, don¡¯t worry. Our n to get married will definitely be approved. What matters is getting your blessing first.¡±


    Lucas turned to look at Deasy. However, the woman in front of him signaled not to say much to his mother. After all, Deasy deliberately didn¡¯t talk much about Lucas¡¯s parents. She didn¡¯t want his mother to feel sad when she found out what was really happening.


    ¡°Thank goodness for that,¡± Diana said with relief. ¡°Mom will be waiting for more good news from you both.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    After chatting at length and seeking blessings, Lucas and Deasy finally decided to go home feeling relieved. At least they had one permission and blessing in their pockets now.


    ***

 PHB 63

    ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to ask for permission from your parents, Luc.¡±


    In Lucas¡¯s embrace, Deasy requested with emphasis, reminding him of what Lucas had promised earlier.


    Actually, Deasy knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Lucas to convince his father. When they met, Andreas had clearly given an ultimatum, staring in disgust, stating that he would never approve of their rtionship for any reason.


    But this is what intrigued Deasy. She wanted this request as proof. Would Lucas be serious about fighting for her and their unborn child? Or would he hesitate and choose to follow his father¡¯s orders?


    ¡°Yes, Sweetie. I¡¯ll talk to Dad soon. But speaking of permissions, why don¡¯t you be honest with Mom about your current pregnancy situation? You haven¡¯t been honest about my family not giving their approval.¡±


    Deasy loosened her embrace, slightly straightening up while looking into Lucas¡¯s face.


    ¡°On purpose. Didn¡¯t you see my mom¡¯s face when she was so happy to hear that her old maid daughter is being courted? I know she must be really happy and proud. Especially because her future son-inw is so handsome.¡±


    Lucas blushed. It had its advantages to have a good-looking face like his.


    ¡°Yeah, she was crying too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I just didn¡¯t want to ruin my mom¡¯s happiness today. For now, let her not know about my pregnancy. But I¡¯ll slowly tell her so she won¡¯t be shocked either. Step by step. Slow but sure.¡±


    ¡°Like a nk song. So, what about my parents¡¯ approval?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your task, Luc,¡± Deasy replied with a serious expression. ¡°Your task is to convince and get their approval. I¡¯m sure it will be very difficult to get approval from your Dad. After all¡­ he already insulted me. Called me cheap and all. That¡¯s why I leave it all to you because you know them best. If they agree, then I¡¯ll ask my mom to meet your parents. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But what else?¡± Lucas quickly asked.


    ¡°If they still don¡¯t approve. I¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t back down, Darling,¡± Lucas interrupted as if he knew what Deasy wanted to say. He looked at her intently, trying to reassure her. ¡°No matter what, I will take responsibility and marry you, no matter what my Dad¡¯s answer and decision will be. You can count on that, Des. I promised that from the beginning, right?¡±


    ¡°Love you. Anyway, I pray that everything goes smoothly and as we hope.¡±


    And Lucas proved his words. The next day, early in the morning, the athletic-built man deliberately visited his father at his residence. He thought this conversation should not be postponed any longer.


    As soon as possible, Lucas needed to rify how his rtionship with Deasy would end. After all, from the beginning, even before meeting Deasy, Lucas had intended to cancel his wedding ns with Devina. As mentioned, he didn¡¯t like her at all, let alone love her. It was better to prevent it from the beginning rather than failter.


    ¡°Why did you suddenlye to Papa¡¯s house? What¡¯s the asion?¡±


    Andreas looked up from behind the newspaper he was reading. He let Lucas stand without asking him to sit.


    ¡°Lucas doesn¡¯t like small talk, Pa.¡±


    Andreas sipped his chamomile tea from his cup, then looked up, smiling thinly.


    ¡°Go ahead. Just get to the point; I don¡¯t like people beating around the bush.¡±


    ¡°Lucas came here to rify Lucas and Deasy¡¯s rtionship, Pa. Lucas knows that you secretly investigated and eventually met her yesterday. Here, Lucas wants to make it clear. No matter how much you forbid it, Lucas will still marry her. In whatever way, Lucas wants her to be his partner and wife, not Devina.¡±


    Andreas stared sharply. He raised the corner of his lip.


    ¡°Such a stubborn child. What if I still don¡¯t agree? What will you do?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. He looked at his father with full conviction in response to his words.


    ¡°Lucas will resign from the position you gave him. Or if you want, you can remove Lucas from the list of heirs; that¡¯s fine too.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Andreas clenched his jaw. He looked closely, preparing his words for what his son had just said. So, should he be firm in his response?

 PHB 64

    Andreas continued to stare at Lucas¡¯ face, who was still standing firmly in front of him. The sentence his son had just uttered was still echoing clearly in his mind.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    As the youngest son of a man who had been designated as the heir and sessor since birth, Andreas did indeed show more affection towards his son. He fulfilled all of Lucas¡¯ needs and provided extra supervision. Even from a young age, he had been molded into a great and responsible leader. Whatever it was, Andreas did it for Lucas¡¯s well-being.


    Even in the matter of a life partner, it was the same. Andreas intentionally sought the best candidate for Lucas, investigating every background meticulously, weighing their pedigree and worth.


    Out of the many women suggested by his business associates, only Devina met Andreas¡¯ standards and criteria. Besides, Devina¡¯s father had been Andreas¡¯ old friend, and Lucas himself had been friends with her for a long time. So, what else needed consideration?


    Initially, everything seemed to go smoothly. The engagement party had already taken ce, and they were just waiting for the wedding.


    However, not all ns unfolded seamlessly. Andreas was certainly aware of that. However, he never expected his son to be so reckless, secretly maintaining a rtionship with another woman, even going as far as impregnating her.


    And now? He was willing to step down from his position just to cancel his marriage to Devina. He even intended to marry a woman he had just met.


    Andreas was undoubtedly furious.


    How could this woman, whom his son had just met, dare to interfere? She even threatened to sever the rtionship between father and son. Should he still give his blessing?


    ¡°Could you repeat what you just said?¡± Andreas asked while continuing to gaze at Lucas.


    ¡°If Dad insists on not allowing Lucas to marry the woman Lucas loves, Lucas is ready to resign from his position.¡±


    Andreas chuckled softly. He felt intrigued by what his son had just said.


    Raised with love and provided with everything he needed. Now, just because of a stranger, he was willing to walk away.


    ¡°No need to stir up troubled waters, Luc. You¡¯re lucky that your cheap girlfriend hasn¡¯t been immediately fired from thepany by me. Although if I wanted to, I could have kicked her out disrespectfully from the beginning.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about giving your consent, Dad? What¡¯s so hard about letting Lucas marry the person he likes and loves?¡±


    Again, Andreasughed. It seemed that Lucas¡¯s words had no credibility in his eyes. Moreover, Lucas should know by now. His father had always been firm. If he said A from the beginning, he would always say A, not B or C.


    ¡°What did you say? Like? Love? I think you¡¯re exaggerating, Luc. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re marrying Deasy because you feel guilty for getting her pregnant. Your feelings are human, but it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that the child in her womb is your flesh and blood, Lucas Orion.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Dad,¡± Lucas eximed with his voice raised. ¡°How can I not be Lucas¡¯s child if Lucas himself was the first one to sleep with Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Even if you were the first, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you¡¯re the one who got her pregnant. Another man could have nted the seed and ended up being the father. Who knows, Luc? Maybe you¡¯re being set up. Maybe Deasy intentionally did this from the start to pull you into her embrace. Besides, who wouldn¡¯t want to be your partner?¡±


    Lucas clenched his jaw tightly, trying to restrain himself from letting his emotions explode. His father¡¯s words were really hurting him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak recklessly, Dad. Deasy is not that kind of woman.¡±


    Andreasughed again. While Lucas looked angry because his father had been continuously insulting and disparaging Deasy.


    ¡°I¡¯m not speaking recklessly.¡±


    ¡°But what Dad is using is all untrue. Anyway, no matter what, Lucas will still marry Deasy. No matter how.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Andreas shook his head repeatedly. No matter how much he was forced, his decision was firm. ¡°I won¡¯t give my consent. Anyway, you have to marry Devina.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath and nodded. While keeping his gaze locked onto his father, he delivered his decision.


    ¡°In that case, Lucas resigns from the position of Quantum Tech¡¯s leader, Dad. If that¡¯s still not enough, just remove Lucas from the Morales family¡¯s inheritance list. Or whatever you want to do, Dad. What¡¯s certain is that Lucas¡¯s decision is final.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡± Andreas eximed angrily. From the beginning, he had been rxed, but now his emotions were also triggered. ¡°Don¡¯t act up.¡±


    ¡°Lucas is not acting up, Dad. From the beginning, Lucas only wants one thing. To marry Deasy. Period. It¡¯s you who has beenplicating things and making this discussion go in all directions.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, Dad doesn¡¯t agree.¡±


    ¡°Lucas also doesn¡¯t want to marry Devina!¡±


    The two sons and their father continued to argue, exchanging arguments. Both were adamant, and neither was willing to yield.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s up to you, Dad,¡± Lucas said, opening his final conversation. ¡°But one thing is for sure, in the near future, Lucas will get married, with or without Dad¡¯s blessing.¡±


    Lucas turned around, preparing to leave. Before he could take a step, Andreas gave a stern warning to his son, hoping to dissuade Lucas from canceling his wedding ns with Devina.


    ¡°Make sure you¡¯ll regret this, Luc. I guarantee your decision won¡¯t lead to happiness in your life from now on.¡±


    Lucas didn¡¯t care in the slightest. Ignoring his father¡¯s words, he chose to go. He didn¡¯t care if he was made to suffer, rejected, or ignored afterward. Moreover, Lucas¡¯s determination was unwavering. Even without the Morales name, he was confident he could live a good life with Deasy.


    ***

 PHB 65

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you suddenly came here because Lucas ordered you to.¡±


    Devina swallowed her fear. She nervously looked up at Andreas, who had just returned home from work.


    She had been waiting for an hour now. She had intentionally visited her future inws¡¯ house because she wanted to discuss something she considered crucial.


    ¡°Lucas didn¡¯t send Devina, Uncle,¡± Devina stammered. Seeing Andreas¡¯s sharp gaze, her courage waned. Even the bravery she had been nurturing disappeared instantly.


    ¡°So, if it wasn¡¯t because of Lucas, what business brings you here all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Devina wants to talk about the wedding ns with Lucas.¡±


    Andreas took a deep breath. Somehow, he was certain that his future daughter-inw hade to discuss the same thing.


    ¡°If you want to cancel the wedding like Lucas did, Uncle won¡¯t agree, Devina. Uncle and your father have both agreed on this.¡±


    ¡°No, Uncle,¡± Devina shook her head repeatedly. ¡°In fact, Devina is here to request permission, Uncle.¡±


    Andreas furrowed his brow, looking puzzled and confused by what Devina had just said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Uncle. What if we advance the wedding process to the beginning of the month, as originally agreed upon.¡±


    Andreas was taken aback for a moment. He thought hard about how to elerate the wedding process when Lucas had adamantly opposed such a n.


    ¡°Uncle is in favor of it. But how can we make Lucas agree to this? He made it clear this morning that he intends to marry the woman he loves soon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to separate Lucas from the woman he wants to marry? Devina believes Uncle is very capable of doing that.¡±


    Andreas nodded.


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s not difficult to keep Lucas and Deasy apart. However, I¡¯ve never liked using force, let alone engaging in criminal activities. I¡¯m a person of dignity, not a criminal.¡±


    While Andreas and Devina were busy discussing, Lucas and Deasy in the apartment were also engaged in a conversation.


    Before deciding to rest, they both sat on the bed, facing away from each other.


    It had be Lucas¡¯s habit to massage Deasy¡¯s body or feet before sleep to help her rx and sleep soundly.


    ¡°Luc¡­¡± Deasy called out while Lucas was focused on massaging her shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why have you been so quiet? Is something bothering you at work?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Lucas replied briefly. He had been acting a bit strangely since earlier. Perhaps he was thinking about the decision he had made that morning.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not work, then why are you so silent? It¡¯s like you¡¯re preupied with national affairs or something.¡±


    Lucas chuckled softly. Soon, he replied.


    ¡°This morning, I met Dad at his house.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? And how did it go? Did you talk about our ns to get married soon?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Lucas hesitated.


    ¡°So, what was Dad¡¯s response?¡±


    ¡°The same as before.¡±


    ¡°He still didn¡¯t give his blessing?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas replied disheartened. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. As I promised, whether Dad gives his blessing or not, I will still marry you. I told him that we would proceed with the wedding soon.¡±


    ¡°Hold on¡­ hold on¡­¡± Deasy interrupted, curious. ¡°So, you¡¯ve made a decision, and what was Dad¡¯s response?¡±


    ¡°He was angry. Especially when I decided to resign from my position as the leader of Quantum Tech.¡±


    Deasy was shocked. She didn¡¯t expect Lucas to make such a decision.


    ¡°What? You resigned? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Darling. I¡¯m serious. Instead of letting Dad continue to control me, I¡¯d rather let go of everything rted to him.¡±


    Deasy stayed silent for a moment. She didn¡¯t know whether to feel guilty because Lucas had let go of everything for her or to be confused about how to respond to Lucas¡¯s decision.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re giving up everything you have for me?¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you confident?¡± Lucas asked again. ¡°From the beginning, I¡¯ve been trying to reassure you that I¡¯m serious and not ying around. Wealth can be acquired, Des. Besides, I have personal savings more than enough. As for a job, I can start from scratch again. After all, I personally have above-average abilities and skills. That¡¯s the important point.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Deasy replied promptly. ¡°It¡¯s just that I feel guilty. Because of me, you ended up arguing with Mr. Andreas. Later, they might think you¡¯re like this because of my bad influence, Luc. I don¡¯t want-¡±


    ¡°Sshh¡­¡± Lucas hissed, urging Deasy to stop her rambling.


    ¡°Enough, don¡¯t dwell on it. My decision is firm. I choose you and our future child. I hope you won¡¯t regret living with me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s actually me who should say that, Luc. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll regret letting go of everything and choosing me. Remember, Luc, you have everything right now. You might be shocked and not used to living with me.¡±


    Lucasughed softly. He understood Deasy¡¯s concerns.


    ¡°Not possible, Darling. Right now, you are my life. You and our child are whom I must protect and make happy for the rest of my life.¡±


    Lucas then embraced Deasy tightly from behind. Shortly after, he nted light kisses on her exposed shoulders.


    In fact, these kisses gradually felt more than just ordinary kisses. They turned into bites and suckling, causing Deasy¡¯s body to involuntarily tremble.


    ¡°I hope you keep all your promises, Luc,¡± Deasy whispered between the kisses Lucas gave her.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely prove it all, Darling.¡±


    With his hand, Lucas gently massaged Deasy¡¯s back. After a short while, he waspelled to untie the knot of the dress that clung to both sides. He opened itpletely and discarded it somewhere, revealing Deasy¡¯s smooth body, now in.


    Then, Lucas¡¯s hand slowly descended, stopping right at Deasy¡¯s slightly protruding belly. He gently and carefully caressed the exposed surface of her abdomen, speaking tenderly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to make you and our future children happy.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s gentle strokes on Deasy¡¯s belly and chest seemed to ignite her passion. With closed eyes, Deasy appeared overwhelmed by each of Lucas¡¯s actions.


    Deasy was almost drifting away in a half-conscious state. Momentster, Lucas intentionally rested his chin on Deasy¡¯s shoulder. He turned to kiss her cheek and neck, one after the other.


    Furthermore, Deasy became increasingly restless. Lucas¡¯s lip kisses that had lingered on her neck now descended to her shoulder, sucking and biting deliberately. Meanwhile, his hands were bing more adventurous, moving from her abdomen to y with Deasy¡¯s firm and ample breasts.


    As if ignited by Lucas¡¯s actions, Deasy impatiently turned around. She reached for Lucas¡¯s face, then nted a deep kiss.


    Indeed, Deasy never hesitated to take the initiative. Lucas could think what he liked, but Deasy wanted to enjoy her time with her lover tonight.


    While kissing, Deasy¡¯s hands were not idle. As she continued to nibble and kiss, she slowly undid one button of Lucas¡¯s pajamas after another until they werepletely open. She removed them and tossed them aside.


    Fully aware of what Deasy desired, Lucas dly and tenderly guided her to lie down on their bed.


    Lucas would never again refuse or waste an opportunity to make love to Deasy. Every second, minute, and hour spent with her was so meaningful and precious to him. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want to miss a single moment.


    Ensuring that Deasy was lying downfortably, Lucas then found a suitable and safe position, considering that Deasy was currently pregnant. He certainly hoped that his actions would not harm or endanger Deasy or their unborn child.


    After finding the right position, Lucas slowly united with her, filling Deasy¡¯s core with his own. They moved in rhythm, with care and tenderness, making sure that what he gave her wasfortable and enchanting.


    Moans and sighs escaped from Deasy¡¯s lips. The thirst for longing that had been pent up was now reced with a feeling that was difficult for her to describe.


    Until a certain point, Deasy and Lucas felt the same thing. They were both captivated by pleasure and enjoyment.


    Lucas could do nothing at this moment but hold Deasy tightly and continue to kiss her back lovingly. He hoped that the togetherness and happiness they were experiencing tonight would continue to be felt in every night and in the days toe.

 PHB 66

    ¡°Luc, I¡¯ll ask again. Are you seriously considering resigning from Quantum Tech? It¡¯s not easy to get your previous position. Even though you¡¯re Mr. Andreas¡¯s son, you still have to put in the effort to achieve everything.¡±


    In the dining room, while enjoying breakfast together, Deasy reconfirmed the decision Lucas had already made. She asked again, simply because she was worried that her boyfriend mightter regret giving up his job and all the facilities that had been closely attached to him for so long.


    Deasy was aware that Lucas¡¯s current position was not easy at all. He was faced with two important choices that would both impact his future.


    If he chose his family, Lucas would have to ept losing Deasy and their future child. But if he chose Deasy, he would undoubtedly lose his family and all the privileges that came with it.


    Neither Deasy nor Lucas wanted this situation. If only Andreas would give his blessing, everything would go smoothly and be fine.


    ¡°Why the uncertainty? We discussed itst night, Darling,¡± Lucas said as he fed Deasy.


    ¡°So, are you sure now that you¡¯re choosing to live with me? You won¡¯t change your mind or back out?¡±


    Lucas nodded and then smiled.


    ¡°I know we¡¯re not the same age. But can I spend my whole life with you?¡±


    Deasy blushed. She was taken aback by how easily he ttered her, and her cheeks turned red.


    ¡°Lucas, oh my. Seriously, you¡¯re such a smooth talker.¡±


    ¡°People call it smooth when you¡¯re serious,¡± Lucas protested as he offered a drink to Deasy. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m confident, very confident, that I¡¯m choosing you. I¡¯ve followed all of Papa¡¯s wishes from childhood to adulthood. It¡¯s time for me to stand on my own and do whatever I want.¡±


    ¡°But honestly, life out there without privileges is tough and rough. If you¡¯re not mentally strong, you could easily get sidelined.¡±


    Lucas appeared nonchnt. He waspletely unaffected by what Deasy had just said.


    Having grown ustomed to earning everything through hard work first, Lucas had be a tough man who wasn¡¯t easily shaken.


    ¡°Life is tough, Darling. If you want it easy, just go with the flow.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, that¡¯s so clich¨¦! Seriously, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re overthinking it way too much. Even a tramp like me isn¡¯t bothered. I¡¯ve already said I¡¯m ready, inside and out, but you still have doubts.¡±


    Deasy smiled. Seeing Lucas so confident, she felt a little relieved.


    ¡°I¡¯ll always be by your side. We¡¯ll go through everything together, okay?¡± Deasy then took Lucas¡¯s hand and gently caressed his cheeks while saying softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me, you won¡¯t end up homeless or suddenly be a beggar or poor.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if I be a pauper in love. But, it¡¯s your love.¡±


    ¡°See, you¡¯re starting again,¡± Deasy smiled, her face blushing again.


    ¡°How many spoons of sugar do you use when you smile? So sweet.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    ¡°Why are you blushing? I¡¯m just giving you apliment.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re going overboard.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s going overboard, Deasy Venbe Darling? I¡¯m just being honest. No matter what, I love you a lot.¡±


    ¡°Aw.¡±


    ¡°But, by the way,¡± Lucas continued. ¡°If I love you, do you love me too?¡±


    Deasyughed, especially seeing Lucas¡¯s yful wink.


    ¡°Fish in a tank. Yes, I love you too without any lies.¡±


    They bothughed, and Lucas even gave Deasy a tight hug.


    ¡°Keep the sweet talking. I¡¯m filled with yourpliments this morning, Luc.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m only sweet-talking you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t overdo it. I might end up being overly emotional, and my heart will crumble like a wafer.¡±


    Laughter filled Lucas¡¯s lips once again. For some reason, he felt extremely happy interacting with his girlfriend this morning.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s get ready for work. I need to stop by the office for a bit to tidy up,¡± Lucas said, inviting Deasy to get up from her seat.


    ¡°Will you be at the office until evening?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. Even though he hadn¡¯t officially resigned from his position and hadn¡¯t openly announced his decision to the board of directors at the office, he had no interest in spending too much time there. Lucas intentionally avoided the possibility of running into his father, who asionally conducted surprise visits to some of hispanies.


    He knew Andreas Morales¡¯s habits well. If they were to meet again, yesterday¡¯s conversation would be brought up repeatedly until he got bored. Lucas had engaged in arguments with his father more than once.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll only be there until lunchtime. Just picking up a few important documents that I need.¡±


    ¡°So, what will you do after that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just head back to your apartment. I¡¯ll wait there until it¡¯s time to go home from the office.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you bored being alone at the apartment? Why not stay at the office?¡±


    Lucas shook his head repeatedly.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°No, honey. I prefer going home. It¡¯s fine. Afterward, I¡¯ll finish up some work here with Felix. That way, once I leave Quantum Tech, I won¡¯t have any work-rted responsibilities dragging me back and forth.¡±


    ¡°Alright. You do whatever makes youfortable.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot¡­¡± Lucas said again. ¡°Tonight, we have a doctor¡¯s appointment for your pregnancy checkup, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded. Fortunately, Lucas always remembered when it was time for her to visit the doctor.


    In any case, from the beginning, it was Lucas who seemed excited about anything rted to Deasy¡¯s pregnancy. From medicine to vitamins, healthy food, and everything else, Lucas was the one focused on preparing it all.


    ¡°Yes, I have a pregnancy checkup scheduled for tonight. But, is it okay if you pick me up at the usual coffee shop this afternoon? I want to meet Veronica for a while.¡±


    Lucas agreed with a nod.


    Certainly, here¡¯s the continuation of the tranted text in American English:


    ¡°Alright. No problem. When it¡¯s time to pick you up, I¡¯lle directly to the usual coffee shop.¡±


    Lucas and Deasy both headed to the office together. Upon arrival, they chose to go their separate ways. Deasy headed to the meeting room to join her work team, while Lucas went straight to his office.


    However, as soon as he opened the door, he was surprised to find Devina sitting neatly on the office¡¯s sofa.


    ¡°Why are you hanging out in my office so early in the morning?¡± Lucas asked.


    Devina turned her head when Lucas addressed her. She smiled and waited for him to sit down first.


    ¡°I want to talk about our wedding ns.¡±


    Lucas nodded and replied, ¡°What about it? Did you talk to my father about canceling the wedding?¡±


    Devina didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, she stared at Lucas for a moment, perhaps carefully choosing her words before speaking.


    ¡°It seems like we can¡¯t cancel this wedding, Luc.¡±


    Lucas was startled. This wasn¡¯t what he had in mind.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I-I already talked to your father. And-¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t agree?¡±


    Devina nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Your father is still adamant about not canceling the wedding. He even suggested that we get married next month.¡±


    ¡°Insane!¡±


    Lucas eximed. He had openly rejected the idea and stated that he wanted to marry Deasy soon. So why was his father still insisting on something he clearly rejected?


    ¡°No, Devina. I can¡¯t. No matter what, I won¡¯t marry you. I¡¯ve even decided to resign and leave the Morales group if my father keeps pushing.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, Luc,¡± Devina pleaded. ¡°Instead of resigning and all that, why don¡¯t you just agree with your father¡¯s request?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy? You know my girlfriend is pregnant right now. How could I leave her by choosing to marry you? Even if she weren¡¯t pregnant, I had no interest in marrying you from the start, Devina.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Devina said, shaking her head. ¡°You can pretend to marry me. But, at the same time, you can still marry your girlfriend as you originally nned.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. He really didn¡¯t understand what Devina had just suggested.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, if you want to y it safe, just go along with your father¡¯s request to marry me. Don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t actually get married. It¡¯s just for show. Then, six monthster, we can get a divorce. It¡¯s easy to find a reason for it. While you¡¯re married to me, you can still marry your girlfriend without Andreas knowing. Once we separate, you and your girlfriend can go public. This suggestion is better than resigning or giving up all your privileges.¡±


    Lucas seemed to be considering the crazy idea Devina had just presented. He was weighing whether to follow what she had suggested.


    ***

 PHB 67

    ¡°Here are all the documents Mr. Lucas requested.¡±


    As nned, after finishing organizing important items in his office, Lucas decided to return to Deasy¡¯s apartment in the afternoon.


    While waiting to pick up Deasy, Lucas chose to upy himself bypleting some work with Felix. He did this intentionally so that when he eventually left thepany, he wouldn¡¯t have any outstanding work or responsibilities to worry about.


    Fortunately, Felix was a big help, allowing them to finish the piled-up work faster than usual.


    ¡°You handle the ones I¡¯ve marked. Later, I¡¯ll read through and evaluate them,¡± Lucas instructed while reading a stack of papers in his hand.


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Lucas,¡± Felix replied promptly. ¡°By the way, regarding your resignation, Mr. Lucas, is it final? If you leave Quantum Tech, what will happen to me?¡±


    While still reading the documents, Lucas smiled. He understood the concerns Felix had.


    For years of dedication, Felix was the person who knew Lucas the best and understood his needs. Lucas even considered his assistant as a brother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if I leave Quantum Tech, I won¡¯t be jobless, right? I¡¯ll still need your help, Felix. It¡¯s up to you. You can either stay with me or pursue your own career out there. I give you the freedom to choose.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather stay with you, Mr. Lucas. It doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m not paid. Besides, I owe your family a lot.¡±


    Lucas smiled. He acknowledged that Felix was exceptionally loyal. That¡¯s why he felt reluctant to part with his assistant.


    ¡°So, is it definite that Mr. Lucas will marry Ms. Deasy, even if Mr. Andreas strongly disagrees?¡±


    Lucas nodded confidently.


    ¡°Yes, my decision is final. Whether my father gets angry or not, I will still marry Deasy soon. Besides, her belly is getting bigger with time. It¡¯s not fair if she bes the subject of public ridicule.¡±


    ¡°Then, what about Miss Devina, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas sighed. Mentioning his fianc¨¦e made him remember the crazy idea Devina had presented to him at the office that morning.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it, Felix. As you know, I never wanted to marry her from the start. She even said she didn¡¯t want to marry me because she didn¡¯t love me. It was strange that she suddenly didn¡¯t want to cancel the wedding. What¡¯s even more bizarre is that she met me at the office this morning.¡±


    Felix looked surprised. He had no idea about Devina¡¯s visit to the office that morning and was curious.


    ¡°What did Miss Devina want with Mr. Lucas?¡±


    ¡°Just so you know, she asked me to have a fake wedding to make my father happy.¡±


    ¡°What? A fake wedding?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°And did Mr. Lucas agree?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not. Whether it¡¯s real or fake, I don¡¯t want it. Why would I secretly marry Deasy? It would restrict us in so many ways. Besides, I don¡¯t want to be a part of the Morales family again. What¡¯s important is that I can marry Deasy soon and start a life with her.¡±


    Felix nodded in agreement. If he were in Lucas¡¯s shoes, he would think the same way. It didn¡¯t matter how much wealth he acquired; living with someone he didn¡¯t love was pointless. Pretending to marry or secretly marrying wasn¡¯t the right solution either.


    ¡°All the documents are finished, Mr. Lucas. They¡¯re all sorted. Where would you like me to keep them?¡±


    Felix, havingpleted his tasks, handed over theptop he had been using and asked Lucas to check it first.


    ¡°Since everything¡¯s done, you can save it on an external hard drive. Tomorrow, bring it to the office and print it for the legal department.¡±


    Felix nodded, then reached for his work bag, where he had intended to find the requested hard drive. Unfortunately, he realized that he had forgotten this crucial item.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot to bring it, Mr. Lucas. Can I use yours?¡±


    Lucas rolled his eyes, trying to remember where he had ced the item.


    ¡°You wait for a moment. Let me find it first.¡±


    Lucas then went into the bedroom. Ten minutester, he returned holding something in his hand.


    ¡°It seems like mine is in the office drawer. Here, you can use Deasy¡¯s for now.¡±


    Felix nodded and took the item Lucas handed him. He immediately connected the data cable from the hard drive to theptop to begin transferring thepleted work.


    ¡°This hard drive has a password, Mr. Lucas,¡± Felixined when he received a password prompt on theptop screen.


    ¡°Wait a moment¡­ let me try to remember. I think the password is the same as Deasy¡¯sptop from the other day.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember it, Mr. Lucas?¡±


    Lucas tried to recall. He took over theptop Felix was holding and began entering a series of numbers that he remembered from when he was caught trying to ess Deasy¡¯sptop.


    ¡°Ah, there it is. It worked,¡± Lucas said when he sessfully entered the password.


    Felix then proceeded to transfer all the data. Once he had finished, he didn¡¯t immediately leave. Instead, he brought up something that piqued Lucas¡¯s interest.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up? Is there a problem?¡± Lucas replied casually.


    ¡°This is Ms. Deasy¡¯s hard drive, right? Don¡¯t you want to check its contents? There might be something important that we¡¯ve been looking for all this time. Deasy isn¡¯t here right now, so it¡¯s a good opportunity.¡±


    Lucas remembered the task his father had given him. He thought that what Felix had suggested had some merit. While there was an opportunity, why not check it out? Perhaps there were some important data that Lucas had been searching for, and Deasy had kept it.


    Since he had been so focused on his rtionship with Deasy, he hadn¡¯t shared much about the investigation he was conducting with her. Lucas was confident that, after bing a couple, Deasy would willingly help himplete this task.


    Now, with the chance at hand, Lucas felt it was okay to find out on his own. If he dide across the answers he had been seeking, he could then approach Deasy for rification and exnations.


    ¡°Go ahead and check it. There might be something there,¡± Lucas said.


    Felix nodded and obeyed Lucas¡¯s instructions. He opened the hard drive and began examining the documents stored there one by one.


    After almost ten minutes of going through the folders, Felix grew suspicious of one unnamed folder. He decided to open it to check its contents.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas¡­¡± Felix called softly. ¡°I found something.¡±


    Lucas immediately leaned in, his face close to the screen, reading the contents of the folder that Felix had opened. What he saw surprised him.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Deasy sat with Veronica at a coffee shop. She sipped on her vani milkshake while sharing a long conversation with her friend.


    ¡°So, are you really going to marry Lucas?¡± Veronica asked, seeking confirmation. Despite Deasy¡¯s determined expression, Veronica couldn¡¯t help but be curious.


    ¡°Yes. Why do you ask?¡±


    Veronica chuckled. There was something amusing to her that caused herughter.


    ¡°Lucas¡­ Lucas Orion Morales. The son of Andreas Morales, the owner of the Daxton Group? Are you sure, Des?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly, ensuring there was no doubt in her mind.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Yes, Veronica Ashborne. I¡¯m going to marry Lucas Orion Morales.¡±


    ¡°I swear, I can¡¯t believe it when you told me about Lucas Morales, who turned out to be Lucas Orion.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are the same person, Ve.¡±


    ¡°But what shocks me even more is that you¡¯re marrying the son of Mr. Andreas Morales, the person you¡¯ve wanted to bring down for so long. The man you¡¯ve considered responsible for your father¡¯s death.¡±


    Deasy fell silent. Every time her father was mentioned, it hurt her deeply. Until now, she still felt the loss and couldn¡¯te to terms with her father¡¯s sudden departure.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Ve. I really don¡¯t want to dwell on the past.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to bring up the past,¡± Veronica quickly replied. ¡°I¡¯m just having trouble believing your decision. I¡¯m still skeptical if you¡¯re genuinely marrying out of love or if there¡¯s some ulterior motive for revenge. I know your thought process, Deasy Winterborne. I know you inside out.¡±


    Deasy took several deep breaths. She didn¡¯t me Veronica for thinking this way. However, before she could respond, her friend continued to speak at length, as if unable to stop herself from voicing her thoughts.


    ¡°I remember vividly how angry and vengeful you were when Uncle Anton passed away. You even abruptly left the Caribbean just to join a smallpany like Quantum Tech. I thought you didn¡¯t want to take over your father¡¯s business because you didn¡¯t want to drown in sorrow. And it turns out, I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Ve-¡±


    ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Veronica quickly interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not finished, Des. I thought you joined Quantum Tech because you were genuinely serious about working. But it turns out there was a hidden agenda.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded repeatedly. Taking a deep breath, she continued the conversation, addressing Veronica¡¯s earlier interruption. There was a sense of pain in her voice as she recalled anything rted to her past. ¡°I joined Quantum Tech because I did want revenge. I deliberately chose Quantum Tech because it was thepany that led to my father¡¯s downfall, Ve. Do you know how it feels to see everything crumble?¡±


    ¡°Des¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know what you¡¯re going to say, Veronica. I didn¡¯t ept it, and I will never ept what happened to myte father. I even swore not to stop until I saw Andreas Morales ruined. I tried to do whatever it took, Ve. Regardless of whether my actions were right or wrong. Until I found out that Andreas had a son, a man who was meant to be the leader of Quantum Tech. I¡¯m sure when Lucas Morales appeared, and I tried to get close to him, you realized my intentions and goals from the beginning, right?¡±


    Veronica nodded. From the beginning, she had understood that. She could tell that Deasy was trying to get close to Lucas Morales for a purpose other than genuine love or attraction.


    ¡°Yes, originally, you wanted to get close not because you were smitten by his looks, but because you wanted to use him, and, of course, for revenge, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded. She didn¡¯t deny any of that.


    ¡°I admit it, that was my n. But, I swear to God, I never knew about Lucas Morales disguising himself as Lucas Orion. I only found out a while ago.¡±


    ¡°And after you found out who Lucas really was, are you still thinking about revenge?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded repeatedly. ¡°Just so you know, at first, I considered using Lucas to destroy Andreas. Especially since Lucas seemed so serious andmitted. He was even willing to let go of what he had just to follow my request and prove his sincerity, Ve. If I wanted, I could have made Lucas a weapon to bring Andreas to his knees. However¡­¡±


    ¡°However what, Deasy?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Veronica who asked, but another voice that interjected and posed the question. A deep and very familiar voice that Deasy knew all too well.


    Turning abruptly, Deasy was startled. At that moment, she found Lucas standing behind her, wearing an expression of profound disappointment.


    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯ve been using me all along?¡±

 PHB 68

    Previously, Lucas could still maintain a rxed demeanor as Felix examined Deasy¡¯s hard drive. However, when his assistant found something there, he became instantly curious.


    In Lucas¡¯s mind, he suspected that Felix had discovered data or evidence of embezzlement or moneyundering that Daniel had been doing to thepany all along. In any case, Lucas still thought positively that the data had been intentionally recorded or stored by Deasy, as he and Felix had suspected all along.


    But after reading through each document that Felix presented, Lucas was shocked. From theptop screen, he clearly saw that the embezzlement of funds and the diversion of several vitalpany functions were carried out by Deasy, not Daniel Knight, the man he had been suspecting all this time.


    Not only that, the amount of money Deasy had embezzled was truly staggering. It¡¯s no wonder that Quantum Tech suffered losses of tens of billions of rupiah because most of thepany¡¯s earnings were not deposited and reported by that woman.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± Lucas muttered as he continued to inspect. His gaze didn¡¯t shift from theptop screen in front of him. ¡°By God, this can¡¯t be, Felix. Deasy couldn¡¯t possiblymit fraud like this. Something must be wrong. This must be Daniel¡¯s doing.¡±


    Felix sighed deeply. Honestly, he understood that his boss wouldn¡¯t just believe what he had just seen, especially now that Lucas had a very close rtionship with Deasy.


    Besides, Lucas thought it was highly unlikely that Deasy was the one embezzling the funds. Especially in the past year, when he had gone undercover and became Deasy¡¯s subordinate, he had never seen her leading avish lifestyle.


    All this time, Deasy had always acted normally. Her appearance was casual. She never used conspicuously branded items. On the contrary, she seemed to be inferior to other female staff who sometimes intentionally dressed and lived so hedonistically, frequently changing expensive bags or vehicles to be used for work.


    ¡°But, Mr. Lucas, please see for yourself, okay? I apologize if my words are unpleasant, but I believe that all of this is indeed the work of Ms. Deasy. Not to use her, but why has our investigation always been stuck and fruitless so far? It¡¯s because Ms. Deasy is smart and very adept at concealing it. Moreover, she holds the position of a financial manager. It¡¯s not difficult to carry out sabotage meticulously and smoothly to deceive everyone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that even if it¡¯s Deasy who did all of this, there must be some specific reason that led her to act like this, Felix.¡±


    Felix nodded. A thin smile appeared on the face of Lucas¡¯s assistant.


    ¡°Even if there is a reason, Mr. Lucas, what Ms. Deasy did is still unjustifiable. Thepany suffered losses of tens of billions. Some employees even lost their jobs because Quantum Tech had to implement massive cost-cutting measures at the time.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Lucas took a deep breath. He felt conflicted. But for some reason, he didn¡¯t believe it. His conscience continued to rebel. He was convinced that it wasn¡¯t Deasy who hadmitted what could be considered a criminal act.


    ¡°If you ask me, it¡¯s better to go rify this directly with Ms. Deasy, sir. Slowly inquire about the meaning of the reports on this hard drive. Even though, sorry¡­ I still believe it was Ms. Deasy who embezzled thepany¡¯s funds, causing losses of tens of billions of rupiah.¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath, briefly closed his eyes, then nodded, agreeing with the advice Felix had given him. Rather than making unfounded assumptions and overthinking, it was better to ask Deasy directly.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll ask her right away.¡±


    ¡°Sooner is better, sir,¡± Felix reiterated. ¡°Instead of Mr. Andreas getting hold of this report and taking action, it¡¯s better if you, Mr. Lucas, handle it promptly.¡±


    Lucas nodded again. He grabbed his car keys, intending to pick up Deasy, who was currently at the coffee shop with Veronica. In any case, as soon as they met, he wanted to discuss and question all of this.


    Felix was right; before his father found out, it was better for him to handle all of this. Even if Deasy was indeed guilty, he would try to find the best way out.


    During the journey to the coffee shop, Lucas appeared disoriented and anxious. There was a significant question in his mind: why had Deasy resorted to such dangerous actions? Was she embezzlingpany funds intentionally to sustain her lifestyle, out of desperation, or for some other purpose that drove the woman he loved to act so recklessly?


    Upon arriving at the coffee shop, Lucas tookrge strides while scanning the surroundings to find Deasy. He looked around and eventually spotted the beautiful woman engaged in conversation at a corner of the caf¨¦ with Veronica sitting next to her.


    Lucas continued to approach, just about to greet them when he identally overheard what Deasy was saying to Veronica.


    ¡°Yeah, originally, I got close to Lucas Morales not because I liked him. But because I wanted to use the guy, and at the same time, get revenge on his father.¡±


    Lucas was stunned by the words that had juste out of Deasy¡¯s mouth. He remained silent for a moment and then chose to listen to what Deasy was saying to Veronica.


    ¡°Oh my, Deasy. So, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ve,¡± Deasy replied without hesitation. ¡°Just so you know, at first, I thought about using Lucas to destroy Andreas Morales. It would have been so painful for Andreas to be alienated and ruined by his own beloved child.¡±


    Lucas felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He had never imagined that Deasy could be this heartless. He had defended her tirelessly, protected her wholeheartedly, and loved her genuinely, only to realize that he had been used by a woman he clearly cared for.


    ¡°Not to mention, Lucas was so serious and deeply in love with me¡­¡± Deasy continued. ¡°He was even willing to let go of what he had just to amodate my wishes. However¡­¡±


    ¡°However, what is it, Deasy?¡±


    Lucas couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Instead of letting his heart ache even more, he decided to confront Deasy and directly ask about the meaning of her words from earlier.


    ¡°Lucas?¡±


    This time it was Deasy who was startled, incredibly surprised by Lucas¡¯s sudden appearance, especially since it seemed like he had overheard what she and Veronica had been discussing all along.


    ¡°Luc¡­ I can exin everything. Wh-what you heard earlier-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Lucas interrupted, shaking his head. ¡°I never expected you to be this heartless, Des. I never imagined that you epted my invitation to be in a serious rtionship for ulterior motives, and even wanted to destroy my family.¡±


    ¡°Lucas, I can exin,¡± Deasy whispered softly. Being in a public ce, she tried her best to keep her emotions in check so as not to attract too much attention.


    Lucas nodded. Without saying much, he grabbed Deasy¡¯s wrist and led her to the car immediately. Veronica could only watch in silence. She felt it was best not to get involved in her friend¡¯s current situation.


    Despite being angry and deeply disappointed, Lucas tried not to lose control. He struggled to maintain hisposure as he drove, remaining silent without saying a word.

 PHB 69

    Upon their arrival and as they entered Deasy¡¯s apartment unit, Deasy couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and reached out to grab Lucas¡¯s arm, trying to stop him in his tracks, attempting to pull him to focus on her.


    ¡°Luc¡­ I beg you, I can exin everything.¡±


    Lucas immediately turned to look at her, his gaze sharp, and he showed a cutting grin.


    ¡°What do you want to exin? Do you want to tell me why you hate my father? Or maybe you want to exin your intentions for revenge and destroying the Morales family?¡±


    Deasy swallowed hard. Like a skilled person, Lucas could urately perceive what she intended to express.


    ¡°Luc¡­ you really need to hear my exnation.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°As you said the other day, you do need to provide an exnation, Des.¡±


    Deasy tried to reach for Lucas¡¯s hand, intending to invite him to sit down together and talk about the issue that had now be their problem.


    However, instead of epting, Lucas pushed Deasy¡¯s wrist away. He even deliberately adjusted his position to create distance between the two of them.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I think we don¡¯t need to get too close for this conversation.¡±


    ¡°Luc¡­¡± Deasy whispered, her voice filled with sadness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Just get to the point, Des. No need to beat around the bush. I don¡¯t like people who overly dramatize things.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath, thinking quickly about where to start with all of this.


    ¡°In the past, my father and your father were indeed business rivals who often shed. They frequentlypeted for major tenders with huge investments at stake. Long story short, both of them were involved in a bidding war for a multi-billion-rupiah project. For some reason, my father believed that the idea he intended to use for hispany was exactly the same as what your father¡¯s team had presented. This raised suspicions that your father had cheated to win the bid.¡±


    ¡°So, your father used mine of stealing his idea?¡±


    ¡°Just listen for a moment,¡± Deasy requested when Lucas interrupted her. ¡°My father was convinced that there were many simrities, even up to nearly 100% identical with his idea in their presentation. There were also indications that your father had internal connections with the investors. And during the final presentation, my father¡¯s suspicions proved correct. The investors chose your father and Quantum Tech to carry out this major project.¡±


    Deasy paused briefly in her narrative, as feelings of sadness and loss washed over her again. She had always found it difficult to talk about herte father.


    ¡°Because of this loss, my father¡¯spany¡¯s stock plummeted on the market. Furthermore, due to this defeat, many business partners withdrew from extending their coborations. They even unterally terminated almost finalized agreements and switched to your father¡¯spany, which was deemed morepetent. My father was under extreme stress, Luc. His career was utterly destroyed at that time. He couldn¡¯t bear the continuous onught of trials and tribtions and suffered a heart attack, ultimately passing away. You can¡¯t even imagine how painful that was for me.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s tears flowed freely as she recounted the story. Lucas even handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. However, this act of kindness did not indicate that Lucas was relenting or forgiving Deasy for what she had done. No, at this moment, Lucas hadn¡¯t even considered doing that.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Lucas asked after a pause. ¡°Is there anything else you want to say before I take over this conversation?¡±


    Wiping her tear-streaked cheeks, Deasy looked at Lucas. There was no longer the gentle and affectionate look in his eyes that he used to show her so often.


    ¡°I know the reason why my father had a heart attack, and it¡¯s only natural for me to be angry. It¡¯s human nature not to ept such a bitter incident happening to my family.¡±


    ¡°So, because of this, you sought revenge?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°I even had a good career and position back then. If I wanted, I could have repaired and continued my father¡¯spany to make it thrive again. But my heartache ran too deep, Luc. I couldn¡¯t ept that my father lost his life due to the recklessness of your father¡¯s team.¡±


    ¡°Once again, I ask, is it because of this that you sought revenge?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. Her gaze remained fixed on Lucas¡¯s eyes without wavering.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I chose to leave my job at the time. I deliberately joined Quantum Tech with the help of insiders. I tried to learn, understand thepany¡¯s character, and eventually find a way tomit-¡±


    ¡°Embezzlement of funds that ultimately cost thepany tens of billions?¡± Lucas interjected.


    ¡°It¡¯s iparable to my father¡¯s life lost, Luc.¡±


    Lucas chuckled bitterly. He then nodded. From the look in his eyes, it was clear that he was trying to be patient and listen to Deasy¡¯s arguments before responding.


    ¡°Just so you know, Des¡­¡± Lucas continued with difficulty, his every word filled with disappointment. ¡°I even felt guilty in the beginning, afraid that you might feel deceived by the disguise I put on. I even feared that you¡¯d think I was using you. But¡­¡± Lucas paused, chuckling bitterly as if he wasughing at himself. ¡°It turns out I¡¯m the one being used here. It turns out I¡¯ve been lied topletely.¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡­ please, just listen.¡±


    ¡°What else needs to be heard, Deasy Winterborne? What else should I listen to?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s voice grew louder. Seeing Deasy¡¯s surprise, Lucas took a deep breath, attempting to control his emotions. He had every right to be furious at this moment.


    ¡°You need to know that at the beginning, before knowing the truth, I did feelfortable with Lucas Orion. In case you forgot, I even got to know you as Lucas Orion, not Lucas Morales. Despite being annoyed at times, you managed to melt my heart, Luc. Before finding out you were a Morales, I was even willing to marry you, right? I genuinely love you. I was serious about our rtionship. Yes, even though I was shocked when I found out that you were Andreas¡¯s biological child, the one I had been targeting all along. I admit that after learning this truth, I briefly considered continuing to use you.¡±


    Lucas snapped his fingers in the air, once again taking control of the conversation for a moment.


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you told me to marry you no matter what? Because you knew I¡¯d do anything for you?¡±


    ¡°Lucas¡­¡±


    ¡°Everything is clear now, Des!¡±


    ¡°Not yet!¡± Deasy quickly retorted. ¡°I did consider continuing to use you. But after thinking it over and receiving enlightenment from Mama, I realized I couldn¡¯t do this to you, Luc. I love you too much!¡±


    Lucas remained silent, taking multiple deep breaths. He smiled dismissively. It was as if Deasy¡¯s recent words were just a passing breeze, and they didn¡¯t shake his soul like they used to.


    ¡°Let me rify this issue from start to finish,¡± Lucas said emphatically. ¡°From the beginning, your intentions were wrong, Des. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re senior enough in the business world to understand that winning or losing in thepetition to attract investors is nothing new in business. Moreover, you jumped to conclusions too early. Do you and yourte father¡¯s usations against my father have sufficient evidence? Once again, this is just wild spection on your part.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Lucas. The ideas were identical.¡±


    Lucasughed cynically once more.


    ¡°Des, it¡¯s not my intention to defend anyone here. I¡¯m speaking objectively. Selling ideas, business concepts, project proposals, or other proposals can often be very simr. It¡¯s usually the execution that differs. Perhaps my father¡¯s idea and your father¡¯s idea were fundamentally the same. However, my father¡¯s idea might have been moreplex and appealing, which is why the investors chose to work with him. And again, you can¡¯t just make my father the scapegoat for your father¡¯s death. This is business, and there are always ups and downs. It¡¯s about how wisely we handle it. How can you me my father for your father¡¯s death? My father didn¡¯t kill yours, Des.¡±


    ¡°You can say this because you¡¯re not in my shoes, Luc.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s turn the tables. Now let¡¯s talk from my perspective. What about my father, Des? Do you think that when Quantum Tech suffered tens of billions in losses, my father¡¯s situation didn¡¯t deteriorate? Do you think he didn¡¯t feel the pressure and stress of dealing with this problem? This is where our families differ. Even when in trouble, my father tried his best to rise again. He worked tirelessly to find a way to fix things. And me? I didn¡¯t even have the slightest interest in retaliating against your actions, even though they clearly hurt us badly. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can get away with it, Des.¡±


    Deasy was at a loss for words, unable to respond to Lucas¡¯s lengthy argument. She feltpletely cornered and was aware of her grave mistake.


    ¡°Okay, I admit I was wrong,¡± Deasy whispered softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But for God¡¯s sake, I never intended to hurt your feelings, Luc.¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I forgive you for what you¡¯ve done to me, Des. Fortunately, I¡¯m not a vengeful person. But don¡¯t celebrate just yet. Even though I forgive you, I still believe that you should be held ountable and return everything you embezzled without any deductions. After all, that¡¯s your responsibility, isn¡¯t it? If you can¡¯t return it, you¡¯ll have to deal with the authorities.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc, what about our rtionship-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas quickly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can be with you anymore.¡±


    Deasy was shocked. She was certain she hadn¡¯t heard wrong. Did this mean Lucas wanted to end their rtionship?


    ¡°I mean, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I think I can¡¯t be with you anymore.¡±


    Lucas then turned around, walked into Deasy¡¯s room, and began packing some of his belongings.


    As Deasy followed him, at first, she just watched. But after a while, she tried to stop him from doing what he was doing.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t leave, Luc. I¡¯m sorry. I really am. You don¡¯t have to worry; the money I embezzled is still intact. I can return it right now if you want.¡±


    Lucas turned to look at her sharply.


    ¡°Oh, of course, Deasy Winterborne. Whether or not the money is intact, I will still hold you responsible for returning it in full without any deductions. Besides, it¡¯s your duty, right? Even if you can¡¯t return it, you¡¯ll have to deal with the authorities.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc, please-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas hastily shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t live with someone who easily jumps to malicious assumptions, let alone seeks revenge for something unclear. But don¡¯t worry, as the biological father of your child, I will still take full responsibility. If you don¡¯t want it when the child is born, as you once said, I will be the one to take care of and raise the child with all my heart.¡±


    ¡°Lucas!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Des. Our rtionship ends here. Don¡¯t forget to settle your issues with thepany.¡±


    Lucas then walked away, leaving Deasy sitting on the floor, sobbing uncontrobly. She regretted whatever it was that had caused her rtionship with Lucas to be so chaotic.

 PHB 70

    ¡°Enough, Des. You calm down first. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a way out of all the problems that have urred.¡±


    Veronica gently rubbed Deasy¡¯s shoulder. She observed her friend sitting quietly on the sofa in her apartment.


    After learning that Deasy had a dispute with Lucas yesterday evening, Veronica intended to check on her friend¡¯s condition today. She had been trying to reach Deasy all morning without any response. Worried that something might be wrong, Veronica deliberately visited Park Avenue, where Deasy lived, at lunchtime.


    As expected, when she arrived at Deasy¡¯s apartment unit, she found that Deasy was not working. From her disheveled appearance, swollen eyes, and tired expression, Veronica was certain that there was indeed a problem between Deasy and Lucas.


    That¡¯s why Veronica was trying to help. Even though she couldn¡¯t do much, at the very least, she was willing to be a loyal listener in case Deasy needed a friend to talk to, as usual, to vent her frustrations and share her feelings. Who knows, maybe she could offer some advice or solutions.


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Veronica called once more. ¡°Come on, stop being silent. You surely haven¡¯t eaten since this morning, right? Here, I brought your favorite food. Eat first, okay? I¡¯ll feed you,¡± Veronica offered a bit insistently. She immediately took out a box of food from her bag, which she had intentionally brought with her. She opened it and then slowly fed Deasy.


    ¡°Come on, eat first. It¡¯s a pity for your child if you fast like this. What if something happens?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She finally epted the spoonful of rice Veronica offered and slowly chewed it.


    Ironically, the food Veronica brought was Deasy¡¯s favorite. ck pepper beefbined with capcay soup was a dish Lucas often prepared, and Deasy always enjoyed it. But for some reason, it tasted nd this time. Deasy seemed to have lost interest in eating anything.


    ¡°Why? If there¡¯s a problem, just tell me, like you always do. I¡¯ll listen, you know.¡±


    Deasy took another deep breath. While looking out the window, she tried to exin what she was feeling right now.


    ¡°My rtionship with Lucas is ruined, Ve. It seems like it can¡¯t be fixed. Lucas is really angry with me.¡±


    This time, Veronica took a deep breath. Knowing the cause of the argument involving Deasy and Lucas, she could only offer some simple advice.


    ¡°You need to be patient. In my opinion, it¡¯s better to let Lucas calm down first. It¡¯s only human to be continuously angry and disappointed. That¡¯s why it¡¯s better to give him space and time to clear his mind.¡±


    ¡°But how long should I wait?¡±


    ¡°Until you can erase all the resentment in your heart, Des,¡± Veronica replied with unwavering confidence.


    Deasy smiled wistfully. Mentioning resentment reminded her of a lengthy conversation with her mother, during that time.


    ¡°Are you really sure you want to marry a man named Lucas?¡± Diana asked.


    After Deasy had introduced Lucas to her mother, the next day, Diana intentionally visited Deasy¡¯s apartment to discuss it further. Diana was curious about her daughter¡¯s sudden n to get married soon.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded. ¡°I¡¯m very sure, Mom. Why? Why do you seem doubtful?¡±


    ¡°Well, I just feel something is off.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Deasy inquired.


    ¡°Your n is so sudden, Des. Besides, do you really know Lucas¡¯s family well? Do you know his background clearly, even though he¡¯s handsome and has a high position? You should still be clear about his family background.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She understood what her mother meant.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. Lucases from a respected family. His background is clear. You even know his parents very well.¡±


    Diana immediately raised an eyebrow. She pondered for a moment on Deasy¡¯s statement about knowing Lucas¡¯s parents.


    ¡°Really? Is Lucas from Andreas¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°Andreas Ashborne?¡± Devina guessed, pretending to know. ¡°Isn¡¯t Andreas¡¯s only child someone else? As far as I know, Lucas isn¡¯t his son.¡±


    Deasy sighed. It wasn¡¯t Andreas she was referring to.


    ¡°No, not Andreas, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Then, who is Andreas?¡±


    ¡°Andreas Morales. He owns the Daxton Group.¡±


    Diana was astonished. Sharpening her hearing, she repeated what Deasy had just told her.


    ¡°W-who? Whom did you mention just now?¡±


    ¡°Andreas Morales. You didn¡¯t mishear, Mom.¡±


    Diana remained silent for a few moments. Her gaze locked onto Deasy¡¯s eyes, which looked so rxed as if without any burden.


    ¡°Deasy¡­ what are you nning?¡± Diana asked as if she already knew what was in her daughter¡¯s heart.


    ¡°What do you mean, Mom? I¡¯m not nning anything,¡± Deasy replied.


    Diana shook her head repeatedly. Did she think Deasy would believe her that easily? Diana knew her daughter¡¯s character inside out. Especially after her husband¡¯s death, Diana was well aware of Deasy¡¯s wild obsession with revenge. Once again, she knew it all too well.


    ¡°Deasy¡­ don¡¯t y games. I¡¯m the one who carried and raised you. I know your character and habits. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something you¡¯re nning.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Deasy could stillugh calmly. Closing the distance between her and her mother, she revealed her thoughts.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, Mom. But what you need to know is that I¡¯m currently pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Before the shock from earlier had fully subsided, Diana was once again confronted with a reality that left her speechless. She never expected that Deasy was now expecting a child. Moreover, her daughter imed that the baby in her womb was Lucas¡¯s, the son of Andreas Morales.


    ¡°You must be joking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really pregnant, Mom. And this is indeed Lucas¡¯s child. Which means it¡¯s going to be Andreas Morales¡¯s grandchild. The man who caused Dad¡¯s death.¡±


    Diana shook her head. She had tried repeatedly to get Deasy to let go of the long-standing grudge still residing in her daughter¡¯s heart.


    ¡°How long do you n to live in this grudge, Des? Don¡¯t tell me you intend to marry Lucas just to use him to destroy the Morales family?¡±


    ¡°At first, Mom, I didn¡¯t think that far. But after finding out that Lucas is indeed Andreas Morales¡¯s son, it doesn¡¯t hurt to take advantage of this situation. Besides, Andreas deserves to pay for what he¡¯s done-¡±


    ¡°Done what, Des? Did Andreas Morales really intentionally kill your father? Please stop making wild assumptions. And, even if he did something wrong in the past, why should Lucas bear the consequences? He has no idea about any of this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same thing, Mom.¡±


    ¡°No, Deasy! Your actions are wrong and excessive. I can even feel that Lucas is sincere with you. And what? You want to exploit him? y with his sincerity? Outrageous! Marriage is sacred, Des, not a trial or something to toy with.¡±


    Diana¡¯s words sessfully silenced Deasy. Upon further consideration, Lucas didn¡¯t deserve to receive the consequences of what Deasy¡¯s father might have suffered in the past. Furthermore, if she were honest with herself, Deasy couldn¡¯t deny that she had real feelings for the man who had impregnated her.


    ¡°Do you think all your problems will be solved by seeking revenge?¡± Devina asked in the midst of the silence. ¡°Do you think your father in heaven will be happy and at peace after revenge? Oh,e on, Deasy. Don¡¯t act recklessly. Don¡¯t let your ego overshadow yourmon sense. I know you feel lost, just like I do. But that doesn¡¯t mean I have to act foolishly like you are.¡±


    ¡°But Andreas Morales must be held ountable for his actions, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Which actions, Des? Did Andreas really deliberately kill your father? Again, please stop your wild assumptions. And let me emphasize this clearly: if you don¡¯t genuinely love Lucas, it¡¯s better to end your rtionship. I don¡¯t want you to exploit, let alone y with the heart of someone who knows nothing. Don¡¯t let your vengeance destroy yourself.¡±


    Diana¡¯s words eventually proved true. The grudge that had been burning in Deasy¡¯s heart had started to consume her.


    ¡°Enough, Des,¡± Veronica said again, snapping Deasy out of her reverie. ¡°Both of you need to calm down first. When you¡¯ve cooled off, you can slowly work together to resolve all of this.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but what if Lucas doesn¡¯t want to talk to me? What should I do? Besides, I also have to deal with thepany¡¯s matters.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of her problems.


    Yes, it was a mess she had created herself. Moreover, Lucas now knew and even had concrete evidence that she was the mastermind behind the significant losses suffered by Quantum Tech.


    Deasy also wondered if Lucas would report her actions to the authorities after this, considering what she had done had caused substantial harm to thepany and many people.


    ¡°Well, for now, it¡¯s better to focus on thepany¡¯s affairs. Take responsibility and resolve everything quickly. If you encounter difficultiester, I¡¯ll help as much as I can. The important thing is to stop here, Des. I¡¯m begging you, please stop. Don¡¯t let grudges make your life even moreplicated or destroy it in the end.¡±


    Deasy remained silent. Whether she heard or not, Veronica¡¯s lengthy advice had just been delivered.


    In her mind, she was thinking about how to resolve theplicated issue between herself and Lucas.


    ***

 PHB 71

    Since learning about what Deasy had done to him and thepany, Lucas had been trying to fix things. Focusing on thepany, he asked Felix to prepare a report on thepleted investigation.


    ¡°Sir, are you really going to put Ms. Deasy¡¯s name as the person responsible for the losses incurred by thepany?¡±


    Lucas nodded, affirming what his assistant had just asked. In any case, Deasy had to take responsibility for what she had done to thepany.


    ¡°Yes. However you look at it, Deasy must be held ountable,¡± Lucas said confidently. ¡°Moreover, she has been doing this for a long time, consciously and deliberately. That means she was prepared and considered all the risks in case her actions were exposed, as they are now.¡±


    ¡°I understand that, sir. I fully support your firm stance. However, my question here is, after Mr. Andreas finds out everything and processes this report with the authorities, will you be okay with it? Ms. Deasy is pregnant, after all. She¡¯s carrying your child. If she ends up in jail, what then?¡±


    Lucas fell silent for a moment. This was also something he had been thinking about for days. Regardless of the pregnancy, Lucas didn¡¯t even want to process what Deasy had done, considering he genuinely cared for her.


    ¡°Let that be my concern with Dadter. For now, just finish the report. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll bring it to him today.¡±


    Hearing Lucas¡¯s response, Felix didn¡¯t ask any further questions. He quicklypleted the task assigned to him and handed the finished report to Lucas, who promptly went to meet his father. There were many things he wanted to discuss and rify.


    That¡¯s why, when they met, Lucas didn¡¯t waste any time. He got straight to the point, expressing his intentions and purpose for the meeting.


    ¡°Father, I thought after our argument the other day, you didn¡¯t want to see me again.¡±


    Andreas seemed intentionally sarcastic. There was no way he could forget when Lucas had firmly stated that he would resign from his position if his father didn¡¯t approve of his marriage ns with the woman he had chosen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not go there, Dad. We don¡¯t need to discuss it again. Lucas is here to hand over the report from before.¡±


    ¡°Why? Have you finished it?¡±


    Lucas nodded and handed over the document containing the neatly prepared report that Felix had worked on earlier.


    ¡°Please read and review it first. You might be curious about the person who has been causing thepany to lose money all this time.¡±


    Andreas appeared curious. After receiving the folder from Lucas, he quickly opened it, took out the neatly arranged sheets of paper, and began reading carefully.


    In silence, Andreas read to himself. Lucas could see how his father¡¯s initially rxed expression gradually turned serious. There was even a moment when his father adjusted his sses, as if to confirm what he was seeing.


    ¡°Deasy?¡± Andreas deliberately disyed a sharp grin when he mentioned her name. Then he looked up at Lucas and continued, ¡°So¡­ all of this was Deasy¡¯s doing? The woman who is pregnant and whom you intend to marry?¡±


    Lucas nodded, not denying anything his father had just asked.


    ¡°Yes, it was Deasy.¡±


    ¡°Does Dad think that she¡¯s not as good as you thought? Besides, from the beginning, Dad was sure that she was only using you, Luc. And now? Dad¡¯s suspicions have been proven right.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say Dad¡¯s instincts were right this time.¡±


    ¡°And you still want to continue your rtionship with a woman who clearly harmed thepany?¡±


    Lucas smiled bitterly. He had been confident from the start that his father would ask this question. Not to mention that even before the truth came out, his father had opposed the idea of marriage between him and Deasy. Now that he knew Deasy was the one responsible for thepany¡¯s substantial losses, it made things even moreplicated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. As you requested earlier, Lucas will not continue this rtionship. If Dad wants, Lucas will go back to the original n to marry Devina next month. However¡­¡±


    ¡°However, what, Luc?¡± Andreas asked with obvious curiosity. He was also somewhat pleased that his son had given in and agreed to the original n of marrying the woman he had chosen and prepared all along.


    ¡°However, Lucas has two conditions that Dad must and should agree to.¡±


    ¡°What are they?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t take this case to the authorities. Handle it internally.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible, Luc?¡± Andreas interrupted quickly. He believed that what Deasy had done was a clear criminal act that should be processed seriously. ¡°Wrong is still wrong. Regardless, Deasy clearlymitted a crime. She has clearly harmed thepany with a significant value. There must be consequences for her actions. Don¡¯t think you can turn a blind eye just because you¡¯re in love.¡±


    ¡°Lucas understands, Dad. But Lucas will ensure that all losses arepensated promptly. Lucas is confident that this matter can be resolved amicably without the need forw enforcement involvement.¡±


    Andreas gazed at Lucas. Seeing his son¡¯s pleading expression, Andreas couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse.


    ¡°Okay, if you can guarantee that, Dad willply with your request. Now, what¡¯s the other condition?¡±


    Lucas took several deep breaths, gathering his resolve, and then presented his final condition to his father.


    ¡°Lucas wants Dad to honestly exin about the death of thete Anton Wolf several years ago. Was it true that Dad was the cause of his death?¡±


    Andreas was taken aback. He looked at Lucas, who seemed to be waiting for his response. Then he pondered whether he should honestly disclose his past, which he had long been reluctant to revisit.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

 PHB 72

    ¡°Please, Dad. Please tell me the truth.¡±


    Lucas continued to gaze intensely at his father¡¯s face. Instead of leaving after delivering the report on the investigation he had been conducting, the sturdy man took the opportunity to ask questions.


    Actually, if he wanted to, Lucas could have asked Felix to investigate what had happened in the past between his father and thete Deasy¡¯s father. But because he wanted to hear it directly from the mouth of Andreas Morales himself, he decided to ask personally. Who knows, there might have been a misunderstanding that had been going on between both parties.


    ¡°Lucas doesn¡¯t know if Papa had actually investigated before this. What is certain is that Deasy embezzled and misappropriatedpany funds deliberately, seeking revenge against the Morales family, especially Papa. The basis of this revenge is one thing, Dad. Deasy didn¡¯t ept it and used Papa of being responsible for the death of thete Anton Wolf. That¡¯s why Lucas wants to rify directly whether the usation is true or not.¡±


    Andreas took a deep breath. He seemed reluctant when asked to rify.


    ¡°Dad¡­¡± Lucas spoke up again when his father continued to remain silent. ¡°Lucas pleads. If Papa is not at fault, why hide it? Unless, what Deasy is using is true.¡±


    Once again, Andreas took a deeper breath. He lifted his face, looked at Lucas, and began to speak.


    ¡°To be honest, when Quantum Tech was in trouble, Papa knew that Deasy was serving as the financial manager. But Papa didn¡¯t have the slightest idea that he was the son of thete Anton Wolf. Why would Papa investigate Deasy¡¯s background at that time? Also, no investigation orprehensive audit of all the staff found any problems. That¡¯s why Papa assigned you to find out,¡± Andreas said as a start. ¡°Papa¡­ only found out recently that Deasy is Anton¡¯s child when you expressed your desire to marry her. But Papa never thought that he was the one embezzling, let alone doing it out of revenge.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Lucas looked skeptical. ¡°Is Papa sure he didn¡¯t investigate it thoroughly?¡±


    Andreas shook his head slowly.


    ¡°Papa only investigated their family background. Nothing more than that. In fact, because he knew he was Anton Wolf¡¯s child, Papa forbade you from marrying Deasy.¡±


    Lucas nodded. This time, he took over the conversation.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s set aside the cheating Deasy did to thepany for now. What Lucas wants to know is why Papa didn¡¯t agree to Lucas marrying Deasy? What¡¯s wrong with her parents? Is there a problem in the past, Dad? Why does Deasy hate and use Papa of causing her father¡¯s death?¡±


    Andreas took a deep breath. Bombarded with questions, he finally gave an exnation, slowly.


    ¡°Back then¡­ Papa and Anton Wolf were friends, Luc. Just like you and Devina. We both knew each other and were close since our college days. Papa and Deasy¡¯s father were often involved in big business together. I admit, Anton was smart at finding clients. We even started apany together.¡±


    ¡°If you were close, why did it be a rivalry?¡±


    ¡°The origin of our strained rtionship began when Anton, without Papa¡¯s knowledge, epted independent tenders. Actually, it wouldn¡¯t have been a problem if Anton wanted to go solo. Papa never stopped anyone from earning a living.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°What Papa didn¡¯t like was the way Anton did it, Luc. Anton clearly crossed the line. He often used Papa¡¯s ideas and work methods to attract new investors. Imagine, Papa did thorough research. But he, knowing it, executed it on his own without permission. From there, Papa started to keep his distance. Over time, we both decided to go our separate ways.¡±


    ¡°So, the origin of the conflict started with Deasy¡¯s father himself?¡±


    Andreas nodded, confirming Lucas¡¯s guess.


    ¡°Antonmitted too many wrongdoings. Papa always kept silent back then. Papa never retaliated for his actions. If you doubt or don¡¯t believe Papa¡¯s story at all, please investigate it yourself. You can ask our senior business partners who have been working with us for a long time, ask them how Anton Wolf has been behaving all this time. Or you can investigate directly with the people who have worked with hispany.¡±


    ¡°But ording to Deasy, Dad had stolen his father¡¯s business idea. Deasy also ims that ourpany used hical internal connections to secure the Quantum Tech project.¡±


    Andreas chuckled bitterly, perhaps finding the usations against him amusing.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Oh, Lucas. You¡¯re the one who knows Papa¡¯s character the best. Do you really think Papa would engage in hical behavior as your girlfriend is using?¡±


    Lucas shook his head softly. He wasn¡¯t defending his father, but he knew very well that Andreas was a person of strong principles and integrity. He had been taught from a young age to strive for his goals through honest and ethical means, avoiding shortcuts and actions that would harm others.


    ¡°If you want to know¡­¡± Andreas continued with a serious expression. ¡°Anton himself was the one who acted hically. He even attempted to bribe one of the staff members handling the tender process. It might have almost worked at the time. But, because God was on Papa¡¯s side, his corrupt behavior was exposed. Anton¡¯spany was disqualified on the spot. Fortunately, the investors still cared about Anton¡¯s reputation. So, he was removed gracefully, and the reasons weren¡¯t made public. If hispany¡¯s stock suddenly plummeted and ended up copsing, it might have been because no one wanted to invest anymore, not because of Papa¡¯s actions. I swear to God, Papa has never done anything malicious, Luc.¡±


    Andreas tried to reassure him. After remaining silent earlier, he finally revealed everything without any further concealment.


    ¡°If you want to know, after Anton passed away, Papa continued to provide financial support to his family and took care of their needs. Papa also helped find investors to reestablish their business. That¡¯s how Anton¡¯spany managed to recover and thrive until now.¡±


    Lucas was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect this piece of news from his father.


    ¡°Papa supported Anton Wolf¡¯s family?¡±


    Andreas nodded. Before continuing his story, the middle-aged man took a sip of the remaining tea in his cup, moistening his now dry throat.


    ¡°For almost two years, Papa regrly gave financial assistance to Anton Wolf¡¯s wife and children every month. Papa intentionally arranged it through Anton¡¯s assistant and requested him to keep the sender¡¯s identity a secret. After being confident that theirpany was back on track, Papa stopped providing assistance. And remember, Luc. The help Papa gave was purely out of humanitarian concern, not because of any guilt for Anton¡¯s passing. Your father is not as wicked and vindictive as Deasy believes.¡±


    Lucas listened carefully, observing closely and believing that there was no deceit in the words of the middle-aged man.


    ¡°Now, regarding the approval for your marriage. At first, Papa didn¡¯t know that Deasy had cheated ourpany. But why didn¡¯t Papa give Lucas permission to marry her, even though she¡¯s the daughter of Papa¡¯ste friend? She¡¯s even carrying Lucas¡¯s child, Dad.¡±


    This time, Andreas sighed heavily. His expression, which had been impassive earlier, now changed, and it was difficult for Lucas to discern his intentions.


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because she¡¯s Anton¡¯s child that Papa didn¡¯t approve, Luc. Papa was afraid that you might be used. Or perhaps, Deasy is indeed using you. It¡¯s possible that the baby she¡¯s carrying isn¡¯t yours, and she¡¯s deliberately iming it is.¡±


    In his heart, Lucas felt a bitterugh. He recalled Deasy¡¯s confession to Veronica, where she admitted that she had initially intended to use him.


    Although Deasy hadter rified that she genuinely loved him, there was still a sense of disappointment within Lucas.


    ¡°No, Dad. Lucas is sure that it¡¯s his child. His flesh and blood, a Morales descendant.¡±


    ¡°Daddy still doesn¡¯t agree,¡± Andreas sighed, appearing somewhat reluctant. ¡°Besides, from the beginning, Papa had already made a promise to Devina¡¯s parents to marry you two. You know Papa despises breaking promises. Unless Devina is kidnapped or runs away with another man, only then will your marriage be canceled. But that¡¯s impossible. Especially since Devina herself is asking for the marriage to be expedited.¡±


    ¡°But, right now, Deasy is pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child, Dad. Can Papa really turn away his own grandchild?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s face suddenly showed frustration. It was difficult to persuade and soften his father¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Enough, Luc. Papa is really fed up. It¡¯s better for you to handle and resolve Deasy¡¯s case rted to thepany promptly. I¡¯ll even go along with your request not to report her to the authorities. Anyway, Papa doesn¡¯t want to hear about it. Thepany¡¯s money needs to be recovered soon. Once you¡¯re done with the discussion, please take care of your matters. Besides, I have an important meeting to attend after this.¡±

 PHB 73

    Since he had been dismissed, Lucas decided to leave. Just as he arrived at his car, his phone rang. It turned out to be Devina calling.


    ¡°Yes? What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Luc, can we meet right now?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something important I want to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Alright, juste to my office. We can talk in my room, how about that?¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be there in thirty minutes or an hour.¡±


    After the call with Devina, Lucas hurriedly decided to return to the office. It had only been about fifteen minutes since he sat down when he heard a knock on his office door.


    Suspicious, Lucas immediately invited whoever was outside to enter. He assumed it was Devina. However, when he looked up, he found Deasy standing before him.


    ¡°What are you doing in my office?¡± Lucas asked, his voice sounding cold.


    Deasy slowly raised her head, attempting to meet Lucas¡¯s gaze, then took a few steps forward to ce a red and brown folder that she had intentionally brought for Lucas.


    ¡°I want to hand over thepany¡¯s financial report that I¡¯ve been keeping. Along with bank statements and the books. Everything is in the process of being transferred. I assure you that all thepany¡¯s funds will be returned in full.¡±


    Lucas reached for the folder that Deasy indicated. He opened it, then carefully examined the documents inside.


    ¡°Alright. That means I won¡¯t have to bother reminding you to return what doesn¡¯t belong to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Luc. I¡¯ve returned everything. And in the other folder, there¡¯s my resignation letter that you can approve immediately. Besides, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t want to keep an employee who deliberately tried to destroy thepany.¡±


    Lucas nodded again. In movies, you often see the male lead trying to stop his girlfriend from leaving. However, Lucas was different. He didn¡¯t try to stop Deasy from leaving thepany at all.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll sign immediately and ask HR to handle everything. Once it¡¯s done, you can leave my office.¡±


    Deasy gazed at Lucas¡¯s face. Instead of leaving, she mustered the courage to take a step closer.


    ¡°Luc¡­¡±


    ¡°What else, Des? What else do you want to discuss?¡±


    ¡°Do you really not forgive me, Luc? It doesn¡¯t matter if you want to take this case to the authorities. What¡¯s important to me is your forgiveness.¡±


    Lucas chuckled softly. Deasy had been so serious in her statement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not a vengeful person. I forgive you. As for the crimes you¡¯vemitted, don¡¯t worry about it. Papa won¡¯t bring this case to the authorities. And as for your past grudges, I think you should reevaluate them. I believe you¡¯ve had a misconception all this time.¡±


    ¡°So, what about our rtionship? Is there really no chance for us to get back together? I swear, Luc, I didn¡¯t mean to y with your feelings.¡±


    Lucas shook his head. His face disyed a serious expression.


    ¡°As I mentioned earlier, Des, we can¡¯t be together.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc, I-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Des. I think our conversation ends here. Besides, I have an important guesting soon. If you need help packing, I¡¯ll ask Felix to assist you.¡±


    Deasy could only sigh. Resigned to Lucas¡¯s seemingly cold demeanor, she finally chose to leave the room.


    It was the first time she felt such pain and heartache when the person she truly loved ignored her and seemed unwilling to meet her.


    ***


    ¡°Des, you have your prenatal check-up tonight, right?¡±


    After work, Veronica deliberately picked up Deasy and joined her friend for a short gathering at her apartment.


    Knowing that Deasy had a prenatal check-up scheduled for tonight, Veronica offered to apany her. Normally, it was Lucas¡¯s duty, but since they were currently at odds, Veronica decided to take over temporarily. Plus, it would be a pity for Deasy to go alone without the usualpany.


    Deasy had been looking downcast since earlier. Veronica was sure that her friend was dealing with a heavy problem.


    ¡°Yes, I have a check-up scheduled for tonight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll apany you and take you there, alright?¡±


    ¡°No need, Ve,¡± Deasy declined as she sorted her belongings into the wardrobe. ¡°I have number 10. It might take a while to get my turn, and by the time it¡¯s done, it¡¯ll be quitete. Your baby might be looking for you.¡±


    Veronica smiled and shook her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my baby is sleeping at his father¡¯s house tonight. So, he won¡¯t be looking for me. Besides, Darwin isn¡¯t home either. He¡¯s on a business trip to Korea until Sunday. Instead of staying home alone and getting bored, I¡¯d rather keep youpany.¡±


    Deasy nodded and tried to smile. She appreciated how Veronica was always willing to help and be there for her, especially during tough times.


    ¡°Thanks a lot, Ve. Thanks for taking the time to pick me up and keep mepany.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. You¡¯d do the same for me if I were in your shoes. Besides, what¡¯s with the sad face? Everything is sorted out at the office, right? The most important thing is that you¡¯ve done what needed to be done. Let¡¯s not dwell on it too much. And, if you stress too much, your baby will be affected.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Ve. You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°If you have any other problems, just tell me, Des. I said from the beginning that I¡¯ll help as much as I can.¡±


    ¡°I know, Ve.¡±


    ¡°Alright, in that case, let¡¯s have dinner first. Your favorite meal is getting cold in that bag I brought.¡±


    Veronica pointed to a white bag containing Deasy¡¯s dinner, which she had brought along. She suggested that Deasy eat first so she wouldn¡¯t be hungry, especially since they would be at the hospital for a while.


    ¡°Eat until you¡¯re full. After dinner, we¡¯ll get ready, and I¡¯ll take you directly to the hospital.¡±


    Although initially reluctant, Deasy eventually agreed. She chose to have dinner and then change her clothes, preparing to leave for the hospital with Veronica.


    Once they arrived at the hospital and were waiting in line, Deasy and Veronica decided to wait for a while. Just as her name was called, Deasy halted her steps. She stopped for a moment and observed with keen interest when she saw Lucas and Devina emerging from the obstetrician¡¯s office.


    This raised a big question in Deasy¡¯s mind. What were Lucas and Devina doing there?

 PHB 74

    identally bumping into Lucas at the obstetrician¡¯s office weighed heavily on Deasy¡¯s mind for three whole days. In reality, whether Lucas hung out in the ER, the cardiologist¡¯s practice, or even the operating room shouldn¡¯t have been an issue for Deasy at all.


    However, what really irked Deasy was that instead of apanying her, a clearly pregnant woman, Lucas was escorting anotherdy. Who is it that¡¯s carrying Lucas¡¯s child, anyway? Deasy or Devina? Or could it be that Devina has also invested in her fianc¨¦¡¯s womb all this time?


    Beyond that, whether intentional or not, Lucas¡¯s warm and attentive attitude toward Devina infuriated Deasy.


    Yes, Deasy knew that Lucas had always been a gentle and caring man. His acts of service were exceptional, to say the least. But that didn¡¯t mean he had to be that way with every woman. Deasy thought that such special treatment should be reserved for her alone, but that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Before Deasy¡¯s very eyes, Lucas seemed intentionally neglectful. As if he didn¡¯t see her standing right in front of him, Lucas simply walked away without a word. He didn¡¯t even bother with a casual greeting. He didn¡¯t even give her a passing nce. Damn!


    For heaven¡¯s sake, because of this incident, Deasy was feeling restless. She had no appetite and kept sulking every night.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Up to this moment, Deasy was still curious. Why was Lucas bothering to apany Devina to the obstetrician¡¯s office of all ces?


    ¡°How long are you going to daydream like that, Des?¡±


    Diana called out to her.


    At the moment, Deasy was at her mother¡¯s house. In fact, she had decided to stay there for the past two nights.


    After dinner, Deasy didn¡¯t immediately go to her room. Instead, she chose to sit on the balcony, gazing at the starry sky. Yes, she was also thinking about Lucas.


    ¡°Des isn¡¯t daydreaming, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you call it? Zoning out? I¡¯ve been calling you for a while, but you didn¡¯t respond.¡±


    Deasy turned to look, her eyebrows furrowed.


    ¡°Seriously, Mom? You¡¯ve been calling me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been calling your name over and over. But you were lost in thought. What are you thinking about anyway? Is it Lucas?¡±


    Deasy smiled wryly. It was easy to read her expression. It was as if her mother knew she was thinking about her ex-boyfriend. Wait, was Lucas even considered an ex? After all, the handsome man didn¡¯t want to reconcile with Deasy.


    ¡°Yes, Mom. Deasy is indeed thinking about Lucas. Wondering why her love life has been this way. It feels like it¡¯s never worked out.¡±


    Dianaughed. Even though her daughter wasn¡¯t joking. Instead of offering support, why did it seem like she was being teased?


    ¡°It¡¯s fate, Des. Well, it¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t be sad.¡±


    ¡°But, Mom, I¡¯m also annoyed.¡±


    Diana suddenly looked puzzled, her brows furrowing. Why was her daughter upset again?


    ¡°Annoyed about what?¡±


    ¡°The other day, Deasy ran into Lucas at the obstetrician¡¯s office. Instead of taking me, who¡¯s clearly pregnant, he brought another woman.¡±


    ¡°Another woman?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly another woman. This is the woman he¡¯s been engaged to from the start. But it still bothers Deasy, Mom. Back then when we crossed paths, Lucas acted like he didn¡¯t even know me.¡±


    Once again, Dianaughed. For some reason, Deasy was feeling sad and irritated. But once more, this middle-aged womanughed at her daughter¡¯s fate.


    ¡°Well, what can you do, Des? Right now, you don¡¯t have any rtionship with Lucas. Maybe he¡¯s just not meant for you. No matter what you do, even if you block or confine Lucas in a room, if it¡¯s not meant to be, it won¡¯t work out. Besides, you said Lucas doesn¡¯t want to get back together, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded again.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sad, Mom. Just when I started to care so much, I ended up with all these problems. And now, what¡¯s going to happen to this child? I¡¯m pregnant, Mom, but there¡¯s no husband in sight.¡±


    Diana maintained a smile on her lips. She reached out her hand and gently rubbed Deasy¡¯s bulging belly.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s okay if Lucas doesn¡¯t want to marry you. After all, he¡¯s still financially responsible, right? Besides, whether there¡¯s a husband or not, I¡¯m confident you can raise your child well. Mama will always be here to help. You don¡¯t need to pay any attention to what people outside say. They may makements or criticize, but they¡¯re not the ones feeding you.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She was fortunate that her mother didn¡¯t judge her current situation. Even though she had made a huge mistake, Diana still embraced her and tried to be there for Deasy.


    ¡°Alright, instead of getting stressed and overwhelmed, focus on your pregnancy. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know, Mom. Even though it hurts, Deasy will try to move on as soon as possible.¡±


    Diana nodded again.


    ¡°Regardless of what happens, Mama will always be there to help and support you.¡±


    Deasy smiled with gratitude. She approached her mother and gave her a tight hug. No, she wouldn¡¯t cry this time. She had promised not to shed tears and drown in sorrow.


    Even if Lucas eventually decided not to be with her, Deasy would learn to ept it gracefully. As her mother had said, instead of constantly being upset over something pointless, she should focus on raising her future child.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, Mama wants to show you something,¡± Diana said as she released the hug.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Diana didn¡¯t answer immediately. She got up from her seat and walked into the room. It wasn¡¯t clear what she was retrieving, but she returned a few minutester. She then approached Deasy and handed her a brown folder.


    ¡°I think you need to read and know about this.¡±


    Deasy didn¡¯t say anything. She epted the folder her mother handed her. Momentster, she began to examine the papers inside, one by one.


    ¡°Is this bank statements and evidence of money transfers?¡±


    Diana nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Des. Those are bank statements from the past few years. Pay attention to the amounts and the sender.¡±


    Deasy squinted her eyes to read the name of the sender on the documents. While reading, she wondered who was the person consistently sending money to her family¡¯s ount every month, with substantial amounts.


    ¡°Rangga Prayoga?¡± Deasy asked, looking bewildered. ¡°Who is Rangga Prayoga, Mom?¡±


    ¡°Rangga Prayoga is Andreas Morales¡¯s personal assistant, Des.¡±


    Deasy was immediately taken aback. She was shocked and had questions swirling in her mind upon hearing her mother¡¯s words.


    ¡°Wait a minute, Mom. What does this mean? Why has Andreas Morales¡¯s assistant been sending money to Papa¡¯spany ount every month for several years?¡±


    Diana sighed heavily. She knew that after she exined, it would make her daughter ufortable. That¡¯s why, to ease the difort, Diana once again reached for Deasy¡¯s wrist, held it firmly, and continued the conversation.


    ¡°So, after your father passed away, it turns out that Andreas Morales has been regrly sending us financial support in a substantial amount.¡±


    ¡°But why, Mom? Is it a bribe? Or is itpensation for causing Papa¡¯s death?¡±


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Diana interjected. ¡°Listen to Mama until the end. Until now, we thought that the money your father¡¯s secretary sent every month was either leftover ie or the result of selling some valuable assets. I never suspected anything. I thought it was your father¡¯s legacy to help us continue our lives. But, as it turns out, I was wrong, Des. And you should know that Andreas Morales was the one who helped your father¡¯spany secure a big investor. He convinced the clients and even gave assurances that investing in yourte father¡¯spany would be sessful. So, in a way, our family business was revived thanks to Andreas Morales.¡±


    While listening to her mother¡¯s story, Deasy shook her head repeatedly. It seemed like she couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be true, Mom. It¡¯s probably a lie. How do you even know this?¡±


    Diana then reached for the folder she had handed over earlier, took out a few papers from the back, and pointed them out to Deasy.


    ¡°You read it,¡± Diana said, pointing her index finger directly at the paper. ¡°This is a copy of your father¡¯spany¡¯s business agreement. Judging by the date, it¡¯s clear that this agreement was made several months after your father¡¯s passing. And what¡¯s more important, it states that Andreas Morales is the guarantor for the tender. There¡¯s an additional note that he¡¯s ready topensate if the partnership fails or incurs losses.¡±


    Before Deasy could fully recover from the earlier shock, she was once again struck by the reality. Diana continued to exin at length. From this, she finally learned that herte father had been a close friend of Andreas himself. Moreover, Deasy discovered that her father had made a grave mistake in the past, causing a rift between him and Andreas.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, Mom. Dad couldn¡¯t have been that dishonest,¡± Deasy tried to deny what she had just heard. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that myte father was cheating. Maybe this is just Andreas¡¯s scheme to twist the facts. Besides, if it were true, why did you only find out about the real story now?¡±


    Diana took a deep breath, unsure of how to exin further.


    ¡°Mama was in the same position as you, Des. I only knew that they were rivals and often shed. I never even suspected that your father and Andreas used to be close friends.¡±


    ¡°So, how did Mama find out about all of this?¡±


    ¡°From someone who knows all about this situation. Moreover, in the folder you¡¯re holding, there¡¯s all the evidence that it was indeed your father who was at fault.¡±


    Deasy reopened the folder in her hands, took out the remaining papers, and read them repeatedly.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Mom. So, all this time, I¡¯ve been seeking revenge on the wrong person? And Andreas has been supporting our living expenses for years. Instead of being grateful, I almost destroyed hispany, Mom.¡±


    Diana was equally perplexed. She had warned Deasy from the beginning not to seek revenge or go beyond boundaries, even if they were mistreated or treated unfairly by others.


    ¡°But you did return the money to hispany, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s also fortunate that I didn¡¯t end up in jail. If Mr. Andreas wanted, he could have taken this case to the authorities.¡±


    ¡°Well, now you should apologize formally. We both seriously misunderstood the situation.¡±


    ¡°But the problem is, will Mr. Andreas even meet with me? He might still be angry and refuse to see the face of someone who nearly bankrupted hispany. Besides, he¡¯s trying to get his daughter married and leave thepany.¡±


    Diana sighed. Deasy was giving up before even trying.


    ¡°Who knows, Des, until you try. Just apologize tomorrow. Whether he forgives you or not is a matter forter. The important thing is your intention is good. Who knows, after apologizing, Mr. Andreas might soften his heart and allow you to marry Lucas.¡±


    Deasy sighed in frustration. But when she thought about it, she had indeed made a grave mistake and should formally apologize. Because of this, she resolved to visit Andreas Morales in person tomorrow and apologize for what she had done.


    ***

 PHB 75

    ¡°What else do you want bying here?¡± Andreas asked with a cold tone. He stared sharply at Deasy, who now stood before him with her head bowed.


    Following her mother¡¯s request, Deasy had finally mustered the courage to meet Andreas at his office. Luckily, the middle-aged man was in his office. Even more fortunate, although his secretary had informed him of the visitor¡¯s identity, Andreas had no intention of chasing her away. He still weed her in, eager to hear why thete friend¡¯s daughter had bothered toe to his office.


    ¡°I-I have something to tell you, Sir.¡±


    Andreas nodded. He raised his hand and gestured for Deasy to sit on the sofa in front of him.


    ¡°Just go ahead and tell me your purpose and intention foring here. I don¡¯t have much time to listen to lengthy exnations.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Deasy took a deep breath. She swallowed hard and tried to find the right words to convey to the man she had insulted and targeted for revenge just a few days ago.


    ¡°Firstly, I want to apologize, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Apologize?¡± Andreas interjected immediately. ¡°Apologize for embezzling thepany¡¯s funds? Or apologize for nearly driving Quantum Tech to bankruptcy?¡±


    ¡°I apologize for all the wrongdoings I¡¯vemitted without exception. I¡¯m sorry for the hical actions that caused you, Mr. Andreas, and others to incur losses. Deep down in my heart, I apologize.¡±


    Andreas remained silent, studying Deasy¡¯s face. He tried to fathom the sincerity behind her words, to confirm whether her apology was genuine or mere talk.


    Meanwhile, Deasy continued to exin her purpose earnestly, sincerely apologizing for her actions.


    ¡°I¡­ I also want to express my gratitude,¡± Deasy confidently added, causing Andreas to raise an eyebrow in surprise.


    ¡°Gratitude?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes. Thank you for everything you¡¯ve done for my family all this time. Thank you for not involving the authorities in this case. I apologize for my ignorance, Sir. Once again, I truly apologize for acting foolishly and going beyond the limits.¡±


    Andreas initially stayed silent but eventually smiled dismissively at Deasy¡¯s words.


    ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. There¡¯s no need to discuss or prolong this matter. To be honest, I don¡¯t even want to meet you, let alone discuss something like this. So, when you¡¯re done, I think you can leave.¡±


    Deasy nodded without protest or objection as Andreas openly dismissed her. She realized that perhaps the middle-aged man in front of her was still angry about what she had done.


    ¡°Very well, Sir. I will leave now. Thank you once again for your time.¡±


    Deasy quickly rose and left. Before returning to her apartment, she decided to stop by a mall to have lunch.


    At first, everything seemed fine. Until she entered a baby supply store, where she coincidentally ran into Devina again.


    This time, Devina appeared to be alone, without anypanions.


    Initially, Deasy wanted to act indifferent. She deliberately kept her distance and pretended not to see Devina.


    However, Devina, on the contrary, greeted her and then approached.


    ¡°Are you Deasy, who used to work at Lucas¡¯spany?¡± Devina asked directly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy replied. ¡°I used to work there. But I don¡¯t work there anymore.¡±


    Devina nodded.


    ¡°We crossed paths at the obstetrician¡¯s office the other day, right?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± Devina inquired, bing even more curious, which made Deasy increasingly ufortable.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy replied briefly. ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Same here. I¡¯m pregnant too.¡±


    Finally, Deasy¡¯s curiosity was satisfied. She now knew that Devina was indeed pregnant. That¡¯s why she had been at the same doctor¡¯s office as Deasy.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re pregnant too?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Devina nodded again. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child. I¡¯m about eight weeks along. If everything goes well, I¡¯ll be marrying Lucas next weekend. Don¡¯t forget toe. I¡¯ll ask Lucas to invite you,¡± Devina stated without any hesitation.


    Deasy, on the other hand, froze. She was torn between believing and doubting what she had just heard.


    After parting ways with Devina, Deasy¡¯s appetite disappeared instantly. She decided to leave, not to return home but to visit Lucas at his office.


    Even though he didn¡¯t want to meet her, Deasy wanted to make sure. Was what she had just heard from Devina true or just a deliberate provocation on Devina¡¯s part?

 PHB 76

    ¡°I¡¯m also pregnant. Pregnant with Lucas¡¯ child. Next week, the two of us are even going to have a wedding. If you have time, don¡¯t forget toe.¡±


    Upon hearing those words, throughout the journey, Deasy felt like cursing continuously. Honestly, she was furious to hear the news that Lucas would be having a wedding party in just a few days. Not with her. But with the woman who had intentionally approached and looked down on her earlier.


    Damn!


    If we rewind about four to five months, Deasy¡¯s life could be considered peaceful. Yes, despite feeling hurt because she had to face the fact that Daniel the Sneaky MagigCom was openly cheating, and even dumped her, at least Deasy¡¯s life was still within reasonable limits.


    It all started because of the luck-nut alcohol she had sipped at Daniel¡¯s wedding party. If only she hadn¡¯t met Lucas and been brought there by his subordinate, she might not have ended up having a one-night stand with a random person. Let alone getting pregnant like she was now.


    Deasy remembered how hard it was for her to refuse Lucas¡¯ offer to take responsibility. But, being a Jay at heart, she eventually sumbed to the act of service that Lucas intentionally showed every day.


    Moreover, anyone would eventually give in if they were treated well every day. They were cared for, protected, loved, and even tried to fulfill all their requests. Especially since before, Deasy had never been treated like a queen by a partner. She became more and more enchanted, and in the end, she epted when Lucas invited her to have a serious rtionship and agreed to get married soon.


    Originally, Deasy was happy because she was about to get married soon. Building a family like she had always dreamed of. And raising their future child together.


    But, because of one incident, everything fell apart. The carefullyid out ns were now in ruins. Worse still, Lucas was already disappointed. He seemed reluctant to continue their rtionship.


    Deasy had tried hard to persuade him. But Lucas continued to refuse. Just as she was still grieving over having to end their rtionship, she suddenly heard the news that Lucas was going to get married soon. Not to her. But to Devina, the woman who had been matched with him from the beginning.


    To rify this news, Deasy went to the Quantum Tech building. She intended to ask directly about the truth of Lucas and Devina¡¯s wedding ns that would take ce next week.


    ¡°Felix!¡±


    Entering the lobby and about to walk towards the elevator, Deasy identally spotted Lucas¡¯ assistant who had juste down from the fifth floor. Waving intentionally, Deasy asked Felix toe over.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy?¡± Felix replied with a puzzled expression.


    Of course, the man was puzzled. As far as he knew, Deasy had resigned and no longer needed toe to the Quantum Tech building. Especially since Deasy had been relieved of her duties. So, there was no need to settle any workmitments or unfinished job-rted tasks.


    ¡°Where are you going, Ms. Deasy?¡± Felix asked then.


    ¡°I want to meet Lucas. Is he in his office? There¡¯s something we need to discuss.¡±


    Felix shook his head right away. As a sign of the answer to Deasy¡¯s question.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas is not in his office.¡±


    ¡°Is Lucas having a meeting outside with a client?¡±


    It was reasonable that Lucas was not on the premises. Especially since it was a busy time. Usually, when he wasn¡¯t attending a meeting, Lucas often had meetings with some clients outside the office.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas does have business outside. But it¡¯s not a meeting with a client. If I¡¯m not mistaken, he has an appointment with the wedding organizer to check the venue and other equipment.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. She was sure that what Felix had just told her was true. Lucas¡¯ assistant had clearly mentioned the wedding organizer and other details rted to the wedding.


    ¡°W-what did you say? Lucas has a meeting with a wedding organizer? So, Lucas is really getting married next week?¡±


    In response to these questions, Felix immediately nodded. Instead of hiding or denying, he confirmed what Deasy had just asked him.


    ¡°Yes, Ms. Mr. Lucas is indeed getting married next week. I¡¯m currently double-checking the invitations and the list of guests.¡±


    Felix said, pointing to the stack of papers he was holding. After Deasy examined it carefully, she realized that what Lucas¡¯s assistant had been holding was wedding invitations. In fact, she could clearly see Lucas¡¯s name written on the front of the invitation, along with the wedding date.


    ¡°Is the eventpletely confirmed?¡±


    Felix nodded repeatedly. There was no doubt in his expression.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s absolutely confirmed. Mr. Andreas even wanted it to happen quickly. That¡¯s why Mr. Lucas¡¯s schedule this week is really tight. He¡¯s checking the venue, the invitations, even the wedding attire fittings. And they¡¯ve been seriously discussing the honeymoon ns for the past few days. Mr. Lucas has also scheduled some days off in the near future.¡±


    Deasy took several deep breaths. It felt suffocating to hear what Felix had just told her.


    ¡°May I know where Lucas is nning to hold the wedding and reception?¡±


    Truly, Deasy was very curious. She just wanted to know where the man who had a brief rtionship with her would be having his wedding party.


    If the storm hadn¡¯t hit, she might have been the one busy with wedding preparations right now.


    ¡°At the Raffles Hotel. If I calcte, there are quite a few invitations, more than 1000.¡±


    Deasy remained silent. Besides being at a loss for words, she was also unsure how to respond. Whether she should feel sad, hurt, but it would be pointless. Lucas really didn¡¯t want to return or have a rtionship with her anymore.


    ¡°Ms. Deasy¡­¡± Felix called out when he noticed Deasy had remained silent for a while. ¡°Ms. Deasy, are you okay?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. Although she felt weak, she had to make sure she was okay.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°If Ms. Deasy wants, you cane to Mr. Lucas¡¯s wedding next week. I¡¯ll send the official invitation to Ms. Deasy¡¯s address.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Is it really okay for me to attend Lucas¡¯s wedding?¡±


    Felix smiled in response to Deasy¡¯s question.


    ¡°Why not? The more guests, the better. It means more people to pray for them. Besides, I¡¯m sure Ms. Deasy would like toe and offer your best wishes as well, right?¡±


    Deasy remained silent. She wondered whether it was necessary for her to attend Lucas¡¯s wedding next week. She questioned in her heart whether she should offer her congrattions to the man who had once filled her heart.

 PHB 77

    ¡°Des, why are you spaced out? Thinking about the national debt or something? You¡¯ve been quiet since I started talking.¡±


    Veronica sounded a bit annoyed. After all, this weekend, she had deliberately invited Deasy to go shopping at the mall, just to stroll around, have some food, and look at baby supplies, so her friend wouldn¡¯t continue to feel stuck.


    Veronica understood.


    She understood very well what Deasy was going through and probably thinking about right now. Without needing an exnation, Veronica could sense the frustration, sadness, anxiety, and confusion that seemed to be mixed up inside Deasy.


    Moreover, anyone would react the same way. Just imagine, when you¡¯ve just fallen in love again. You were about to weave a beautiful and happy life together. And even when you were just one step away from getting married officially, everything suddenly fell apart due to an unexpected event.


    During the initial disaster, Veronica was also a witness. She saw clearly how Lucas and Deasy argued and eventually ended in separation.


    Before this, Veronica had never seen Deasy behave like this. Afraid that it would cause more stress, which could affect the baby¡¯s health, Veronica tried her best to console her.


    ¡°Deasy Winterborne Wolf. The stormy hurricane. Can you hear me?¡±


    Once again, Veronica addressed her. This time, she even took Deasy¡¯s hand and gently shook her shoulder to snap her out of her thoughts.


    ¡°Des!¡±


    ¡°What, Veronica? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy daydreaming? Geez!¡± Deasy retorted, inviting a sigh of exasperation from the already impatient Veronica. She had been talking at length all this time, only to find out that Deasy hadn¡¯t been listening at all.


    ¡°You, you know, just daydreaming when I¡¯m talking to you. Who knows what you¡¯re thinking about? You¡¯re spaced out every day. You might get possessed, you know.¡±


    Deasy sighedzily. Couldn¡¯t Veronica just let her enjoy herself?


    ¡°I have a headache, Ve. Don¡¯t ask too many questions right now. You¡¯re like a cop, interrogating all the time.¡±


    Veronica immediately pouted. She should be the one getting mad for being ignored. But why was it Deasy who was grumbling? Did pregnant women generally act like this? Irritable and often angry for no reason? As far as she could remember, her friend never acted strangely when she was pregnant before.


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll talk about itter. Just finish your food for now. It¡¯s a shame to leave it like that. Plus, it¡¯s your favorite-ck pepper beef and stir-fried vegetables. I ordered it specifically for you. You reserved it but didn¡¯t finish it.¡±


    Deasy just nodded and stared at the food that Veronica had previously ordered for her. If Lucas were here right now, he would definitely hurry to feed her. Lucas wouldn¡¯t even stop offering her food until Deasy had finished the meal he had ordered.


    ¡°Luc, why do you bother to feed me all the time? I¡¯m not a baby, let alone an elderly person who can¡¯t eat on their own!¡±


    Deasy vividly remembered saying this. Almost every time Lucas fed her, she would protest.


    Anyway, at that time, Deasy felt that Lucas¡¯s attitude was too much.


    Too much!


    Yes, ording to Deasy, Lucas¡¯s behavior was cheesy. Like a fickle teenager seeking attention from the opposite sex just to get noticed.


    But, to be honest, from the beginning, Deasy thought Lucas¡¯s attention and care were over the top.


    As far as Deasy could remember, in her serious rtionships with various men, none of them ever bothered to feed her or anything like that. Besides, Deasy didn¡¯t like it. Only Lucas, who wasn¡¯t even someone special, had the audacity to act all caring by always feeding her during breakfast and dinner.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be a child or an elderly person to need to be fed,¡± Lucas responded at the time. ¡°Moreover, I deliberately feed you, Ms. Deasy, for various reasons and considerations.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s naturally thick eyebrows, which she had never plucked, immediately furrowed. Of course, she wondered what reasons or considerations could make Lucas act so overly.


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re really overdoing it, Luc. What reasons do you have for behaving like this?¡±


    Lucas smiled faintly. He enjoyed seeing Deasy¡¯s expression, full of questions, annoyance, and frustration. Honestly, her beauty had doubled.


    ¡°Many, Mrs. One reason I feed Ms. Deasy is to ensure that she feels full after eating the food I prepared. If I let her eat on her own, she might not eat the healthy food I bought and finish it. Remember! Ms. Deasy needs extra nutritional intake because there¡¯s a baby on the way.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s words had some truth to them. Deasy had rarely paid attention to her food before. Because she was pregnant now, she really should be mindful of what she ate.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t like being fed like this.¡±


    ¡°Just at first, Mrs. You won¡¯t dislike itter. I guarantee you¡¯ll get used to it. I dare say you¡¯ll miss it if I stop.¡±


    And like magic, Lucas¡¯s words came true. Just a few weeks of extra attention and when Lucas suddenly disappeared, Deasy already felt the longing. The one who used to bring her favorite food, feed her, and help tidy up, suddenly went absent for a few days due to work. Deasy remembered how bored and annoyed she felt at that time. Maybe she missed it too, but she was reluctant to admit it.


    For some reason, it cannot be denied that every bite Lucas offers can whet her appetite. Whatever food Lucas brings, Deasy always finishes it. ording to Veronica, perhaps it¡¯s a baby¡¯s doing. It could also be the unborn baby in Deasy¡¯s belly creatingfort when the father takes care of all her needs.


    However, all those sweet habits can¡¯t be felt by Deasy now. Lucas is no longer hers. There¡¯s a sense of regret because she used to often ignore and even act high and mighty towards the actually good-looking guy.


    ¡°Done eating?¡± Veronica asks when she sees that the food she ordered specifically for Deasy has been consumed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nods repeatedly.


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t look so down. You seem heartbroken that Lucas broke up with you. Before, you insulted him in various ways and even boasted that falling in love was impossible, and now? You look like you want to die. Just like someone who has lost the will to live.¡±


    See? Veronica trulycks empathy. She seems delighted to mock and bring up Deasy¡¯s past.


    ¡°I¡¯m not heartbroken, Ve. It¡¯s just that I find it hard to believe that Lucas is getting married. Where a few dayster, it¡¯s like a sudden event. It feels rushed, like there¡¯s something urgent. Yet, just recently, we broke up. He used to say he loved me, that he cared. We break up, and he¡¯s marrying someone else.¡±


    Veronica sighed, then yfully pinched Deasy¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Why are you getting upset? Don¡¯t you have any self-awareness?¡±


    ¡°Self-awareness? What do you mean?¡± Deasy retorted, clearly not epting Veronica¡¯s words. ¡°Is there something wrong with what I said?¡±


    ¡°Well, obviously, Des. In case you forgot, before you, Lucas was already engaged and had nned to get married. In my opinion, you were the third party, Des. A troublemaker.¡± After saying this, Veronica burst intoughter and received a re from Deasy in response.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a troublemaker. Lucas was the one chasing after me from the beginning.¡±


    ¡°He was chasing you because of an ident. If you hadn¡¯t seduced him and then got pregnant, maybe Lucas¡¯ life wouldn¡¯t be asplicated and messy as it is now.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes again. Veronica was really insensitive. How could she be turned into the scapegoat and target of ridicule for the embarrassing incident that happened earlier?Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Veronica! Your mouth needs to be taped shut. You¡¯re so rude. I bet Darwin taught you this!¡±


    Veronicaughed again, not taking Deasy¡¯s words seriously.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Des. If you hadn¡¯t entered Lucas¡¯s life, he probably would have still married his fianc¨¦e eventually. Since you suddenly appeared in his life, maybe the wedding ns that were already well-organized got disrupted or were even in danger of failing. But, once again, because your rtionship ultimately fell apart, Lucas might return to the original n his parents had arranged for him to marry the woman they had prepared. So, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Maybe this was destined to happen. ept your fate.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. When she thought about it, her situation was indeed quite something. Why did her love stories always end in failure? What was shecking? She was beautiful, financially stable, attractive, and educated. But why did she often get yed and dumped?


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t dwell on it,¡± Veronica said again. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk now. I¡¯ll take you shopping, and I¡¯ll pay. How about that?¡±


    Deasy noddedzily but still got up from her seat. She walked out of the restaurant, intending to wander around.


    Trying to console herself, Deasy spent her time following Veronica as they entered one clothing store after another, buying a few items. Eventually, as they passed by one store, she stopped in her tracks.


    Through the store window, Deasy saw a man whom she had been wanting to meet for some time now. He looked so handsome, trying on a suit, which might be for the wedding.


    ¡°Lucas?¡±

 PHB 78

    ¡°Lucas¡­ how¡¯s it going? Does this white dress I¡¯m wearing and chose look good?¡±


    Lucas crossed his arms and observed with great attention. The man then cast a scanning gaze from head to toe, carefully assessing Devina¡¯s appearance as she swayed in front of him.


    Currently, the two of them were in one of the renowned designer workshops for wedding dress fittings and all rted matters. While Lucas remainedfortably seated, Devina, who had been busy from the beginning, was trying on various dresses presented to her.


    Lucas couldn¡¯t deny that Devina looked very beautiful. In almost every dress the woman tried on, it seemed to fit and suit her tall and graceful figure. Lucas was actually getting confused about which one to choose.


    ¡°I think thest one seems better than the ones before.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I agree. I also prefer this one. It feels morefortable and easy to move in. So, should we go with this one?¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly, agreeing with the decision Devina had made.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go with that one as long as it feelsfortable and good when worn.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, the fabric feels sofortable. How about you? Have you tried on the tuxedo?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He hadn¡¯t chosen any of the tuxedo sets he would wear for the wedding party.


    Since earlier, besides waiting for Devina, he had been busy discussing the progress of their wedding preparations, which had already reached 80%, with the wedding organizer.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t tried yet. What would be good?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you pick, okay? Or do you want to find a matching color? So that it looks coordinated.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He didn¡¯t doubt Devina¡¯s choice for a moment.


    ¡°Sure, you can choose for me. Besides, you know Papa¡¯s taste. Plus, when he¡¯s ready, he¡¯lle here for a fitting too.¡±


    Devina nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll choose for you first. Later, when we find the right one for you, I¡¯ll help pick for Papa Andreas too.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you handle it. I trust you with everything,¡± Lucas said confidently.


    Devina then went around the store. Assisted by the store¡¯s attendant, she selected several premium tuxedo collections designed for wedding parties.


    Almost ten minutester, the beautiful long-haired woman picked out a few suits she deemed good and handed them over to Lucas, who was waiting.


    ¡°I think there are four that I consider the best,¡± Devina said as she stood in front of Lucas. ¡°Try them on one by one. So I can judge which one suits you best.¡±


    Lucas agreed with a nod. He stood up, having been seated earlier, and began trying on the tuxedos one by one, starting with the navy one.


    ¡°How does it look?¡± Lucas asked while trying on the navy tuxedo. ¡°Does it fit well?¡± Devina appeared scrutinizing, observing Lucas¡¯s appearance from head to toe, trying to assess before giving her opinion.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to fit when worn. Try the white one. I¡¯m curious to see how it looks on you.¡±


    Lucasplied. Returning to the dressing room, he quickly changed out of the navy suit he had been wearing and switched to the bone-white one. Once he was sure, he stepped out, once again asking Devina to evaluate his appearance.


    ¡°There, how¡¯s this? Does it look good?¡±


    Devina curled her lips into a smile. There was no doubt that the color she had chosen this time was a perfect match when paired with the dress she had worn earlier.


    ¡°Perfect, Luc. This one fits you perfectly. Don¡¯t change it again. It matches my dress perfectly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take this one,¡± Lucas said, looking satisfied.


    ¡°But, Luc¡­¡± Devina suddenly said, her tone indicating that Lucas¡¯s fianc¨¦e wanted to discuss something potentially serious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is something amiss?¡±


    Devina shook her head. That wasn¡¯t what she meant.


    ¡°I mean, are you absolutely sure about this decision, about getting married? Are you sure you won¡¯t regret it?¡±


    Devina¡¯s face looked very serious. Once again, she was confirming to make sure if the man in front of her had made the right decision. Because once it happened, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to back out or separate.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯mpletely certain about this decision. So, you don¡¯t need to worry. I won¡¯t regret it,in, or do anything strange. I¡¯m 100% sure about the decision I¡¯ve made.¡±


    Devina then looked closely at Lucas¡¯s face. She delved into those jet-ck eyes and found an immense conviction in the man she had known for a long time. From this, Devina was confident that Lucas was very serious andmitted to the decision he had made.


    ¡°If you¡¯re truly 100% sure, then it¡¯s not a problem. I just don¡¯t want to hear regrets down the road. It¡¯s really frustrating.¡±


    Lucas smiled. He understood what Devina meant. He was sure she was worried that in married life, he might end up suffering and ultimately regretting the decision he had made.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I¡¯ve made a decision, it means I¡¯m ready to ept all the consequences.¡±


    Devina smiled in return, feeling somewhat relieved by Lucas¡¯s attempt to reassure her.


    ¡°Alright then. Go change into your suit quickly. After this, we¡¯re going to check the venue, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded. He had almost forgotten that today they had a scheduled visit for a final check before the wedding.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll change. You can go to the cashier. I¡¯ll pay for everything.¡±


    Devina walked away, while Lucas intended to return to the dressing room. Just as he was turning around, he spotted a familiar woman standing behind the workshop¡¯s ss window. Deasy.


    From behind the ss, Lucas could see Deasy initially watching silently, and shortly after, she waved. Perhaps she was signaling that she wanted to meet and talk with him for a moment.


    However, Lucas only nced briefly. He acted as if he didn¡¯t care and, a few secondster, chose to continue walking. It was as if he didn¡¯t know her or deliberately ignored Deasy, who was clearly standing behind the shop¡¯s window.


    Meanwhile, Deasy, watching Lucas deliberately ignoring her, could only gape in astonishment. Veronica, who was with her, immediately pulled her friend¡¯s arm to leave. She wanted to get her out of there before Deasy felt even more hurt by Lucas¡¯s recent behavior.


    ***


    ¡°So, this Deasy is sulking with her face all scrunched up because her ex-boyfriend just ignored her? Her ex-fianc¨¦? Her ex-boyfriend who got her pregnant? Or how should we refer to him to make it sound better?¡±


    At Veronica¡¯s house, Darwin¡¯sughter echoed loudly. After returning from the mall, Veronica intentionally brought her friend over to her ce first.


    Veronica had her reasons for bringing Deasy. Knowing that her friend had just been dismissed by Lucas, Veronica was afraid that if she took Deasy straight home, she might do something reckless in her apartment.


    That¡¯s why Veronica chose to have Deasy stop by her house first. Her intention was to provide some guidance.


    However, because Darwin was there and he heard the entire sequence of events from her mouth, the man who had once been Deasy¡¯s arch-enemy burst intoughter. He seemed quite satisfied with what had happened to Deasy.


    ¡°Win, yourughter is so cheerful,¡±ined Deasy, her face still scrunched up. Veronica¡¯s husband seemed so delighted to mock her. Damn!


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s as crispy as chips. Besides, it¡¯s just funny. Deasy Winterborne, the strongest woman on Earth, who supposedly has no fear, now ¡®melting¡¯ like a cracker. Not to mention her tragic fate. You used to say that I was the most ruthless in hurting Veronica. Inhuman. But after hearing your story, it turns out there¡¯s a guy in this world named Lucas. He¡¯s even more ruthless because he left you, who was clearly pregnant with his child.¡±


    Deasy was getting angrier. Instead of showing empathy, Veronica¡¯s husband waspeting inmiserating with what had happened to her. He wasn¡¯t acting like a husband, nor was he acting like a wife-both were the same. A couple of bullies. And it seemed like he was so satisfied seeing Deasy suffer. The luck-nut¡¯s friend.


    ¡°You¡¯re so rude, you know? Compassion, maybe? Instead, you¡¯reughing at my situation.¡±


    While stillughing, Darwin stared at Deasy. There was no denying that he seemed to be enjoying seeing Deasy suffering like this.


    ¡°This is some kind of karma, Des. You used to enjoy undermining me in front of Veronica. Now, you¡¯re getting your payback from God. How does it feel? Unpleasant, right? Being avoided by the person you love? Sorry, sorry. I¡¯m already an alumni. Back then, you instigated Veronica¡¯s dad to separate me from Veronica. Hahahaha.¡±


    ¡°Darwin, you jerk! Can you shut up?!¡±


    Darwinughed even harder. He was thrilled to see Deasy so angry with him. When else could he seek revenge? So that Deasy would know what he had experienced in the past.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°But, seriously, Des. Let me tell you.¡±


    Darwin¡¯s expression changed drastically. The mocking look on his face suddenly became more serious.


    ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d go to Lucas¡¯s wedding. I¡¯d make calctions, and if necessary, I¡¯d ruin the wedding altogether.¡±


    ¡°Win!¡± Veronica quickly reprimanded. ¡°You¡¯re teaching her the wrong thing.¡±


    Darwinughed again. He seemed to really enjoy teasing Deasy.


    ¡°Just kidding, Sweetie. Don¡¯t get mad like that,¡± Darwin said, then turned back to Deasy. ¡°What I mean is, if I were you, I¡¯d go to your ex¡¯s wedding. I¡¯d offer elegant congrattions. No need to get angry. No need for any kind of scene. If necessary, make him regret for throwing away someone as valuable as you. After that, it¡¯s better to go far away. Or if his child is born tomorrow, never let him see the child, even if it¡¯s his own flesh and blood. Who knows, maybe he¡¯ll marry someone else and have children.¡±


    Deasy nodded as if agreeing with Darwin¡¯s suggestion. Upon reflection, it might be a good idea to follow Veronica¡¯s husband¡¯s advice.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go to Lucas¡¯s wedding. I¡¯ll make him regret for discarding me like that.¡±


    ¡°Des, do you mean you¡¯re going to follow Darwin¡¯s second suggestion, right?¡± Veronica asked, trying to make sure. She was worried that Deasy might impulsively act on the first suggestion and create a scene. ¡°Just be careful not to do anything extreme.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ve. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll see what I¡¯ll doter.¡±

 PHB 79

    After all this time, with no rhyme or reason, Deasy suddenly invited her mother to go to her father¡¯s grave.


    However, a while back, whenever Diana invited her to just visit briefly, Deasy always had reasons to decline.


    It wasn¡¯t without reason, actually. It¡¯s just that she felt really sad having to remember and ept the fact that her father was truly gone.


    Undoubtedly,pared to her mother, Deasy was closer and more familiar with her father.


    That¡¯s why, when her father had to depart suddenly, Deasy felt upset and lost.


    She thought her father was perfectly fine at the time. Why did he suddenly drop and then lose his life?


    After all, there were still many ns they had together that hadn¡¯t been realized. That¡¯s why Deasy truly felt sad.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Pa, how are you? I¡¯m sorry I only just got around to visiting Papa¡¯s new home.¡±


    Deasy gently touched the surface of the tombstone with the name Anton Winterborne written on it. Sitting there with her mother, they both seemed to gaze fondly at her father¡¯s eternal resting ce.


    ¡°Pa¡­¡± Diana said too. ¡°It¡¯s not that Mama didn¡¯t want to bring Deasy to visit Papa here. It¡¯s just that your child here iszy. Back when he was still alive, she stuck to Papa like glue because she wanted something, right? Because she knew Papa always granted her requests. But now that Papa¡¯s not here, she suddenly forgets andes up with all sorts of excuses every time she¡¯s asked toe. And now she¡¯s here, she¡¯s probably looking for forgiveness.¡±


    Deasy immediately turned her head, looking bewildered by what her mother had just said. How could it be that, in front of her father¡¯s grave, which was undeniably real, her mother was still provoking andining about things that weren¡¯t true about her?


    ¡°Ma, there¡¯s no need to talk nonsense,¡± Deasy said, annoyed. ¡°We¡¯re here to visit because it¡¯s been a long time since we came here. Not to gossip about my behavior.¡±


    Diana pursed her lips as if mocking her own daughter. But, it was her own daughter after all. Yet, she seemed to take great pleasure in teasing her whenever she made her upset. Maybe it was a reflection of her own feelings, as she oftenined about Deasy¡¯s incredibly unique behavior as her only child.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter anyway? Besides, even if Mama talks endlessly until she foams at the mouth, it won¡¯t change anything, Des. It¡¯s not like your Papa is going to respond from inside the grave and address Mama¡¯sints. Do you think we¡¯re shooting a horror movie here? Where suddenly the corpse rises from the grave and joins the conversation?¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes. It was indeed difficult to argue or exchange words with her mother. Why did she have to be born to Diana Winterborne? When she thought about it, Veronica would have been a better fit as Diana¡¯s child.


    They both had simr personalities, especially when it came to teasing others. They were identical, no difference at all. Just in cruel andcking in humanity. Deasy even briefly thought, what if she and Veronica had been switched when they were kids?


    ¡°Ugh, so annoying. If Deasy had known, she would have visited Papa here by herself. No point in bringing Mama along. All Mama does is me Deasy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Diana argued. ¡°Besides, Mama has alreadye along. So, just ept it. Come on, hurry up. What do you want toin to your Papa about? Mama is surprised you suddenly invited her here.¡±


    Deasy sighed deeply. For whatever reason, it turned out to be a hassle to bring her mother along this morning. If she had known her mother would be chatty and talk nonsense like this, she would have gone alone earlier.


    ¡°Pa¡­¡± Deasy mumbled again. For a moment, she chose to ignore her mother. ¡°Once again, Deasy apologizes for being so busy, so it took her a while to visit Papa.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse, Pa. It¡¯s just that your child iszy,¡± Diana quipped without any guilt. ¡°Yet, this cemeteryplex is only a twenty-minute drive from her apartment. She was given quite an inheritance. But when ites to visiting her parents, she never has time.¡±


    ¡°Ma!¡± Deasy protested, pouting. It seemed like her mom enjoyed picking fights.


    ¡°Okay¡­ okay,¡± Diana conceded. ¡°Go on. Mama will be quiet.¡±


    Deasy took several deep breaths. Convinced that her mom wouldn¡¯t nag again, she continued with the words that had been dyed earlier. She better watch out in case her mom interjected randomly.


    ¡°After all this time, I can¡¯t believe Deasy didn¡¯t know the truth about Papa and Mr. Andreas in the past. Because of this, I made a huge mistake, Pa. I did something terrible that caused Mr. Andreas¡¯spany to fail, which harmed many other staff members. I¡¯ve truly been wicked, Pa. My actions have gone too far. Everything happened because I felt it was unfair. I did it all out of revenge against Mr. Andreas.¡±

 PHB 80

    Deasy fell silent for a moment. Once again, she took a deeper breath than before, as if releasing the burden that had been gnawing at her heart.


    Her hand didn¡¯t stop rubbing her father¡¯s tombstone repeatedly. Acting as if the person who had been gone for so long was right in front of her, listening to what she was saying.


    ¡°Deasy hasmitted a grave mistake, Pa. How can I redeem myself?¡±


    ¡°Just repent, Des. Confess your sins to God,¡± Diana chimed in again. Then she averted her gaze, acting indifferent. Even though her daughter seemed annoyed because her words were constantly interrupted.


    ¡°Many staff members lost their livelihoods because of what Deasy did. I swear to God, I regret it. But¡­ Papa, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve apologized. I¡¯ve confessed my sins to Mr. Andreas as well. I¡¯ve apologized to him for my past actions, which were also Papa¡¯s. I hope, after this, there will be no more misunderstandings. And¡­ one more thing. There¡¯s something I want to tell Papa, and I believe it¡¯s good news that needs to be shared.¡±


    Deasy then pulled something out of her bag and showed what she was holding, as if her father was right there with her.


    ¡°Look, Pa. This is the result of a baby ultrasound in Deasy¡¯s belly. Soon, you¡¯ll be a grandfather. And that outspoken woman in front of me will soon be a grandmother. She¡¯ll be even more talkative when my baby is born. I can already imagine how Mama will be with a grandchild.¡±


    Diana sighed. She didn¡¯t like being called talkative by her daughter, even though it was true.


    ¡°Just let Mama talk and bber on. Because when Mama talks like this, many guys fall for it and chase after me. Mama never had a boyfriend leave her, let alone be dumped by a guy she liked.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, Mama is so irritating. She never backs down. I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    Dianaughed. She deliberately teased and made Deasy angry like this. Rather than seeing her daughter sad or even crying, she preferred to see Deasy getting mad at her like this.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Alright, continue. Tell your Papa about how you seduced your boss.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Mama. Your mouth has no filter.¡±


    ¡°Gosh, why use a filter? It¡¯s just the two of us.¡±


    No matter what, Deasy couldn¡¯t help but wonder why her mom was so mean. She seemed to enjoy belittling her own unlucky fate. Instead of offering support, she was relentlessly teasing her.


    ¡°Pa, why did you even marry Mama?¡± Deasy asked deliberately in front of the tombstone. ¡°You must have had incredible patience to have a wife who loves to bully her own child like this. Just so you know, Pa, the reason Deasy didn¡¯t want to live with you guys was because of this. Mama really enjoys insulting her own child. Fortunately, I still love you. Otherwise, I would have crossed Deasy off the family list.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the other way around, Des! Besides, Mama is also lucky you didn¡¯t live with us. It would¡¯ve been chaotic. Plus, you eat so much. You even get possessed sometimes. Reallyzy.¡±


    Dianaughed and yfully pinched her daughter¡¯s arm. No matter how much she teased her, her daughter remained dear to her heart.


    ¡°Pa¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Deasy,¡± the long-haired woman continued, extending her previous statement. ¡°Deasy made a big mistake, and I¡¯m not sure if it was a mistake or not, since it happened twice. But seriously, it wasn¡¯t intentional, Pa, that Deasy ended up sleeping with Lucas. And now I¡¯m pregnant. I promise, Pa, I love him. I love you, Pa. In fact, yesterday he seriously asked me to marry him. We should¡¯ve been getting married soon. But it seems that God didn¡¯t allow it. The proof is, we¡¯re separated now.¡±


    Deasy then looked up, holding back her tears. She had promised herself not toment the tragic fate that had befallen her.


    ¡°In two days, the guy who got me pregnant will marry his fianc¨¦e, Pa. If there hadn¡¯t been any problems, I should¡¯ve been the bride. Just so you know, his name is Lucas Orion Morales. Yes, he¡¯s Mr. Andreas Morales¡¯s son. He¡¯s your friend, Pa. It¡¯s such a small world. But not as small as a moringa leaf. I never expected to be involved with the child of someone who was once close to and a rival of you, Pa.¡±


    This time, Deasy took another deep breath. She purposely smiled and continued speaking.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you, back then, set me up with Mr. Andreas¡¯s son? It would¡¯ve been perfect. Deasy wouldn¡¯t have had to search for a partner. After all, Lucas is handsome, Pa. He¡¯s also kind. It¡¯s just that I was careless, that¡¯s why he got angry and didn¡¯t want to know me anymore.¡±


    Diana was touched by thest words Deasy said about herte husband. Without the need for exnation, she felt deep sadness in her daughter¡¯s current state. That¡¯s why she reached out, gently patting Deasy¡¯s shoulder to reassure her and prevent her from drowning in sorrow.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear.¡±


    Deasy nodded and smiled again, assuring her mom that she was okay.


    ¡°Papa, don¡¯t worry up there. Deasy is fine. Deasy is strong. I¡¯ve always been a strong and resilient youngdy. Being dumped before marriage is just ordinary. Nothing to worry about, really. What¡¯s important is that I still have Mama, Veronica, and Sean. They are the people who have kept me going all this time.¡±


    Deasy dered this statement while gently rubbing her father¡¯s tombstone again, making sure she would be okay after this.


    ¡°I¡¯m strong, Pa. Very strong. I promise to endure and stay strong through all of this. You can rest peacefully in heaven. From now on, whenever I have the time, I¡¯ll visit regrly. Next time, before I give birth, I¡¯lle here again.¡±


    After pouring her heart out at length, Deasy lifted her face, kissed her father¡¯s tombstone, and then stood up from where she had been sitting with her mother. They scattered some flowers first and then decided to leave the cemetery grounds as the day was bing hot.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be sad all the time,¡± Diana tried to provide support. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Mama is right here with you.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°So, where do you want to go now?¡±


    ¡°I just want to go straight home. Veronica ising to the apartmentter this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°She visits you so often.¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Veronica ising to bring a dresster.¡±


    ¡°A dress? For what?¡± Diana was quite curious.


    ¡°A dress for an invitation. I can¡¯t wear it for swimming, can I?¡±


    ¡°I know! What kind of invitation is it for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an invitation to Lucas¡¯s wedding. So, I¡¯ve decided to attend Lucas¡¯s wedding the day after tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious? You want to go to Lucas¡¯s wedding? Were you invited?¡±


    ¡°Even if I wasn¡¯t invited, I¡¯ll still go. I want to congratte Lucas and his new partner in person.¡±


    Diana shook her head. Seeing Deasy¡¯s strong determination, it was clear that her daughter couldn¡¯t be stopped or persuaded.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s up to you, what you want to do and how you want to do it. Mama¡¯s only request is that at Lucas¡¯s wedding party, you remain dignified. Don¡¯t suddenly get possessed and cause a scene. Watch out! Mama doesn¡¯t want to hear any news like that.¡±


    Deasy nodded, agreeing to her mother¡¯s request.


    ¡°Alright, got it. You¡¯re so strict! It¡¯s like I¡¯m a little kid being reminded all the time. So, are you going home now, or what?¡±


    Diana shook her head. She had some business to attend to after this.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stop by somewhere first. I have some things to take care of today too. So I can rx tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then. As long as Mama is careful.¡±


    ¡°You too, Des. Just be cautious and don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Ma. Okay.¡±


    They both decided to leave. Deasy chose to head straight home, while Diana had to continue her journey to finish her errands.

 PHB 81

    Lucas looked at himself once again in the mirror, ensuring that nothing wascking in his attire and essories.


    If there were no hindrances, in just an hour, his wedding party would soon take ce. His entire extended family was probably already gathered in the hotel¡¯s main ballroom, which he had chosen as the venue for thisvish event, celebrating this historic and sacred day in his life.


    Not only that, but even his father had been pacing in and out of the hotel room, double-checking Lucas¡¯s appearance and readiness. He was making sure with great seriousness that after this, he would be prepared to embark on a new life with his wife.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas,¡± Felix addressed him, who had been in the room with Lucas, waiting. ¡°How long do you n to keep gazing at yourself, Mr. Lucas? Honestly, I¡¯ve been watching you for more than ten times now, making sure everything is perfect ¨C from makeup, hairstyle, suit, to the shoes you¡¯re wearing. But, if I may say, everything is already perfect. There¡¯s nothing missing or needing fixing.¡±


    Lucas smiled shyly. Apparently, his actions had not gone unnoticed by his assistant. However, Lucas had his reasons for doing all of this. He just wanted to shake off the nervousness that had been lingering within him.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m nervous. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been so unsure of what to do all this time. Seriously, I¡¯m really nervous. I¡¯m afraid I might say something wrong.¡±


    Felix chuckled softly. It was amusing to him how his usually confident and self-assured boss was now feeling nervous and restless. After serving for years, this was the first time Felix had seen Lucas this way. Lucas always faced various types of clients in his business meetings, always ready for new challenges when presenting his business to investors. He had never been nervous or jittery when leading meetings with so many important people in attendance.


    So why was he so nervous now, on his wedding day? Was Lucas experiencing pre-wedding jitters, the anxiety and restlessness that many brides and grooms feel moments before officially tying the knot?


    ¡°I think all brides and grooms go through the same thing, sir. They get nervous and anxious. So what you¡¯re experiencing, Mr. Lucas, is perfectly normal. Most likely, everything will return to normal after it¡¯s all over. So, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Lucas nodded. What Felix said was true. He had never felt like this before.


    ¡°Yeah. But, is there any way to ovee it? Because of the nerves, I¡¯ve been wanting to go to the bathroom all the time. But once I¡¯m there, I don¡¯t really do anything. Just pacing around makes me tired.¡±


    Once again, Felix smiled. He found Lucas¡¯sints amusing, but when he saw how nervous his boss was, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. Lucas was clearly extremely nervous and anxious. It was like he was waiting for the results of a crucial exam.


    ¡°Would you like something to eat, Mr. Lucas? Or a snack, perhaps? It might help calm your nerves. Usually, when we focus on doing something, we forget about what makes us nervous or anxious,¡± Felix suggested, wanting to help. At the very least, by eating before the event, Lucas¡¯s mind could be temporarily distracted. ¡°Or¡­ if you don¡¯t feel like eating, you could read the news while waiting for the wedding nner to call you to go to the venue.¡±


    Lucas seemed to consider Felix¡¯s offer. Upon reflection, he thought it might be better to read the news instead of eating something that could make his stomach uneasyter. Moreover, reading would help him divert his focus for a while.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just read the news, then. If I eat, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll make a mess. My makeup might get ruined, and it would be a hassle to touch it up. I¡¯m sensitive to those little bristles.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Bristles? Whose bristles are making Mr. Lucas ufortable?¡± Felix wondered, trying to grasp what Lucas had just said.


    ¡°Those bristles, the ones from the makeup brush that¡¯s applied to my face. They make me shiver and sneeze all the time.¡±


    Laughter erupted from Felix¡¯s lips once again. His mind had been wandering in apletely different direction. He had no idea that Lucas was referring to the bristles from a makeup brush.


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ I thought you meant something else.¡±


    ¡°Something else, huh?¡± Lucas teased. ¡°Come on, get me the tablet already. I want to read the news now. Why are we talking about bristles?¡±


    Felix nodded repeatedly. ¡°Alright, Sir. Let me get your tablet for you.¡±


    Felix then walked over to a neatly arranged bag on the table not far from the sofa. He opened it and took out Lucas¡¯s tablet, which had been stored there.


    However, before he could hand over the smart device, Andreas appeared at the door, seemingly checking on his son¡¯s condition once more. He had beening in and out of the room to ensure that Lucas was doing fine.


    ¡°Is there anything else, Dad? If you want to know how Lucas is doing, trust me, he¡¯s perfectly fine. So, there¡¯s no need to ask repeatedly.¡±


    Lucas, who was sitting on the bed, immediately called out, appearing curious as he watched his father enter the room once again.


    In truth, it wasn¡¯t a problem for his father to check on him repeatedly. However, Lucas was getting annoyed because every time his father entered, he asked the same questions over and over again. It was bing tedious.


    ¡°Are you really ready?¡± Andreas asked with a very serious expression. He walked closer and deliberately took a seat right next to Lucas.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ve answered the same question ten times already, Dad. I¡¯m ready, 100% ready,¡± Lucas tried to reassure him. He did his best to dispel the doubt that was clearly visible on his father¡¯s face right now. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you, Dad? Why are you the one doubting now? Haven¡¯t we discussed the wedding ns multiple times? I¡¯ve agreed to all the requests you¡¯ve made. So, why are you suddenly unsure?¡±


    Lucas stared intently at his father¡¯s face, waiting eagerly for the answer. He was bing puzzled himself because just yesterday, his father had been urging him to hurry up and have the wedding party. So, why the sudden doubt now?


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯m just thinking, Luc. I¡¯m worried-¡±


    ¡°Pa,¡± Lucas interrupted. ¡°Why are you worried now? I won¡¯te to any harm. So, don¡¯t stress or doubt like this. Just rx, Dad. I¡¯m confident in the decision I¡¯ve made. Everything will be fine. I promise.¡±


    Andreas took several deep breaths, trying his best to build trust in what his son had just conveyed. After all, if Lucas himself was 100% sure of his decision, why was he the one doubting it now?


    ¡°Papa only wants the best for you, Luc. I¡¯m just afraid you won¡¯t be happy after getting married.¡±


    Lucasughed, feeling either understanding or ironic. It was quite something that on the big day, or right before the event, his father had doubts about his decision.


    ¡°Come on, Dad. The wedding party is about to begin. There¡¯s no time for doubt now. Once again, I assure you that I¡¯ll be just fine. I promise this wedding will seed as you hope. I promise it will bring happiness and give you many descendants to continue the Morales family. So, once again, there¡¯s no need to doubt or fear what you¡¯re thinking now. Trust me, everything will go smoothly after this.¡±


    Andreas took another deep breath and nodded. Convinced in such a way, he couldn¡¯t deny that he was feeling increasingly calm.


    ¡°Alright, if your decision is firm and you have no doubts, I¡¯ll leave everything to you, Luc. I can only pray that your marriage will be longsting and happy until death do you part.¡±


    Lucas was truly moved by the prayer his father had just offered. He hugged him tightly, as if they were about to be separated by a great distance after this.


    ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. Lucas will be happy.¡±


    Just after they released the embrace, there was a knock at the door, followed by the entrance of one of the wedding nners. They signaled Lucas to get ready to leave for the venue to begin the wedding ceremony.


    ***

 PHB 82

    ¡°Ve, do I really have to go all out like this with extravagant makeup?¡±


    Currently, Veronica had brought Deasy to one of her regr high-end salons. She was intentionally giving her best effort to make her friend look stunning and the center of attention for many.


    As nned earlier, Deasy was going to attend Lucas¡¯s wedding, and Veronica even volunteered to apany and assist her.


    Because Veronica wanted Deasy to look wless, she took charge of everything from the gown, makeup, and all the details.


    ¡°Yes, Des, of course. We want to make Lucas regret it, right? So, you have to go all out. Let him regret ever letting you go so easily.¡±


    Deasy nodded in agreement. To make Lucas regret his decision and realize what he had lost, she obediently followed Veronica¡¯s instructions.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the gown you need to wear,¡± Veronica said, handing over a white off-shoulder A-line gown with glitter ents to Deasy, who had just finished her makeup.


    ¡°Wow, the gown is really beautiful. Where did you buy it? It must be expensive,¡± Deasy said as she examined the gown that Veronica had handed to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t have to sell a house for it. Besides, it¡¯s a special day. I promised to make you look stunning and dazzling. So, today, everyone should be mesmerized by your beauty, Des.¡±


    Deasy couldn¡¯t wait. With Veronica¡¯s assistance, she slowly put on the gown that had been prepared for her. Once it was perfectly in ce, Veronica even helped her put on her shoes and essories, making Deasy look absolutely stunning, just as hoped.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Veronica murmured with an amazed expression. There was no denying that Deasy looked incredibly beautiful now. ¡°Seriously, no exaggeration, you look stunning, Des,¡± Veronica genuinely praised her. It wasn¡¯t excessive or boastful. In her eyes, Deasy truly looked beautiful. Fortunately, the dress her friend was wearing fit perfectly, and it didn¡¯t feel tight, considering that Deasy was pregnant.


    ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m beautiful? But,e on, I¡¯m naturally beautiful, right?¡±


    Veronica sighed. She forgot that her friend was extremely narcissistic.


    ¡°Alright, just wait here for a moment. I need to get ready too. After this, we¡¯ll be on our way to the venue.¡±


    Deasy nodded enthusiastically. She couldn¡¯t wait to meet Lucas at the event. Although there was some pain in having to let go of the man she loved, Deasy was trying to be big-hearted. She even promised herself not to cry when congratting the man who clearly impregnated her.


    ¡°So, are you ready?¡± Veronica asked after changing into her gown. Just like Deasy, Darwin¡¯s wife looked stunning, like a princess.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Deasy affirmed confidently. ¡°I¡¯m 100% ready for anything, Ve. Whenever you bring me in front of Lucas, I¡¯m prepared in body and soul.¡±


    Veronicaughed. She reached out, holding Deasy¡¯s hand and guiding her to exit the car. They both made their way to one of the renowned hotels chosen as the venue for Lucas¡¯s wedding.


    Luckily, even though it was a Saturday and the evening was approaching, the roads were not too crowded. It took them about twenty-five minutes to finally arrive at the venue.


    Veronica got out of the car first and helped Deasy exit. Holding hands again, they walked together toward the ballroom where the event was being held.


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Veronica called out before they entered the event venue. As if there was something important that Lucas wanted to convey to her friend. ¡°Are you really prepared in body and soul? I mean, are you ready for all the risks and whatever might happen after we go in?¡±


    Deasy nodded confidently. She was sincerely prepared for whatever might happen. As Darwin had advised earlier, she hade to this wedding purely to offer congrattions elegantly. She also promised herself that she wouldn¡¯t cry when congratting Lucas, despite the pain of having to let him go.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ve. I¡¯ll be just fine. No need to worry. I even prepared a script for a speech, just in case,¡± Deasy said with augh. Although Veronica knew her friend was trying to push away her sadness.


    ¡°Alright, take a deep breath now. We¡¯re going to enter the event.¡±


    Deasy nodded confidently and took a step to enter the ballroom.


    However, as soon as she entered, Deasy became puzzled. Inside the ballroom, she didn¡¯t see any guests as one would expect at a typical wedding party. She even began to wonder if she was in the right ce.


    And, more than that.


    As Deasy was about to confirm this with Veronica, she was even more astonished.


    When she turned, Deasy found Lucas standing right beside her.


    ¡°Lucas¡­¡± Deasy eximed, unable to control her surprise.


    ¡°Y-you¡­¡±


    ¡°Des¡­¡± Lucas interrupted her immediately, stopping Deasy¡¯s unfinished sentence.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡±


    ¡°Deasy Winterborne Winterborne, I know you must be really surprised. But, ignoring that, I just want to ask you and I need your answer right away.¡±


    ¡°Ask?¡±


    Deasy waspletely confused. She had prepared herself to act aloof when she met Lucas at the wedding. But in reality, when she saw the man she loved, her mind went nk.


    ¡°Do you want to be my wife?¡±


    ¡°W-what? What did you just say?¡±


    Lucas nodded, reaffirming his earlier statement.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Do you want to marry me, be my wife, and the mother of my children? Today, right now.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s eyes widened. She was beyond shocked by the question Lucas had just asked her. Seriously, this wasn¡¯t some hallucination or a dream, was it?

 PHB 83

    Several weeks earlier.


    ¡°What else, Devina? What important matter do you really want to discuss with me?¡±


    After previously contacting Lucas by phone and inviting him to meet, Devina finally came to visit Lucas at his office. If one were to pay close attention, from her serious expression, it seemed like she wanted to convey something very important.


    ¡°It¡¯s about our wedding,¡± Devina whispered softly. Currently, she wasfortably seated on the sofa avable in her fianc¨¦¡¯s room.


    Hearing Devina bring up the topic of their wedding ns, Lucas let out a long sigh reflexively. He had just discussed this with his father, and now it was Devina again who seemed to be pushing him to get married soon.


    For heaven¡¯s sake, Lucas felt like his head was about to explode. The issue with Deasy was not resolved yet. Now, whether he liked it or not, he had to take action on the promise he had already made to his father so that the problem involving Deasy didn¡¯t need to be handled by the authorities.


    However angry and disappointed Lucas might be, there was no denying that he still loved and cared deeply for Devina. That¡¯s why he tried his best to protect the woman who had once filled his heart.


    ¡°Are you here to elerate our wedding process as my father wants?¡±


    Instead of affirming Lucas¡¯ question, Devina shook her head. Her previously rxed expression now turned serious.


    ¡°There¡¯s something important I need to tell you, Luc. And I think you should know this before it¡¯s toote. I also want to take you to an obstetrician if it¡¯s possible.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback. He furrowed his brow, wondering why Devina suddenly wanted to go to an obstetrician. Was she pregnant with someone else¡¯s child? Or was something more serious happening that he wasn¡¯t aware of?


    ¡°To an obstetrician? Why?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. After we see the doctor, I¡¯ll exin everything,¡± Devina replied.


    ¡°But I can¡¯t go right now. After this, I have a work schedule that I can¡¯t miss. What if we postpone it toter this evening? I¡¯ll pick you up then.¡±


    Devina nodded in agreement. Besides, her regr obstetrician¡¯s practice didn¡¯t open untilter in the evening.


    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll leave for now. You can pick me upter this evening. I¡¯ll be ready.¡±


    Ending the conversation, Lucas allowed Devina to leave. And when evening came, after finishing all his work, Lucas kept his promise to pick up Devina and take her to one of the obstetricians who turned out to be Deasy¡¯s long-time doctor.


    Upon arriving there, without the need to wait, Devina and Lucas were immediately ushered into the doctor¡¯s practice room. They were even asked to sit right in front of the doctor who seemed to have been waiting for their arrival.


    ¡°Doc, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. This is Lucas, my fianc¨¦. As I asked before, I want you to exin my current condition to my fianc¨¦.¡±


    The doctor smiled and nodded. Shifting his gaze, he then looked at Lucas. However, before he could speak, Lucas interrupted first.


    ¡°Wait¡­ wait¡­ what¡¯s actually going on here?¡±


    The doctor smiled again. Understanding Lucas¡¯s curiosity, he immediately provided the exnation the man needed.


    ¡°Well, Mr. Lucas, I want to exin that Ms. Devina is currently suffering from uterine cancer. There¡¯s a possibility that your fianc¨¦e may need to undergo a hysterectomy or the removal of her uterus to prevent the spread of cancer cells to other organs in her body.¡±


    Lucas was stunned. He had never imagined that Devina was suffering from a serious illness. Throughout their close friendship, she had never shown any signs of being unwell.


    ¡°W-what, Doctor? Uterine cancer?¡±


    The doctor nodded, confirming and assuring what Lucas had asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other option but a hysterectomy. And most likely, after the removal of the uterus, your fianc¨¦e won¡¯t be able to conceive or have children.¡±


    At that moment, Lucas immediately turned to Devina, unsure of how to respond. Meanwhile, Devina herself remained calm, smiling. From her expression alone, it seemed like nothing major was happening to her.


    ¡°Devina-¡±


    ¡°Sssttss¡­¡± Devina whispered while smiling. ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is why I told you the other day that I didn¡¯t want to marry you, Luc. I¡¯m aware that my condition is not stable.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ do your parents know you¡¯re sick?¡±


    Devina nodded confidently.


    ¡°My parents know about this condition, Luc. But they insisted on keeping it from your family because they didn¡¯t want our business partnership between our families to fail.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s go ahead with the wedding.¡±


    Lucas then reached for Devina¡¯s hand, gripping it tightly while gazing at his close friend with apassionate look. Little did he know that Devina had been carrying such a heavy burden all this time.


    ¡°No need, Luc. You don¡¯t have to marry me out of pity for my condition. Besides, why should we get married if I can¡¯t even give you children? I intentionally came here so that you could hear about my health condition directly from the doctor.¡±


    ¡°But, Devina-¡±


    ¡°I know you really love Deasy, right? The woman you told me about the other day? Well, this is your chance to be together and marry her. Tonight, I¡¯ll also meet Uncle Andreas to exin my condition to him. But one thing¡¯s for sure, you don¡¯t need to marry me.¡±


    After a lengthy discussion and conversation with the doctor, as nned, Lucas brought Devina to meet her father.


    Furthermore, when they left the doctor¡¯s office, Lucas and Devina briefly crossed paths with Deasy, who also seemed to be seeking prenatal care.


    For whatever reason, Lucas wanted to approach her. He missed the moments of apanying Deasy for prenatal check-ups. However, due to his lingering anger, Lucas chose to ignore her. Besides, there was something more important that he needed to address.


    So, by driving a bit faster, Lucas brought Devina straight to meet her father that very evening. Fortunately, when they arrived, Andreas was already at home, having just finished dinner.


    ¡°What do you two want bying here again?¡± Andreas asked, looking alternately at Lucas and Devina.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°There¡¯s something important that Lucas wants to discuss regarding his and Devina¡¯s wedding ns, Dad.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with your wedding n? Do you want to speed it up?¡±


    As if having a telepathic connection, Lucas and Devina both reflexively shook their heads, denying what Andreas had just asked them.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, Dad.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it? Don¡¯t tell me you want to cancel the wedding. No! Papa won¡¯t cancel your wedding ns, no matter what. Don¡¯t embarrass me, Luc!¡±


    Lucas sighed deeply. It was indeed difficult to exin something that had already be his father¡¯s firm decision. When the tribal chief says A, it must stay A forever, unless there¡¯s a valid reason to challenge it.


    ¡°Please listen to Devina¡¯s exnation first, Dad. Maybe after this, you¡¯ll have some enlightenment and stop grumbling without reason.¡±


    Devina immediately pinched Lucas¡¯s arm to get him to stop rambling. It was unbelievable that, at such a serious moment, he was speaking so thoughtlessly.


    ¡°Uncle Andreas¡­¡±


    Devina took over the conversation, taking several deep breaths as she searched for the right words to convey to her future father-inw.


    ¡°There¡¯s something important that Devina wants to convey. It concerns the wedding ns for Lucas and me. Devina believes that this n cannot proceed.¡±


    ¡°On what basis can it not proceed?¡± Andreas asked, sounding intimidating. His calm face slowly began to show traces of emotion.


    ¡°Hold on, Dad. Let Devina exin everything first,¡± Lucas said, trying to calm the situation.


    Devina then retrieved a white envelope from her bag and handed it to Andreas so he could read and check it immediately.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Andreas asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Just read it, Dad,¡± Lucas urged with a serious expression.


    Andreas reached for his reading sses that had been on the table. He put them on quickly and began to read the paper that Devina had given him.


    Andreas continued to read attentively. Five minutester, Lucas and Devina noticed that the middle-aged man¡¯s face suddenly turned extremely serious and surprised.


    ¡°Devina¡­¡± Andreas looked up, gazing at Devina intently. ¡°Are you ill?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Uncle,¡± Devina nodded repeatedly. There was absolutely no intention in Devina to hide what was happening to her. ¡°It¡¯s because of this reason that Devina can¡¯t continue with the wedding ns with Lucas. If you¡¯re curious, Dad and Mom are well aware of this illness. But they still forced Devina to keep quiet and agree to whatever happens in the future. Dad and Mom don¡¯t want to miss out on the business opportunities that woulde from being rted to Uncle Andreas. On behalf of Dad and Mom, Devina apologizes, Uncle. No matter what, Devina can¡¯t proceed with this wedding n.¡±


    Devina spoke with so much emotion that Lucas reached out to immediatelyfort her by patting her shoulder.


    Meanwhile, Andreas remained silent, pondering quickly about the decision he should make.


    ¡°Furthermore, Uncle¡­¡± Devina continued, ¡°Even if this wedding is forced, the fact is that Lucas won¡¯t be able to have children. I¡¯m sorry if this sounds forward, but instead of struggling to marry me, why not just approve of Lucas and Deasy¡¯s rtionship, which is clearly carrying Morales¡¯s future sessor?¡±


    ¡°Approve of their rtionship after what Deasy has done to thepany?¡± Andreas retorted, seemingly unwilling to ept that idea.


    ¡°Dad¡­¡± This time, Lucas spoke up. ¡°Deasy has already returned thepany¡¯s money intact. She confirmed it earlier today. Deasy also personally apologized to thepany. Why not forgive her? Lucas admits he was disappointed with Deasy¡¯s behavior, but all of this happened because of a misunderstanding. Why not give her a chance? Deasy is also pregnant, Dad. There¡¯s Lucas¡¯s blood in Deasy¡¯s womb.¡±


    Andreas took several deep breaths. Looking at Lucas¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t deny that his son deeply loved the daughter of his old friend.


    However, simply approving without consequences didn¡¯t sit right with Andreas. Moreover, Deasy had crossed a line in his eyes. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to forgive her without some sort of deterrent effect.


    ¡°Alright, Papa will approve of your request to marry Deasy. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But what, Dad?¡± Lucas asked impatiently. In his heart, he was overjoyed to finally get the green light for something he had wanted for so long.


    ¡°Papa wants you to teach Deasy a lesson first. Let her know what it¡¯s like to fight for something. Let her understand that her actions were truly fatal and harmful to many people.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Dad?¡± Lucas asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Well, if she tries to get back together with you, just reject her for now. Or whatever it takes to make her feel the loss.¡±


    ¡°But what if Deasy really leaves for good, Dad?¡± Lucas worried. Besides, why not just get married right away? Why go through all this schooling?


    Andreas sighed deeply. He was frustrated with himself for having to exin.


    ¡°If Deasy truly loves and is serious about you, she will keep trying to win your heart,¡± Devina chimed in the conversation.


    ¡°The problem is, I¡¯m afraid that Deasy might get angry and resentful, Devina.¡±


    Devina smiled and patted Lucas¡¯s shoulder repeatedly.


    ¡°She won¡¯t, Luc. Later on, we¡¯ll also n a surprise for Deasy. We¡¯ll make sure we arrange everything as best as possible so that Deasy doesn¡¯t leave, and in the end, you two still get married. I promise I¡¯ll help as much as I can.¡±


    Lucas nodded in agreement. That evening, he spent time with Devina and his father to n and strategize what they should do to provide a ¡°little¡± punishment and surprise for Deasy.

 PHB 84

    ¡°It¡¯s so rare for you to ask me to meet up.¡±


    In a restaurant during the daytime, Lucas purposely called Veronica and invited her to meet. Because he wanted to n and do something, Lucas thought it would be a good idea to seek the assistance of the people closest to Deasy.


    ¡°There¡¯s something important I want to discuss,¡± Lucas said with a serious expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Lucas said. ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for one more important person to arrive.¡±


    Before long, the person Lucas was waiting for finally arrived. In fact, their arrival surprised Veronica.


    ¡°Aunt Diana?¡± Veronica eximed, truly puzzled. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Lucas asked Aunt toe. He said there¡¯s something important he wants to discuss regarding Deasy.¡±


    Veronica, who was impatient, immediately bombarded Lucas with a multitude of questions. She was both confused and curious about why she and Aunt Diana were invited at the same time to meet.


    ¡°So, I want to ask for Aunt Diana and Mrs. Veronica¡¯s help in preparing a surprise for Deasy.¡±


    ¡°A surprise?¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Mom. Lucas is going to marry Deasy soon. But before that, Lucas needs your help first.¡±


    He then began to exin slowly, outlining all the ns he had previously discussed with Diana and had received his father¡¯s approval for.


    They discussed and brainstormed for a while. They exchanged ideas with Devina and Veronica on how to best punish Deasy without going too far, and they also devised a n for Lucas to propose and marry Deasy on the designated day.


    ¡°So, ording to Mrs. Veronica, should I create a charade that I¡¯ll eventually return to Devina and marry her as originally nned before meeting Deasy?¡±


    Veronica nodded.


    ¡°Yes, we should make her jealous. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help provoke Deasy even more. Later, when you¡¯re checking the wedding venue or having a wedding dress fitting, just let me know. I¡¯ll try to bring Deasy to the same ce. So, it¡¯ll seem like you identally bump into each other.¡±


    ¡°That sounds good,¡± Lucas agreed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s torment Deasy,¡± Diana chimed in. ¡°That girl needs a little shock therapy. Remember, Lucas, Deasy briefly crossed paths with Devina and you at the obstetrician¡¯s office. Make Devina pretend she¡¯s pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child again.¡±


    Rather than sympathizing with her daughter, Diana came up with an extreme n. It was unclear what was going through the middle-aged woman¡¯s mind, but she seemed most enthusiastic about pranking her own daughter.


    ¡°But what if Deasy gets really stressed and worried, Ma?¡± Lucas asked, concerned.


    ¡°It won¡¯t happen, Luc. Don¡¯t worry, Deasy is tough.¡±


    ¡°And besides, this is supposed to be a spur-of-the-moment wedding,¡± Lucas added. ¡°How can I prepare a wedding dress for Deasy? I don¡¯t even know her exact size.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Luc. I¡¯ll help with that. Next time, I¡¯ll take her shopping for dresses. When the timees, you can just inform her what kind of dress and concept you want for the wedding. I¡¯ll make sure to pick the right style.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wrap up our discussion for today. We¡¯ll talk moreter. Once again, thank you very much for Mama and Mrs. Veronica¡¯s assistance.¡±


    Diana nodded with a smile. She was relieved that Lucas was still willing to take responsibility and was determined to marry her daughter.


    ¡°Mama prays for everything to go smoothly. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize for what Deasy has done. And¡­ thank you, Luc. Thank you for being a responsible man.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He felt relieved and thankful to God for finding a future mother-inw who supported whatever he was going to do. Initially, he was worried that Diana would be angry about the n he had put together.


    ¡°Lucas, I¡¯m also grateful for the blessing you¡¯ve given me. I promise to do whatever it takes for Deasy.¡±


    Lucas then turned to Veronica. Before they both left, he once again expressed his request for help and gratitude to his future wife¡¯s friend.


    ¡°Once again, I request your assistance, Mrs. Veronica. While Deasy and I are apart, please take care of her. If she needs anything, just let me know. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll continue to provide her with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I¡¯ll entrust it to Mrs. Veronica to give to Deasy. You can tell her that you bought it.¡±


    Veronica nodded in understanding of Lucas¡¯s request. After all, for Deasy¡¯s sake, she didn¡¯t mind helping the man who had impregnated her friend.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°Once again, thank you, Mrs. Veronica. We¡¯ll discuss the rest over the phone. What¡¯s certain is that I ask for your prayers and assistance until the day Deasy and I get married.¡±

 PHB 85

    When asked what ride Deasy dislikes the most when visiting an amusement park, she firmly mentions the Roller Coaster.


    Compared to the thrill of the ferris wheel, carousel, or the dollhouse filled with pretense, for some reason, Deasy regards the Roller Coaster as a game that absolutely does not suit her.


    On one side, she feels her body soaring so high as if it can touch the sky. At times, she also feels dropped, plummeting as if falling into the deepest abyss.


    This feeling is exactly the same as the fate Deasy often experiences. For her, the challenges of life alone are enough to get her adrenaline pumping.


    There¡¯s no need to ride the attractions; she already feels her life going through extreme ups and downs. Just imagine, back when her father was still around, Deasy experienced what you would call her heyday. But when her father was no longer there, she fell into a slump.


    The same goes for matters of the heart. Thest time she felt happiness was when she nned to marry Lucas. But due to one mistake, that beautiful n suddenly vanished.


    ¡°If you fail to win Lucas¡¯s heart, just take the lessons from it, Des. Life is full of trials, right? If it¡¯s just a few, we call them ¡®tests.''¡±


    The cursed words Veronica gave her when she had just broken up with Lucas continue to echo in Deasy¡¯s mind.


    Indeed, Deasy tries not to sink into despair. Especially when she hears the news that Lucas is going to marry his former fianc¨¦e. As much as possible, Deasy strengthens her heart. She even decides to attend and congratte him.


    However, Deasy had prepared everything. She intentionally came to Lucas¡¯s wedding with the intention of giving him a surprise. But instead of Lucas being surprised, it¡¯s she who receives an unimaginable shock.


    ¡°W-what did you just say? G-getting married?¡±


    Deasy was momentarily stunned. Her brain seemed to slow down as Lucas asked a question beyond her anticipation.


    ¡°Yes, Des. Do you want to marry me? To be my wife and the future mother of my children?¡±


    Once again, Deasy blinked. Instead of answering directly, she raised her hand and intentionally pinched her arm.


    ¡°Arghh!¡± Deasy reflexively eximed. The pain from the pinch she inflicted felt real, leaving a red mark on her left arm. ¡°Pain. That means this isn¡¯t a hallucination or a dream, right?¡±


    Lucas smiled and shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a dream, Des. It¡¯s real. I¡¯m really here. Standing in front of you, asking you to marry me. Do you want to?¡±


    ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Deasy objected. She even took a step back, intentionally creating distance between herself and Lucas. ¡°Why all of a sudden, with no wind, rain, or tsunami, are you asking me to marry you? Aren¡¯t you and Devina supposed to be the newlyweds tonight?¡±


    Once again, Lucas smiled. He disyed that typical smile that always managed to stir strange feelings within Deasy.


    Deasy couldn¡¯t deny that she had missed the man in front of her. If she weren¡¯t so self-conscious, she would want to tightly embrace Lucas, who was now confusing her.


    ¡°The story is long, Des,¡± Lucas said. ¡°But one thing¡¯s for sure, I nned the wedding tonight for both of us. For me and you. Not for me and Devina. From the beginning, I wanted to marry you.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t Devina pregnant?¡±


    Lucas burst intoughter. He remembered that the idea of saying Devina was pregnant with his child came from Veronica, who deliberately wanted to make Deasy jealous.


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas shook his head repeatedly. ¡°Devina isn¡¯t pregnant at all. She said that on purpose because she wanted to tease you and make you jealous.¡±


    Darn it!


    Deasy cursed silently. She couldn¡¯t believe she actually thought Devina was pregnant with Lucas¡¯s child. She even wondered when Lucas had impregnated Devina, given that he was more often with her. Just by looking at him, it seemed impossible that Lucas had multiple partners.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a vegetable, Luc. No need to heat me up like that.¡±


    Lucas couldn¡¯t help butugh. Even though they were in the middle of a serious conversation, Deasy managed to respond with her usual humor.


    ¡°I know you must be confused. Earlier, I want to apologize for neglecting you or even doing things that must have hurt your feelings.¡± Lucas stared intently, locking eyes with Deasy and then gripping her wrist, holding it tightly. ¡°By God, there¡¯s a reason I did all of that. I¡¯ll exin everything from the beginning to the end after you answer my marriage proposal first.¡±


    ¡°Does it have to be answered right now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it does,¡± Lucas nodded repeatedly. ¡°The guests are waiting for us.¡±


    Deasy immediately raised an eyebrow. Guests? Where were they? She had been standing in the ballroom, and the only person she had seen was Lucas.


    ¡°Guests from where? It¡¯s so quiet,¡± Deasy scoffed. Who knows, maybe Lucas was just making things up again.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°The guests aren¡¯t here, Des. They¡¯re in the main ballroom. They¡¯re all waiting for the two of us.¡±


    Deasy fell silent once more. She didn¡¯t know what to think. Meanwhile, Lucas seemed impatient. He checked the watch on his wrist several times.


    ¡°Come on, darling¡­ what do you say?¡±


    The term ¡®darling¡¯ that Lucas used so tenderly caught Deasy¡¯s attention. After all this time, she could finally hear Lucas calling her by the affectionate name he had often used before.


    ¡°Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t mind marrying you, Luc. But¡­ I¡¯m also thinking, what¡¯s really going on here? I feel like I¡¯m being yed.¡±


    Once again, Lucas tried to reassure Deasy. Aware that time was running out, Lucas briefly exined, hoping that Deasy would trust him and agree to the request he had made earlier.


    ¡°Later, after the event, I¡¯ll exin everything from the beginning to the end. You don¡¯t need to worry, and besides, everything I¡¯ve done to you recently, up to this moment, was with the help and advice of Mom, Veronica, and Devina.¡±


    Deasy was increasingly shocked, surprised, and bewildered. From Lucas, she learned that Mama and Veronica were also involved in this game.


    ¡°W-what? So, they were all involved?¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Yes, darling. Even the dress you¡¯re wearing right now was specially chosen by Devina.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness.¡±


    Deasy fell silent again. It seemed that she had been made an object of amusement since yesterday.


    ¡°Darling¡­¡± Lucas called once more. ¡°What do you say? Do you want to? Come on, we¡¯re being awaited by a lot of people. Do you want to ept my proposal to get married?¡±


    After weighing the pros and cons, thinking about the good and bad, Deasy finally nodded. It was like hitting the jackpot, and she¡¯d be a fool to refuse.


    Even though she was confused, a bit annoyed and angry because she felt like she was being yed, it didn¡¯t matter. That could be sorted outter. Deasy promised herself that she would settle the scores after officially marrying Lucas. For now, the important thing was to establish her status and rtionship.


    From the beginning, Deasy was aware that she was the source of the problem. But if Lucas was willing to ept her again and was now proposing marriage, why should she insist on preserving her ego by forcing herself to leave?


    It wasn¡¯t about having no self-esteem. It was more about being realistic. Deasy wanted to try to let go, but she also recognized the immense love she had for Lucas.


    So, the final choice Deasy made was to ept. After all, good opportunities rarelye twice. Once again, settling scores and seeking retribution could be done after the wedding was official, right?


    ¡°What do you think, darling?¡±


    Asked for the umpteenth time, Deasy nodded confidently right then and there. She agreed with Lucas¡¯s offer to marry her tonight.


    After getting the green light, Lucas immediately handed Deasy over to one of the wedding organizer staff for a briefing just before the start of the wedding procession.


    Once everything was ready, Deasy received a surprise. It turned out that Sean, who had been chosen as herpanion for the evening, was recing her father.


    Passing through several rituals, Deasy was asked to enter the event space. As she walked in, all the guests¡¯ eyes were immediately drawn to her.


    Admiration was evident in the eyes of all the guests as they saw Deasy¡¯s stunning appearance that evening.


    Deasy herself could see that the guests in attendance consisted of close family and a few VIP friends and colleagues. Truly, the wedding party Lucas had prepared seemed intimate and very private, meant for a select few.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, Lucas was already standing, beaming with a wide smile. As Deasy reached her position, Sean handed her over directly to Lucas tomence the wedding procession.


    The sacred marriage that Lucas and Deasy had always envisioned had finallye to fruition. Exchanging vows of lifelong faithfulness, they officially became husband and wife.


    There were smiles,ughter, and tears clearly visible in Deasy¡¯s emotions. She was deeply moved that they were finally reunited and now officially Mrs. Morales.


    ***

 PHB 86

    After concluding all the wedding festivities, precisely at ten in the evening, Lucas and Deasy decided to retire to the hotel room specifically provided for the newlyweds.


    Changing clothes and freshening up, Deasy eagerly urged Lucas to talk before deciding to rest.


    ¡°Before we go to sleep, I want you to tell me what really happened. Why did you end up marrying me? Weren¡¯t you distant yesterday, even asking me not to appear before you?¡±


    Lucas smiled. To satisfy the curiosity that seemed to be at its peak within his wife, he slowly began to tell the story.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know where to start. What¡¯s for sure is that when I met Dad and handed over the report about the cheating you did, I volunteered to do anything he asked. As long as he didn¡¯t take your case to the authorities.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who asked Dad Andreas not to press charges against me?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°And as a consequence, I had to immediately marry Devina. Honestly, from the beginning, even though I was very angry, I still wanted you to be my wife. I tried to convince Dad that this was all a misunderstanding and could be fixed without involving the authorities. But my efforts were in vain. Dad insisted on marrying me to Devina.¡±


    ¡°So, why did it all ultimately fail and change your mind?¡± Deasy asked, curious.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Because Devina got sick. She was the one who eventually volunteered to step back from the wedding ns. Besides, she said she couldn¡¯t bear to snatch me away from you, darling.¡±


    Lucas then went on to exin in detail what had actually happened. While Deasy mostly nodded, observing and listening attentively, trying to understand what Lucas was telling her.


    ¡°In essence, you were all in cahoots, right?¡± Deasy asked with a yful pout.


    ¡°Conspiring for the greater good, my love. Proof of that is that we were still able to get married in the end.¡±


    Deasy nodded. As they concluded their conversation, she, who was sitting on the couch with Lucas, moved closer. A momentter, she pressed her body against Lucas¡¯s to kiss his lips.


    As if pouring out all the longing she had felt over the past few days, Deasy kissed, nibbled, and tasted Lucas¡¯s lips repeatedly. What had started as a gentle kiss gradually turned more and more sensual.


    The atmosphere in the room, which had been cold, slowly heated up. Moreover, Deasy intentionally teased. While still kissing, she pushed Lucas¡¯s body to lean against the couch¡¯s backrest.


    With all the skill she possessed, Deasy continued to worship Lucas. While kissing, her hands were active. They roamed in every direction, then paused right above Lucas¡¯s pants, which she then unzipped.


    After they were fully open, Deasy¡¯s hand went back to something she had been eyeing for a while. She squeezed and gently massaged it up and down, causing Lucas to jump slightly.


    Deasy knew that Lucas wanted more than what she was doing. However, instead of following his wishes, Deasy deliberately released their lip lock.


    From his eyes, she clearly saw the look of reluctance on Lucas¡¯s face. He even seemed surprised by Deasy¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Do you want more?¡± Deasy asked, intentionally teasing Lucas, who was still entranced by what she had done earlier.


    ¡°Yes, darling. Anything.¡±


    Lucas nodded. After not seeing each other for so long, he naturally wanted to reciprocate the longing he had suppressed for days.


    ¡°Where do you want to start?¡± Deasy asked.


    ¡°Up to you. I surrender. All I know is that tonight, I want to spend time with you.¡±


    Deasy then smiled. Moving closer, she intentionally captured Lucas¡¯s lips once again and gave him a brief kiss. However, instead ofplying with Lucas¡¯s request, she released their lip lock once more. Deasy even brought her face close and whispered into Lucas¡¯s ear secondster.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even dream that I¡¯ll give you what you want!¡±


    Deasy then got up. Before truly leaving, she stared sharply at Lucas.


    ¡°Tonight, tomorrow night, or the night after that, you can sleep on the sofa. I¡¯m angry, I¡¯m sulking with you!¡±

 PHB 87

    After getting officially married, Lucas finally brought Deasy to live in his house. Before heading home, the man first took Deasy somewhere.


    ¡°Actually, where are we going?¡± Deasy, who was initially calm and rxed, finally started chattering. She was curious about where Lucas was taking her early in the morning.


    As far as Deasy knew, hotel check-out time was either at 12 PM or 1 PM. However, Lucas, after having breakfast together, seemed to be in a hurry to take her somewhere.


    Deasy thought that Lucas wanted to bring her to his house as soon as possible and show it to her. During their rtionship, Deasy had never known where Lucas lived all this time.


    But looking at the road they were traveling on, Deasy seemed familiar with it. That¡¯s why she was curious and wondered where she was being taken so early in the morning.


    ¡°When we get there, you¡¯ll know,¡± Lucas replied casually, smiling.


    Deasy sighed and tried to be patient. Until finally, the Alphard car they were in stopped and began to enter a cemetery area that she knew very well.


    ¡°You¡­ are taking me to-¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lucas interrupted, nodding. ¡°I want to visit yourte father¡¯s grave. Since I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask for permission and blessings yesterday, I decided to stop by now before we both really go home.¡±


    Deasy stared for a few seconds and then nodded. She still wondered how Lucas knew the location of her father¡¯s grave all this time.


    ¡°So, who told you that my dad was buried here?¡±


    ¡°Your mom did, of course. Who else? I intentionally asked her the other day so that I wouldn¡¯t have to ask again next time when I bring you.¡±


    Deasy nodded again. Once the car they were riding in stopped, Lucas immediately led his wife to get out of the car. Together, they walked for a while until they finally reached one of the graves, the resting ce of Deasy¡¯s father.


    ¡°Pa, Deasy¡¯s here again. This time with my husband.¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Deasy, who was already sittingfortably next to her father¡¯s gravestone, spoke. She brought her hand and gently touched the gravestone with the name Anton Winterborne written on it.


    ¡°This is Lucas, Pa,¡± Deasy continued. ¡°The man I told you about the other day.¡±


    Lucas immediately turned his head, furrowing his brow, curious about what Deasy had told her father about him.


    ¡°You talked about me to your dad? You must have said all sorts of things about me leaving you, right?¡± Lucas guessed urately. In reality, the other day, Deasy had poured her heart out about how she had just met her prospective husband but ended up being abandoned due to a mistake she had made.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t gossip. I just reviewed your behavior,¡± Deasy replied innocently. ¡°Besides, even if I spoke ill of you to Dad, it wouldn¡¯t make any difference.¡±


    ¡°True, it would be terrifying if your stories were responded to by your dad.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes. Ignoring Lucas¡¯s words, she turned her attention back to her father¡¯s grave.


    ¡°This is him, Pa. Lucas. He¡¯s the son of Uncle Andreas, Dad¡¯s friend. Deasy finally married him. It¡¯s fate and the strength of the amulet I wear. No matter what happens, he alwayses back to me.¡±


    Lucasughed at Deasy¡¯s words. Ironically, the woman next to him was rambling nonsensically.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Pa,¡± Lucas replied to Deasy¡¯s introduction. ¡°I¡¯m Lucas, the son of Dad¡¯s friend. It¡¯s a small world, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve traveled all over the ce, even fought and became rivals, and in the end, I became your son-inw, despite being from different worlds.¡±


    Lucas turned to Deasy. He reached for the hand of the woman who was now his wife, held it, and gave it a brief kiss.


    ¡°Lucas asks for permission to marry Deasy, Pa. Lucas asks to take on the task of looking after Deasy for the rest of his life. You can rest peacefully up there. Don¡¯t worry about what will happen to Deasy. Lucas loves her deeply and promises to always be there, always faithful, until death do us part.¡±


    Deasy sighed. Instead of being touched or ttered by Lucas¡¯s heartfelt words, she looked skeptical. She seemed to doubt what Lucas had just told herte father.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re just being cheesy. Your words don¡¯t convince me, Luc,¡± she said.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t they convince you?¡± Lucas asked, looking puzzled. He was sure there was nothing wrong with what he said, and he meant every word of it.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Honey. I¡¯ll prove my words.¡±


    ¡°Oh, if only Devina weren¡¯t sick and hadn¡¯t filed for the annulment, you would still marry her, right?¡±


    Instead of denying it, Lucas nodded. Due to this response, Deasy became annoyed and pinched his arm.


    ¡°See! You¡¯re so annoying!¡±


    ¡°Listen to the reasons first,¡± Lucas said, seeking a chance to exin. ¡°Just so you know, even though I was angry and disappointed with what you did, I can¡¯t deny that I care about you a lot, Des. I¡¯m still trying to help you avoid serious legal consequences for the mistake you made.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath and tried to listen carefully to what Lucas was exining.


    ¡°If your dad wanted to, he could have you dragged into a courtroom. You shouldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the losses you caused due to a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°I know, Luc,¡± Deasy replied. ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, and I truly regret it.¡±


    ¡°Because your dad didn¡¯t want to take your case to the authorities, I offered to do anything he asked, as long as he didn¡¯t interfere in your life. And your dad asked me to continue my marriage to Devina. I tried to refuse, but he insisted, on the condition that it would free you from any legal ims. I thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ept his request for now. After we¡¯re married, I can ask Devina for a divorce and be with you again. Whatever happens, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡±


    Deasy finally understood. She appreciated what Lucas had done. Besides, her husband was in a difficult position, and she couldn¡¯t simply me him.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Lucas continued. It seemed like the wordsing from his mouth were endless, meant to be expressed to Deasy. ¡°As you said before, fate wants to keep us together no matter what, right? It¡¯s like God is really on our side. And now, we are united.¡±


    Deasy nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I had even resigned myself to it back then. I was willing to let you belong to someone else.¡±


    ¡°No, honey. No matter what, I still belong to you.¡±


    Lucas tightly held Deasy¡¯s hand again. They gazed for a moment at herte father¡¯s grave and then decided to leave.


    If earlier Lucas had taken Deasy to visit herte father¡¯s grave, this time, before heading home, Lucas took his wife to visit his father¡¯s house.


    For whatever reason or purpose, Deasyplied without protest. She thought maybe this was a ritualmonly done by newlyweds. Visiting the homes of both sets of parents to seek blessings before embarking on married life.


    ¡°Good morning, Uncle,¡± Deasy greeted when she and Lucas were in Andreas¡¯ residence and were now sitting in the middle-aged man¡¯s office.


    In theory, there should still be an air of happiness and post-wedding euphoria. But Deasy felt nervous and somewhat terrified. Especially since her father-inw was giving her cold stares as if he wanted to dissect her.


    ¡°Uncle?¡± Andreas said with narrowed eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you consider me your father-inw or something?¡±


    ¡°N-no¡­ that¡¯s not what I meant, Pa. Deasy just feels nervous. That¡¯s why I¡¯m confused.¡±


    ¡°Why nervous? Do you think I eat people?¡±


    Deasy nced at Lucas, hoping her husband would help her escape this awkward situation. But instead of assistance, Lucas remained silent. He just smiled casually, as if to say, ¡°Not my problem, so you handle it yourself,¡± which was so typical of Lucas!


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Pa,¡± Deasy stammered nervously. ¡°Deasy is just scared.¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Andreas repeated. ¡°Scared of what?¡±


    ¡°Still scared that maybe you don¡¯t approve of Deasy¡¯s marriage to Lucas.¡±


    Andreasughed, seemingly mocking her. Shortly after, he responded.


    ¡°Whether I approve or not is irrelevant. Lucas loves you, and besides, you¡¯re clearly carrying Morales¡¯s offspring. Even if I dislike what you¡¯ve done, I can¡¯t deny that.¡±


    Deasy just nodded. Even though her father-inw¡¯s words sounded cold, she couldn¡¯t really protest. She was self-aware enough to know that she was in the wrong from the beginning. So if her father-inw still felt upset, it was understandable.


    ¡°Deasy apologizes, Pa,¡± she muttered, still nervous. She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the lingering anxiety. ¡°Deasy has made many mistakes and caused a lot of harm. Deasy promises not to act recklessly in the future, which could harm many people.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Andreas nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good that you realize your actions were seriously wrong before. I hope such things won¡¯t happen again. I also hope that you¡¯re genuinelymitted to your marriage with Lucas, not out of revenge or anything like that.¡±


    Deasy immediately shook her head, refuting what Andreas suspected of her.


    ¡°No, Pa. Deasy sincerely loves and cares for Lucas. It¡¯s not about taking advantage or seeking revenge. I hope you believe what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    Andreas gazed intently at his daughter-inw. He delved into Deasy¡¯s eyes and found that the woman in front of him was speaking sincerely.


    ¡°I believe you. That¡¯s why I approve of your marriage. I hope that after this, you and Lucas will truly nurture and build a family.¡±


    Deasy nodded. Hearing her father-inw, who seemed to have truly forgiven her, she felt relieved. Now, her only goal in life was clear: to build a serious marriage and raise children with Lucas.

 PHB 88

    ¡°So, do you live here now?¡± Veronica asked with amazement. After a few weeks since Deasy got married, she decided to visit her friend for the first time after work.


    Usually, they would meet at their favorite coffee shop, but this time Veronica intentionally went to Deasy¡¯s new home, Lucas¡¯s house.


    She even brought Darwin along with her. When they arrived, Deasy immediately took them on a tour before finally sitting on the back terrace, not far from the swimming pool.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re married, you must be living with your husband, Ve,¡± Deasy replied casually.


    ¡°If you look at the house, you must be reallyfortable, right? The facilities here areplete.¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, blessings for a righteous child. By epting the trials of life, God has given me an extraordinary gift.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so dramatic!¡± Darwin interjected, who had been observing quietly. ¡°You act like you were the most oppressed person.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on. So touchy,¡± Deasy pouted. For some reason, she always felt sensitive when she was around Darwin.


    ¡°Don¡¯tin, Des. I swear your child will be just like me, and then you¡¯ll know how it feels.¡±


    Deasy instinctively ced her hand on her slightly bulging stomach and began to whisper prayers repeatedly. ¡°God forbid, a child like you, Win.¡±


    Darwin raised an eyebrow, contorting his face and shaking his head. Was he really that bad that Deasy seemed frustrated at the thought of her child resembling him in the future?


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m handsome and dignified,¡± he argued, not taking it lightly. He couldn¡¯t understand why Deasy had always disliked him. After all, she owed him her life and had a deep connection with him. Yet, to this day, she often seemed irritated and unfriendly.


    ¡°Yes, if the child looks handsome and dignified, that¡¯s fine. But heaven forbid, if they have your wandering tendencies. That¡¯s dangerous!¡±


    Darwin sighed deeply. Despite his past mistakes, he had done many good things, but Deasy always brought up this issue.


    ¡°Come on, Des. I¡¯m not a serial cheater. Even before we were arranged to be married, I already had a partner.¡±


    ¡°But after officially getting married, you should have broken up and focused on Veronica, who is your real wife. There was a diamond right in front of you, and you wasted it. If it weren¡¯t for your repentance, I would have asked Sean to take Veronica abroad. So they could continue dating and then get married.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Darwin protested indignantly.


    ¡°Come on, Win. What was the point back then when Veronica loved you without being loved in return? You might as well have loved your intestines and drank Yakult every day.¡±


    ¡°Des!¡± Veronica eximed, feeling irritated as Deasy seemed to be advertising Yakult.


    ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts, right? It¡¯s a pity how Veronica struggled alone for your marriage. You, on the other hand, were busy dating your vague ex, Win.¡±


    ¡°Deasy, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s not start this,¡± Veronica interjected once again.


    Deasy sighed and then casually looked at Darwin, who appeared annoyed.


    ¡°Grouper, catfish. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I didn¡¯t mean to offend, Win. But if you feel that way, so be it.¡±


    Darwin grew even more irritated, especially when the topic of Veronica¡¯s ex, Sean, who was supposedly very handsome, came up. Deasy had alwayspared him to that seemingly perfect guy, and he was prepared to counter and protest. It was unfair how the conversation always revolved around infidelity and ultimately led to discussions about exes.


    However, before he could respond, Veronica took control of the conversation. She probably knew that any debate involving her husband and her best friend would never end.


    ¡°Enough, you two are like cats and dogs. You always fight when you meet. It¡¯s amazing!¡±


    ¡°Your husband always starts it,¡± Deasy quickly replied. Instead of ming herself, she chose to respond first.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough,¡± Veronica said again. ¡°I came here to visit and discuss your life after marriage. Why are we talking about exes from the past? So, how¡¯s Lucas? Has he been treating you well?¡±


    Deasy nodded, not contradicting Veronica¡¯s earlier statement at all.


    ¡°You can see for yourself, Ve. Even before it was official, his attitude towards me was already great. Now, it¡¯s even better. He¡¯s nothing like the guy next to you.¡±


    Darwin, aware that he was being targeted, shot a sharp look, but before he could respond, Veronica signaled for him not to engage with Deasy¡¯s sarcasticments.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to hear. So, after officially bing Mrs. Morales, are you nning to continue working?¡±


    Deasy shook her head. After resigning from Qantum Tech and officially bing Lucas¡¯s wife, she hadn¡¯t thought about returning to work. After some consideration, she decided it would be best to take a break while focusing on her pregnancy.


    ¡°I did think about going back to work initially. I was considering applying to your dad¡¯spany, Ve, or to other foreignpanies. But after discussing it with Lucas, he asked me to take a break and focus on my pregnancy. So, as a dutiful and exemry wife, I agreed.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. Plus, there¡¯s no need to stress about work. After all, your husband is quite wealthy.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter what, I¡¯ll still be poorer than you, Ve.¡±


    ***

 PHB 89

    Felix could clearly see Lucas emerging from the meeting room, getting into the car as usual. Lucas¡¯s face looked pale, with sweat dripping down his forehead. It seemed like his boss was experiencing some difort.


    Throughout the journey home, Lucas couldn¡¯t stop massaging his temples. He even asked the driver to take him home immediately.


    Felix couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was happening to Lucas. Curious as always, he mustered the courage to inquire, wanting to find out for himself what was going on with his boss.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath, leaning back in his seat. Momentster, he turned his gaze toward Felix.


    ¡°I swear, I have a terrible headache. I couldn¡¯t concentrate at all during the meeting.¡±


    Felix blinked, furrowing his brow, and wondered, ¡°Headache? Why, sir?¡±


    Felix grew even more curious. He recalled that they had just attended a very important meeting, and it urred to him that this might be the reason for his boss¡¯s headache.


    ¡°Do you know our client who wears sses?¡± Lucas asked suddenly.


    ¡°Which one, sir?¡±


    ¡°The slightly bald one,¡± Lucas replied.


    ¡°Oh, the one in the navy suit?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes, that one.¡±


    ¡°What about him?¡± Felix inquired, intrigued.


    ¡°That¡¯s the guy who gave me a headache. I swear, what perfume was he wearing? It smelled like armpits or something. You have no idea; throughout the meeting, I had to hold back from vomiting. That¡¯s why I look pale like this.¡±


    Felix couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Instead of continuing to worry or feel anxious, he found it amusing. Now he knew what had caused Lucas to act unusually after the meeting.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as armpit-scented perfume, sir. Besides, I didn¡¯t notice anything.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your nose is the problem. Seriously, I couldn¡¯t stand the smell of his perfume, or maybe it was his body odor. It was life-threatening. You didn¡¯t see how close I was to dying.¡±


    Laughter once again erupted from Felix¡¯s lips. It was hrious to see how Lucas described what he had experienced.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re having cravings,¡± Felix teased.


    Seeing Lucasin about the smell, feeling lightheaded, and being unable to concentrate at work, for some reason, Felix felt that his boss was suffering from something unusual. And knowing that Lucas¡¯s wife was pregnant, it wasn¡¯t impossible that Lucas was having cravings.


    ¡°Huh? Cravings? Impossible. Deasy is the one who¡¯s pregnant. Why would I be the one having cravings?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, Sir. It Possible,¡± Felix concurred. He then began to exin slowly, ¡°Some husbands, when their wives are pregnant, experience cravings as well. This is often referred to as sympathetic pregnancy or couvade syndrome. The symptoms of the husband¡¯s cravings include both physical and psychological symptoms, simr to what Mr. Lucas has been experiencing recently.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Felix nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°So, sometimes the wife behaves normally, but the husband ends up having severe cravings. Like feeling nauseous, not having an appetite, being sensitive to smells. Some even experience dizziness and fainting.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what you¡¯re exining makes sense. I¡¯ve been feeling really weak these past few days. I can¡¯t stand strange smells, and I¡¯ve been dealing with Deasy¡¯s behavior, which has been quite unusualtely,¡± Lucasined without hesitation.


    ¡°What¡¯s strange about it, sir?¡±


    For the second time, Lucas took a deep breath, raising his shoulders high. He gently massaged his temples while recounting the chronology that had left him feeling puzzled.


    ¡°Just so you know, at the beginning of her pregnancy, Deasy neverined about anything. She never felt nauseous, even though she dropped and fainted a few times. I also remember, back when we lived in the apartment, she never asked for anything strange. But now, as her pregnancy progresses, I¡¯m starting to experience the effects of pregnancy.¡±


    Felix disyed a puzzled expression. Furrowing his brow, he continued to question Lucas¡¯s story.


    ¡°What do you mean, sir? What¡¯s wrong with Mrs. Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Over time, her behavior has be increasingly unusual.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Unusual? How so, sir?¡±


    ¡°She does things that are out of the ordinary. For example, the other day, she came home from work and asked me to buy chicken noodles. But she only wanted the chicken, no noodles. I thought we would eat itter, but as soon as we got home, she just stared at the seasoned chicken and said she was full.¡±


    ¡°Oh my.¡±


    ¡°And it¡¯s not just that. If I ask her something simple, like going up means going upstairs, going down means going downstairs, and going in means going inside, where does going out mean?¡±


    ¡°Where does it mean, sir?¡±


    Lucas shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°How should I know? If I can¡¯t answer, she gets upset and refuses to be hugged. Then there¡¯s something even more absurd. The other day, she asked, ¡®Do chickens sleep with their eyes open or closed?¡¯ I swear, I¡¯m not descended from birds, Felix. How should I know if chickens sleep with their eyes open or closed? She asks the strangest and most unusual things before bedtime.¡±


    Felix chuckled. Instead of showing sympathy, heughed at Lucas¡¯s plight.


    ¡°Stay patient, sir. It¡¯s called being pregnant. They say a mother¡¯s mood can change constantly during pregnancy. Maybe Mrs. Deasy is being random because of the baby inside her.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Lucas quickly agreed. ¡°Even when ites to watching movies, Deasy¡¯s mood can suddenly plummet, and I¡¯m the target again. Luckily, I love her deeply. Otherwise, I would have left her a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Deasy is pregnant because of Mr. Lucas, right? Well, just ept it, sir. Besides, Mrs. Deasy is only like this during pregnancy. After giving birth, she won¡¯t be like this anymore.¡±


    ¡°If it makes sense, it¡¯s not a problem, actually. But if it¡¯s something weird, it annoys me. You never know, right? Just the other day, after watching an action movie in the cinema, she had cravings for a foreign husband who looks like the guys in the movies. That baby in Deasy¡¯s belly is so rebellious. Why would it want its father to be a blue-cor worker with foreign men? Besides,pared to them, I¡¯m much better looking.¡±


    Felix continued tough while holding his stomach. His eyes were watering as he listened to Lucas¡¯sints. Perhaps this was part of the joy and hardship of dealing with a pregnant wife. So, one must be patient and understanding.


    ¡°Stay patient, sir. After giving birth, it will be Mr. Lucas who misses these random moments. So, enjoy them for now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. That¡¯s why I¡¯m trying to be patient and enjoy it while I can.¡±


    Once they arrived home and entered their room, a few minutester, Lucas found Deasy, who had just finished taking a shower. Out of nowhere, she hurriedly approached Lucas, who was sitting on the sofa. Without permission, without saying a word, she immediately pulled Lucas¡¯s face andnded a kiss on his lips.


    Lucas was taken aback. Unprepared, he epted the kiss as Deasy demanded it, with passion and a bit of urgency. As soon as he found an opportunity, Lucas, confused, pulled his face back to momentarily pause their kiss.


    ¡°Darling, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Lucas asked in confusion.


    ¡°Why? I wanted to kiss you, that¡¯s all,¡± Deasy replied as if she couldn¡¯t bear it when the kiss was suddenly interrupted.


    Lucas took a deep breath. Cupping Deasy¡¯s face, he spoke softly.


    ¡°Yes, but why all of a sudden? It¡¯s very unusual.¡±


    ¡°Do I need to make an appointment or ask for permission every time I want to kiss you? Or should I submit a proposal first? To make it official?¡±


    Lucas sighed. He moved closer to her, then kissed both of Deasy¡¯s cheeks alternately, then asked again.


    ¡°Not like that, darling. I was just surprised that you kissed me out of the blue.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re protesting because I kissed you? Is it weird for me to kiss you? Fine, after this, I won¡¯t kiss you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t,¡± Lucas eximed hastily. Annoyed, this time it was him who reached for Deasy¡¯s neck. He leaned in and ced a gentle kiss tenderness, gently kissing both sides of Deasy¡¯s lips alternately.


    Gradually closing her eyes, Deasy, without realizing it, got lost in the tender kiss that Lucas was giving her. She opened her mouth slightly, intentionally giving her husband ess to continue kissing, even exploring the depths of her mouth.


    After feeling satisfied with what she received, Deasy herself then unraveled the kiss between her and Lucas. Before getting uppletely, she hugged her husband for a few moments, then let him go.


    ¡°Done?¡± Lucas asked to confirm. To be honest, he was still a bit puzzled even now.


    ¡°Done,¡± Deasy nodded casually, as if nothing had happened to her.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not weird! It¡¯s what your child wants. Not me. It¡¯s been wanting to be kissed by its Daddy all this time.¡±


    Lucas burst intoughter. Somehow, Deasy had been like thistely. She always used their unborn child as an excuse whenever she wanted something.


    ¡°Come on, just say that you want it. If you want to be affectionate, just say it honestly. I¡¯ll grant it right away.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Instead of rejecting her, Deasy openly invited him. Her face looked rxed, as if she were deliberately teasing him.


    ¡°Sure?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°100% sure.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡±


    Lucas was about to get up, but Deasy hurriedly stopped him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long, Luc. Let¡¯s do it now. I want it right now!¡±


    Lucas grinned widely. If Deasy was insisting, why should he refuse? He agreed and granted what Deasy asked for. After all, making love was enjoyable, and he should enjoy it before Deasy gave birth, and he had to fast for a while.

 PHB 90

    Anxiety and worry were something Lucas couldn¡¯t avoid when he found Deasy, who had been sick for a few days. For some reason, in recent times, when her blood pressure was checked, it was always higher than usual. Even though Lucas had ensured that his wife consumed healthy and nutritious food. Also, her sleep pattern and stress management were normal, and there were no issues at all.


    Taking her to the doctor, Deasy was asked to undergo recovery andplete rest. The doctor also prescribed some medication and vitamins to help Deasy gradually return to her normal state.


    ¡°But Mama and Papa don¡¯t have a history of high blood pressure, do they? Why am I different?¡± Deasy questioned.


    Because she had been sick for a few days, Diana decided to stay at Lucas¡¯ house to help take care of Deasy. After dinner, they all gathered in the living room to talk.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because you¡¯re an adopted child,¡± Diana replied casually. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised. If you¡¯re wondering why Deasy is so outspoken and unfiltered, maybe that trait is inherited from Mama Diana herself.¡±


    ¡°Adopted from Mama¡¯s stomach?¡± Deasy raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, I¡¯m not an adopted child, Ma. Our behavior is the same. Mama contaminated Deasy until she developed these traits.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Diana disagreed. ¡°If you have bad habits, don¡¯t me Mama. Besides, how can you not have high blood pressure? During your pregnancy, you kept eating salty and savory foods. You were forbidden, but you still did it. Who¡¯s asking for trouble?¡±


    Deasy grinned. She couldn¡¯t argue with what Mama said because it was true.


    ¡°Actually, every meal, Lucas always prepares and provides healthy food, Ma. But, apparently, we slipped up.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Your wife is just stubborn. She keeps looking for trouble,¡± Diana continued toin. ¡°Even when she¡¯s sick like this, she still tries to sneak treats. Unbelievable!¡± Diana then turned to Deasy, giving her a sharp look as if ready to pass judgment on her daughter, who looked clueless. ¡°Come on, Des. Behave this time. Eat healthy food. Don¡¯t be selfish and only think about yourself. What if something happens to Mama¡¯s grandchild in your belly? Are you okay with that? Will your baby get sick because you couldn¡¯t control yourself and your diet?¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. What Mama said was true once again. She should be more aware of her own condition. Instead of giving in to momentary cravings, it was better to restrain herself and follow whatever Lucas had prepared for her.


    ¡°Okay, Ma. Okay.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t just say yes, Des. If something happens, it won¡¯t just affect you but everyone will be in trouble. If you don¡¯t take care of your health, you¡¯ll be the one at a loss. Do you want Lucas and your future baby to have a new Mama? Are you willing? Your handsome and well-off husband being taken by another woman?¡±


    ¡°Wow, Mama, are you wishing me dead?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that! You assumed that yourself. That¡¯s why, think things through instead of regrettingter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Diana Winterborne. You¡¯re so talkative.¡±


    Diana sighedzily. Turning to her son-inw, the middle-aged woman immediately gave Lucas an order.


    ¡°Take Deasy for a follow-up health check tomorrow, Luc. Make sure her condition is back to normal. If the doctor says she¡¯s still not well, admit her to the hospital rather than risking anyplications.¡±


    ¡°Deasy is perfectly fine, Ma,¡± Deasy reluctantly replied when Mama asked her to get checked by the doctor again.


    ¡°Enough, just obey, Des. It¡¯s about taking care of yourself. Don¡¯tin too much. Do you want Mama or Lucas to apany you to the doctor?¡±


    This time, Deasy let out a long sigh. When given choices like this, what could she do other thanply? Rather than being treated as a stepchild or erased from the family list, she¡¯d better just follow Mama¡¯s orders. After all, it was for her own good too.


    ***

 PHB 91

    Deasy blinked repeatedly. When she turned to her right, she didn¡¯t find Lucas by her side. ncing at the neatly arranged digital clock on the nightstand, she realized it was already eight in the morning.


    Slowly, Deasy sat up. Raising both arms simultaneously, she stretched her stiff muscles. Fortunately, she had slept soundlyst night after receiving a gentle massage from her husband. She had slept so soundly that she couldn¡¯t even remember if she had dreams or not.


    Slowly, Deasy decided to get up. She slid off the bed and walked towards the bathroom to freshen up. Once she finished and decided to leave the room, her sense of smell immediately caught a strong and enticing aroma of cooking.


    Instantly, Deasy¡¯s stomach growled. Following her instincts, she walked slowly toward the source of the smell until she stopped right in front of the dining room.


    There, Deasy found the man she had been looking for since earlier. It was Lucas, who seemed busy cooking something, and she wasn¡¯t sure what he was preparing.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Actually, this was not an umon sight. Almost every morning, Lucas was like this. Amidst his busy schedule before going to work, he willingly took the trouble to prepare breakfast for Deasy to enjoy. Even though he could easily instruct the house assistant to do it.


    However, because he wanted to ensure that his wife¡¯s food was prepared ording to the right proportions, Lucas chose to handle everything himself without the need for anyone else¡¯s help.


    For a moment, Deasy chose to stand still. She curled her lips, breaking into a smile while silently expressing her gratitude that her husband kept his promise to always serve, provide full attention, protect, and ensure herfort.


    Meanwhile, Lucas, aware of Deasy¡¯s presence, turned to her. With a warm smile, he greeted her in an unusual manner.


    ¡°Coffee with stripes. Good morning, my dear beloved wife.¡±


    Deasy chuckled. Without offering any protests, she replied in kind.


    ¡°Buy squid and roast goat. Hey, husband, want to cuddle and roll around?¡±


    Lucas spontaneously stretched out both of his arms, approached Deasy, and enveloped his wife in a tight hug.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Deasy pouted when Lucas released the hug. ¡°How about a kiss, too? Can¡¯t I have more than just a hug?¡±


    Lucas smiled again, obediently pulled Deasy¡¯s neck closer, and then captured her lips for a kiss. He lingered, kissing her slowly before finally letting go.


    ¡°That was too short,¡± Deasy protested, seemingly dissatisfied.


    ¡°We¡¯ll continueter. I don¡¯t want to burn my cooking.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I¡¯ll hold you to it,¡± she yfully threatened. ¡°So, do you want me to help you with anything?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He took Deasy¡¯s wrists and guided her to sit in the dining chair.


    ¡°No need, dear. Just sit here and gaze at my handsome face.¡±


    Patiently, Deasy waited, observing how her husband seemed so focused on cooking until he finished and immediately served the food in front of her.


    ¡°Seafood fried rice? Sounds good,¡± Deasy said with enthusiasm. The next minute, as usual, Lucas grabbed a spoon and started feeding Deasy the meal he had prepared.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± Deasy asked between bites.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower first. You enjoy the rest of your breakfast. I¡¯ll be in the room for a bit and then get ready.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s forehead immediately creased. She knew that Lucas didn¡¯t have any work schedule today, and it was the weekend. So, where was her husband nning to go?


    ¡°Where are you going, Luc? Isn¡¯t it Saturday? There¡¯s no work schedule on the weekend, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Honey. I¡¯m not going to office.¡±


    ¡°So, where are you going?¡± Deasy squinted her eyes, eagerly awaiting her husband¡¯s response.


    ¡°Have you forgotten? We¡¯re heading to the hospital for your check-up. Also, we¡¯ll consult with a specialist about your high blood pressure condition and how to prevent it from recurring. I¡¯m worried it might be dangerous. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you,¡± Lucas replied.


    Deasy nodded in understanding. She had almost forgotten about this appointment, despite her mother¡¯s repeated reminders the night before.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go take a shower. I¡¯ll join you upstairs after breakfast.¡±


    Afterpleting all her preparations, Lucas escorted Deasy to the hospital. Upon arriving, he immediately took her to see the doctor who usually treated her. However, because her regr doctor was out of town, a standby doctor conducted the examination this time.


    Deasy and Lucas waited for about twenty minutes in the waiting room. When her name was called, Deasy quickly got up and urged Lucas to apany her into the examination room.


    As she was ushered in and asked to sit down, Deasy was momentarily taken aback. The doctor in the room also disyed the same surprised expression.


    ¡°Deasy?¡±


    ¡°Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness. It¡¯s been so long since Ist saw you,¡± the doctor eximed. His eyes lit up with joy at the sight of Deasy.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Deasy nodded with a smile. Her eyes betrayed her happiness at seeing the man before her. ¡°It¡¯s probably been about five years since west met.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, quite a long time,¡± said the doctor named Jonas. ¡°Oh, please, have a seat first. Let me examine what¡¯s ailing you.¡±


    Seeing that the doctor was of a simr age and his overly friendly demeanor toward Deasy, Lucas began to feel uneasy.


    ¡°How have you been, Des?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been well. And how about you? When did you return to Indonesia? It¡¯s been a while?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been great too. I decided to settle back in Indonesia just two years ago.¡±


    Lucas remained silent, rolling his eyes discreetly. He felt disgusted, especially since his wife and the doctor were engrossed in their conversation, which seemed far from the medical purpose of their visit.

 PHB 92

    Moreover, it appeared as though he was being ignored by both Deasy and the doctor in front of him. Was his stature not imposing enough to be noticed in this situation?


    ¡°Ahem!¡±


    Lucas deliberately cleared his throat loudly, wanting both individuals who were catching up in front of him to realize that he was present in their midst. ¡°Sorry, but aren¡¯t we here for a medical consultation? Why has it turned into a reunion and a trip down memoryne?¡±


    After being reprimanded, both Deasy and the doctor fell silent, feeling awkward. Deasy took the initiative to introduce her husband to the doctor.


    ¡°Luc, let me introduce you. This is Joseph. He¡¯s an old friend of mine.¡±


    Lucas noddedzily and epted the doctor¡¯s extended hand.


    ¡°Joseph. Friend and Deasy¡¯s ex-boyfriend.¡±


    Lucas was taken aback by the doctor¡¯s confidence. Feeling challenged, he responded with equal arrogance, ¡°Lucas. The guy who got Deasy pregnant.¡±


    Deasy turned to him, her eyes wide. Technically, Lucas hadn¡¯t said anything untrue. After all, he was the one who had impregnated her. The issue was why he didn¡¯t just say that he was Deasy¡¯s husband. Why did he have to phrase it in such a way?


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Joseph asked, confused. Whether he was slow on the uptake or didn¡¯t understand what Lucas was saying, he seemed to be denying what he heard.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you figure it out? If you¡¯re Deasy¡¯s ex, then I¡¯m Deasy¡¯s future. In short, her husband. H-U-S-B-A-N-D. Husband!¡±


    Joseph was dumbfounded for a few seconds. Convinced of what he had heard, he then turned to Deasy, as if seeking further rification.


    ¡°Yeah, Jo,¡± Deasy said. ¡°Let me introduce him. This is Lucas, my husband.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re married.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, of course, we¡¯re married,¡± Lucas interjected intentionally. ¡°Do you think someone can get pregnant like this and not be married? Preposterous.¡±


    Sensing the situation heating up and wanting to avoid an argument, Deasy quickly resumed her purpose foring in for the check-up. She proceeded to exin all the diforts she had been experiencingtely. After some examination, the doctor shared his observations.


    ¡°Before I continue, may I ask if you have a family history of hypertension?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°My parents actually have low blood pressure.¡±


    ¡°Alright. In that case, sorry in advance, did you regrly consume alcohol before your pregnancy? Or perhaps you were an active smoker?¡±


    ¡°No, Jo,¡± Deasy shook her head again. ¡°I didn¡¯t do either of those. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve always been clean. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Actually, high blood pressure during pregnancy can be caused by various factors, such as being overweight or obese,ck of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, a family history of hypertension rted to pregnancy, or having diabetes or certain autoimmune diseases.¡±


    ¡°I admit I haven¡¯t been very active in terms of exercise. I tend to bezy,¡± Deasy confessed.


    Joseph smiled. ¡°High blood pressure or hypertension during pregnancy isn¡¯t always dangerous if managed properly. However, sometimes high blood pressure can lead to serious healthplications for both the mother and the developing baby. But you don¡¯t need to panic if you experience high blood pressure during pregnancy. There are several ways to manage the condition.¡±


    ¡°So, what actions should be taken at this point?¡± Deasy asked cautiously.


    ¡°First, take the blood pressure medication as prescribed by the doctor. Monitor your blood pressure regrly. Consume healthy food. Engage in light exercise frequently, and avoid anything that¡¯s restricted. If you do all of these, I¡¯m confident that your concerns will gradually return to normal,¡± Dr. Joseph advised.


    Deasy nodded in understanding and decided to follow Jonas¡¯s rmendations. She was then given a prescription to fill and take as directed.


    ¡°Take all of them regrly and in the prescribed dosage. If you have any concerns, you can contact me ore to the hospital for further examination.¡±


    Dr. Joseph then reached for a neatly organized business card from a box on his desk. Without hesitation, he handed it to Deasy, right in front of Lucas.


    ¡°You can consult if there¡¯s an emergency. I¡¯m always avable for you.¡±


    Deasy nodded once again. Feeling there were no more questions to ask, she bid farewell and went to pick up her medication. Once they were back home and on their way home, Deasy sensed something was amiss with Lucas.


    Since leaving the hospital, he had been silent. Even his handsome face seemed to be twisted in annoyance, a stark contrast to his demeanor when they had left earlier.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Curious, Deasy decided to address the issue and find out what was really happening with her husband.


    ¡°Darling¡­ what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve been quiet all this time.¡±


    Lucas turned to her and, with a sarcastic look, let out an audible sigh. Deasy was sure her husband was upset.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? So chummy with the doctor back there. A high school reunion or what?¡±


    ¡°Oh, my God¡­ Are you jealous?¡±


    ¡°Jealous? Of course. How could I not be jealous when I saw how he was looking at you? I have friends, but I¡¯ve never seen them gaze at the opposite sex like that. Not to mention dealing with an ex.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe Joseph was just reminiscing about the past. After all, I was his most memorable ex,¡± Deasy quipped without a trace of guilt.


    Lucas grew even more irritated. Sulking, he grumbled, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because Joseph remembers the past. After all, I was his most memorable ex.¡±


    Deasyughed it off. She couldn¡¯t be bothered by Lucas¡¯s jealousy right now. Besides, she was confident that her husband would return to his normal self soon enough. Just wait and see!

 PHB 93

    ¡°How¡¯s your pregnancy going, Des? So far, everything¡¯s normal, right?¡±


    Deasy and Veronica had just finished shopping. They were currently sitting in a restaurant, enjoying their lunch.


    They were supposed to meet up for the past few days, but due to their equally busy schedules, they were only able to get together now.


    ¡°In my opinion, her pregnancy is pretty normal. What¡¯s not normal is Deasy¡¯s behavior.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Deasy but Darwin who responded to Veronica¡¯s question. Darwin, who was Veronica¡¯s husband and Deasy¡¯s longtime nemesis, was also present at this lunch gathering.


    Surprisingly, Darwin rarely participated when Deasy was involved. It wasn¡¯t without reason. Darwin was convinced that whenever they were in the same ce, it would inevitably lead to arguments, as usual.


    ¡°Not normal? Do you think I¡¯m crazy?¡± protested Deasy, not taking kindly to the remark. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly sane, Win, especially considering how pretty I am.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Hasn¡¯t that been the case all along?¡± Darwin responded nonchntly. It wouldn¡¯t feel right if he met Deasy without making her angry, but he continued, ¡°As far as I remember, you¡¯ve never been normal. Your behavior has always been beyondprehension.¡±


    ¡°Can you give me an example?¡±


    ¡°You want examples? There are plenty, Des. Everywhere, friends don¡¯t lead each other astray. Everywhere, when a friend¡¯s marriage is on the rocks, you¡¯re supposed to support them to stay together, offering advice, opening your heart and mind. But you? You just mess with Veronica¡¯s head to make her divorce me and be a widow.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a different issue, Win. You¡¯re just despicable. If you had been normal from the start, I would never have asked Sean to steal Veronica from you. I admit you¡¯re handsome, but your personality is a zero.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re rude. And everywhere in this world, all you find is guys assaulting girls. It¡¯s different with you; you assault guys and take their virginity. And you¡¯re addicted to it.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Deasy frowned and then turned to Veronica. Her lips pursed in irritation because, at every meeting, Veronica¡¯s husband continued to bully her. Maybe this was all the umted frustration Darwin deliberately brought upon her for what Deasy had done to him in the past.


    ¡°Could you, Win, just for once, not be annoying when you meet me? Even if I¡¯m not pregnant, for whatever reason, could you stop tolerating your unscrupulous remarks?¡±


    ¡°Just tolerate it,¡± Darwin taunted casually. ¡°The angrier you get, the more you hate, the greater the chance that your child will look like me.¡±


    ¡°God forbid!¡± Deasy eximed in disbelief, tapping her hand on the table. It was as if Darwin¡¯s recent words were something that must never happen. Her child¡¯s appearance or behavior being even remotely simr to Darwin¡¯s would be disastrous.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± Veronica interjected. She had been listening silently all along, and now she took control of the conversation. ¡°You two can¡¯t seem to meet without arguing.¡±


    ¡°Your husband is annoying, Vel! He and Daniel, the Stubborn Magician, are cut from the same cloth. Cheaters and arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s a cheater, Des?¡± Darwin retorted immediately. He clearly didn¡¯t take kindly to that. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. You tend to use hyperbole a lot.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a fact! You¡¯ve got a diamond in the form of an angel, but you keep wasting it by choosing gravel-¡±


    ¡°Deasy, that¡¯s enough,¡± Veronica interrupted. If this continued, Deasy¡¯s habit of reviewing Darwin with all his ws, a hobby she was quite fond of, would never end. ¡°I¡¯m seriously asking, how¡¯s your pregnancy going? So far, everything¡¯s been fine without any issues, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded as she sipped her avocado juice. After nine months of enjoying her pregnancy, she now appeared visibly nervous and excited, waiting for the moment to give birth to her child.


    ¡°It¡¯s been normal, yes. There was a problem with high blood pressure before. But it was treated, and now it¡¯s much better.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just prone to anger. That¡¯s why your blood pressure shot up.¡±


    ¡°If I have to face model-like humans like you every day, it¡¯s no wonder my blood pressure isn¡¯t normal, Win. I¡¯m sure Veronica¡¯s blood pressure isn¡¯t normal right now either. It won¡¯t be long before she goes crazy being your wife.¡±


    ¡°Careless! Just so you know, Veronica is happy being my wife.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Where¡¯s the proof?¡±


    ¡°Enough, enough. You two are such a bother. Just like kindergarten kids fighting. Noisy,¡± Veronica protested, shaking her head. ¡°So, Des¡­¡± Veronica continued. ¡°Besides the blood pressure, have you experienced any other issues orints during this final trimester?¡±


    ¡°Well, there is something else. My hemoglobin levels have been dropping a lot in the past two weeks. I¡¯m really surprised because I don¡¯t stay upte, and I always avoid tea and other triggering foods. But it¡¯s still low.¡±


    ¡°Have you consulted with a doctor? Are you stressed?¡±


    Deasy shrugged, looking puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s stress, really. I¡¯ve already been to the doctor. They¡¯ve even given me vitamins to slowly raise my hemoglobin levels. Hopefully, there will be a significant change. I¡¯m nning to see the doctor for a follow-up tonight.¡±


    ¡°I hope the results turn out well. Anyway, I always pray for the best for you.¡±


    ¡°Amen. Actually, I¡¯m also nervous about giving birth like this, there are always issues that make me anxious and uneasy.¡±


    ¡°But Lucas has been taking good care of you, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even ask,¡± Deasy said proudly. When Lucas¡¯s name was mentioned, she immediately lit up. ¡°He¡¯s the best at taking care of me. Whatever I ask for, he always fulfills. I feel really secure with Lucas.¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear then. So, speaking of giving birth, is your due date this month?¡±


    Deasy nodded again. After all the drama and problems she had gone through, she had finally reached the month when she would give birth.


    When she thought about it from the beginning, she felt burdened and unable to cope. Once, she had even thought about aborting the pregnancy because she didn¡¯t want to have a child with Lucas Orion.


    But after many things happened, Deasy slowly began to ept her pregnancy and the future baby in her belly. Who would have thought that she would reach the month when she would give birth soon?


    ¡°My due date is next week, Ve.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a matter of counting days. That¡¯s why you look so awkward and nervous.¡± Veronica reached for Deasy¡¯s wrist, holding it tightly, and reassured her friend that nothing would go wrong during Deasy¡¯s delivery.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Des. I¡¯m sure everything will go smoothly without anyplications.¡±


    ¡°Amen to that,¡± Deasy immediately responded. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit worried and nervous. I¡¯m afraid of unwanted things happening.¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± Veronica whispered while shaking her head repeatedly. ¡°Don¡¯t say strange things. It might actually happen. Get used to always speaking positively, no matter the situation.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m really scared of having to undergo surgery, Ve. I¡¯m prepared and I want it to be a normal delivery so that the pain isn¡¯t as long as with a cesarean section.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same,¡± Veronica retorted. ¡°Whether it¡¯s normal or a C-section, nowadays, both are not painful. Besides, no matter how it happens, it¡¯s not a problem. The most important thing is that the baby and the mother are safe and, of course, healthy.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so. Seriously, this has been bothering me for days.¡±


    ¡°If you want the birthing process to go smoothly, you should apologize and seek forgiveness from the people you¡¯ve hurt before, Des,¡± Darwin chimed in again. There was always an opportunity for him to mock Deasy¡¯s words.


    ¡°What¡¯s the corrtion between giving birth and apologizing to people, Win?¡±


    ¡°Well, there definitely is one. If you sincerely apologize to someone you¡¯ve hurt, I believe they will forgive you and pray for you in their hearts. Take me, for example. If you apologize and promise not to pick fights again, sincerely and wholeheartedly, I¡¯ll forgive you and pray for your safety.¡±


    Deasy pursed her lips in disdain. She really didn¡¯t want to apologize to Darwin.


    ¡°Is there any other request? I really don¡¯t want to apologize to you, Win. It¡¯s not me who hasmitted the most sins all this time.¡±


    Watching her husband and her friend bicker back and forth, Veronica could only shake her head. She thought to herself that Darwin and Deasy would never get along, not even on Judgment Day.


    ¡°Lunchtime is over,¡± Deasy said, ncing at the time on her phone¡¯s screen. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. I also want to rest. Seriously, I can¡¯t stand or sit for too long like this.¡±


    Veronica and Darwin both agreed. The three of them then got up together and prepared to go home.


    However, just as they were about to get into the car, Deasy was startled. She felt something flowing from her lower abdomen down to her legs.


    ¡°Veronica¡­¡± Deasy called out anxiously.


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Veronica asked, pointing to the area around her legs.


    Veronica followed Deasy¡¯s gaze and lowered her eyes, only to find something shocking.


    ¡°Oh my, Des. Your water just broke.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What should we do now? Is this dangerous?¡±


    Veronica didn¡¯t answer immediately. She approached to get a closer look, making sure of what she had just seen.


    ¡°Win, we need to go to the hospital now. Deasy is also bleeding!¡±

 PHB 94

    Among all the family members eagerly awaiting news of the uing baby in Deasy¡¯s womb, Andreas Morales is one of the individuals who is enthusiastically involved.


    Although he initially disagreed with his son marrying the daughter of a past friend, Andreas gradually epted Deasy¡¯s presence. In the end, he not only cared but also often secretly sent gifts and prepared various items and necessities that the future baby might need.


    As the first grandchild in the Morales family, especially if it¡¯s a boy, the arrival of the expected baby is highly anticipated. Even during Deasy¡¯s seven-month pregnancy celebration, Andreas intentionally organized a grand thanksgiving event attended by the entire family, many colleagues, and business associates.


    Unsurprisingly, Deasy received numerous congrattions at that time. Many guests even gave her various gifts. Truly, Andreas enjoyed and eagerly awaited the birth of the future baby.


    ¡°So, have you decided which hospital to choose for Deasy¡¯s delivery?¡±


    In Lucas¡¯s office, Andreas appearedfortably seated. After attending a meeting, he deliberately stopped by to meet and have a casual conversation with his son.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. Lucas is using our family¡¯s regr hospital.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to take Deasy abroad? Singapore, for example.¡±


    Lucas smiled and then shook his head. He knew his father always wanted the best for his family members. However, it wasn¡¯t feasible for Lucas to take Deasy abroad now.


    ¡°In Indonesia is fine, Dad. Besides, the medical facilities here are just as good as abroad. Plus, it¡¯s not feasible at all for Lucas to travel with Deasy overseas right now. I¡¯m worried about the possibility of serious contractions or suddenbor during the trip. It could be dangerous.¡±


    Lucas had a point. Moreover, the medical technology in Indonesia was also top-notch. Instead of risking his daughter-inw and the future grandchild¡¯s lives, Andreas thought Lucas had made the right decision.


    ¡°Well, in that case. The most important thing is the safety of the mother and the baby. If you need any help or anything else, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. Papa is ready to assist.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your prayers, Dad,¡± Lucas replied sincerely. ¡°If everything goes as nned, Deasy is likely to give birth next week.¡±


    ¡°Then, when the baby is born, I¡¯ll throw a grand wee party. After all, he¡¯s the first grandchild in our family.¡±


    Lucas smiled and nodded. He didn¡¯t want to spoil his father¡¯s happiness, so he agreed with what his father had in mind. If he were in Andreas¡¯s shoes, he would probably do the same.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, since Dad is here, Lucas wants to request around seven days off from work for next week. Lucas wants to be an alert husband, Dad. He just wants to be there for Deasy when she gives birth.¡±


    Actually, as a boss, Lucas could take leave or an extended break anytime. However, because he didn¡¯t want to act arbitrarily, he still asked for permission from his father, who was the highest authority.


    Meanwhile, Andreas nodded repeatedly. He had no objection whatsoever to Lucas¡¯s leave request. After all, Lucas rarely took time off because he was so busy managing thepany.


    ¡°No problem, Luc. I¡¯ve never stopped you from taking leave, especially when it¡¯s to apany Deasy, who is about to give birth soon. I grant you permission to be there for her.¡±


    Lucas smiled. He was pleased that his request received immediate approval from his father.


    However, as they were about to continue their conversation, Lucas¡¯s phone began to ring. ncing at the screen, he saw Veronica¡¯s name disyed there.


    Feeling that something important might be happening, Lucas quickly answered the call. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a panicked tone from the other end.


    ¡°Yes, hello?¡±


    ¡°Lucas, can youe to the hospital right now?¡±


    Lucas¡¯s brow immediately furrowed. Without any prior warning, he was being instructed to go to the hospital right away.


    ¡°The hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Deasy needs to give birth now. Her water broke prematurely, and she¡¯s even experiencing bleeding.¡±


    Upon hearing the news Veronica had just conveyed, Lucas jumped in shock. He quickly ended the call and prepared to leave.


    Andreas, who was still seated and intentionally observing, immediately inquired. He was curious about what had suddenly made his son, who had been calm just moments ago, now suddenly panicking. Andreas was sure that something significant was happening.


    ¡°Luc, what¡¯s going on? Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Lucas is going to the hospital, Dad,¡± the young man replied while grabbing his car keys, getting ready to leave.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°The hospital?¡±


    Lucas nodded. He could no longer hide the worry that was starting to overwhelm him.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. Veronica just called to say that Deasy¡¯s water broke prematurely. She¡¯s at the hospital now to give birth.¡±


    ¡°So, Deasy is giving birth? Now? Today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Dad.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Papa will go with you.¡±


    Both of them hurriedly made their way to the hospital. Fortunately, the route Lucas took this afternoon was not congested at all, so he was able to reach the hospital without getting stuck in traffic.


    Entering the hospital, Lucas and his father walked quickly towards the delivery room. Upon arrival, they found Veronica and Darwin standing anxiously, waiting for thetest updates on Deasy, who was currently being treated by the doctor.


    ¡°Veronica¡­¡± Lucas called out.


    ¡°Luc, thank goodness you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s Deasy¡¯s condition? How¡¯s the baby in her womb? They were fine when they came here, right?¡±


    Lucas, who was in a state of panic, bombarded them with so many questions. He was truly afraid that something bad might happen to his wife.


    ¡°Ve¡­¡± Lucas called out again. ¡°Deasy is okay, right? Why did she have to go to the hospital?¡±


    Veronica nodded, slowly recounting the sequence of events that had happened to Deasy.


    ¡°At first, Deasy was perfectly fine. I was even 100% sure that there was nothing wrong with her condition. We chatted for a long time as usual. We ordered food together, had snacks, and everything. Then, I don¡¯t know why, suddenly when we were about to leave, her water broke prematurely. I thought it was just a little leak. But not long after, fresh blood started flowing.¡±


    Lucas took several deep breaths. Despite his overwhelming concern, he tried not to panic.


    ¡°But when you got to the hospital, Deasy received immediate treatment, right?¡±


    Once again, Veronica nodded. She did her best to provide an exnation, feeling sorry for Lucas, who seemed bewildered and, of course, extremely worried about his wife¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Yes, Luc. The doctor immediately took charge and performed the necessary procedures. Right now, we¡¯re just waiting for the delivery process. Hopefully, nothing will happen that endangers Deasy and your future baby. I¡¯m sure Deasy will be fine. She¡¯s the strongest woman I know.¡±


    Lucas nodded while silently praying. He hoped that God would be on their side this time. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of something happening to Deasy or their unborn child.


    Approximately thirty minutes passed as Lucas and the others waited outside the delivery room. They prayed with anxious anticipation, awaiting news about Deasy and her future baby¡¯s condition.


    Soon after, a doctor emerged from the room. Lucas quickly approached, seeking confirmation about Deasy¡¯s current condition. He was impatient and eager to hear firsthand whether Deasy and their child had been saved.


    ¡°Doctor.¡±


    ¡°Are you the legal guardian of a patient named Deasy Winterborne?¡±


    Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Yes, Doctor. I¡¯m her husband. Can you please tell me how my wife and future child are doing?¡±


    ¡°Firstly, congrattions. Mrs. Deasy has just given birth to a healthy baby boy, who is in excellent and perfect condition. You can see and check on him in the baby¡¯s room in half an hour.¡±


    Everyone in front of the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. The worries that had weighed on them slowly dissipated, reced by joy.


    Even Lucas, who had been overwhelmed, started to feel a sense of relief and was momentarily swept up in the euphoria of happiness. However, this feeling didn¡¯tst long. He remembered Deasy¡¯s uncertain condition.


    ¡°So, how is my wife, Doctor? She¡¯s okay too, right?¡±


    The doctor¡¯s expression, which had been neutral before, now appeared slightly tense. From his own eyes, Lucas could see how the obstetrician in front of him was sighing repeatedly, as if there was something heavy and difficult to convey.


    ¡°Doc¡­ is my wife okay?¡±


    ¡°Due to the earlier bleeding, Mrs. Deasy is currently unconscious.¡±


    Lucas froze instantly. He refused to ept what he had just heard.


    ¡°W-what, Doctor? My wife is unconscious?¡±


    The doctor nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait for the next forty-eight hours. If the bleeding stops and Mrs. Deasy can pass through the critical period without significantplications, her condition will be fine afterward. Most importantly, let¡¯s all pray together for Mrs. Deasy¡¯s swift recovery.¡±


    Upon hearing the doctor¡¯s exnation, Lucas slumped into a waiting room chair. He suddenly felt weak and stiff, as if his bones could no longer support his weight.


    Lucas wasn¡¯t sure if he could wait for that long just to find out if Deasy would be okay or not.

 PHB 95

    Beforehand, Lucas and Deasy had been preparing everything needed for the childbirth process for a long time. They had prepared all the necessities for both the mother and the baby in a single bag, which they had even ced in the car in advance. They intentionally did this so that if any emergencies aroseter on, Lucas and Deasy wouldn¡¯t have to bother with it.


    However, in the end, none of their preparations were used. Deasy unexpectedly gave birth earlier than the doctor¡¯s previous estimate and calction.


    As he continued to wait for Deasy, who still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness up to this moment, Lucas chose to step into the baby room with mixed emotions. His heart seemed chaotic, unsure of what to do.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Initially, Veronica and Darwin wanted to apany him, but they decided to give Lucas some space and time first, so they let him go alone without any disturbance.


    Entering the baby room, an instantly calming and gentle aroma wafted in, greeting Lucas¡¯s sense of smell. By God, he had never once before smelled such a pleasant fragrance. But for some reason, it felt familiar and delightful to him. Before anything even happened, he already feltfortable and wanted to linger in the room.


    Continuing forward, Lucas found a nurse who appeared busy checking each of the many babies in the boxes lying in the room. Realizing it, the nurse turned and smiled kindly at Lucas.


    ¡°Can I help you, sir?¡± the nurse greeted.


    ¡°I¡­ I want to see my newborn child. The doctor said it¡¯s a boy.¡±


    The nurse nodded and continued to smile warmly, ¡°May I know the mother¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Deasy,¡± Lucas replied. ¡°Her name is Deasy Winterborne Morales.¡±


    ¡°In that case, it¡¯s over here.¡±


    The nurse then pointed to the baby¡¯s box at the front. Lucas walked over and gently lifted the baby who had been lying peacefully in the box.


    ¡°This is your baby, sir. The one born to Deasy Winterborne Morales.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s heart immediately raced for a reason he couldn¡¯t fathom. Slowly approaching, his eyes caught the sight of a tiny baby dressed all in blue,plete with mittens, a cap, and a matching nket.


    His cheeks were chubby and rosy. His thin lips were just like Deasy¡¯s that he had kissed many times. Moreover, his thick eyebrows, slightly brownish hair, and sharp nose all proved that the baby had inherited a lot from him.


    The baby¡¯s slight movements and wiggles brought tears to Lucas¡¯s eyes instantly. If he could curse himself, he wanted to for being so emotional and crying repeatedly for reasons he didn¡¯t understand.


    For some reason, there was a strange urge and unfamiliar feelingpelling him to shed tears.


    ¡°Earlier, the baby cried a bit, sir,¡± said the nurse. ¡°Maybe he was thirsty. But after a while, he fell back asleep. If he wakes up and cries again, there¡¯s a possibility we might have to give him form milk, considering your wife still hasn¡¯t regained consciousness until now.¡±


    Lucas simply nodded. Whatever was best for his little baby, he would do anything.


    The nurse then approached and handed the baby to Lucas.


    ¡°You should try holding him. It¡¯s important to form a bond or chemistry. Usually, from birth, babies recognize the smell of their parents.¡±


    ¡°Hold him?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. You should try. The baby will be calmer in his parents¡¯ embrace.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ve never held a baby before, Sus. Is that okay?¡± Lucas asked, feeling a bit nervous.


    Although Lucas had been ustomed to carrying his pet cats or dogs, which were evenrger and heavier, he believed that it would be a different feeling when he held his own flesh and blood. After all, this was his first experience of holding a baby.


    Seeing Lucas¡¯s hesitation and obvious nervousness, the nurse immediately smiled. Instead of answering Lucas¡¯s earlier question, she gently guided the baby in his hands to shift into Lucas¡¯s embrace.


    Although a bit awkward and stiff, Lucas managed to hold his baby correctly. He continued to gaze in wonder and emotion.


    ¡°How¡¯s it, sir? Easy, right? Holding a baby isn¡¯t difficult, especially your own.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s heart raced again as he held his own flesh and blood for the first time. His heart warmed as he tried to stroke the baby¡¯s cheek, and the little angel responded for the first time, wiggling in his arms.


    ¡°You should give your baby a name, Luc.¡±


    From the doorway of the baby room, Andreas appeared. The middle-aged man walked in, approached, and then looked at the baby, who now appeared peaceful in Lucas¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Dad is sure you¡¯ve prepared a name for your baby, right?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. Lucas and Deasy have agreed to name our baby Jonas Fernando Morales. The name means apleter and bringer of happiness to the Morales family.¡±


    Andreas smiled broadly. He seemed to strongly approve of the name his son had just given.


    ¡°A good name, Luc. Dad wishes your child bes a devoted and proud sessor of the Morales family.¡±


    ¡°Lucas hopes that Deasy will regain consciousness soon, Dad. Deasy needs to see that the little baby she¡¯s been waiting for has been born healthy and nothing is missing.¡±


    Andreas nodded. cing his hand on Lucas¡¯s back, he gently reassured him not to sink into sadness again. He understood that his son must be anxious and worried about Deasy¡¯s condition right now.


    ¡°You be patient. Dad is sure Deasy will be just fine. Didn¡¯t you say before that Deasy is a strong woman?¡±


    Lucas nodded, remembering that he had said that to his father.


    ¡°Yes, Dad. Lucas knows.¡±


    ¡°In that case, don¡¯t worry, Luc. Dad is confident that Deasy will wake up soon, just like before.¡±


    In his heart, Lucas silently agreed with his father¡¯s prayer. He hoped that God would grant his request for Deasy to quickly pass through this critical time and awaken from her slumber.


    ¡°Lucas.¡±


    From the direction of the room¡¯s door, Darwin suddenly appeared. He approached and then conveyed something important to Lucas.


    ¡°Yes? What¡¯s going on, Win?¡±


    Darwin took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself, and then continued with the news he had dyed.


    ¡°You need to go to Deasy¡¯s room right away.¡±


    Lucas¡¯s heart pounded rapidly. Hoping for good news this time, he handed the baby, who had been peacefully sleeping in his arms, to the nurse.


    Without asking any more questions, Lucas hurriedly made his way to the room where Deasy was. When he arrived, he found Veronica standing anxiously in front of the room.


    ¡°How is it, Ve? What¡¯s wrong with Deasy? Has she woken up?¡±


    Veronica shook her head. Her face clearly disyed tension and seriousness.


    ¡°No, Luc. Deasy is still unconscious.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Her condition is deteriorating. Right now, the doctor is performing a procedure in there. Let¡¯s all pray that after this, Deasy¡¯s condition can return to normal, and she can wake up.¡±


    Once again, Lucas froze. Instead of receiving good news, he was confronted with a shocking reality. He hoped that God would be on his side and not separate him from the woman he loved so dearly.

 PHB 96

    ¡°Be patient, Luc. Deasy will be fine.¡±


    Veronica tried to calm Lucas, who was deeply engulfed in turmoil. They were all currently waiting for updates from the doctor about Deasy¡¯s deteriorating condition.


    Truly, Lucas was haunted by fear. He was anxiously hoping that the woman he loved so dearly wouldn¡¯t have to leave him in this way.


    For heaven¡¯s sake, Lucas couldn¡¯t bear it. How could he go on with his life if the woman he loved so much were to leave him?


    Lucas and Deasy had just enjoyed the beauty of their wedding and the happy times together. Just a few days ago, they were still lost in very intimate moments.


    Lucas remembered that he had still received hugs and kisses. They even had random conversations about their soon-to-be-born baby.


    This should have been a beautiful moment when the long-awaited baby was born. But instead of celebrating their happiness, nightmares were looming.


    Lucas and his extended family, who should have been having a big celebration and thanksgiving, were now overwhelmed with anxiety about Deasy¡¯s unstable condition.


    ¡°Just so you know, Luc¡­¡± Veronica continued. ¡°In the past, Deasy was in critical condition and even worse than this.¡±


    Lucas immediately turned to her, showing interest in what Veronica was telling him.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    Veronica nodded repeatedly, shifting her sitting position slightly to face Lucas and be morefortable for storytelling.


    ¡°Back when I first married Darwin, Deasy took me out. I was pregnant at the time. I don¡¯t know if it was because the car we were in had issues or maybe Deasy was just distracted, but we had a pretty serious ident.¡±


    Lucas was startled, his facial expression bing even more serious as he listened to Veronica¡¯s ount.


    ¡°And then? What happened to both of you?¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, I wasn¡¯t seriously injured. Just some scratches in a few ces. The car we were in actually flipped over, rolled, and finally hit the guardrail. Deasy, on the other hand, got trapped at one point. She even experienced quite heavy bleeding.¡±


    ¡°But you both received immediate medical attention, right?¡±


    Veronica nodded. The unfortunate event was still vivid in her memory.


    ¡°Yes. We were taken to the hospital right away. I remember every second of it because I was conscious. Deasy, however, lost consciousness. Once at the hospital, she underwent surgery immediately. Just like her current condition, Deasy was dered critical and had lost a lot of blood. Not to mention the drama of running out of blood supply, which ended with Darwin donating his blood to help her. Imagine that, Luc. Darwin, who was Deasy¡¯s archenemy, willingly donated blood to save her.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God.¡±


    ¡°But, deep down, Deasy is strong. She managed to get through that critical period. If you only knew, when she regained consciousness, she even argued and quarreled with Darwin. Even though my husband clearly helped by donating blood to save her. Your wife really doesn¡¯t know how to say thank you.¡±


    Lucas chuckled unconsciously. He was reminded of Deasy¡¯s early behavior, often arrogant and not knowing how to express gratitude, just as Veronica had described.


    Indeed, his wife was the most peculiar creature. Sometimes, even when she was clearly in the wrong, she would stubbornly y the victim and shift the me onto others. Thankfully, Lucas had conquered that trait, and over time, that bad habit had changed.


    ¡°But, after that, Deasy and Darwin made up, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    Veronica nodded whileughing softly, recalling the past incident involving her friend and husband.


    ¡°Not immediately, Luc. It was a long process. You know Deasy¡¯s pride is high. There was a time when she was in a tight spot and really needed help, and only Darwin could assist her. From there, she slowly lowered her ego, tried to make amends, and eventually agreed to be friends again. Well, even though they still argue sometimes. You can see for yourself how she acts when she meets Darwin, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly like cat and dog,¡± Lucas remarked, and eventuallyughed.


    Veronica looked a bit relieved. At least, she managed tofort Lucas for a while.


    ¡°That¡¯s why, in my opinion, you don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯m sure Deasy can regain her strength this time and wake up soon. Just rx. She has plenty of fight left in her. I bet she¡¯ll wake up in no time. I¡¯m very confident.¡±


    Once again, Lucas chuckled, deeply appreciating Veronica¡¯s efforts tofort him.


    As they continued to wait for the doctor attending to Deasy, Lucas chose to converse with Veronica to avoid sinking into sadness.


    At that moment, a nurse approached them, handing baby Jonas to Lucas to hold.


    ¡°Sorry, sir, if I nodded earlier. As soon as you left the room, the baby became restless and fussy. I tried to calm him and gave him form milk, but he¡¯s still fussy. So, I intentionally brought him here. Maybe when he¡¯s held by his parents, he¡¯ll calm down.¡±


    Lucas nodded in understanding. He quickly stood up, assumed the proper position, and reached for baby Jonas from the nurse¡¯s hands.


    And just as the nurse had mentioned earlier, Jonas, who had been fussy, gradually became calm in his father¡¯s arms. As if understanding, in his father¡¯s embrace, Jonas appearedfortable and eventually fell asleep.


    ¡°Let me keep the baby with me for now, Sus. Besides, I want to bring him in to visit his Mom inside,¡± Lucas indicated, pointing towards the room where Deasy was receiving treatment.


    The nurse nodded, confident that the baby was safe with his parents, and then went on with her work.


    Meanwhile, the doctor who had finished the procedure came out of the room. Immediately, Lucas and the others approached, eager to hear thetest update on Deasy¡¯s condition.


    ¡°How¡¯s my wife, doc? She¡¯s okay, right?¡±


    The doctor nodded and then proceeded to exin Deasy¡¯s condition after the treatment.


    ¡°Mrs. Deasy¡¯s condition is now stable. The good news is that she has sessfully passed the critical phase.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Oh, God¡­ Thank goodness,¡± Lucas eximed, overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. He felt a great sense of relief hearing the doctor¡¯s positive update.


    ¡°So, when do you think my wife will regain consciousness, doctor?¡±


    ¡°Just pray for it to happen as soon as possible. I believe your wife will wake up soon, just like before.¡±


    ¡°May I visit her in person?¡±


    The doctor nodded once again.


    ¡°Of course. But please don¡¯t stay too long.¡±


    After getting permission from the doctor, while holding Jonas, Lucas decided to enter the room where Deasy was. He approached her, looked at his wife who was still unconscious.


    ¡°Darling,¡± Lucas called softly. ¡°Come on, wake up. Don¡¯t you miss me?¡±


    Lucas then sat down. He reached out his hand and intentionally held Deasy¡¯s cold wrist, gently gripping it.


    ¡°You need to wake up, dear. You need to see our child. As per your request, I named our child Jonas Fernando Morales. Don¡¯t you want to see him? He¡¯s incredibly handsome, just like me.¡±


    Lucas continued to talk to Deasy, regardless of whether his wife responded or not. What mattered was that he was trying. He prayed to God, hoping that Deasy would regain consciousness and return to her normal state soon.


    ¡°Mom and Dad are waiting for you. Veronica and Darwin are also patiently waiting here for you. Come on, wake up. So we can be together again.¡±


    Lucas continued to gaze at Deasy, who remained motionless. He stayed quiet for a while, praying once more, hoping for a miracle toe and wake his wife.


    ¡°Darling, wake up. Jonas and I need you. Don¡¯t sleep all day in bed, okay?¡±


    Lucas took a deep breath. While holding Jonas, he tightened his grip on Deasy¡¯s hand. He didn¡¯t know how many prayers he had whispered, hoping that his efforts this time would yield results.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t wake up soon, I¡¯ll ask Devina to take care of Jonas. Or maybe, I¡¯ll just marry her.¡±


    After saying that sentence, Lucas lowered his head. A sudden wave of pain washed over him. The fear he had been trying to suppress returned. It made his defenses crumble, and reluctantly, tears welled up.


    For a moment, Lucas poured out his emotions. Until, not long after, there was a slight movement from his hand, causing Lucas to snap back to attention. It was followed by a faint, hoarse voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cut your penis if he dares to marry Devina.¡±

 PHB 97

    After waking up from his long slumber a while ago, Lucas immediately called the medical team to examine Deasy¡¯s condition.


    Since he was allowed to watch, Lucas continued to observe how the doctor was currently examining each of his wife¡¯s bodily functions and ensuring that everything was in good condition.


    ¡°How is it, doc?¡± Lucas asked after the doctor finished the examination.


    ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Lucas. Finally, Mrs. Deasy is fully conscious. After reevaluation, I can assure you that her condition is very good and normal. For the time being, let her undergo intensive treatment in the hospital for a day or two. If her progress continues to be good, there¡¯s a possibility she cane home soon.¡±


    After hearing the doctor¡¯s exnation, Lucas hurriedly approached Deasy, who was lying down. Without saying much, the shadowy-eyed man immediately embraced her. He held her tightly, as if pouring out the longing that had umted so high in the past few days.


    Previously, he had been sad and stressed when Deasy wouldn¡¯t wake up despite his repeated attempts to talk to her.


    Until, out of nowhere, he spontaneously issued a threat. Who knows, perhaps the threat of marrying another woman was heard by Deasy¡¯s subconscious mind, and shortly thereafter, she finally woke up from her deep sleep.


    ¡°I missed you so much,¡± Lucas whispered while continuing to hug her. If she weren¡¯t sick, Lucas would want to hug her and roll around with her.


    ¡°I missed you too, Luc,¡± Deasy replied in a half-whisper. Slowly but surely, her strength began to return.


    Lucas then released the hug. He lifted his face and stared at Deasy intently. He chose not to say a word and instead opted to savor the moment of his wife looking at him.


    ¡°Lucas Orion, are you crying?¡± Deasy deliberately teased. Instead of feeling touched, sheughed shortly after seeing Lucas shed tears. ¡°Why are you crying, huh? You¡¯re so sensitive.¡±


    Lucas pouted. A small chuckle escaped his lips. Clearly, he was feeling emotional, yet he was being asked why he was crying. How strange!


    ¡°You¡¯re really mean, you know that?¡±


    Deasy squinted. She slightly pulled her face back and immediately protested.


    ¡°Why mean? What did I do that¡¯s mean? Aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s mean? Threatening to marry Devina and all?¡±


    Look.


    No one just wakes up from a deep sleep and starts talking at length. Lucas, who was initially annoyed and had put on a resentful expression, couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    He then remembered how he had yfully threatened Deasy out of frustration because she wouldn¡¯t wake up and responded to his words. But who would have thought that after making the threat, his wife would wake up, and now they could be together again. It really worked.


    ¡°Just kidding, Honey.¡±


    ¡°But, I¡¯m serious, Luc. I¡¯ll skin your older sister alive if she dares to do anything, especially if she even thinks about getting married again.¡±


    Lucas looked horrified. Clearly, he had just woken up, but Deasy had already shown her fangs.


    ¡°Oh God, I wasn¡¯t serious. I was just joking. You were sleeping for so long, and I had no idea how crazy and stressed I was waiting for you. I was so afraid that you-¡±


    ¡°-Wouldn¡¯t wake up?¡± Deasy interrupted as if she knew what her husband was going to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I would never leave you, Luc.¡±


    Lucas nodded with a smile. He took Deasy¡¯s wrist again and repeatedly kissed it.


    ¡°Please, just don¡¯t make me sad and worried like this anymore. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you. I could go crazy, Des.¡±


    ¡°Are you really afraid of losing me?¡±


    Lucas held her hand and yfully flicked Deasy¡¯s forehead without hesitation, even though he knew she had just regained consciousness.


    ¡°Lucas! That hurts!¡±ined Deasy as she rubbed her forehead.


    ¡°Deal with it! Besides, you already know that I might go crazy worrying about you, and now you¡¯re asking if I¡¯m afraid of losing you or not. You¡¯re really something!¡±


    Deasy, who had been annoyed, immediately burst intoughter. Seeing Lucas getting irritated, she tried to calm him down.


    ¡°Who wants to pass out, Luc? Besides, I¡¯m fine now. So why are you still sad?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m scared, Des.¡±


    Deasy smiled faintly. She hadn¡¯t wanted to go through a condition like this either. Fortunately, God was on her side, restoring her consciousness and now giving her the chance to reunite with her family.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°So, where is our child?¡± Deasy askedter. She had just realized and was curious to see the baby she had taken care of in her belly with great effort.


    Lucas then got up, walked out of the room, and returned shortly with the baby in his arms. Veronica and Darwin, who were curious to visit, also apanied him.


    ¡°This is our child,¡± Lucas said as he approached and gently ced the baby next to Deasy. ¡°As we nned, I¡¯ve already named our baby Jonas Fernando Morales.¡±


    Deasy nodded and shed tears unconsciously. In her heart, she was thankful that God had given her the opportunity to reunite. And now, she could hold the little angel she had been eagerly waiting for.


    ¡°Jonas¡­¡± Deasy whispered. ¡°You¡¯re so handsome, my dear,¡± she said softly as she gently caressed Jonas¡¯ cheek while he was sleeping.


    ¡°Oh, definitely,¡± Lucas replied yfully. ¡°His father is incredibly handsome like this. How could his child not be good-looking?¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes, then turned to look at Veronica, who was standing next to Lucas.


    ¡°Ve¡­¡± Deasy called.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here. Congrattions, you¡¯re now a real mother.¡±


    Deasy nodded emotionally. After many obstacles, challenges, and struggles, she could finally experience the boundless happiness of being together and building a beautiful family with Lucas. And now, it was even more perfect because they had Jonas in their lives.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Deasy whispered softly. Her eyes welled up as if about to shed tears. ¡°Thank you for taking me to the hospital when I was bleeding. If it weren¡¯t for you, I don¡¯t know what would have happened to me.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not going to thank me?¡±


    Before Veronica could respond, Darwin, who was also there, spoke up. He intentionally lightened the mood to prevent it from bing too emotional.


    ¡°Do I really need to thank you so much?¡± Deasy replied sarcastically as usual. She didn¡¯t know when she could be gentle with Veronica¡¯s husband. ¡°Don¡¯t feel special. You¡¯re not fried rice or martabak, Win.¡±


    ¡°Come on! Don¡¯t be so arrogant, Des. Just so you know, you owe me your life twice now.¡±


    Deasy furrowed her brow, wondering about Darwin¡¯s statement regarding owing her life.


    ¡°What did you do that I owe you my life?¡±


    Darwin shrugged and nudged Veronica intentionally, prompting his wife to exin his statement.


    ¡°Come on, honey, exin to Deasy so she understands.¡±


    Veronica sighed. She nudged her husband back, then turned to Deasy to rify her husband¡¯s words.


    ¡°Please, dear, exin it to Deasy so she¡¯ll realize.¡±


    ¡°What happened, then?¡± Deasy asked, curious.


    ¡°Yesterday, you had heavy bleeding, Des. You even fainted, and once again, you needed a blood transfusion. Since Darwin was here at the hospital, he donated his blood for you again. It¡¯s because your blood types are rare and the same. Instead of going through the trouble of finding another donor, we just used what was avable.¡±


    Darwin appeared quite proud of himself. He was very satisfied to see Deasy¡¯s face, which now showed a mix of guilt, embarrassment, and a hint of annoyance.


    ¡°If I weren¡¯t here, whose blood would you use, huh? Cat¡¯s blood?¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes. She had actually been about to say thank you earlier, but seeing how annoying Darwin was being, she decided to abandon that idea.


    ¡°Bitter melon, tomatoes. I don¡¯t care. If you¡¯re not willing, I¡¯ll just take your blood from inside my body. I don¡¯t feel like owing favors to an irritating guy like you.¡±


    Veronica and Lucas shook their heads in unison. Even after being helped so much, Deasy still couldn¡¯t bring herself to be overly nice to Darwin.


    ¡°Enough, you two. Don¡¯t fight,¡± Veronica said. ¡°The important thing is that you¡¯re awake now, and your condition is slowly improving. Get well soon, and if you need any help, I¡¯m always here to assist you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, dear,¡± Lucas added. ¡°Now, just focus on your recovery. Hopefully, you¡¯ll be able to leave the hospital and go home the day after tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll always be there and do my best to help you take care of our baby.¡±


    Deasy nodded and smiled. She was grateful to have such caring and kind people around her. Now, she needed to focus on getting better so she could return home and resume her normal activities.

 PHB 98

    ¡°Hey, Dad. How¡¯s it going? Sorry I couldn¡¯t visit sooner. This time, Deasy came to visit you along with the new addition to the family.¡±


    Deasy smiled as she touched the gravestone with Anton Winterborne¡¯s name inscribed on it. Three months after giving birth, she finally had some free time to visit her father¡¯s grave, and once again, she was apanied by her beloved mother, Diana.


    Before this, Deasy had visited her father¡¯s grave a few times shortly before giving birth. Today, she intentionally stopped by when Jonas had just turned three months old.


    ¡°Say hi, Dad. Deasy¡¯s new bodyguard is named Jonas. Jonas Fernando Morales. He¡¯s three months old now. If you look closely, he has a resemnce to you.¡±


    Diana, sitting beside Deasy, smiled too. She touched her husband¡¯s gravestone and started talking, just like Deasy.


    ¡°Your favorite princess finally has a child, Dad,¡± the woman said casually. ¡°I bet you never thought that the spoiled,zy, food-loving, gossiping,ining, and sometimes even possessed girl you once knew would change her ways 180 degrees.¡±


    Deasy turned to look at her mother. She shouldn¡¯t be surprised that Mama was speaking so freely. In daily life, her mother loved to gossip about her behavior with Veronica or Lucas as if she had a grudge. Truly, Deasy had no pride left when her actions were thoroughly reviewed by Diana.


    ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough. It feels like I¡¯m being tattled on.¡±


    ¡°Let it be,¡± Diana said nonchntly. She didn¡¯t care if Deasy was annoyed by her talk. ¡°So your father knows how his beloved daughter behaves now. Besides, I¡¯m praising you, not criticizing.¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah. Deasy knows you¡¯re praising me. But, you know, it¡¯s not nice to start like that. You could have skipped the bad stuff and just mentioned the good things.¡±


    ¡°Intentional,¡± Diana responded without backing down. ¡°I did it on purpose so you¡¯d realize how many ws you have.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyeszily. She was tired of arguing with Mama.


    ¡°Whatever, Mom.¡± Deasy then turned back to her father¡¯s grave. She touched the surface of the gravestone again and began talking.


    ¡°Now, Jonas is three months old, Dad. It¡¯s so wonderful to see him getting smarter every day. If only you were still here, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d be thrilled to have a new partner and ymate. And he¡¯s a boy.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, Jonas has Lucas¡¯s behavior, Dad,¡± Diana chimed in. ¡°He¡¯s still a baby, but he smiles a lot. He¡¯s not fussy. He lets anyone carry him. He¡¯s friendly with everyone. Quite the opposite of his mother¡¯s behavior.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like there¡¯s nothing good about me at all,¡± Deasy added with a sigh.


    Deasy frowned instantly. She had always wondered what she had done to her mother to be ridiculed and sometimes even denied as her child. It was really hurtful.


    ¡°Mama speaks the truth, Des.¡±


    ¡°But that was in the past, Mom. I¡¯ve repented now. I¡¯ve be a respectable woman. A submissive wife and a responsible mother.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Diana nodded in agreement. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯ve repented.¡± Then Diana turned her gaze back to her husband¡¯s gravestone. She smiled and continued to speak. ¡°Now, your child has be a gentle mother. There¡¯s no more of the old Deasy who was reckless, messy, quick to anger, or would talk nonsense. The one who used to be indifferent now often takes me out for walks and shopping. The one who rarely visited us before now almostes every day.¡±


    Diana, who had been speaking casually, now slowly became emotional. Her voice trembled visibly, and it was clear that she was holding back tears.


    ¡°Just so you know, your child has changed a lot, Dad. She has be a patient wife and mother. It¡¯s a shame you left us so soon. If you were still here with us, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d be very proud of your beloved princess.¡±


    Deasy then reached for Diana¡¯s wrist, holding it tightly, which caused Devina¡¯s defenses to crumble, and she finally shed tears.


    ¡°Whether it was Papa¡¯s prayers or Mama¡¯s prayers that God answered, one thing is for sure, Deasy is much better now than she used to be, Dad,¡± Diana said again.


    While holding Jonas, this time Deasy tried to give her mother a hug. She embraced her briefly, trying tofort Diana, who was now immersed in a sea of emotions.


    ¡°Dad, rest assured up there. Don¡¯t worry or be anxious. Here, Deasy promises to always take care of and look after Mama.¡±


    Deasy and Diana talked at length in front of Anton Winterborne¡¯s grave. They discussed who knows what. After nearly two hours there, they decided to leave and continued to take Jonas to the hospital.


    ***


    ¡°Deasy!¡±


    Hearing her name called, Deasy immediately turned around, trying to locate the source of the voice. She soon spotted Joseph walking towards her.


    Thirty minutes ago, Deasy had juste out of the pediatric clinic. ording to the schedule, she had brought Jonas to the hospital for his routine vination today.


    While waiting for her ride, Deasy had chosen to sit in the hospital lobby. Her mother, on the other hand, was strolling around with Jonas to keep the baby from getting bored and fussy.


    ¡°Hi, Jo,¡± Deasy greeted when Joseph stood in front of her.


    ¡°What are you doing? Are you here for treatment? How are things?¡± the man asked, genuinely curious. He took a seat in one of the avable chairs, as if intentionally wanting to engage in a conversation with Deasy.


    ¡°I just finished bringing my child for his vination.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the monthly vination? How old is he now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s three months old.¡±


    ¡°Did you get him vinated by Dr. Steffi? Or Dr. Laura?¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°I¡¯ve been going to Dr. Laura since the beginning for my child¡¯s vinations.¡±


    Joseph nodded in understanding, then invited Deasy to continue their conversation. From the expression on his face, it was clear that he was delighted to meet Deasy.


    ¡°How have you been? Are you doing well?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. She wasn¡¯t just doing well; her life seemed prosperous at the moment.


    ¡°So far, I¡¯m doing fine. How about you?¡±


    ¡°Same here. I¡¯ve been pretty much the same all along. By the way, it¡¯s been a long time since west met. Thest time was when you had your pregnancy checkup, right?¡±


    Deasy nodded again. Apparently, her ex-boyfriend still remembered theirst encounter a few months ago.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right,¡± Deasy nodded several times. ¡°Even that meeting waspletely by chance.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like fate allowed us to meet again after years of being out of touch.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Deasy agreed. ¡°Once we meet, you¡¯re already a sessful obstetrician.¡±


    ¡°Just like you, Des,¡± Joseph responded. He smiled as he looked at Deasy sitting in front of him. ¡°Since west met, you¡¯ve be even more beautiful.¡±


    Deasy blushed. She couldn¡¯t handle even a bit of praise. Typical.


    ¡°Oh,e on. Haven¡¯t I always been beautiful?¡±


    Josephughed. But he didn¡¯t deny what Deasy had just said. From the first time he met her, through their rtionship, Joseph admitted that Deasy had always been beautiful and had a lovely appearance.


    ¡°I believe you. You¡¯ve always been beautiful. Otherwise, why would I fall for you? But, I mean, you¡¯re even more beautiful now, like on another level.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re just being sweet.¡±


    ¡°No, really, you are getting more beautiful. Your maternal aura is shining through.¡±


    ¡°By the way, speaking of which, how¡¯s your wife and child? You¡¯re married and have kids now, right?¡±


    Joseph smiled and then shook his head in response to Deasy¡¯s question.


    ¡°Far from having kids, I¡¯m not even married.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re not married? Ah, you¡¯re kidding.¡±


    Joseph nodded repeatedly, confirming that what he said was true.


    ¡°Seriously. I¡¯m not married. Still single and avable to this day.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡±


    Deasy squinted sharply. From her expression and the look on her face, it was clear that she was skeptical and couldn¡¯t believe that a handsome man like Joseph was still without a partner.


    ¡°Even in terms of age and career, it seems like you meet the standards for marriage. Weren¡¯t there plenty of girls interested in you back in the day?¡±


    ¡°I just haven¡¯t found the right person to settle down with yet. Besides, I was waiting for you, but you got married first.¡±


    Once again, Deasy smiled to herself upon hearing Joseph¡¯s sweet words. However, as she raised her head slightly, she was taken aback. Lucas had been standing there, watching her the whole time.

 PHB 99

    Lucas: Honey, are you waiting for me right now? As soon as my client leaves, I¡¯lle pick you up. I promise.


    Lucas waited anxiously for a response to the text message he sent to Deasy. He hoped his wife would understand and forgive his current situation.


    Deasy: Rx, Luc. I¡¯m almost done here. I need to pick up some medicine and vitamins. Jonas is fine with me. When you¡¯repletely done with work, juste over here.


    Lucas: Alright, please be patient and wait for me. Later, we can have lunch together outside.


    Deasy: Sure, my beloved husband. I¡¯ll be waiting for your arrival.


    Earlier, Lucas had been in a meeting. Once his work was finished and he made sure his client had left the office, he quickly grabbed his car keys and prepared to pick up Deasy.


    Lucas knew today was the day their son was scheduled for vinations at the hospital. He had also promised his wife that, no matter how busy he was, he would make time to pick them up from the hospital.


    ¡°Mr. Lucas, don¡¯t you want to have lunch first?¡±


    Felix, who was organizing files on the desk, immediately spoke up. He reminded Lucas to have lunch so he wouldn¡¯t forget, as he had in the past due to his busy schedule.


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas shook his head. He had been ready to leave but paused to answer Felix¡¯s question. ¡°I need to get to the hospital quickly.¡±


    ¡°The hospital?¡±


    Felix furrowed his brow. From his expression, it was clear that the stocky man was curious about what Lucas had just said.


    ¡°Who¡¯s sick and in the hospital, sir?¡± Felix inquired, eager to know.


    ¡°No,¡± Lucas replied. ¡°No one is sick.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital to pick up Deasy and Jonas. Today is Jonas¡¯ vination schedule. Since I missed the opportunity to apany them earlier, I thought I should make up for it by picking them up directly from the hospital.¡±


    Felix smiled and nodded in understanding. As a devoted family man, Lucas always put his family above everything else. No matter how busy he was, if his wife called or asked for his presence, Lucas would do his utmost to make time ande right away.


    ¡°I thought someone was sick.¡±


    ¡°No, and let¡¯s hope it stays that way.¡±


    ¡°So, Mr. Lucas, you¡¯ll be having lunch outside then?¡±


    Lucas nodded in response.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have lunch with my wife. So, you don¡¯t need to arrange anything today.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mr. Lucas.¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯m off. I don¡¯t want Deasy and Jonas waiting too long.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Lucas. Drive safely. Send my regards to Jonas.¡±


    Lucas hurriedly left the room. Once in the car, he immediately drove, hoping to reach the hospital as quickly as possible.


    During the journey, Lucas kept praying, hoping that the traffic wouldn¡¯t be too heavy, so he wouldn¡¯t bete, causing Deasy and Jonas to wait for too long.


    Honestly, because he knew his son was growing so healthy and adorable, Lucas felt uneasy and even worried when taking him out of the house. Truth be told, Lucas didn¡¯t like it when other mothers would pinch and squeeze Jonas¡¯ cheeks without permission due to their fascination with the baby.


    That¡¯s why, if he had to take Jonas out, Lucas got into the habit of putting him in a stroller, facing the baby towards him so that people couldn¡¯t freely admire their son.


    After a thirty-minute drive, Lucas finally arrived at his destination. He entered the hospital and spotted Jonas, who was happily strolling around with his mother-inw.


    Lucas quickly approached, taking over Jonas, who responded immediately and seemed impatient to be picked up and held.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Deasy, Mom? Is she still waiting for the medication?¡± Lucas asked when he didn¡¯t see his wife.


    ¡°I think she finished waiting. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she was sitting in the lobby. Didn¡¯t you see her?¡±


    Lucas shook his head. He had been in such a hurry that he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to his surroundings.


    ¡°Lucas, sometimes you¡¯re oblivious to what¡¯s happening around you.¡±


    ¡°Well, you can check in the lobby.¡±


    Lucasplied. While carrying Jonas, he searched the hospital lobby for Deasy¡¯s whereabouts.


    And indeed, as he scanned the area, Lucas finally spotted his wife. However, something bothered him. Lucas observed how Deasy was sitting and chatting amiably with a man.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized that the man sitting with his wife was none other than Deasy¡¯s ex-boyfriend, who also worked as a doctor at the hospital where Jonas was getting vinated.


    Feeling slightly irritated, Lucas approached them. When he got closer, he decided to remain silent for a moment, trying to eavesdrop on what his wife and her ex were discussing. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t even notice Lucas¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Are you really not married yet? That¡¯s hard to believe. You¡¯re so handsome and sessful as a doctor.¡±


    From his vantage point, Lucas could see the man in front of Deasy smiling. How could he not smile when Deasy was clearlyplimenting his looks?


    ¡°Seriously. I¡¯m still not married. I¡¯ve been waiting for you all along. But when we met again, you were already married. Such a shame.¡±


    ¡°No need to tter.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Deasy. I¡¯m not ttering. I¡¯m just stating facts. And besides, you¡¯ve be even more beautiful. Seriously, there¡¯s a huge difference from before. I really regret breaking up with you.¡±


    Lucas, who had been listening faintly to their conversation, grew even more irritated. Of course, he thought, Deasy had be more beautiful with time. Throughout their marriage, he had spent countless amounts of money to enhance her beauty and fulfill all her needs.


    And now, with Deasy looking even more stunning, Joseph had the audacity to flirt andpliment her.


    Meanwhile, Deasy herself appeared to be blushing, basking in the praise from her ex-boyfriend.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Frustrated by what he was witnessing, Lucas stepped closer. Deasy, who happened to nce up, suddenly realized it. She cleared her throat, realizing Lucas was giving her a sharp re.


    ¡°L-Lucas,¡± Deasy stammered nervously. Like a thief caught stealing chickens, Deasy found herself flustered upon seeing Lucas, who was now standing right in front of her.


    ¡°Darling, are you done?¡± Lucas asked affectionately, reaching out his hand to invite Deasy to stand ande closer to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been done for a while,¡± Deasy replied anxiously.


    Lucas nodded. He turned to Joseph, who was also standing nearby.


    ¡°How are you, Mr. Lucas? I¡¯m-¡±


    ¡°Doctor Joseph? My wife¡¯s ex-boyfriend?¡± Lucas interrupted immediately, as if he knew what Joseph was going to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Doc. I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡±


    ¡°Oh, uh,¡± Joseph responded awkwardly. ¡°I saw Deasy sitting alone, and since it¡¯s been a while since west met, I decided to approach her and chat.¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Doc. I don¡¯t prohibit my wife from being friends with anyone, including her ex-boyfriend. So, rx. There¡¯s no need to feel ufortable.¡±


    After saying this, Lucas turned his attention back to Deasy. He shed a smile and then gently pulled her to get ready to leave.


    ¡°Is everything done now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luc. Everything¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take Mama out for lunch, and then I¡¯ll drop you both off before heading back to the office.¡±


    Deasy agreed with a nod. She left Joseph behind and joined Lucas in the car.


    During the ride home, Lucas remained silent. He responded to what Deasy said with minimal words. Even during lunch, Lucas spent more time ying and conversing with Jonas.


    Aware of Lucas¡¯s change in demeanor, Deasy finally mustered the courage to address the issue when her husband had already dropped her off at home. In their bedroom, after Lucas had ced Jonas in his crib, Deasy approached him from behind and hugged him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Luc? Are you mad at me?¡±


    Lucas chuckled sourly. Could she really be asking that?


    ¡°Mad? Not really. Just normal.¡±


    ¡°Liar,¡± Deasy protested incredulously.


    ¡°Do you think I have a reason to be mad, huh? Is it okay to be mad when I hear my wife being called beautiful by another man?¡±


    Lucas released himself from Deasy¡¯s embrace. He turned around and gazed intently at his wife while continuing to speak.


    ¡°Yes, Des. You do look more beautiful now. There¡¯s a big difference from when we were dating,¡± Lucas said, echoing Joseph¡¯s words from earlier.


    ¡°Luc¡­ I-¡±


    ¡°Are you still not married?¡± Lucas interrupted once again. ¡°Even though you¡¯re so beautiful and sessful. It¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re still single.¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Deasy admonished him once more, feeling ufortable as Lucas seemed to be mimicking her and Joseph¡¯s conversation at the hospital.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lucas asked casually. ¡°Are you annoyed by what I¡¯m saying? And how about me? Can I be annoyed when my wife¡¯s ex-boyfriend casually calls other guys handsome?¡±


    ¡°Lucas, are you jealous?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking me if I¡¯m jealous or not?¡±


    Deasy sighed and tried not to get caught up in Lucas¡¯s mood. She approached him, wanting to speak to her husband after he had taken her back home. In the bedroom, after Lucas hadid Jonas down in his crib, Deasy approached and hugged him from behind.


    ¡°Why are you like this, Luc? Are you mad at me?¡±


    Lucasughed. Could she really be asking that?


    ¡°Mad? Not really. Just normal.¡±


    ¡°Liar,¡± Deasy protested incredulously.


    ¡°Do you think I have a reason to be mad, huh? Is it okay to be mad when I hear my wife being called beautiful by another man?¡±


    Lucas released himself from Deasy¡¯s embrace. He turned around and gazed intently at his wife while continuing to speak.


    ¡°Yes, Des. You do look more beautiful now. There¡¯s a big difference from when we were dating,¡± Lucas said, echoing Joseph¡¯s words from earlier.


    ¡°Luc¡­ I-¡±


    ¡°Are you still not married?¡± Lucas interrupted once again. ¡°Even though you¡¯re so beautiful and sessful. It¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re still single.¡±


    ¡°Lucas,¡± Deasy admonished him once more, feeling ufortable as Lucas seemed to be mimicking her and Joseph¡¯s conversation at the hospital.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lucas asked casually. ¡°Are you annoyed by what I¡¯m saying? And how about me? Can I be annoyed when my wife¡¯s ex-boyfriend casually calls other guys handsome?¡±


    ¡°Lucas, are you jealous?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking me if I¡¯m jealous or not?¡±


    Deasy sighed and tried not to get caught up in Lucas¡¯s mood. She approached him, wanting to speak to her husband after he had taken her back home. In the bedroom, after Lucas hadid Jonas down in his crib, Deasy approached and hugged him from behind.


    ¡°Why are you like this, Luc? Are you mad at me?¡±


    Lucas without warning shook his head.


    ¡°No need to hug me. You¡¯d better hug your handsome ex.¡±


    Lucas then walked away, leaving Deasy without saying goodbye. From his expression, it was clear that he was deeply disappointed.


    Now it was up to Deasy to figure out how to make Lucas forgive her and not remain angry.

 PHB 100

    Deasy continued to observe. She watched as Lucas, engrossed in ying with Jonas, interacted with him before heading off to work.


    This was indeed a routine that her husband always followed. No matter how busy or tired he was, Lucas made it a point to find time to y, chat, or carry Jonas around.


    The same applied to how he treated Deasy. Regardless of how upied he was, Lucas always made an effort to give her attention.


    This morning, after ying with Jonas, Lucas still found time to have breakfast with Deasy. Instead of being overly dramatic, when Deasy asked to be fed, Lucas readilyplied with his wife¡¯s request.


    ¡°Luc¡­ Are you still angry?¡±


    Deasy intentionally inquired. Since the incident where Lucas had caught her engaging in a conversation with Joseph, her husband seemed deliberately silent.


    Yes, Deasy was aware that what she had done was a grave mistake. However, she had apologized repeatedly.


    Although he continued to serve her as usual, Lucas seemed reluctant to engage in conversation with her. This made Deasy feel ufortable and conflicted.


    ¡°Lucas Orion Morales,¡± Deasy called out once more. She paused her meal and stared directly at Lucas. ¡°How long are you nning to keep ignoring me like this?¡±


    Lucas looked up. He set his spoon down and responded casually,cking enthusiasm for small talk. That¡¯s why he chose not to react too much.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking how long? Until you realize that what you did the other day was excessive.¡±


    ¡°Oh God,¡± Deasy sighed deeply. As mentioned earlier, she had apologized numerous times. She had tried to improve herself, but Lucas still refused to ept her sincere apologies. ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized to you multiple times, Luc.¡±


    Lucas nodded. He did not deny his wife¡¯s statement. In the evenings following the incident and even today, Deasy had apologized to him countless times.


    However, Lucas still felt resentful. From the beginning, Deasy should have realized that her actions were not appropriate for a married woman.


    Lucas was irritated by how casually Deasy praised another man¡¯s good looks. Moreover, Deasy seemed overjoyed when her ex-boyfriend flirted with her. It was as if thepliments Lucas had given her all along were insufficient.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ve apologized multiple times.¡±


    ¡°And then what? You don¡¯t want to forgive me?¡±


    Lucas curled the corner of his lips. He smiled and responded nonchntly.


    ¡°I forgave you from the start. But I still can¡¯t help but remember what you did.¡±


    Deasy sighed in frustration once again. For heaven¡¯s sake, Lucas¡¯s attitude this time was exactly like that of women going through PMS. On one hand, he seemed forgiving, but on the other, he found it difficult to forget her past actions.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Luc. What¡¯s the difference between being forgiven and being ignored? I¡¯m human, Luc. I¡¯m your wife. Why do we live together if you¡¯re going to treat me like this?¡±


    ¡°The important thing is that I¡¯m still taking care of you and paying attention to you, right? I even keep youpany when you sleep.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s pointless if I keep talking, and you don¡¯t ept it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothingpared to what you did the other day.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Lucas. How many times do I have to emphasize that there¡¯s nothing going on between me and Joseph? I admit I was wrong for overreacting when I identally bumped into him the other day.¡±


    Lucas just nodded. He finished his meal, got up, and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I believe you that there¡¯s nothing between you and Joseph.¡±


    ¡°And then? When will I be forgiven? It¡¯s exhausting to be ignored by you every day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only been two days. Not even a week.¡±


    ¡°Lucas! Don¡¯t be crazy, okay!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s crazy? I¡¯m 100% sane. Alright, I have to go to work now. You can finish your breakfast.¡±


    Lucas then gave Deasy a quick kiss on the forehead. Ignoring his wife, who was stillining, he decided to leave for work.


    Meanwhile, Diana, who was staying overnight at her daughter¡¯s house, witnessed what had just happened between Deasy and Lucas. She walked closer and immediately asked.


    ¡°Is Lucas still mad at you?¡±


    Deasy nodded casually.


    ¡°He is, Mom. I don¡¯t know how long he¡¯s going to sulk like this.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Diana teased without remorse. Instead of feeling sorry for her daughter, she seemed pleased that Deasy was being ignored by Lucas these past few days.


    ¡°Why are you actually happy about it, Mom? You¡¯re so mean not to support your own child.¡±


    ¡°Why should I support someone who¡¯s in the wrong? To be honest, Lucas has every right to be angry with you. Besides, why were you so infatuated with Joseph yesterday?¡±


    ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, Mom. I was just having a casual conversation. I wasn¡¯t infatuated with anyone.¡±


    ¡°You had a casual conversation, but you were smiling so much. You seemed really happy to be praised and flirted with.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t infatuated, Mom. Besides, every woman gets ttered when someone of the opposite sexpliments them. So, what Deasy did is just human, right?¡±


    ¡°The problem is, you¡¯re already married, Deasy Winterborne. You have a handsome husband, but you still can¡¯t resist praising other guys. If I were Lucas, I wouldn¡¯t just be sulking; I would also respond to your behavior that¡¯s so out of line.¡±


    Deasy was at a loss for words. This is what it felt like to be a stepchild. Instead of being supported, defended, or perhaps consoled, Deasy was scolded mercilessly.


    ¡°Well¡­ Deasy is wrong, and I admit it, Mom. But Deasy has apologized. It¡¯s really tiring to be ignored like this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not enough to just apologize, Des. There also has to be action and effort.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s eyebrows reflexively furrowed. In her heart, she wondered what kind of action and effort her mother meant this time.


    ¡°What do you mean, Mom? What should I do?¡±


    ¡°If you really want to get Lucas¡¯s attention and make your husband not angry anymore, then you have to make an effort, Des.¡±


    ¡°Effort?¡±


    ¡°Simple example, do what Lucas has always liked. For instance, when hees home from work, give him attention. Prepare his favorite meal, give him a massage before bedtime. Givepliments or affectionate words. Don¡¯t forget that even if he¡¯s ignoring you, you should still be affectionate so he feels constantly needed.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    Diana nodded again.


    ¡°If you want to put in more effort, you can cook Lucas his favorite meal. Then, deliver it to his office so you can have lunch together during his break.¡±


    Deasy snapped her fingers as if she had an epiphany. She wholeheartedly agreed with Diana¡¯sst suggestion.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Lucas really likes having lunch brought to him. Maybe his sulking will disappear if I personally prepare his lunch this time.¡±


    ¡°Give it a try. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll melt when he sees howmitted you are to winning him back and making him not angry anymore.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll leave Jonas with you, Mom. So after this, I¡¯ll prepare the menu and bring it to Lucas¡¯s office.¡±


    Diana nodded in agreement. She didn¡¯t mind taking care of Jonas and letting Deasy focus on resolving her issues with her son-inw.


    Following her mother¡¯s advice, Deasy immediately executed her n. She cooked several prepared ingredients, and when all the dishes were ready, she neatly packed them into lunch boxes to be taken to Lucas¡¯s office.


    Feeling ted and confident, Deasy visited Lucas at his office. Making sure her husband was in his office, she walked lightly into the room.


    ¡°Darling¡­ I¡¯m here.¡±


    Lucas, who was sitting at his desk, raised his eyebrows in surprise but chose to remain silent.


    ¡°Have you eaten? I brought you lunch.¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brow. He didn¡¯t recall asking for lunch to be brought to him.


    ¡°Lunch?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded. ¡°Earlier, at home, I deliberately cooked your favorite beef belly and ck pepper beef. Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡±


    Before Lucas could respond, a woman entered the room through the door, and it was none other than Devina. Stepping closer, she immediately addressed Lucas, who was sitting with Deasy.


    ¡°Luc, how¡¯s it going? Are we having lunch together?¡±


    Lucas stood up immediately. He grabbed his coat hanging behind the chair and prepared to leave.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re going. Let¡¯s take my car.¡±


    Devina nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Whatever you prefer. Using your car is fine.¡± Devina then turned to Deasy, who looked puzzled by the conversation between her and Lucas. ¡°Deasy, you want to join us for lunch, right?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Instead of Deasy, it was Lucas who responded to Devina¡¯s question. ¡°Deasy won¡¯t join. We¡¯re going together.¡±


    Deasy blinked. She suddenly felt confused. She tried to process what was happening at the moment.


    ¡°Lucas, are you leaving?¡± Deasy finally asked.


    ¡°Yes. I already had lunch ns with Devina.¡±


    ¡°But, Luc. I cooked¡ª¡±


    ¡°You can eat it yourself. I didn¡¯t ask for you to bring me lunch.¡±


    ¡°I know, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m going now. Be careful when youe back.¡±


    Lucas then left abruptly, leaving Deasy standing there, silently watching him walk away with Devina.

 PHB 101

    ¡°Why is your face all scrunched up like that? Another fight? World War? Or what?¡±


    Having just met Deasy, Veronica could already guess what was happening with her friend. Deasy, who had been very busy, was called and asked to join her at their favorite coffee shop.


    ¡°Just annoyed,¡± Deasy replied casually. Her face looked extremely sour. It was evident that she was not in a good mood.


    ¡°Annoyed about what again? Did Lucas ask for permission to get married again?¡±


    Deasy immediately looked up, red at Veronica disapprovingly. She couldn¡¯t believe her longtime friend was talking so carelessly.


    Oh, Deasy forgot.


    Veronica¡¯s behavior was quite simr to her mother¡¯s. She often spoke without thinking andcked empathy towards others.


    ¡°Gosh, you love speaking so recklessly, don¡¯t you?¡± Deasy scolded. She was clearly annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t forget how you used to talk when I first got married to Darwin. Yourments were way worse, Des.¡±


    Deasy sighed. But she couldn¡¯t deny what Veronica was saying. Back when her friend had just married Darwin, Deasy herself had often added fuel to the fire, saying inappropriate things and even provoking Veronica to divorce Darwin.


    Indeed,pared to what Veronica had just said, herments back then were nothing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to respond like that, seriously, I¡¯m annoyed right now. Instead offorting me, you¡¯re making fun of me.¡±


    Veronica chuckled softly. Seeing how upset Deasy was, she tried to give a more serious response.


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s bothering you so much? And why are you telling me to hurry up ande?¡±


    Deasy sighed again. She seemed to be taking deep breaths repeatedly, maybe trying to calm the anger building up inside her.


    ¡°I had a fight with Lucas.¡±


    ¡°I could have predicted that,¡± Veronica replied immediately. Like a fortune teller or a mind reader, Veronica could always tell what was going on with her friend. ¡°I could tell just by looking at your face.¡±


    ¡°Ve¡­¡± Deasy sighed in irritation. ¡°Can you save yourments forter? Let me finish my story first.¡±


    Veronicaughed right away. Seeing Deasy bing increasingly sulky, she encouraged her friend to continue.


    ¡°Alright, go ahead, tell me what happened.¡±


    ¡°Actually¡­ I admit it¡¯s all my fault,¡± Deasy exined slowly. She took a deep breath, trying to collect herself. ¡°When I was taking Jonas for his vine at the hospital, I identally ran into Joseph. You know Joseph, right? My ex from way back.¡±


    ¡°Doctor Joseph?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Deasy nodded repeatedly. ¡°My most wonderful ex after college.¡±


    ¡°If he was so wonderful, he wouldn¡¯t be an ex, Des.¡±


    ¡°Well, what can I say? Among all my exes, he was the most sane, the most handsome, and I dated him the longest. I wish he hadn¡¯t gone abroad for further studies; maybe I¡¯d be married to him now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not guaranteed,¡± Veronica disagreed. ¡°He might not have been your destiny. So, what about Joseph? Are you revisiting the past?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s the deal with Joseph? Tell me the real story.¡±


    Deasy took a deep breath. She tried to be patient with Veronica, who was getting more and more annoying.


    ¡°Before this, when I was pregnant, I ran into Joseph once during a prenatal checkup. Because Joseph started chatting and brought up our past, Lucas didn¡¯t like it. And then yesterday, when I took Jonas for his vine, I identally ran into Joseph again for the second time.¡±Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°We hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, so we chatted in the lobby. Talked about various things. Then Lucas saw us, and he got angry.¡±


    Veronica listened attentively to Deasy¡¯s story, trying to understand and process what her friend was saying.


    ¡°Wait¡­ wait¡­ Lucas is mad because he caught you chatting with Joseph?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s jealous.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure his jealousy is just because he saw you chatting with Joseph? It doesn¡¯t seem very convincing.¡±

 PHB 102

    Although they hadn¡¯t known each other for long, Veronica could tell that Lucas was the type of guy who didn¡¯t easily get angry. So far, from the moment he tried to win over Deasy, Veronica believed that Lucas was a gentle and caring man who truly respected women.


    Back then, when Deasy intentionally tried to provoke him, hurling insults and even deliberate humiliation, Lucas wasn¡¯t offended or deterred in the slightest. He remained faithful and continued to try to win over Deasy, who was as stubborn as a rock.


    So, if he was angry now, Veronica was sure there must have been something that Deasy had done that had crossed the line. After all, people don¡¯t get angry and sulk for no reason.


    ¡°Well¡­ no, it¡¯s not just that.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°This Joseph guy initially praised me. He said I looked prettier than before. So, the two of us started chatting about various things. We even discussed how he¡¯s still not married to this day. So, I casually asked him if he, being handsome and financially stable, still hasn¡¯t found a partner. Joseph replied that he intentionally didn¡¯t look for a girlfriend because he was waiting for me.¡±


    ¡°And then¡­ what happened next?¡±


    ¡°I did praise Joseph a bit, to be honest. I jokingly told him he was handsome and would easily find a recement for me. Well, turns out Lucas overheard our conversation. When we got home, he got angry. He said he didn¡¯t like hearing me praise other guys. He also said he felt ufortable seeing me giggling and being called pretty by Joseph.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, you were over the moon when Joseph praised you?¡±


    Deasy nodded innocently, confirming what Veronica had just asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s only human, Ve, to feel ttered. Especially when your ex praises you.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Deasy!¡±


    Veronica leaned in and yfully flicked Deasy¡¯s forehead. Despite feeling perfectly normal earlier, after hearing Deasy¡¯s story, she was now getting annoyed and could empathize with what Lucas must have felt.


    ¡°No wonder your husband got mad. Your behavior was outrageous. Anyone would get upset if they saw their partner acting so flirtatiously like you did.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Ve. Joseph and I didn¡¯t do anything. Besides, we bumped into each other by chance.¡±


    ¡°But you intentionallyplimented his looks, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, I did.¡±


    ¡°Well, then. It¡¯s no wonder Lucas got mad, and it¡¯s perfectly normal. If I were him, I¡¯d be annoyed too and wouldn¡¯t want to deal with you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you taking Lucas¡¯s side?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking his side,¡± Veronica objected. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you what should be done. Now, let me ask you this, is Lucas currently giving you the silent treatment?¡±


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. Since they returned from the hospital the other day, her husband had been giving her the cold shoulder.


    ¡°Actually, Lucas isn¡¯tpletely ignoring me. He still joins me for meals, be it breakfast or dinner. He still feeds me. He massages me before bed. And even before work, he still kisses me. What¡¯s frustrating is that he never responds whenever I try to talk.¡±


    ¡°So, he¡¯s not 100% mad.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s annoying, Ve. It¡¯s like he¡¯s intentionally retaliating against me.¡±


    Veronica¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. She was curious about how Lucas had retaliated against her friend.


    ¡°How did Lucas retaliate?¡±


    ¡°Just so you know, I really wanted to win him over. So, I deliberately cooked and prepared his favorite lunch. I took time off to surprise him at his office. I was hoping he¡¯d be happy with the surprise I had prepared. But it turns out Lucas intentionally went out for lunch with another woman.¡±


    ¡°What? Really?¡± Veronica was shocked. She needed to confirm what she had just heard. ¡°Lucas went out for lunch with another woman?¡±


    ¡°With Devina, Ve. Lucas deliberately went out for lunch with Devina. Even though I worked hard to prepare his favorite meal. I went through all the trouble to bring it to his office, and he just left me hanging like that. It¡¯s so infuriating! I swear, I feel like crying over this.¡±


    Deasy had a look of disappointment on her face. Instead of feeling sad, Veronica burst intoughter.


    ¡°So, how did it feel to see your husband intentionally having lunch with his ex-fianc¨¦e?¡±


    Deasy sighed. She was already irritated, and now she was being asked about her feelings.


    ¡°Do you have to ask??? It¡¯s so annoying, seriously! Who in the world would be happy to see their partner intentionally going out or having too much interaction with another woman, especially when it¡¯s clearly their ex-fianc¨¦e?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re jealous?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Do you even need to ask, Veronica!¡±


    ¡°It hurts, and you¡¯re really angry, right?¡± Veronica confirmed. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s how Lucas felt when he saw you chatting sofortably with Joseph.¡±


    ¡°But, Veronica, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. We were just talking.¡±


    ¡°The problem is you were chatting with your ex-boyfriend, Deasy Winterborne. Who, by the way, still hasn¡¯tpletely moved on from you. It¡¯s a different situation from Lucas going out with his ex-fianc¨¦e, who clearly he didn¡¯t love from the start.¡±


    ¡°His actions were still over the top. I mean, I went through all the trouble of making him lunch. It¡¯s like he didn¡¯t appreciate it at all. He just left with another woman.¡±


    ¡°Did you bring the lunch back home then?¡±


    Deasy shook her head.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t bother. I just left it on Lucas¡¯s office desk. I was already so annoyed. As soon as he left, I left too.¡±


    Veronica chuckled softly. Seeing Deasy getting angrier, she decided to offer some advice and suggestions that might be useful.


    ¡°Des, let me tell you. When you¡¯re married, you have to be smart about handling situations. It¡¯s okay to maintain friendly rtions with an ex-boyfriend, but don¡¯t overdo it, especially with thepliments. Keep it casual. Excessive behavior is not good, unless it¡¯s about money. As for Lucas responding to your actions, I think you shouldn¡¯t get angry or take it personally.¡±


    ¡°So, you think I should just ept it?¡±


    Veronica didn¡¯t disagree. She nodded repeatedly.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°After all, this all started because you initiated it, right? Besides, it¡¯s a trivial matter, Des. There¡¯s no need to retaliate or escte it further. Especially not to the point of thinking about leaving or running away. What¡¯s the point? It¡¯ll onlyplicate your marriage. If there¡¯s any issue, it should be resolved amicably. Don¡¯t keep running away from it.¡±


    ¡°Who said I want to run away?¡±


    ¡°Who knows, maybe you want to follow the wives in Indonesian soap operas. Whenever there¡¯s a problem, they immediately think about running away. Going as far as possible while taking the child with them, hoping their husband will regret it. Please, don¡¯t be melodramatic! Get rid of such silly thoughts!¡±


    ¡°Damn,¡± Deasy muttered. ¡°I would never think of running away or anything like that, Veronica. Seriously! I¡¯d be crazy to let go of a handsome and wealthy guy like Lucas just because of something like this.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s smart. I¡¯m sure Lucas wille around on his own. Besides, we both know, between you and Lucas, who is the more rational one.¡±


    Deasy squinted at Veronica. Behind the helpful advice her friend was giving, there was always a hint of mockery that never seemed to be absent from her lips. So, she just resigned herself to her fate!

 PHB 103

    It¡¯s already eleven o¡¯clock at night, but Deasy still hasn¡¯t seen Lucas, who hasn¡¯te home all day.


    In all her time as a wife, Deasy has never known Lucas toe homete, let alone thiste. Even if he had to work overtime, Lucas had nevere hometer than nine in the evening. So, where is her husband tonight?


    Deasy has tried multiple times to contact him and send text messages, but he hasn¡¯t responded to any of her attempts. He hasn¡¯t even answered her calls.


    Deasy has started to wonder if Lucas is so angry that he¡¯s decided not toe home. Or perhaps he¡¯s still spending time with Devina.


    Oh, this is just so frustrating!


    Speaking of Devina, why does it feel so suffocating to imagine that Lucas might actually be with his ex-fianc¨¦e? Deasy is not okay with her husband being with another woman, whoever she may be.


    Because of overthinking, Deasy is getting frustrated with herself. She¡¯s been waiting for Lucas, who still hasn¡¯te home, and she even fell asleep on the couch.


    ¡°Honey¡­ wake up.¡±


    Deasy faintly hears someone calling her. Slowly opening her eyes, she sees the man she¡¯s been waiting for.


    Without any hesitation, Deasy rushes into his arms. She doesn¡¯t care if Lucas tries to avoid her or what his response will be. Right now, she just wants to hug him. Fortunately, this time her embrace isn¡¯t pushed away; instead, it¡¯s reciprocated by her husband.


    ¡°Where have you been? I¡¯ve been waiting for you toe home.¡±


    Deasy starts to sob. She doesn¡¯t know why, but she just feels like crying. Letting out all the mixed emotions that have been swirling in her heart.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t gone anywhere. I¡¯ve been in my office all this time.¡±


    ¡°Liar! I didn¡¯t even hear your car in the garage.¡±


    ¡°Well, my car isn¡¯t in the garage. Felix gave me a ride home. So, why are you crying like this?¡± Lucas intentionally asks, although he doesn¡¯t need an exnation; he can guess what caused his wife to cry.


    ¡°I¡¯m crying because of you! You¡¯ve been so frustrating today. I¡¯ve already apologized, Luc. I swear, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I didn¡¯t intend to cheat. But instead of forgiving me, you went out with Devina. And I went through so much trouble to cook you lunch.¡±


    Lucas loosens his embrace. He smiles and reaches out to wipe away the tears on Deasy¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°I told you I forgave you.¡±


    ¡°I may be forgiven, but you still went out with her in return? That¡¯s mean! Plus, you intentionally went out with Devina instead of having lunch with me. I worked so hard to make you lunch, and it was all wasted because you didn¡¯t eat it,¡± Deasy says emotionally.


    ¡°Who said it was wasted? I ate the lunch you made and finished it, actually.¡±


    ¡°Liar! I saw you having lunch with Devina!¡±


    Lucasughs. There¡¯s nothing funny about what Deasy just said.


    ¡°Why are youughing? There¡¯s nothing funny, Luc.¡±


    Lucas raises his hand and yfully pinches both of Deasy¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°I just find it amusing to see you nagging like this.¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I know I messed up, Luc. But I¡¯m still upset that, despite my efforts to get your attention and avoid making you angry again, I cooked for you, prepared your favorite menu, and even brought it to your office. And then, you just left with another woman.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t throw away your food, honey. I didn¡¯t go anywhere with Devina. I was just talking about having lunch with her. But in reality, it didn¡¯t happen at all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Deasy was a bit puzzled, trying to digest what Lucas had just told her.


    Her husband had said he hadn¡¯t gone with Devina. If that was the case, where had he been? She had witnessed them leaving the room together, even nning to have lunch.


    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t gone anywhere. I¡¯ve been at the office all day.¡±


    Lucas then got up from his seat, left the room for a moment, and returned with a small gold-colored box in his hand, which he handed to Deasy.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. In the midst of their argument, Lucas suddenly gave her something that looked suspicious.


    ¡°If you want to know what¡¯s inside, just open it.¡±


    Deasyplied. She momentarily put aside her frustration and opened the small gold-colored box that Lucas had just given her. If the box were a bit smaller, she might have guessed it contained jewelry. But because it wasn¡¯t made of velvet like most gold boxes, and its shape was slightlyrger, Deasy became even more curious. What could her husband be giving her on a night like this?


    ¡°A key? Did you get me a car?¡±


    ¡°Random,¡± Lucas retorted, shaking his head. ¡°Is there a car nowadays that you unlock with a key?¡±


    ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°So, what kind of key is this then? An apartment? Did you buy me an apartment?¡±


    Lucas shook his head again. Reluctant to exin in great detail, he simply answered Deasy¡¯s question to satisfy her curiosity.


    ¡°It¡¯s a house key, dear. For you.¡±


    ¡°For me? Did you buy me a house?¡±


    Lucas nodded and replied casually, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s it for, Luc?¡±


    ¡°For your pets.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Well, for them to stay, of course. Why are you asking?¡±


    ¡°I know, but I mean, why buy a house? Our current house is perfectly fine and has no issues.¡±


    Lucas nodded again. He reached for Deasy¡¯s wrist, holding it gently.


    ¡°It¡¯s a birthday gift for you. A reward for being a good wife and mother to our child. Besides, I thought we needed a bigger and more spacious house than the one we have now.¡±


    ¡°Birthday?¡± Deasy repeated. Then it dawned on her that it was exactly midnight, and it was her birthday. ¡°Wait¡­ wait¡­ don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been acting all angry and annoying for the past two days just to make me upset on purpose?¡±


    Laughter erupted from Lucas¡¯s lips. There was no need for further exnation. From the expression on his face, it was clear he was answering Deasy¡¯s question.


    ¡°Annoying! Lucas Orion, you¡¯re so annoying! You did this to me twice!¡±


    Lucasughed even more. He didn¡¯t let Deasy get more upset; instead, he quickly pulled her close and held her tightly.


    ¡°Happy birthday, my dear. May all the good wishese true. I hope in this mature age, you¡¯ll be wiser, more patient, and, of course, saner. I hope you¡¯ll endure and stay strong, living alongside me until we¡¯re old.¡±


    The frustration she had felt moments ago dissipated instantly, reced by an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and emotion. Deasy was delighted that Lucas remembered her birthday and touched by the gift he had given her.


    Luckily, Deasy wasn¡¯t impulsive and quick to give up. If she were like the wives in Indonesian soap operas, as Veronica had described, who easily got emotional and ran away whenever there were marital problems, Deasy would have missed out on this incredible birthday gift ¨C a new house.


    ¡°You¡¯re so unbelievably annoying!¡± Deasy teased, still a bit exasperated.


    ¡°Well, I had actually nned a surprise for your birthday. But who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d annoy me first, acting all sweet with your ex-boyfriend and everything. So, I decided to annoy you first to make you experience jealousy.¡±


    ¡°Such a meanie! So, did you purposely invite Devina to annoy me too?¡±


    Lucas shook his head, providing rification immediately.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t have any intention at first. It just happened that Devina called earlier saying she wanted to deliver an invitation.¡±


    ¡°Invitation?¡±


    Lucas nodded.


    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s getting married soon. So, I asked her to help me y a little prank on you. Actually, I didn¡¯t go anywhere today. I¡¯ve been at the office all day. And don¡¯t worry, the food you cooked, I really did eat it all. If you don¡¯t believe me, just ask Felix.¡±


    Deasy was bing even more exasperated. She couldn¡¯t believe her husband had intentionally yed this trick on her.


    ¡°I swear! You¡¯re so annoying.¡±


    Lucasughed again. He reached for Deasy¡¯s body once more and held her tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I made you sad. Honestly, I didn¡¯t really want to do this. But, considering you were acting all sweet and annoying yesterday, I decided to have a little fun.¡±


    Deasy unraveled herself from the embrace and looked at Lucas with a yful pout.


    ¡°Lucky for you, I love you. And since the gift is a house, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so materialistic.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about being materialistic when ites to my own husband, not someone else¡¯s. But seriously, I¡¯m sorry, Luc. I didn¡¯t mean to make you-¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Lucas interjected quickly. ¡°Let¡¯s just forget about yesterday¡¯s issue. There¡¯s no need to bring it up again. What¡¯s important is that it doesn¡¯t happen again. Now, you should get some rest. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have another surprise for you.¡±

 PHB 104

    ¡°Lucas, what surprise do you actually want to give, huh?¡± Deasy wondered. Just from her expression, her curiosity was so evident.


    Since waking up, Lucas had been treating her very specially. From being apanied to bathe, to picking out clothes for her. Cooking her favorite breakfast menu. And of course, feeding her as usual.


    Actually, this often happened on ordinary days. What made it extraordinary was the presence of Veronica, Darwin, and Sean who were sitting in the dining room together with them this morning to enjoy breakfast.


    Deasy was certainly surprised. She never expected Lucas to invite his friends so early in the morning to visit and have breakfast together. Because usually, inviting people to celebrate birthdays always happened in the evening or at night. What was even more impressive was that their friends willingly came even though it was very early and on a holiday.


    ¡°Well, this is one of the surprises. Inviting your close friends to have breakfast together.¡±


    Deasy shook her head in disbelief. Where did her husbande up with this brilliant idea? When asked if she was happy or not, Deasy was perfectly happy to enjoy breakfast with her closest friends whom she considered as family.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t your birthday, I swear, I wouldn¡¯te to someone¡¯s house this early. Especially on a holiday. Shouldn¡¯t it be used to sleep in?¡±


    Darwin grumbled. His face clearly showed a slightly annoyed expression. Perhaps he was irritated because his holiday time, which he usually used to rest, was forcibly taken away by his wife, who insisted on attending Deasy¡¯s birthday.


    ¡°Oh, dear, Luc. What are you doing inviting Darwin, anyway?¡± Deasy retorted after Darwin finished grumbling. ¡°Besides, Darwin isn¡¯t my special friend. There¡¯s no need to bring him here. Veronica and Sean¡¯s presence alone is more than enough.¡±


    Darwin sighed loudly. Deasy was really something else. He had gone out of his way toe here, and yet he wasn¡¯t appreciated. Although, if he wanted to bring up his kindness, he had saved her life twice already.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Darwin scolded while looking irritated. Folding his hands in front of his chest, he mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not a special friend, that¡¯s right. I¡¯m not interested in being your friend either. But, please don¡¯t forget. My blood is flowing in your body. If it weren¡¯t for me, you might be dead by now. Don¡¯t forget that, too. I¡¯ve saved your life twice.¡±


    Deasy red. She couldn¡¯t believe what Darwin had just said made her even more irritated.


    ¡°Do you know why I don¡¯t want to make you my friend? Your mouth is so sweet, Win. Just like a woman. You love to brag about your kindness.¡±


    ¡°Just like you, Des.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, you don¡¯t want to help me willingly? Go ahead, take your blood back from my body. Squeeze it out. Then keep it in the fridge. You¡¯re so unenthusiastic!¡±


    ¡°Enough¡­ enough,¡± Veronica interjected, shaking her head. Why did every time they met, her friend and her husband had to argue like cats and dogs? ¡°Can¡¯t you just not fight for once?¡±


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t!¡± Deasy and Darwin replied in unison.


    ¡°Cieee¡­ so united,¡± Sean teased, who had been mostly silent since earlier. ¡°Don¡¯t hate each other too much, Des. Maybe you¡¯ll end up falling for Darwin.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, no way.¡± Deasy said that loudly, tapping her fingers on the table surface. She hoped God wouldn¡¯t grant what Sean had just said. ¡°Don¡¯t say such things, Sean. Crazy if I fall for Darwin. Like my husband isn¡¯t handsome enough.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also not interested in being liked by you, Deasy!¡± Darwin asserted.


    Lucas justughed. While listening, he fed Deasy breakfast without any awkwardness, making sure his wife finished the specially prepared meal.


    ¡°But, Luc¡­¡± Deasy said afterward when her gaze shifted to Lucas. ¡°Thank you so much for arranging all of this for me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, dear. But, this isn¡¯t the main surprise.¡±


    Deasy¡¯s forehead immediately furrowed. After all, she had been given a luxurious house as a giftst night. And this morning, she was surprised by the presence of her friends. So, what other surprise did Lucas have in store?


    ¡°What else do you want to give?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out after we finish eating.¡±


    Deasy seemed impatient. She was clearly enthusiastic and curious about what Lucas was going to give her this time.


    ¡°Here, I also have a gift. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t get something more extravagant,¡± Veronica said as she handed something to Deasy.


    ¡°A key?¡± Deasy wondered after receiving the gift from Veronica. ¡°Is this a car key?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Darwin chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s the key to a carousel.¡±


    ¡°Win!¡± Deasy eximed, her face showing annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m asking seriously here.¡±


    ¡°Besides, the car brand is clearly on the key, why are you still asking? Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know?¡±


    ¡°Just making sure. Besides, are you seriously giving me a car, Ve?¡±


    Veronica nodded, confirming Deasy¡¯s earlier question.


    ¡°Yes, Des. I thought it would be perfect for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Veronica. Thank you so much. Actually, this isn¡¯t necessary, but it¡¯s a blessing, right? Superstitious.¡±


    Lucas and Sean bothughed. Deasy had a way of saying she felt ufortable, but in the end, she epted everything willingly. Moreover, it would be a shame to refuse Veronica¡¯s gift of a car.


    ¡°Just take it, okay¡­¡± Darwin deliberately joined the conversation again. His behavior was exactly like that of a woman who was participating in gossip. For some reason, he enjoyed annoying Deasy, who was easily irritated with him. ¡°Please, really. I bought it with my money, Deasy Winterborne. So, don¡¯t forget to thank me too.¡±


    Deasy rolled her eyes. For whatever reason, dealing with a guy like Darwin was such a hassle. Besides being annoying, he also had a habit of teasing and boasting about his kindness. Typical selfishness.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Deasy said. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll say thank you. But don¡¯t get too happy yet. I¡¯m thanking you because I don¡¯t want you to take the gift backter.¡±


    ¡°Typical not wanting to lose!¡±


    Everyone then continued their breakfast, which Lucas had arranged so thoughtfully. While chatting, they all seemed to be immersed in the warm atmosphere that had naturally formed that morning.


    Perhaps, around 10 o¡¯clock, Darwin, Sean, and Veronica decided to leave. After the guests left, Lucas immediately pulled Deasy to go to their room. Guiding her to sit on the sofa, while Lucas walked to the closet, and then returned to Deasy, offering her some clothes to change into quickly.


    ¡°Hurry up and change. I want to take you somewhere.¡±


    ¡°To somewhere? Where are we going?¡± Deasy asked, confused.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s a surprise. You¡¯ll find out on your ownter. What¡¯s important now is to get ready quickly.¡±


    Deasy nodded in agreement. Following Lucas¡¯s instructions, she quickly changed her clothes, applied makeup, and tried her best to look beautiful this morning.


    Once she was ready, Lucas led Deasy to say goodbye to Mama Diana, who happened to be at their residence. After that, they got into the car and headed to the destination Lucas had prepared.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Deasy asked, growing more confused. Especially since her husband hadn¡¯t brought Jonas with them on this journey.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Lucas replied calmly.


    Finally, fifteen minutester, the car that Deasy and Lucas were riding in arrived. Lucas then invited Deasy to get out.


    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Deasy hurriedly got out of the car. Instead of having her mounting curiosity answered, she became even more puzzled.


    ¡°The airport? Where are we going? Why did you bring me to the airport? And Jonas was left behind too.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s intentionally left behind, dear. From the time we got married until Jonas was born, we¡¯ve never been on vacation just the two of us, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± Deasy nodded. ¡°But what about Jonas? Is it okay to leave him with Mama?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jonas will be fine. Mama and the other assistants will take care of him. Besides, all of his needs will be met. So, you don¡¯t have to worry. And I promise, our trip won¡¯t be long.¡±


    Deasy tried to dispel the worry that had been haunting her. In any case, she couldn¡¯t help but think about Jonas, who was only three months old but already being left behind.


    ¡°Rx, dear. Jonas will be just fine. For now, let¡¯s enjoy our vacation together.¡±


    ¡°So, where are you taking me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you on a honeymoon to Japan.¡±


    Deasy was taken aback. The worry that had been haunting her now turned into joy. How could she not be happy when Lucas was taking her to the dream country she had always wanted to visit?


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re happy with this gift. I promise to always do my best to make you happy.¡±


    Deasy nodded. She took Lucas¡¯s hand and followed him into the airport. After waiting for a while, they would depart for the country that Deasy had always dreamed of visiting.

 PHB 105

    ¡°Wee to Japan, Sweetheart.¡±


    Deasy smiled broadly as she arrived and finally set foot in Japan. As a woman from an affluent family, traveling to Japan shouldn¡¯t have been difficult for her.


    Throughout her life, she had traveled to several countries, both for leisure and work-rted purposes.


    However, despite visiting many countries in Europe and Asia, she had never had the opportunity to visit Japan. It was quite ironic.


    Now, after harboring this desire for so long, Lucas had granted it. Turning this special trip into a birthday gift made Deasy feel even more delighted.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Luc. As a husband and life partner, you truly go above and beyond. If I had ten thumbs, I¡¯d give them all to you.¡±


    ¡°With my pleasure, Honey,¡± Lucas replied when they had arrived in Japan and were now at the hotel. ¡°Your happiness and Jonas¡¯s are my current life goals. Whatever it takes, I¡¯ll do it to make both of you happy.¡±


    ¡°But how did you know I really wanted to go to Japan?¡±


    Deasy was naturally curious. She remembered clearly that she had never talked about her dream of visiting Japan.


    Whenever they had time to exchange stories, Deasy mostly shared stories of her past or discussed future dreams she wanted to achieve with Lucas. She couldn¡¯t recall ever mentioning this particr dream, which made her wonder how Lucas could have known about it.


    ¡°I just guessed,¡± Lucas replied casually.


    ¡°Come on, that doesn¡¯t sound convincing at all.¡±


    Lucasughed. He was delighted to see Deasy with an annoyed expression like she had now.


    ¡°I knew it from Mom. She told me that ever since you were little, you¡¯ve always wanted to go to Japan. And on one of your birthdays, myte father once gave you a ticket as a gift to go to Japan together. But because my dad passed away before that could happen, the n never came to fruition. So, consider this my way of making up for that moment. If you couldn¡¯t go with myte dad, at least you can go with me.¡±


    Deasy was deeply moved by what Lucas had done for her. For whatever reason, she was truly grateful that God had brought her together with a man who could fill in all the gaps she had.


    If she looked back on her past, she couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed about all her habits and actions. Sometimes, Deasy found it amusing to remember how she used to despise Lucas. She had underestimated him and had overthought things, thinking that a man with narrow eyes like him wasn¡¯t suitable to be her life partner.


    Moreover, Deasy even boasted. She had once insulted and arrogantly imed that Lucas wasn¡¯t her type of man because he had an older brother who didn¡¯t meet her criteria.


    ¡°Come on, dear. My older brother meets all the standards, you know. Once you try it, you¡¯ll be addicted.¡±


    When Deasy remembered Lucas¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t help butugh in embarrassment. She remembered how Lucas had convinced her that he was the right person for her.


    And as it turned out, Lucas¡¯s words were not just empty boasts. In the end, he was able to prove that he was the ideal person Deasy could be proud of.


    ¡°I should also thank God for the destiny he arranged for both of us, Luc.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also grateful I met a unique woman like you.¡±


    Deasy wasn¡¯t offended in the slightest. Sheughed upon hearing Lucas¡¯s confession. Deasy admitted that she wasn¡¯t really unique, more like crazy and capricious.


    ¡°But, you don¡¯t regret it, do you?¡±


    ¡°Regret what?¡±


    ¡°Because I forced you to sleep with me that night.¡±


    Lucas shook his head. At one point, he had thought that his help that night for a heavily intoxicated Deasy was the beginning of a disaster.


    But now, he looked thankful. If Lucas hadn¡¯t kindly taken Deasy, who was seriously drunk, to her apartment that night, their life story might never have happened.


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done and experienced with you from the moment we met until now, I don¡¯t regret any of it. In fact, I¡¯m grateful that God destined us to meet.¡±


    Deasy was pleased with Lucas¡¯s honest response. She was sure he wasn¡¯t boasting or exaggerating.


    ¡°As a token of appreciation for all the kindness you¡¯ve shown, I need to give you a gift tonight.¡±


    ¡°A gift?¡±


    Lucas furrowed his brow. It was Deasy¡¯s birthday, after all. Why was he the one getting a gift?


    ¡°A gift for me?¡±


    Deasy nodded.


    ¡°Yes. A prelude gift before I give you other gifts as well.¡±


    Deasy then approached Lucas, who was sittingfortably on the edge of the bed. Without many words, or much speech at all, the woman who was celebrating her birthday suddenly took a seat on Lucas¡¯sp.


    yfully and without any shame, Deasy wrapped her arms around Lucas¡¯s neck while wearing a mischievous smile. asionally, she would affectionately kiss her husband¡¯s cheek, as if deliberately hinting at what kind of gift she would give him next.


    Understanding what Deasy wanted, Lucas confidently unbuttoned his ck shirt that hugged his muscr frame. Then, he focused on Deasy, gently cupping her face andnding a deep kiss. He savored the softness of Deasy¡¯s lips as they kissed passionately.


    Meanwhile, Lucas¡¯s free hand began to explore. It traced the buttons of Deasy¡¯s shirt, undoing them one by one until the front of Deasy¡¯s body was revealed.


    Without needing to ask for permission or many questions, Lucas guided Deasy to lie down. With a variety of enticing movements, he began to unite with her.


    Not wanting to rush what he was doing, Lucas clearly built a slow and steady lovemaking rhythm. Every movement he created, Lucas believed, had the power to captivate and envelop both himself and Deasy simultaneously.


    Every sensual movement Lucas and Deasy engaged in was intoxicating and melodic. They reciprocated each other¡¯s desires. Eventually, they both felt the sensation of pleasure.


    ¡°I love you, Luc. Love you to the moon and back. Whatever happens in the future, I hope we can face it together,¡± Deasy whispered while still embracing Lucas¡¯s body.


    At this moment, for both of them, nothing brought greater happiness than being together. They shared moments of joy, sadness, grief, and happiness together.


    Who would have thought that it all began with the fateful events they both went through? It continued with the drama of pregnancy and the tug-of-war over responsibilities and marriage. Not to mention the various challenges that came their way.


    They had faced it all one by one. From being as distant as the sky and earth, they were now as close as veins and arteries.


    Once again, Lucas and Deasy both thanked the destiny that God had arranged so meticulously. With the addition of Jonas, who nowpleted their happiness.


    Lucas and Deasy¡¯s hope for this happiness continued to grow. They wished it wouldst forever, until death separated them.


    *THE END*


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!