Divorced

The smile on Gernard’s face faded further as he looked at Lucas with a noticeable shift in his demeanor.

“Mr. Tudor, isn’t it irresponsible to be so indecisive? You let rumors of your divorce spread, yet you didn’t go through with it. Now, there’s talk of an alliance through marriage between the Tudor and Thompson families, and somehow, my family has been dragged into this mess as well. What exactly are you playing at?”

Lucas let out a cold laugh. “You believed the divorce rumors just because I said so? What’s next, if I claimed to be a god, would you believe that too?“– This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Gernard’s expression darkened.

Aveline, puzzled, asked, “What do you mean, your family got dragged into this?”

Lucas responded, “Since I’m supposedly single, both the Thompsons and the Coopers are trying to marry me off. Isn’t it hilarious? It’s as if every other man in the world has disappeared.”

Aveline was speechless.

She knew about his engagement to Judy, but they wanted him to get engaged with the Cooper family’s heiress too?

She hadn’t been aware of that.

“Lucas, I suggest you choose your words carefully,” Gernard warned, his voice low. “Given your current situation, dealing with threats on all

sides, can you really afford to make another enemy?”

Lucas gave him a dismissive glance. Taking you on is still well within my capabilities.”

14

+25

Gernard let out a mirthless laugh. “Such arrogance! I’d love to see how you plan to handle things when it all falls apart.”

The tension in the room was palpable, and Aveline felt like she was caught in the middle of a battlefield. She hesitated before saying, “Um… if you two need to talk, why not take it outside? I’d like to rest.”

Lucas spoke up immediately. “Did you hear that? She wants to rest. And you, the one responsible for her accident, have the nerve to come here and provoke me?”

“You- Gernard hadn’t expected such bluntness from Lucas, and his face flushed with anger.

But Aveline interjected, “Lucas, could you be a little more polite? The car accident wasn’t entirely Mr. Cooper’s fault.”

Lucas replied curtly, “And it wasn’t your fault either.”

Sensing the tension between them, Gernard turned to Aveline and said, Miss Young, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out. That offer stands anytime.”

His words carried the implicit message that if she found herself dealing with difficult people, he was more than willing to step in and help.

For reasons he couldn’t quite pinpoint, Gernard found himself increasingly irritated by Lucas‘ persistent presence around Aveline. It wasn’t jealousy over Aveline–it was more a sense of indignation that Lucas had no right to mistreat her.

Aveline nodded slightly. “I understand. Thank you, Mr. Cooper.”

Then, turning to Lucas, she said, “I’ve made myself clear. Since neither of us is willing to compromise, then let’s just carry on like this.”

If no one could find peace, then so be it. She had already resigned herself to this downward spiral.

23

Lucas studied her intently, saying nothing, but also showing no sign of leaving.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense.

Gernard had come intending to confront Lucas and get some answers, but instead, he found himself on the receiving end of Lucas‘ sharp words. Frustrated, he turned and left the room, his expression dark.

Outside the room, Selena had witnessed the entire exchange. She couldn’t help but marvel at Lucas’s relentless combativeness–no one seemed able to get the better of him. The fact that she had managed to hold her ground so far made her wonder if it was only because of Aveline’s influence.

Selena let out a deep sigh, at a loss for words. Lucas might refrain from picking fights with her out of respect for Aveline, but when it came to

just couldn’t manage to treat her well.

✔ine herself, he