"Yes, sir." Desmond quickly nodded and turned to carry out the orders.

Given the diamond mine deal and Reynold's promise to ground Rebecca for a month, Lucas had let the matter slide. Yet, within days, he allowed Rebecca to venture out. If Reynold couldn't enforce discipline with his daughter, he would have to deal with the

consequences.

Aveline poured Lucas a glass of water and placed it in front of him before turning to leave.

Lucas stared at her and asked, "Don't you have anything to say?"

Aveline's expression was indifferent. "You didn't do anything wrong. Why should I say anything?"Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Her words unexpectedly lifted Lucas' gloomy mood. In the past, she would have scoffed at his actions. Could it be that she was beginning to care for him again?

With this thought, Lucas reached out and pulled her towards him.

Aveline frowned. "What are you doing?"

Lucas locked his eyes onto hers as his gaze fell lower. He leaned in to kiss her.

"Are you crazy?" Aveline pushed him away and hurried back to the. bedroom. Just because she brought him a glass of water, he thought he could act on his impulses? This man was losing it. Lucas was left stunned, his hand empty, her look of disdain fresh in his mind. He pressed his lips together.

Had he misread the situation?

But so what? As long as she was by his side, it was only a matter of time before she fell for him again.

Lucas took a sip from the glass of water, then set it down heavily on the table.

Lucas' wound healed quickly. After half a month, he was almost fully recovered, though he still needed regular injections.

This time, as they left the hospital and sat in the car, Aveline asked, "You're almost fully healed. Can I leave now?"

Lucas was reading a document, his expression indifferent as he

replied, "Where are you planning to go?"

"Back to Cloudflare City," Aveline said.

"No way I'm going back there," she thought.

She needed to go somewhere he couldn't find her.

Lucas looked up from his document, a faint smile playing at the

corners of his lips. "I don't believe you."

Aveline felt a surge of frustration. "Believe it or not, we agreed I would stay until you were fully recovered."

"Am I fully recovered?" Lucas challenged.

Anger flashed in Aveline's eyes as she looked at him. "Lucas, can you stop being unreasonable? Yes, you saved me, and I've taken care of you. I don't owe you anything anymore. Can you just let me go?" Seeing her angry yet helpless expression, Lucas felt a dull ache in his chest, as if struck by a heavy hammer. His sharp, handsome face remained stoic, but his eyes locked onto hers. "Fine. Once you've cooked dinner tonight, you can leave."

Aveline, still seething, paused at his words. Did he just give in to her so easily? She stared at him in disbelief.

Lucas'

gaze returned to his document. "If you don't want to, then

forget it."

"Okay!" Aveline quickly agreed.

She couldn't believe how quickly he had given in. For a moment, Aveline wondered if she was dreaming. When had he ever been so accommodating?

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