"I feel like sewing your mouth shut right now," Lucas said quietly.

Aveline responded, "I'm afraid that's not possible. There's no-"

Before she could finish, his fiery kiss landed on her lips. The kiss was urgent and fierce as if he was venting some deep emotion. It was so intense that Aveline found it hard to breathe. She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist with one hand and pinned it behind her back, pulling her even closer.

Seizing the moment, Aveline bit his lip.

Instead of stopping, he deepened the kiss.

She felt like she was going to suffocate. Was this man crazy? She regretted coming in too early. If she had waited until they were done, she wouldn't be treated like this.

His slender fingers slipped under her shirt, skillfully tracing every sensitive spot on her body. She trembled and went limp.

Realizing she was no longer struggling, he finally released her, but his nose still touched hers.

"Aveline, why are you getting so close to Mr. Skyler again? Do you know what kind of person he is?"

With her eyes reddened and filled with anger, she glared at him. That's none of your business!"

He could embrace Sophia, so why couldn't she find someone else?

Lucas narrowed his eyes dangerously, grabbed her leg, and turned her around, making her straddle him.

Aveline regained a bit of strength but didn't immediately move away. Instead, she looked at him with a half-smile. "Lucas, could it

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How could the look at her with such suspicion

velse couldn't understand it no matter how long she thought

Lucas for a strange pong in his chest and then asked, "Did you

eport it to the police

Aveline's cone grew col

Lucas brow remained tightly furrowed. After a moment, he said, I'll investigate it."

Aveline looked at him "Svou still refuse to divorce me?

Lucas didn't respond

Aveline continued, "Miss Winter life matters, but mine doesn't

Lucas lips pressed into a straight line.

He stared at her for a while before saying, "Your life matters too."

Aveline asked. "Then why won't you divorce me?"

Divorce, divorce! Didn't she have anything else to say? Was she going to keep mentioning divorce all the time?

Lucas felt inexplicably irritated and depressed. His grip on her waist rightened unconsciously

ine's body stiffened. "Are you trying to strangle

Lucas looked at her quietly. "Do you think I don't want

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Lucas said, "If we're not divorcing, we need to act like it. You'll either live with me at the Tudor residence, or I'll live with you at Maple Garden. Pick one. We need to make sure people know we have a good relat Aveline protested, "Lots of couples live separately. Why do we have to live together?"

Lucas replied, "To make it convincing for outsiders. That way, no one will trouble Sophia."

Aveline was speechless. Why did she even ask? She was just stabbing herself in the heart with her own questions.

"Then arrange some bodyguards for me, to protect me closely," Aveline continued to set conditions.

No one cared about her, so she had to take good care of herself.

Lucas said, "You can go to and from work with me. I'll protect you."

Aveline responded, "I don't trust you."

Lucas was speechless again.

The atmosphere in the private room grew colder, the air thick with tension, and an invisible pressure began to spread.

БОЙРНОАКТ

Chapter an

uddenly became

Latas said coolly, "You've not so nijny conditions. Now it's my turn

Aveline widened her oyes slight Hy. Are you serious? Isn't using me as a shield not enou

ough? Now you want to set conditions too? How

Lucas was spoochless again. He really wanted to strangle her.

"Stay away from Mr. Skyler from now on.

Aveline responded, "That's impossible,"

Lucas squinted his eyes in displeasure,

Aveline explained, "He's my sa

's my savion Without him, I'd be dead by now. So, Lean't stay away from him in the future, if I get the chance, I have to repay him."

Encas asked, "How will you repay him? By marrying him?"

Aveline replied, "Well... if he wants to, it's not out of the question."

"Ave Aveline!! cas' tone grew harsher. "I'm not joking."

Aveline's expression gradually calined, "Neither am I, Lucas. I don't think you want this to get ugly. Either divorce me or agree to my conditions." Lucas asked coldly, "Get ugly? What do you plan to do?"

Aveline said, "I have video evidence and witnesses. If the divorce turns into a scandal, it will i our reputation. Is that enough?"

A cold sanile appeared on Lancas' lips. "Then I'll lock you up and break your legs before you can file a lawsuit."

Aveline's breath hitched. At this moment, she didn't doubt the truth of his words at all!

If he really got pushed to the edge, he might actually do it!

What a scumbag!

Aveline tried to calm down and asked, "Lucas, do you actually like Miss Winter or not?"

If he liked her, shouldn't he marry her as soon as possible? If he didn't, why was he always protecting her? It was really hard to understand.

Lucas replied, "That's none of your business."

Aveline scoffed, "Hah!"

Lucas was quiet again. The atmosphere grew tense once more.

At that moment, Lucas' phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was a call from Brian.

"Speak."

Brian said, "Mr. Tudor, Miss Winter has arrived home."

"Alright, come back now," Lucas instructed and then hung up the phone.

Taking advantage of the moment, Aveline got up from his lap, exhaled deeply, and said, "Lucas, you have to agree to my conditions. Otherwise, if I walk away from this, you won't find another like me."

With that, she turned and left.

This time, Lucas didn't stop her.

Lucas watched her slender figure leave, the deep darkness in his

272

eyes gradually spreading like an unfathomable abyss.

When Brian entered, he saw Lucas with a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling and rising from his hand. Lucas looked up, his gaze icy. "Brian, you have a lot of nerve." Brian stiffened and lowered his head, remaining silent.

Lucas stood up and walked over, kicking Brian in the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel.

"What did you find out that night?" Lucas looked down at him, his presence radiating a cold, oppressive aura.

Brian knelt, his back straight. "Mr. Tudor, Miss Winter lost a leg for you. When you were unconscious, she endured the pain to take care of you. Later, when you went missing, she kept searching for you. You can't betray her!" Lucas' voice grew colder. "I'm asking you, what did you find out that night?"