CHAPTER 452

Leigh couldn't help but burst out in wild, unrestrained guffaws when she saw Lucas' dumbfounded expression making yet another appearance. "I'm so sorry. I just can't help teasing you. I'm kidding! Chill. Don't take things so seriously." Content is property © .

Lucas frowned as he looked in askance at her. No, I don't think you're sorry or kidding at all! You seemed pretty serious!

He chugged his juice in distress. He didn't want to marry her. If he did, he couldn't even imagine what he would become. The thought of becoming remotely like his brother was enough to send him running to the hills in fright

Sebastian was a hen-pecked husband who adored his wife and children with his entire being.

But if I marry Leigh, she will have me eating out of her hands soon enough. No! No way! It feels so weird to be teased by a girl day and night! I may end up losing my mind!

"What's wrong? Are you upset?" Leigh finally stopped laughing and tried to contain her guffaws. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm so sorry. You look like a super nice guy, so I can't help but tease you a little. Please forgive me, okay?"

Do I look like a super nice guy? Lucas stared at her in disbelief. I look more like a pushover, don't I?!

"Don't be upset. I'll punish myself with three drinks, okay?" Leigh hailed the waiter. "A bottle of red wine, please."

His lips twitched as he still vividly recalled the night Leigh got drunk.

He was not interested in talking about life philosophy, poetry, and songs with a drunkard again... Oh, no, they were talking about his tragic past and gossiping about the Griffin Family.

He remembered her saying that his terrible past and the Griffin Family's scandals were the best snacks for her to pair with the wine.

So, what did she want to talk about today?

He honestly didn't want her to even drink a sip of alcohol, but she had already called for the waiter and ordered a bottle of wine without his input. If he stopped her now, it would be as if he was stingy since he was treating her to tonight's dinner.

Although he had no intention of dating her, he didn't hate her. On the contrary, she was Madeline's best friend, so he had naturally regarded her as a friend or a potential sister.

He did not want to leave a bad impression on her. Thus, he also didn't want her to think that he was too stingy to buy her a bottle of wine.

Hence, he had no choice but to watch in resignation as the waiter brought a bottle of wine over.

Yikes, this is terrible.

Leigh meant it when she said that she would punish herself. She immediately filled up a glass and finished it in one gulp. After she polished off the wine glass, she showed the empty glass to Lucas and beamed. "See? My apology to you is sincere, isn't it?"

He pouted as he closed his eyes in hopes that he could stave off the pained expression making its way to his face. Nope, I don't see your sincerity. All I see is a drunkard in the making.

"Don't drink too much. I'm not angry." He advised, "Drinking is bad for you. Just drink a little. You'll make a fool of yourself if you drink too much."

To his surprise, she readily took his advice.

"Okay." She only filled her second glass to a third. "I'll take my time."

Huh? Lucas was baffled. Why is she behaving so obediently now? This feels odd.

"Young Master Lucas, can you do me a favor, please?" Leigh asked while cupping her chin with one hand and swirling the wine glass with the other.

"Don't call me that," he huffed. "I always feel that you're mocking me when you do that. It gives me the creeps."

"Really? why?" She quipped, "I signed a contract with Sebastian. Technically speaking, you can be considered my co-employer, so the address is appropriate..."

Then, she glanced at him and sighed solemnly. "Fortunately, I'm not a snowflake, or I may look at you with tears in my eyes and demand piteously, 'Young Master Lucas, do you dislike my humble origins and think you're out of my league? Is that why you don't want to be with me?'"

She feigned a sorrowful demeanor and lamented in such a despairing tone so well that she gave him a

whiplash.

Lucas really got goosebumps this time. "Please spare me! You're so bold and charismatic. This kind of pitiful image does not suit you at all!" He even showed her his arms. "See, I have actual goosebumps because of you!"

"I'm lecturing you to help you build your self-confidence." Leigh immediately returned to her usual self. "See, I signed a contract with Sebastian, and I have to work for him for the rest of my life. I don't feel awful at all, so why do you always tell others that you are a b*stard? Are you worse than I am? Some people even describe me as your family's slave, but unlike you, I don't have an inferiority complex."

Lucas confided, "Actually, I don't have an inferiority complex. Even if I don't do anything, in the eyes of others, my existence itself is a sin. I will be looked down on because of my identity, which is why I refuse to get married. I don't want my kids to be teased because I am an illegitimate son! Imagining the scene alone makes my heart ache."

He could turn a blind eye to the contempt of others, but he couldn't watch his dearest and beloved being hurt because of him. He could bear it no matter how the others insulted him, but if he got married and had children in the future, he would be defeated if his wife and children were humiliated because of his status.

He did not want anyone he cared about to be despised and belittled because of him. That was why he wouldn't get married. Absolutely not!

Nevertheless, it didn't really matter since he preferred to be alone. That way, he would not be responsible for anyone's life, and no one would get in harm's way due to his less-than-stellar past. So, this was for the best!

"Wait a minute! You're right! I can't get married either!" Leigh exclaimed, "It's even more of a disaster for my children if I get married! I signed a life-long contract with Sebastian and have to enact his will without qualms and questions. Others can devote their life to their children, but I have to put Sebastian's interest first and prioritize my children second. This is unfair to my future child!"

She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Well, you've successfully convinced me. So, let's join hands and be single forever. I don't want to get married anymore. I don't want my kids to suffer because of me."

Lucas frowned at her decisive behavior. Wait, she's teasing me again, isn't she? I changed her view of marriage just a second ago, and now, I managed to change her mind again?

If Madeline found out that after talking to me for less than half an hour, Leigh, who had planned to get married and start a family, would remain single again, would she ask Sebastian to beat me up?

"I see it now!" He glanced at Leigh, and his face twisted in a bitter grimace. "You're my jinx! The angels probably thought that my life was far too smooth-sailing, and they sent you to bully me!"

"Is that so?" She smiled and winked wickedly. "If that's the case… Hey, don't you think that it is good for us to get married and have kids?"

What the hell?! Lucas stared at her, completely dumbstruck. What's so good about it?!

"Think about it." She beamed as she rambled, "If we get married and have a kid, he is both the child of an illegitimate son as well as your family's slave. If we get married to another partner, we will have two miserable kids, but if we get married to each other, there will only be one miserable kid. I think I've

struck gold with my logic, so isn't this for the best?"

His jaw dropped in bewilderment. What kind of an oddball argument was this?! It was obviously best not to have children at all!