CHAPTER 451

Leigh didn't know what was wrong with Lucas, but she just got a kick out of seeing him utterly stumped, that's all. He's so adorable!

She grinned as she asked, "Hello? Aren't you going to invite me to join you?"

Lucas' eyes widened in shock. Invite you? I have to! You are not an ordinary date. You're Madeline's best friend!

It was wiser to be on friendly terms with her. Even if they didn't fall for each other at the end of the day, they would often meet each other because of Madeline and Sebastian. In that case, he should maintain some basic courtesy.

Thus, he politely walked to her and pulled out a chair for her. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you." Leigh sat down with a smile.

After she made herself comfortable, he immediately sat across from her. Then, after a beat of awkward silence, he blurted, "Are you here for a blind date?"

"What do you think?" Leigh retorted.

Lucas didn't know what to say to that. He honestly felt Leigh was here to tease him, but he didn't dare voice his suspicion.

"I don't want to get married," he repeated.

"What a coincidence." Leigh chuckled. "I was the same before I met you."

Before Lucas could say anything, she continued, "But I changed my mind after I met you."

Damn! Did I change her mind about marriage? How fantastic! But it has nothing to do with me!

It didn't matter if she did have a change of heart; the point here was that he still maintained the same mindset! He refused to get hitched!

"But I haven't changed my mind." So, he tentatively suggested, "Why don't you… Find someone else?" NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

"What if I only have feelings for you?" Leigh's smile only widened at his response.

Lucas pursed his lips. "Maybe I should go for plastic surgery."

Leigh laughed heartily. "Ah, I'm sad to say that I like you for your interesting sense of humor."

Damn! He stared at her unblinkingly as his mind raced. How bold! I've never met someone as straightforward as her. How could she confess her feelings even though we've only just met a few times?!

"Aren't you worried that I'm two-faced?"

"Nope." Leigh said, "I believe in Mr. Hart. The Hart Family would have written you off if you were a horrible person. You wouldn't be able to be Young Master Lucas for so long."

Lucas was rendered speechless by her rational deduction. Her remarks were logical in that he couldn't find a way to refute them so he could get out of this mess.

"But I like being single and have no desire to change my status." He looked at her and affirmed solemnly, "I want to spend my life however I want without being tied down. I don't want to get married, nor do I want to be responsible for other people's lives."

"That's fine." She rested her chin against her palm and gazed at him earnestly. "Even if we don't date each other, we can be friends. You're the funniest handsome man I've ever met. Being friends with you would be very interesting."

Lucas sighed inwardly as he prayed for the heavens to have mercy on him. Yes, he knew that he was handsome in her eyes. On the night she was drunk, she had heaped numerous praises for his dashing looks alone.

Still, even though he wasn't interested, it didn't mean that he was a blind man. He had to admit that Leigh was a gorgeous woman herself.

As the old saying went, "birds of a feather flock together." Madeline was so stunning that no one would dare to stand with her for fear that they would pale in comparison.

However, when Leigh strode hand-in-hand with Madeline, she was not at all outshone by Madeline's good looks. In fact, her unique temperament and aura made her shine in her own right.

But that didn't matter!

The point was he wasn't interested in being in a relationship at all!

So what if she was beautiful? How was that any of his business?

"Don't you want to buy me a drink?" Leigh smiled mischievously as she prompted, "Even if you're not interested, you don't dislike me that much that you wouldn't buy me a drink, would you?"

"What?" Lucas gasped, "No! No! I don't hate you. I'm sorry."

He immediately beckoned the waiter over. "Go ahead. Order whatever you want. I've heard of this restaurant. Their food is delicious, especially the steak and caviar. They are very well-prepared."

She didn't hesitate in ordering the ones he had recommended and a glass of juice.

He also returned the menu to the waiter as he spoke, "Two of the same, thank you."

When the waiter took the menu and left, she smirked slyly as she poked fun at him, "Hey, we have the same preference for food. It's a pity not to date each other."

Lucas' eyes widened in astonishment. How could she flirt with him so brazenly?! He would have doubted her character if she hadn't been Madeline's best friend!

He asked helplessly, "Are you always so straightforward when you talk to everyone?"

"Yup. I don't like to beat around the bush. I just find word games far too annoying." Leigh giggled. "But don't worry. As I said, I was once like you, but you were the first to catch my eye, so this is my first time confessing to a man. I'm not a player. So, you don't have to worry about me ruining your chastity and running off to the wind."

Lucas sighed aloud this time at her antics. He was a man. He should be the one saying those things, right? He rubbed his temples in agitation.

Oh my, she is too feisty. I don't think I can handle her. What should I do? Should I call Sebastian and ask him to come and save me?

The food was served relatively quickly, and she enjoyed the food with great relish. But, on the other hand, his situation contrasted starkly with hers. He nibbled on the food with a grimace as if he was eating the most horrible food in the world.

"Is it not to your taste?" Leigh asked curiously, "Why don't we switch to a different restaurant?"

"No, thanks." Lucas quickly asserted, "It's not that the food isn't nice. It's that I don't really have an appetite... Actually, I feel rather embarrassed. It's not you. It's me. I grew up with little expectation of marriage. I figured that staying single for the rest of my life sounded like a good idea, and my brother's children could care for me when I was old. So, why should I bother with marriage?"

"I understand your point." Leigh nodded in agreement. "I wasn't interested in the idea of settling down myself, so I can totally understand where you're coming from. So, don't worry, we can be friends. But in case your view of marriage changes, and you want to find a partner to start a family, please think of me. I'm willing to wait."

Lucas leaned against the back of his chair in astonishment as he tried to steer her away from that disastrous thought. "No, please don't!" He shrieked, "Please don't say that. You're a lovely woman. You don't have to wait for me. I don't deserve it."

"But you're the only one I like, and I don't like other men. I can't just find a guy and marry him willy-nilly, can I?" Leigh conferred, "Isn't this a good plan? If you want to date someone in the future, we can try it out since I harbor no feelings for other men. If you are adamant about maintaining your single status, then I'll let nature take its course."

Lucas' brows furrowed as he suddenly thought of an honestly lousy trick about ditching an interested party via the Internet. Thus, he swallowed anxiously and warily blabbered, "What do you like about me? I'll change! You're a nice girl. I don't want you to waste your time on me."

She curled her lips into a sweet smile. "I like that you are Sebastian's favorite brother. Why don't you break ties with him and leave the Hart Family? Maybe I won't think of you when I no longer see you around. That way, my feelings for you will naturally disappear with time."

He was utterly bewildered by her response. She wasn't only bold, but this woman was also ruthless! She truly knew where to hit him where it hurt!