"Then why is he calling you at this hour?"
"You should ask him, not me. I have no idea!" Carla refused to continue talking about this, so she urged, "All right, leave now. We can talk tomorrow."
Instead of doing as told, Lucas picked up her phone and answered the call.
"You—"
"Hello."
Before she could say anything, Zayn's voice came from the other end of the line.
Furrowing her brows, Carla glared at Lucas before answering, "What is it?"
"Tonight, I…" Zayn was about to say something but suddenly changed his mind. "You sound different. What's wrong?"
"I'll hang up if you've got nothing to say."
Carla was about to end the call when Lucas interjected indignantly, "Why are you in such a hurry? Are you afraid he'll find out that we're together?"
"Lucas!" She stared at him in disbelief. I can't believe he just said that!
"Lucas?" Zayn's voice rang out.
"Yes, it's me." Glaring at Carla, Lucas responded furiously, "Zayn, she's my fiancée now! Please stay away from her!"
With that, he ended the call.
"Lucas, do you have any idea what you're doing?" Carla finally lost her temper. Anger bubbled up in her chest as she demanded, "Even if he did call, it must be about the children. Why did you do that?"
"Why didn't he call in the day to talk about the children? Why at this hour?" Lucas retorted. "Why did you treat me coldly when you found out he's going to come here?"
"You're drunk. I can't get through you." Carla refused to continue the conversation. "Please leave, now!"
Sorrow overwhelmed Lucas when he saw how heartless she was treating him. At the same time, a strange impulse coursed through his body, making him extremely frustrated.
"Why are you in a hurry to kick me out?" He grabbed her shoulders, seemingly heartbroken at her action. "I love you so much. Can't you feel it?"
"Lucas—"
Her reply was cut short by Lucas' attempt to kiss her.
Carla panicked and tried to shove him away, but she was not his match, and he refused to release his grip on her.
In haste, she gave him a tight slap across his cheek.
Slap! Lucas was rooted to the spot.
Furious, Carla barked to chase him out of her room.
"Get out right…" However, her voice trailed off upon seeing the blood trickling out of Lucas' nose, staining his pristine Whyte suit.
"Carla, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. Perhaps it's because I'm too drunk." Lucas regained his senses from the slap and hung his head low in embarrassment.
He was about to head out when footsteps sounded from outside. A maid had come upstairs.
Covering his bleeding nose, he came to a halt, clearly at a loss.
"Clean yourself in the bathroom, " Carla urged. She then quickly apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't do that on purpose."
I didn't slap him that hard. Why did he get a nosebleed that easily?
"Oh, okay." Lucas hurried into the bathroom.
Feeling her head throbbing, Carla slumped on the sofa and placed a palm on her forehead grouchily.
I thought it was all right to agree to marry him. After all, I won't fall in love again. It was all for my family, especially Daemon's sake. Back then, it sounded like an excellent opportunity to avoid Zayn. I only realize now that some things can't be forced. Even if the entire world buys my lie, I can't lie to myself. I can't pretend to like Lucas nor be intimate with him. I can't even put up an enthusiastic front before him. I just can't.
Frustrated, Carla felt parched. She grabbed the glass on the table and downed the water. Only after her third glass was her thirst quelled.
Exhaustion took over her, and she slowly dozed off on the sofa.
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