Chapter<b>122</b>


    Lucas‘lipspressedintoastraightline,hiseyesfixedonAveline.”You’renotgoingtoapologize?”


    Avelinefeltawaveofpressuresettleoverherheart.


    Shefearednothingandhadnoattachments,butSelenawasThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    different.


    ShecouldholdherownagainstSophia,butwhenLucasspoke,shewasinstantlyatadisadvantage.


    Shewasclearlynotthefavoredone.


    ThedefianceinAveline’seyesfaded,recedbyatraceofselfmockeryandbitterness.


    “Lucas,areyousureyouwanttodothis?”


    Tohumiliateheragainandagain?


    Tomakeherfeelutterlyashamedandhumiliated?


    Lucas‘voicewaslowandmaic,histoneconddetached.”Whatdoyouthink?”


    Avelineclosedhereyes,thennodded.“Fine,Iunderstand.”


    SheturnedtoSophia,abouttoapologize,butSelenastoppedher.


    “Ave,don’tbowtopeoplelikethem.I’mnotapologizing.Let’sseeifhecanreallydoanythingtome!”


    SelenawrappedherarmaroundAveline’sshoulder.“Comeon,wedon’tneedthatstupidne.I’llgetyousomethingevenbetter!”


    Avelinefrowned.“Selena…”


    Selenasmiledbrightly,herfacefullofconfidence.“It’sfine.Let’sgo.


    Avelinefeltuneasy.


    Lucaswascoldandruthless.IfhetargetedSelena,whatwouldhappentoher?


    Shewantedtolookback,butSelenapreventedher.


    Oncetheywereoutofthemall,Selenasaid,“Ave,Icouldn’tletyourloweryourheadforthosejerks.”


    Avelineworried,“Buthewilldefinitelytargetyou.”


    Lucaswasruthlesswithher;hewouldbeevenmoresowithsomeoneelse.


    Selenugheditoff.“Noworries.Worstcase,I’llgoabroad.Hecan’treachmethere,right?”


    “But…”


    “Enough,”Selenainterrupted.“Stopoverthinking.Let’skeepshopping.Later,we’llgohavesteak.Ifoundagreatceandwantyoutotryit.”


    Avelinebitherlip,hercleareyesshimmeringslightly.


    Inthejewelrystore,Sophiastilllookedpale.SheturnedtoLucas.”Lucas,thatSelenawassoarrogant.Whoexactlyisshe?”


    Lucasdidn’tanswerherquestion.Instead,heasked,“Doyoustillwantthene?”


    Sophiancedattheneonthefloorandbitherlip.“SinceMissYounglikesit,whydon’tyoubuyitforhertocalmherdown?It’llkeepherfromcausingtrouble.


    Shelookedunderstandingandgracious,herdemeanorsoftandkind.


    Lucasturnedtothesalesperson.“Wrapitup.”


    +15BONUS


    Thesalespersonhesitatedforamomentbeforequicklynoddingandpickingupthene. Shecouldn’thelpbutthink,Whataday!Thesceneshehadjustwitnessedmadeherworryaboutthene’sfate.Whydiditdeservetobethrowntotheground?


    Afterpaying,LucasheldtheshoppingbagandlookedatSophia.“Isyourlegstillhurting?”


    Sophiashookherhead.“It’snothurtinganymore.IthinkIjustlostmybnceearlier.I’mfinenow.”


    Lucassaid,“Doyouseeanythingelseyoulike?”


    Sophiasmiledwarmly.“Lucas,I’mmoreexcitedaboutwhatyouchooseforme.Anythingyougiveme,Iwillcherish.”


    Lucas‘eyesweredeepandunreadable.“I’lltakeyouhome.”


    Sophiahesitated.“Aren’twegoingtohavedinner?”


    Lucasreplied,“Somethingcameup.Ineedtogototheoffice.”


    Sophiabitherlip.“Alright,butdon’tworryaboutwhathappenedtoday.Alittlepainisnothing.Pleasedon’ttakeitoutonMiss Quin.”