Chapter 402


    After Cecilia left, Stefan and Keith walked in together.


    "Stefan, bro, what brings you guys here?"


    Lucinda greeted them with a warm smile.


    Neither man had brought their bodyguards; in Pinehurst, Keith always felt most at ease.


    He had great faith in his brother-inw''s ability to keep things safe, believing that on his turf, there


    was no need to worry about any threats.


    "Is it unwee for your brother toe for a coffee? Or do you think I''m just being a third wheel?"


    Keith spoke with a yful grin, not pausing as he picked a spot to sit down, making it clear that


    even as a third wheel, he was there to stay.


    Stefan''s gaze was tender as he looked at Lucinda. "Cecilia''s not around, right? I thought I''de


    over and lend a hand. I''m just loafing around at home anyway."


    Since tying the knot, his weekends were always spent with Lucinda.


    Their friends teased him for abandoning them for his woman.


    Stefan, however, stood his ground firmly, dering that it was Lucinda he''d be with for life, so of


    course, she took precedence.


    That left his friends without aeback.


    "Where''s Dad?"


    "He’s with my dad." Stefan replied.


    Lucinda nodded in understanding.


    "Need any help with anything?"


    Lucindaughed, "Not at the moment, but I might need your helpter when it gets busy."


    "Bro, do you want some coffee?" she asked Keith.


    "Pour me a cup, will you? I had a rough night and I''m dragging today," Keith responded.


    Lucinda went to prepare coffee for him.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "You seem pretty chipper to me, not like someone who had a rough night," she teased as she


    brewed the coffee.


    Keith approached, watching his little sister with an amused expression, "Just an expression."


    At that moment, someone else entered.


    Everyone assumed it was a customer, but when Lucinda and her husband saw who it was, her


    smile vanished, while Stefan remained unfazed.


    The neer was George Mitchell.


    Lucinda''s only boyfriend before Stefan.


    George had tried to rekindle things with Lucinda even after moving on to someone else. Lucinda


    had told his wife about his antics, leading to their divorce. Mrs. Mitchell had even thanked Lucinda


    for revealing George''s true nature.


    In Mrs. Mitchell''s eyes, George was a social climber who lost his status after the divorce and


    couldn''t make it in Pinehurst. He left town.


    Lucinda hadn''t seen him in months, and had almost forgotten himpletely until he walked in


    today.


    For Lucinda, George was a closed chapter.


    Back then, she and George had shared a real connection, and it was she who made the first move


    in their rtionship. They had kept things proper, but her psychological barriers had vanished when


    she met Stefan.


    Reflecting on it, Lucinda couldn''t help but marvel at how she and Stefan seemed destined to be


    together.


    Lucinda had contemted marriage with George, but he chose betrayal. Even knowing that Stefan


    had a hand in their breakup, she harbored resentment towards George.


    His betrayal had worried her mother, prompting her to set up blind dates in hopes of healing the


    wounds George left, unwittingly pushing her into the trap Stefan hadid.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Lucinda''s voice was calm as she looked at George like a stranger.


    Keith nced between his sister and brother-inw, leaning in to ask Stefan in a low voice, "Who''s


    he?"


    Stefan pursed his lips before replying softly, "Lucy''s ex, my former rival."


    George hadn''t expected Stefan to be there. After hesitating, he stepped forward with a pleading


    tone, "Lucinda, can we talk in private?"


    Lucinda looked to Stefan, who smiled back at her reassuringly. She felt a warmth inside; Stefan had


    trust in her and gave her the freedom to handle her personal matters, even if it pained him.


    "Just give me a moment," Lucinda said. "You can take a seat and I''ll be right there after I finish


    making the coffee."


    George nodded, turned to see Stefan, faltered as if to say something, but ultimately stayed silent


    and took a seat in the corner, a far cry from his former self-assured presence.


    Without Mrs. Mitchell, George was nothing.


    But it was all of his own doing.


    He thought he could have his cake and eat it too, but he was wrong.


    If he had known Lucinda was part of the prominent Blue family, he would never have left her.


    Too bad he realized toote.


    "Lucinda," George started with difficulty, "how have you beentely?"


    "Very well," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion as she ced a cup of coffee before him.


    There sat Lucinda, more beautiful and poised than ever, the greenness of her past reced with a


    mature allure. She was a flower in full bloom, but not for George. It was Stefan she blossomed for.


    If only he''d known what he had before it was lost.


    George choked on his words, his face a portrait of desperation. Lucinda, the beacon of grace and


    poise, was untouchable now. She had married into the prestigious Anderson n, bing the


    darling daughter-inw of the high society that once deemed her a mismatch. But time had revealed


    that she and her husband were the perfect match, a union of equal stature and merit.


    "What are you trying to say, George?" Lucinda inquired with a cool detachment.


    "Lucinda, I need to see my wife, but she refuses to meet me. Could you, perhaps, help me out? Or


    maybe could you lend me some money? It wouldn''t be much for you, just around fifty or sixty


    thousand."


    Her refusal was as swift as it was firm. "I won''t get involved in your affairs with your ex-wife, George.


    That''s none of my business. And as for lending money, you''ve definitelye to the wrong ce."


    Lucinda had closed the chapter on George; their past was just that—past. Clean and absolute.


    Lending money to George would mean maintaining a connection, however tenuous. How would


    Stefan feel about that? Even if he trusted her implicitly, she had no intention of doing anything that


    might upset him.


    "Lucinda, I really need the cash. Work''s been rough, and my marriage is in shambles. I want to start


    my own business. I''ll pay you back, I promise, with interest," George pleaded, his eyes avoiding


    hers.


    He couldn''t confess that he was drowning in gambling debts, hounded by collectors to the brink of


    desperation. Hisst hope was to reach out to his ex-wife, to plead for a loan on ount of the child


    they had once expected together. But she wouldn''t even see him, leaving him no choice but to


    shamelessly turn to Lucinda.


    "George," Lucinda''s voice was ice, "as I''ve said, you''re seeking help in the wrong ce. If this is the


    only reason for your visit, I must ask you to leave."


    Rising from her seat, Lucinda''s calm was unwavering. "I am a married woman, George. Please, do


    not appear before me again. I do not wish to cause my husband any distress."


    With those final words, she turned on her heel and walked towards Stefan, who was waiting for her


    with a tender gaze. She reached out to adjust his cor with a gentle touch that spoke volumes of


    their intimate bond.


    George''s departure went unnoticed by the couple. In their world, there was simply no room for


    outsiders to intrude.