Chapter 348: You Really Do Know How To Charm Women

"Rachel told me that you two often meet at my house?"

As soon as they entered the foyer, Arabella asked the question while changing out of her shoes.

Ever since returning from Capital City, Rachel had frequently chatted with Arabella online. Most of their conversations revolved around certain intimate techniques and experiences, with Rachel eagerly asking questions and Arabella patiently sharing her knowledge.

Although Arabella was usually quiet and reserved in person, she had no trouble expressing herself online. When it came to sharing her experience, she could be surprisingly generous, passing on all sorts of tips and techniques to her eager student.

And Rachel was an exceptionally quick learner.

Ever since experiencing that night, she had been finding new ways to surprise Luca whenever they were together. Her repertoire seemed endless, and her ability to put what she learned into practice was genuinely impressive.

All Luca could say was that the girl had a remarkable talent for learning. She always seemed to find a way to leave him thoroughly satisfied.

"Don’t listen to that girl’s nonsense." Luca shook his head and rubbed his forehead, looking slightly exasperated.

The truth was that, apart from those two days, Arabella and Rachel had only visited this house together once more. Most of their other encounters had taken place in Luca’s own building, where he had specifically prepared a room for such occasions.

Besides, Rachel had been the one looking for excitement that particular time.

He still remembered her words.

’The balcony on Arabella’s side has a perfect view of the other side...’

Luca had initially wanted to refuse, but the moment he heard her explanation, the girl’s boldness had caught him off guard. In the end, he had reluctantly agreed to her suggestion.

Arabella listened to his explanation and nodded casually.

Whether she actually believed him was another matter entirely.

After changing into their slippers, the two headed into the living room and switched on the television. Luca settled comfortably into the sofa while Arabella nestled against his chest, finding a comfortable position in his arms.

She picked up a piece of chocolate cake and brought it to his mouth.

"Mmm, this chocolate cake really is delicious."

Luca took a bite and praised it without hesitation. He had eaten several pieces at Arabella’s birthday party the last time he visited her, so he hadn’t expected her to remember his fondness for it.

Yet here she was, having gone out of her way to buy him an entire box.

’I didn’t think she’d remember something so small.’

"I’m glad you like it." Arabella’s lips curved into a pleased smile.

She took another bite from the same piece, following the spot where Luca had just bitten, then savored the chocolate as she leaned against him.

"By the way, Trish and Rachel are registering at school the day after tomorrow. Take me to your house tomorrow, okay?"

As she spoke, she picked up another small piece of cake and fed it to him.

Arabella had yet to meet Luca’s parents in person. Although they had spoken online and even exchanged video calls, she knew that meeting face-to-face was an entirely different matter.

As Luca’s girlfriend, visiting his parents was a basic courtesy. She didn’t want to keep putting it off, especially now that their relationship had become so serious.

Luca gently tightened his arm around her wrist.

"Of course. I’ll take you tomorrow."

Arabella smiled, satisfied with his answer.

Not long afterward, Luca received a call from the residential complex’s management office.

"All right, I’m home. You can bring it up now."

He ended the call, but before he could ask what was going on, Arabella explained.

"Some gifts I bought for your Mom and Dad were delivered ahead of me. Mom also asked me to bring a few things back for them."

She paused, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she remembered something.

"Oh, right! I haven’t called Mom to tell her I’ve arrived safely yet. Honey, give me a minute."

She picked up her phone from the sofa and dialed Victoria’s number.

The call connected quickly. Arabella listened as her mother began reminding her about one thing after another, nodding repeatedly as she reassured her.

"I know, Mom. Don’t worry."

"Yes, he drove to the airport to pick me up. I’m with him right now."

"All right, I’ll remember."

After a little more conversation, Arabella turned toward Luca and held the phone out to him.

"Mom wants to talk to you."

Luca accepted it with a smile.

"Hello."

"Luca, you and Bella must get along well, all right? That child can be stubborn sometimes. If she ever upsets you, don’t just put up with it. Tell me, and I’ll help you discipline her!"

"Hahaha! All right. If she makes me angry, I’ll be sure to come straight to you and complain."

Although Victoria hadn’t put the call on speaker, Arabella was sitting right in Luca’s arms. How could she possibly fail to hear their conversation?

The moment she heard her mother describing her as stubborn, she immediately protested.

"Mom! How am I stubborn?"

Victoria seemed either not to hear her daughter’s playful complaint or simply chose to ignore it.

"Luca, I really like you. I hope you and Bella will treat each other well. Whenever you have some free time, come visit us in Capital City. I’ll cook something special for you myself."

Luca responded warmly, promising to visit when they had the opportunity.

In truth, Victoria was well aware that Luca had other women in his life. She had even taken the initiative to discuss the matter with Arabella herself.

After all, which woman wouldn’t want to spend her entire life with the man she loved, growing old together and sharing every moment?

Victoria understood that feeling perfectly well. However, she also understood the kind of man Luca was, as well as the circumstances surrounding his position and wealth.

A young man who had built such an enormous business empire was bound to attract attention wherever he went. Even if he never actively pursued other women, there would always be people eager to approach him, some of whom might even try to use their daughters or connections to gain his favor.

Victoria had grown up in a wealthy and influential family, so she had a different perspective on relationships and marriage from that of ordinary people.

Within Capital City’s upper circles, she had seen plenty of marriages that existed primarily to preserve alliances between powerful families. The couples might hold hands at banquets, smile for photographs, and maintain the appearance of devoted partners in public, but behind closed doors, they often lived entirely separate lives.

As long as they protected their families’ interests, maintained the expected image, and ensured that their children’s futures remained secure, neither party necessarily interfered with the other’s private affairs.

It wasn’t unusual for wealthy men and women to maintain relationships outside their marriages, sometimes spending enormous sums of money on younger companions.

Victoria didn’t necessarily approve of every aspect of that lifestyle, but she understood how deeply ingrained such practices could be in their social circles.

With Luca, she had no illusions about what the future might hold.

Rather than demand something unrealistic from him, she preferred to focus on what mattered most to her: that he genuinely cared for Arabella and treated her well.

If the two eventually reached a point where their differences became impossible to reconcile, Victoria hoped they could part ways peacefully, without bitterness or unnecessary entanglements.

That was all she asked.

Naturally, Luca wasn’t about to argue with her. He cheerfully agreed to visit Capital City with Arabella whenever she had a holiday.

The two continued chatting for several more minutes. By the time they finally ended the call, Victoria was laughing so much that her voice was practically overflowing with delight.

Arabella watched Luca return her phone, then gave him a rather meaningful look.

"Viv was right about you. You really do know how to charm women. Now even my mother is smiling from ear to ear because of you."

"Hey, that’s not true!" Luca waved his free hand in protest, looking somewhat awkward.

’What is this girl thinking? Does she seriously suspect I have some strange intentions toward Victoria?’

That would be an outrageous misunderstanding.

He might have a reputation for being a playboy, but there were limits. The older women in his life were his elders, and he had no intention of crossing that line.

Take Valerie, Vivienne’s stepmother, for example. She was gentle, beautiful, and exceptionally skilled. She wasn’t even much older than Luca.

Still, no matter how youthful and attractive she might be, she was his elder.

Some things simply weren’t up for consideration.

Before Arabella could tease him any further, the doorbell rang.

Luca rose from the sofa and went to answer it. A moment later, he returned with a small package, thanked the delivery person, and placed the box on the coffee table.

Arabella glanced at it curiously.

"Honey, what did you buy?"

"Bella, what do you think?"

She blinked, momentarily distracted by the way he had addressed her.

"Bella?"

Hearing Luca call her by her pet name for the first time felt strangely novel. She had heard it from her family countless times, of course, but hearing it from him gave the name an entirely different feeling.

"Yes. Your mom called you that earlier, didn’t she? I thought it sounded nice, and it’s easy to say."

"My mommy calls me that, so of course it sounds nice!" Arabella replied proudly, lifting her chin a little.

Luca chuckled at her reaction.

"All right, all right. Your nickname is wonderful."

Arabella smiled, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

"By the way, honey, do you have a nickname too?"

"A nickname?"

"Yes, a nickname! What did your family call you when you were a baby?"

The question caught Luca off guard.

For a brief moment, an unmistakable trace of embarrassment crossed his face.

Arabella noticed immediately. Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she leaned closer, sensing that there was probably an amusing story behind his reaction.

’Oh? Is it something embarrassing?’

Her interest was instantly piqued.

"What’s wrong?" she pressed. "Why are you looking like that?"

Luca hesitated for a long moment, seemingly reluctant to answer. When he finally spoke, however, he offered her a response so vague that it only made her more confused.

"You... don’t you already know?"

"I know?" Arabella stared at him blankly. "How would I know? You never told me!"

"Hehe!"

Luca let out a knowing chuckle, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

Then, with a meaningful look, he finally revealed the answer.

"They all called me..."