Chapter 124: Lucas Is Calling...
Chapter 124: Lucas Is Calling...
Mia’s eyes widened.
A second later, her entire face turned crimson.
She instinctively covered the side of her neck with both hands, as if she could somehow make the mark disappear.
Only then did yesterday’s memories come rushing back.
The long, passionate night.
The moments she had completely lost herself.
This morning, Daisy’s phone call had thrown everything into chaos. She had rushed out of the villa without putting on any makeup or even checking herself in the mirror.
She hadn’t noticed the obvious mark Lucas had left on her neck.
"N-No!"
"It’s... it’s not what you think!"
"It’s nothing!"
"Really... it’s nothing!"
She stammered so badly that even she didn’t believe her own explanation.
Seeing Daisy and Debbie staring at her with strange expressions only made her panic even more.
"I... I’ll see you all another time!"
"Bye!"
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Mia turned around and hurried away.
She almost looked like she was running for her life.
Watching her disappear into the distance, the atmosphere became strangely quiet.
Just then, Lucas heard the familiar mechanical notification in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Daisy Favorability -3]
[Current Favorability: ...]
Another notification followed almost immediately.
[Ding!]
[Daisy Favorability -3]
Then another.
[Ding!]
[Daisy Favorability -3]
Lucas’s eyelids twitched.
"...What?"
Before he could even process it, another series of notifications appeared.
[Ding!]
[Debbie Favorability -1]
[Ding!]
[Debbie Favorability -1]
[Ding!]
[Debbie Favorability -1]
Lucas nearly cursed out loud.
"What the hell..."
This was the worst possible timing.
He still had one final system mission to complete.
The last thing he needed right now was their favorability dropping.
Looking at the twins standing in front of him with complicated expressions, Lucas suddenly realized there was no explanation that wouldn’t make things even more awkward.
He scratched the back of his head helplessly before forcing a smile.
"So..."
"How are you two planning to get home?"
"My car only has one passenger seat."
It was an obvious attempt to change the subject.
Neither Daisy nor Debbie exposed him.
After a brief silence, Debbie smiled politely.
"We’ll just take a taxi."
"Thank you again... for everything you’ve done today."
Daisy also nodded.
"Really."
"We owe you."
Lucas could only smile awkwardly.
"Take care."
The sisters waved goodbye before walking toward the roadside together.
A few minutes later, they got into a taxi.
As the vehicle slowly pulled away, neither of them spoke.
Daisy quietly stared out the window.
Her expression was unusually gloomy.
Even Debbie noticed it immediately.
"You like him, don’t you?"
Daisy lowered her head.
After a long silence, she finally nodded.
"...Maybe."
"I don’t know."
"I just..."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"I feel like someone got there before I even had the chance."
Debbie looked down at her own hands.
To be honest...
She wasn’t much different.
Lucas had appeared whenever they were at their lowest.
He had helped their family.
Protected them.
Saved her today without asking for anything in return.
It would have been stranger if she felt nothing.
After sitting quietly for a while, Debbie gently held her sister’s hand.
"Let’s not overthink it."
"Daisy..."
"Lucas has never confessed to either of us."
"He hasn’t promised us anything."
"He simply helped us whenever we needed him."
Daisy remained silent.
Debbie continued softly,
"Besides... he’s free to choose who he wants to be with."
"We don’t have the right to blame him."
Daisy slowly nodded.
"I know..."
"It’s just..."
"It still hurts a little."
The taxi continued driving through the city.
The sisters leaned against their seats, each lost in her own thoughts.
Neither of them noticed that, despite trying to convince themselves to let go...
Neither of them had actually given up.
----
Lucas drove quietly toward his villa.
Unlike before he wasn’t enjoying the drive.
The Bugatti’s powerful engine roared along the empty road, but Lucas’s mind was elsewhere.
What had started as an ordinary morning had turned into one headache after another.
Yesterday, Mia had rear-ended a Pagani.
Then he had to deal with Malrik.
After today Debbie’s fake debt and the loan sharks.
Now, on top of everything else, Daisy’s and Debbie’s favorability had actually dropped.
Lucas rested one hand on the steering wheel and sighed.
"What a terrible day..."
Fortunately, one thing had gone right.
The fake debt wasn’t just resolved.
It had also given him another opportunity.
Someone had deliberately targeted Debbie.
And whoever that person was...
Lucas intended to find them.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If someone thinks they can bully people around me..."
"They picked the wrong targets."
Besides...
This incident might actually become the perfect chance to get closer to the twins.
Saving them once had earned him their gratitude.
Helping them uncover the person responsible would earn something much more valuable.
Trust.
Lucas wasn’t planning to let the matter end so easily.
By the time he arrived at the villa, a rough plan had already formed in his mind.
After parking the Bugatti inside the garage, he sat quietly for a moment before taking out his phone.
After thinking for a few seconds...
He scrolled through his contacts and pressed Debbie’s number.
...
Meanwhile...
Outside a modest apartment building, Debbie and Daisy had just gotten out of the taxi.
The sisters walked slowly toward the entrance.
Neither of them had spoken much during the ride home.
Both were still thinking about everything that had happened today.
Debbie reached into her handbag for her apartment keys.
Just as she was about to unlock the front door...
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated.
She paused.
Looking down at the screen, her tired eyes immediately lit up.
The caller ID displayed a familiar name.
Lucas.
The moment Debbie saw it, she instinctively frowned.
After everything that had happened today, she didn’t know what she was supposed to feel.
Grateful?
Embarrassed?
Or something else entirely.
Standing beside her, Daisy immediately noticed the change in her sister’s expression.
Just a moment ago, Debbie had been quietly searching for her keys.
Now she was staring silently at her phone.
Curious, Daisy leaned over and glanced at the screen.
The moment she saw the caller ID...
Her brows knitted together as well.
"...Lucas?"