Chapter 4

I stared at Derek and instinctively clenched my fists, ready to charge at him.

However, Lucille reacted quickly and stepped in front of him. Her tone was sharp as she shouted, "Spencer, you just got back, and you're already causing trouble?! When will this ever end?

"I was actually worried about you before, but you clearly have the strength to fight. Looks like you really were faking your injury to trick me."

Watching her protect Derek like that, I suddenly recalled how we first met. She had stood in front of me just like this, confronting a group of thugs.

Here she was, doing the same for someone else.

At that moment, the last string of attachment I had for her disappeared.

After a while, Derek poked his head out of the kitchen with a fake smile plastered on his face. "Spencer, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Let me cook for you guys and show off my skills, and apologize for what happened before."

He paused, then added another line. "Don't worry, the ingredients I'm using this time are clean."

I ignored him and walked into the bedroom. However, I was shocked to discover that the wedding photos Lucille and I had taken were carelessly thrown on the floor. My face had been scribbled over with marker beyond recognition, and my eyes had been maliciously gouged out.

Looking around, I realized that all the photos of me in the room had disappeared. In their place were various photos of Derek and Lucille together. Even the closet was stuffed full of his clothes.

I had known Derek could never have good intentions.

When I came out of the bedroom, he had cooked a whole table full of dishes. I just glanced at it once and immediately pushed away the utensils in front of me.

I said, "Enjoy your meal, I'm not hungry."

The moment those words left my mouth, Lucille slammed the table with a bang. "Spencer, Derek went out of his way to cook and apologize to you. What's with the attitude? Who are you making that face for? If you don't eat, you're deliberately going against him!"

I looked at the spread on the table and could not help but laugh. "Is that so? Every single one of these five dishes contains something I'm allergic to. Each one could send me straight to the ICU. He really put a lot of thought into this."

Hearing my words, Lucille finally remembered my allergies. The dishes in front of us did contain ingredients I was severely allergic to.

She stammered, unable to get a word out for a long time.

Derek also feigned surprise. "Spencer, I really didn't know you couldn't eat so many things. Don't misunderstand me... I wasn't trying to make it hard for you."

This time, I acted completely out of character. I waved my hand and said it was 'fine,' not pursuing the matter at all.

After all, I was already tired of watching Lucille defend him over and over again.

That evening, Lucille brought up next week's wedding again. She said she and Derek would wear matching custom-made wedding attire because they grew up together and were each other's most important 'family.'

The only thing left for me was the groomsman's suit. I truly did not know who she planned to marry.

Nonetheless, I calmly agreed, and Lucille was the one left stunned. "Spencer, you're just agreeing like that? You don't mind at all?"

I smiled and shook my head. "What's there to mind? The wedding is just a formality. As long as Derek has fun, what does it matter if I give him the groom's suit?"

Hearing that, Lucille smiled, satisfied.

Derek draped an arm over my shoulder, his grin full of triumph. "It's good that you think that way, Spencer. But don't worry, I won't steal your spotlight at the wedding. After all... Lucille already authorized me to handle every part of the ceremony, so I hope you'll cooperate when the time comes."

I met his provocative gaze and curled my lips into a faint smile. "No problem. I've prepared a generous gift, too. When the time comes, it'll be unforgettable for both of you."