Chapter 7

The arrangement for Noah's stay had already been discussed with Brandon and Louisa. He would stay with Selena for the time being, allowing Katie to spend time with her friends and not alert her parents while the adults handled the practical details. Fortunately, the circumstances at her aunt's home had changed in a way that made the arrangement easier to explain. Not long after Katie arrived, her aunt had genuinely become pregnant, providing a convenient explanation for why young children would be staying with her. Everything had fallen into place more smoothly than Katie could have hoped.

After the airport, they took Katie home so she could drop off her luggage and greet her parents. The reunion was warm, but she didn't stay for long. She was far too eager to catch up with her friends. And catch up they did. They went shopping, visited their favourite places, ate together, and spent hours talking about everything they had missed. Katie and Claire were hardly ever home, and even Selena's house seemed to have become their permanent residence.

Noah was certainly part of the reason. All three women adored him, and none of them could resist spending time with the little boy. But the bigger reason was simple. They had spent too many years apart, and they intended to make up for every single one of them. For the first time in a long while, everything felt right again.

Lucian returned two weeks later. Brandon had expanded his company's operations into the country where Lucian had been studying and living, establishing an overseas branch that required someone he trusted to oversee its operations. Lucian had been put in charge. As a result, he had to remain abroad longer than expected, even after completing his studies.

When Selena heard that he was finally coming home, she could barely contain her excitement. She offered to accompany the drivers to the airport, much to the amusement of the household staff. Claire and Katie refused to join her. They had never forgiven Lucian for the way he had treated Selena before leaving, and neither had any desire to welcome him home. Selena understood their feelings, but she couldn't share them.

It had been five years since Lucian had left, and in all that time, they had barely spoken. They had never resolved their differences, and she had long since accepted that whatever friendship they once shared might be gone forever. Yet she still wanted to see him. She couldn't explain it, even to herself. When the passengers finally began emerging from the arrivals area, Selena straightened immediately.

Then she saw him. And just like that, five years of silence seemed to vanish from her mind.

Lucian was taller than she remembered, his shoulders broader and his frame more mature. His skin had acquired a warm tan, and the boy she had known had grown into a man. But his face remained unmistakably his. Still handsome. Still the face that had once made her heart race. Selena stared, feeling that familiar, ridiculous flutter in her chest. Oh, dear God. She had thought time and distance would have cured her of these feelings. Apparently, they had done absolutely nothing.

Lucian approached the waiting group, carrying himself with the same confidence she remembered. He was wearing sunglasses, making it difficult to read his expression.

Then, to her utter astonishment, he smiled at her. Not the polite, distant smile he might offer a stranger. A genuine smile. Before she could process what was happening, he pulled her into a hug. Selena went completely still.For a moment, she wondered if she was imagining things. Then she pulled back slightly to look at him and he was still smiling.She reached up and removed his sunglasses, needing to see his eyes to convince herself that this was real. It was. Lucian was actually smiling at her. Why? She had no idea. He merely chuckled at her bewildered expression and pinched her cheek.

"You're twenty-two already, but you're still so small and cute." Selena felt the heat rush straight to her face. Her cheeks turned so red that she was certain he could see it.

Lucian noticed, of course. "I'm just joking," he said, laughing softly as he ruffled her hair. Selena stared at him, her mind racing with questions. Where had this version of Lucian come from? What had happened to the boy who had looked at her as though he couldn't stand the sight of her? The boy who had insulted her, hurt her, and walked away without looking back? Why was he suddenly acting as though they had never had a problem? She wanted to ask him

She wanted to demand an explanation for those five years of silence. But she stopped herself. She had spent enough time crying over Lucian Knight. She had finally made peace with the distance between them, and she wasn't about to ruin their first conversation in years by starting another argument. Whatever had changed, she would let him explain it in his own time. For now, she would simply enjoy having him home.

With that thought, Selena collected herself, and they headed back to the mansion, where Brandon, Louisa, Claire, and Katie were waiting. Lucian was finally home. And Selena had no idea that his return would change everything.

Lucian had been back for over a month, and Selena liked how things were going. They were finally on good terms again, and whenever he suggested they go out together, she felt as though she were walking on clouds. She tried not to let her excitement show too much, even though Lucian had apologized more times than she could count.

As for Katie and Claire, life was taking them in different directions. Claire pursued a master's degree, while Katie's father secured her a job as a product manager in a nearby city. She moved there with Noah, while Selena decided to intern at Brandon's company. Lucian frequently travelled between countries to oversee the family's overseas branch. Before they knew it, five months had passed. Everyone was busy with work and studies, leaving the girls with little time to see one another. They missed their time together but hoped to reunite properly soon.

One evening, Brandon and Louisa called a family meeting after returning from work. Selena assumed it was business-related and settled down, ready to listen.

Imagine her shock when Brandon announced, "We've been thinking, and we believe it's time you and Lucian got married."

Selena stared at him, then at Louisa, before finally turning to Lucian. Marriage? Now?

She loved Lucian, but she wasn't ready for such a huge step when she was only just beginning her career.

"I'm sorry, but I can't get married right now. And, worse still, to your son—" She sighed. "Besides, you should have discussed this with me beforehand."

"What's wrong with me?" Lucian interrupted, his voice calm and composed. Selena stared at him, just as surprised as his parents.

"Well, I... I..." She sighed again. "Like I said, I can't get married right now. Besides, marrying you would feel like marrying my brother!"

"Is that so?" Lucian smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Last time I checked, you had a Jupiter-sized crush on me. Did you not think I was your brother then?" Selena's face turned bright red. Brandon and Louisa exchanged amused glances and chuckled. How did he know? Only Claire and Katie knew about her crush, and neither liked him enough to reveal it. Has she really been that obvious?

"That's a rather bold assumption," she scoffed.

"Let's just get married," Lucian said. "I promise we won't stop you from pursuing whatever you want." Selena looked at his parents, who nodded in agreement.

"We're sorry we didn't give you a heads-up," Louisa chimed in. "But he's right. Marriage doesn't mean you have to abandon your ambitions." Selena admired Louisa, who had built an impressive career and helped establish one of the family's most successful subsidiaries through her own hard work and business acumen.

"And it doesn't mean giving up your friends or the things you enjoy, either," Louisa continued. Selena glanced at Lucian. Why was he so eager to marry her? Shouldn't he be against this, too?

"Why do you want to marry me, anyway?" Lucian straightened in his chair, his expression turning serious.

"Simple. Dad will eventually step back from running the company, and I'll be expected to take on greater responsibility. However, some members of the board at the overseas branch I manage don't think I'm ready. They believe I'm too young and too distracted by women and friends to run a company properly." He paused, looking directly at her. "I need to prove I can be dependable. I know what you're thinking, but I can't just marry a stranger and expect us to build a life together overnight. You already know this household, my parents, and how things work here. We wouldn't have to start from scratch."

Selena was perplexed. "So you want to marry me because I'm convenient?"

"That's not what I said," he replied. "I'm saying we already know each other, and we could build something together without you sacrificing your career."

Selena looked down at her hands. She had always dreamed of getting married and having a family someday, but only after becoming financially stable. She wanted to make a name for herself and stand on her own feet, even with the Knights supporting her.

"I'll think about it," she finally said. Brandon and Louisa nodded, understanding that she needed time to consider such a life-changing decision.

Lucian remained quiet, his expression unreadable. Selena had no idea what he was thinking, but one thing was certain: she wasn't ready to make a decision just because everyone else thought it was time.