“Are you going to keep avoiding me forever?” Peter asked through the voicemail and Thea sighed.It had already been a few days since their money crisis peacefully ended and she was wondering how she was going to explain the anonymous donor to him. Peter was a sharp person, very fit for his position as a lawyer and very good with remembering details. She was wondering how long it would take him to figure out that Lucian was the one who donated that money.There was no way that she was going to tell him that this was a contractual relationship between them and that this was her compensation for marrying him. Peter would flip if he hears that.She even sacrificed going to see her student’s faces when they learn about their scholarships. Now she had been sulking all week while still frustrated about what happened with Lucian and Robert the other day.Seriously. Why was her life so messy these days… She needed an equilibrium. And she was pretty sure that there was no way she was going to f

“Well, well, if it isn't Lucian Salvator… Long time no see…” Lucian heard a singsong voice behind him say before a rand rested on his shoulder.It took a bit of effort to tamp down his annoyance at being interrupted at such an important moment.“Hello, Colleen. How have you been,” He asked turning around to look at the woman shaking her hand casually.But Colleen wasn’t looking at him. Her eyes were on Thea with a vulture flesh eating smile as she looked her up and down.Thea looked back at the woman with a blank expression as if she was waiting for her to finish her appraisal so that she can move along. Lucian wanted to smile as Colleen, who was known to illicit jealous stares from women wherever she went, was completely ignored by Thea.“It has! I missed you so much at our usual place. You don’t come anymore!” She whined.Awkwardly, Lucian wondered if there was anyone listening around them. Whoever hears them, would think that something was going on between them while they were just

Lucian was having a hard time controlling himself even though he knew what he was doing was wrong. More guilt piled up in his conscience as he parked his car in front of the coffee shop where Thea was supposed to meet Robert.He had heard her on the phone earlier and seeing the messages he was sending her over her shoulder, Lucian couldn’t sit still as he watched her drive to her appointment with him. Admittedly, She had never lied to him about who she was meeting because he never asked in the first place. But he still couldn’t shake this feeling that she was going to be stolen away from him. That Robert was seeking more than friendship with Thea, more than a working relationship.And he was right.Through the window, he could see Robert reaching out to put his hand on top of Thea’s as he spoke leaning toward her too closely. Lucian didn’t think further after that, before he knew it, he was getting into the coffee shop, making his way toward them just as Thea stood up shaking Robert’s

“Okay, that’s enough drama for today. Ladies and gentlemen,” Lucian looked at his father in shock as he came into the room his vest draped over his shoulder and his cane in hand as an assistant helped him move into the room. Still, despite his state, his father’s presence commanded the room to his attention and he seized the whole situation with only a few words directed at them while a charming smile never left his lips. This was the power of someone who led the company for more than ten years. If it wasn’t for his sudden illness and his absolute need for rest, no one in this room would dare to entertain the thought of an inheritance battle in the first place. “Father, You came,” Lucian said with a smile as he made his way toward him taking his assistant’s place to help him to the head of the table. A place that his mother had been occupying until moments ago and now she was standing back trying her best to blend into the wall. “Your grandmother wouldn’t let me rest even when I am

"We're not going there..." Lucian said with a frown as he sat in front of her desk in her office."Please tell James that we will be there," Thea said into the phone."Alright, thank you very much Professor Keaton," The man on the other end of the line said before hanging up the phone."We're not going there. We're not having dinner with my family," He said looking like a child sulking because he didn't want to go visit his aunt."Come one, Lucian. It was goodwill from your father that we need to accept. Besides, it's the only way to prove to your mother that she can never influence your relationship with your father," She added and Lucian sighed."It's hard enough as it is to spend time with you these days. If we're going to have dinner, I'd rather have it at a restaurant just the two of us. Slash that. I'd rather have it at your place or mine," He added with a smile seeming to like the thought.Thea ignored that comment. Over the past few days, she had been pointedly avoiding any si