A gentle rap on the door disrupted her thoughts, "Enter." Kate's voice carried a hint of impatience. The door swung open and Lucas glided in, dressed in a sleek black suit with his hair slicked back. He exuded a devilishly attractive aura, causing Kate to involuntarily admire him. "Excellent. You're all set," Lucas remarked, surveying her appearance. Kate donned a stunning black floor-length gown that accentuated her curves. Her shimmering black heels added a touch of sophistication, while a delicate diamond necklace adorned her décolletage. In her dainty hands, she carried a striking red clutch, adding a bold pop of color to the ensemble. Her face was adorned with light makeup, highlighted by a seductive red lipstick that begged to be tasted. "I don't feel prepared," she confessed to Lucas. "You don't have to be. Just stand by my side and mind your words. And be especially cautious around Wilson," Lucas warned, his expression serious. "Wilson? Who is he?" Kate inquired, intrigu

As she gazed up at him, Kate couldn't help but wonder, “I wonder if we truly appear to be in love.” Hearing her question, Lucas inquired, "What is it?" Embarrassed, Kate shook her head, her cheeks growing redder. The rule of not falling in love had been firmly established by Lucas, and she was well aware of it. But the mere thought of it still sent a slight pang through her heart that she chose to ignore. "I was just thinking, why did you warn me not to trust Matteo? I know he's a cop, but that doesn't mean... "...he's up to something," Lucas interjected. "I don't know what it is, but you should be cautious around him." Kate fell into deep thought as she considered his words. Could Matteo really be up to something? The thought lingered, until she suddenly had a realization. "Wait..." she mumbled. Glancing back up at Lucas, she quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks burn. ‘Is it possible that Lucas is jealous?’ She wondered, her heart racing. As they continued to dance, she r

Several days later, Lucas brought Kate to a thrilling car race with Ace in tow, determined to disregard the thought of Matteo and keep quiet about their sneaky escapade. "Wow," Kate gasped in awe as she took in the sight of the bold and vibrant-colored uniforms of the race participants, all engrossed in tweaking their flashy cars before the competition. "That's my team over there," Lucas pointed to a group dressed in vibrant blue. "Hmm, I wasn't aware that people in your line of work sponsored car races," Kate's curiosity piqued. "It's how wealthy mob bosses blow off steam, right Lucas?" Ace interjected with a sly grin. Rolling his eyes, Lucas motioned to another team and replied, "Wilson is sponsoring that one. Though I have a feeling it's merely to spite me." "Why?" Kate probed. "He swooped in and bought out their sponsorship at the last moment, once it became clear that they posed a threat to my team in this race. I'm quite certain that's his motive," Lucas explained. But Ka

Kate and Lucas shared a quiet dinner, ending with Lucas swiftly departing without a word.Despite not being close friends or truly engaged, Kate couldn't help feeling hurt by Lucas's silent treatment."Hey," Ace approached her with a pained smile."Is Lucas giving you the cold shoulder?" he asked."He's barely spoken to me since we left the racing circuit," Kate replied, her tone sad."Don't worry, he'll come around. It's not about you," Ace reassured her."Then who is he upset with? Do you know what this is about?" Kate inquired.Ace looked away, rubbing his neck. "It's not my place to say. He'll tell you when he's ready," he said before leaving the dining room.Kate lay in bed later, lost in thought about Elizabeth and Wilson, wondering if she could be Wilson's daughter and part of Wilson's plan to undermine Lucas's family control.=====The next morning, Kate woke up early, hopeful to speak to Lucas about their strained interaction the day before. As she approached the hallway corn

"Kate, there is nothing for you to fear." Lucas stated reassuringly. "I could never be unfaithful to you. Please, go home. I will join you as soon as possible.""Come with me," Kate urged lightly. Lucas's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, but he quickly masked his reaction with a smirk."Well, when you ask like that, how can I refuse?" He squeezed her hand and stood up. "Excuse me." Lucas directed his icy gaze towards Wilson and Elizabeth. "I will be leaving with my fiancée. You can keep your unwanted offers to yourself." He then joined Ace, who had been watching the drama unfold with widened eyes.Meanwhile, Kate's heart was pounding. She never expected Lucas to agree to her offer.As they left, she glanced at the table and saw Wilson and Elizabeth staring after them in stunned silence.As soon as they got into Lucas's car and were on their way, he let go of Kate's hand.‘He must be angry that we followed him, right?’ She thought. To her surprise, Lucas burst out laughing."Oh, the