جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

The sea breeze carried the salty scent and the sound of Noah's laughter.Amid all that, I still didn't understand.All I knew was that Lucian Blackwood was a cold man who didn't care about anyone but himself. But during the three days we stayed here, his attitude was completely different.I knew he was acting like a good son-in-law in front of my mother, and there's no doubt about his acting skills, but sometimes, when we were alone, he showed another side of himself. In the end, he said he did it not for me but for himself—if he treated me well, my work would turn out better too.That made sense, but now, on our last day here, I could see Lucian playing ball with Noah and Ethan on the beach. It had become their routine after training Noah in martial arts.I'm grateful to see the big smile on Noah's face right now. But is the same smile on Lucian's face also an act? I really don't understand."Selene!" Noah waved at me when he noticed I was standing not far from them. I could see Luci

In the end, I stood before Lucian, his face looking as cold as ever. I even thought Lucian's expression when he and Ethan were playing with Noah had just been a dream—it was too much of a contrast."Why did you come too?" Lucian's voice brought me back to reality."Because I already had an appointment with Selene." That was Damian's voice.Well, the reality was that Damian and I were standing in front of Lucian, who was sitting in his luxurious office chair, the place where Lucian had first offered me a contract marriage. That oppressive aura hadn't changed, even though I was now part of Blackwood.Lucian let out a displeased huff as he rose from his seat, while Damian remained calm, as if he lived in a different dimension from the pressure I was feeling."I want to talk to my wife alone." Lucian emphasized the word 'wife'.Damian nodded. Without responding to Lucian, he turned to me. "I'll wait outside, there's no need to rush, but I don't want to wait too long either," he said with

It wasn't as bad as I feared; dinner went smoothly this time. Not many people talked; even Aunt Wynne and Aunt Amira focused only on their food.There was only the clinking of spoons and other pieces of cutlery. Everyone was busy with what was in front of them. But I couldn't guarantee that this was actually a solemn occasion. Everyone... except Damian.See? I wasn't wrong. Just like I said, Damian acted like he lived in a different dimension from me. The pressure I usually felt at the dinner table never seemed to reach him. Damian ate his food casually, his aura different from everyone else's at the table."Eat up." Lucian's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.When I turned, he had just placed a piece of meat on my plate. His smile seemed sincere for a moment. However, I knew that we had just stepped onto the stage.I smiled back. "Thank you.""So, how is it?" Mr. Arthur's voice followed, breaking the silence that was more like tension."Everything is going well, Grandpa. Selene is

I couldn't focus. Really. My work might have been done, but something was still bothering me, going round and round in my mind.I still remember when Lucian allowed me to visit my mother and Noah as a reward for successfully turning a product that was on the verge of failure into a market hit.At the time, I thought Lucian would be angry because there was, after all, an unwritten rule in this family about maintaining the family's image, and even to meet my own family, I wasn't free to do so.But when I asked Lucian if he was angry with me for wanting to see my mother and Noah, his answer stunned me."Why would I be angry? It's natural for a child to want to meet his mother. What's strange is making it a gift... Or... Well, I understand your position." I still remember his words clearly. At that moment, I could see a gloom in his eyes. I thought it was just my imagination because within a few seconds, he had already changed that expression into his usual sly one.But now, I realize

Nothing else happened after Lucian and I had lunch together.I should be grateful that since I returned to the office, I haven't run into either Nivara or Damian.But now there's a problem.The family dinner Lucian promised we wouldn't attend has suddenly been thrown into chaos.Since I returned to the Blackwood family home until now, Lucian hasn't arrived and can't be contacted, and even Ethan's phone is off.What should I do?I couldn't possibly refuse this dinner just because Lucian said so. I mean, it wouldn't matter if he were here. But now? I couldn't even refuse if someone called me to join them.In a hurry, I called Lucian's phone again. This time, the call went through.On the third ring, Lucian finally picked up."What are you doing? You should have been home by now. They've already prepared the dinner menu, and I really don't want to join. I don't like the atmosphere—""Lucian, are you busy?" That wasn't Lucian's voice. I remembered hearing it before. I remembered hearing t