âIâm here to look for my mom!â I replied, my gaze shifting unintentionally. I had known Lucas for quite some time, and I had always seen him as a cheerful gentleman. Therefore, I did not expect him to have such an aggressive side. However, I was even more shocked to know that Mark was the person who made him who he was today.
It was natural for feuds to happen frequently in wealthy families. Perhaps Christopherâs family was the only one that was harmonious.
âH-How long have you been standing here?â Lucas lowered his voice.
âYou came out when I just arrived. Whatâs the matter?â I flashed an innocent smile. However, my palms were sweating at that moment. I wonder what kind of person my momâs current husband is. Is Mom going to feel happy together with him?
Lucas used to help me before, so I could not help but jump to my own conclusions straightaway. Subconsciously, I began to despise Mark.
âNothing. It seems like Aunt Isabelle is not home right now. How about you try giving her a call?â A bright, heartwarming smile appeared on Lucasâ face.
âAhem!â Suddenly, a coughing sound came from the yard. Lucasâ father walked out of the house by supporting himself against the wall. He shot me a glance, and I immediately sensed the despicable glint in his old eyes. I was terrified by his sharp gaze. It was as if he had caught me lying. He mustâve known that I have been standing here since a long time ago.
âYouâre right. I came here too suddenly that I didnât expect my mom to not be home. Haha! Let me give her a call.â I found an excuse to get away from the backyard. Then, I ran all the way to the front courtyard nervously. My heart raced as if it was going to leap out of my throat.
I had only seen Lucasâ father once during Lyle and Crystalâs wedding. Moreover, I only got to see his side profile that day. But then, I did not expect him to look that scary. His gaze was dark and vicious.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of me when I was panting heavily. âWhy are you running so fast? Are you being chased by some bad guys?â
âAhh!â I jumped in shock upon seeing a face in front of me. I panicked and stumbled a few steps backward. There was a big patch of soft grass underneath my feet. I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
âEve, what are you doing? Why do you look so flustered?â Isabelle frowned as she walked over to help me up.
My heart was still beating fast. I shook my head vigorously as I stared at Mark and Isabelle, who appeared in front of me out of the blue.
Mark looked at me affectionately. He looked exactly like a loving elderly. I could not believe that he was the person Lucas had said just now.
âI was looking at the flowers in the backyard when a caterpillar dropped on my arm. I got terrified. Mom, you know me. Iâm scared of those types of insects.â I took a deep breath and calmed myself down after some time.
âWell, since youâre here, come join us for dinner. Belle misses you a lot. We even talked about you this morning.â Mark chuckled softly, his arms wrapping around Isabelleâs waist. It seemed like he was seeing me as his favorite kid.
âGreat idea! Iâll inform the kitchen about it.â Isabelle flashed a smile.
In fact, I did not eat much later on that night as I could not relax at the dining table. The dining room was spacious, but there were only three of us. Lucas and his father did not appear during dinner time. Thatâs weird. A family should have dinner together.
Moreover, the servantsâ behavior was even weirder. They did everything cautiously, trembling in fear. There was also one of them who nearly broke into tears after breaking a bowl. She rushed forward to Mark and apologized again and again.
Mom didnât bother with what was happening. However, she did not say much other than ask me to eat more. The atmosphere in the dining room was creepy. It was so tense that I lost my appetite.
âWhy are you eating so little? Is the food not to your liking?â Mark asked me.
âNo. I ate some snacks before I came, so Iâm not hungry now.â I shook my head and changed the topic. âWhereâs Mr. Lucas? Is he not coming for dinner? I saw him in the garden just now.â
âLucasâ unwell. He prefers a quieter environment, so he usually has dinner with his father in the backyard.â I could not sense any impatience from his tone. Suddenly, he raised a brow and asked, âAre you close with Lucas?â