Chapter 2: Chapter 2 by HusnaS

…

At Skyline Restaurant.

The atmosphere was a mix of joy and tension as Lucas sat across from Tracy. His father and stepmother, a couple deeply engrossed in conversation, sat beside each other.

“Who would have thought that Tracy would ever return?” Mrs. Harrison beamed.

“I also thought she would spend the rest of her life abroad,” Mr. Harrison chuckled. “When you went there to study, we hoped you would come back often, but you didn’t.”

“Oh, Uncle… Aunty…” Tracy smiled bashfully, lowering her head. “I always had it in mind to return. How could I not when everything I love is here?”

With those words, she cast a meaningful gaze at Lucas, who seemed lost in thought, silently eating his food.

“Well, your return is worth celebrating,” Mrs. Harrison declared, the most joyous of them all. She had been disappointed when Tracy left for studies abroad, especially since it marked the end of her relationship with Lucas. If only Tracy had stayed, Lucas might never have married the girl his grandfather chose for him.

“Hey, Son,” Mrs. Harrison turned to Lucas, “This city has changed a lot since Tracy left. How about you give her a tour later?”

It was already that Lucas hadn’t avoided Tracy and had even arranged a celebratory dinner for her. Mrs. Harrison couldn’t wait for the sparks of their past love to reignite.

Just as Lucas was about to respond, his phone rang, interrupting the moment. Excusing himself, he left the table and answered the phone in a corner. The phone call was from the Butler, and Lucas wondered if Heidi was still in his house.

“She has signed the divorce, Young Master,” the Butler stated.

Lucas was taken aback, his eyes widening momentarily before darkening with realization. Just as he had suspected, Heidi was only interested in his money. Did she believe she could deceive him for long?

“But Madam didn’t sign the other documents,” the Butler continued. “She said she doesn’t want any compensation.”

Lucas’s grip tightened on the phone, and it took him a few seconds to react. “She doesn’t want the money?”

“Yes, Young Master,” the Butler confirmed. “Madam has already left the house. A young man picked her up.”

Lucas almost slammed his phone against the wall when he heard Butler’s last statement.

His heart fumed with rage, and he hung up.

Heidi.

How dare she?

His mind raced with questions. Who was that man who had picked her up? The answers, yet unknown, fueled Lucas’s growing fury.

“Is something wrong, Lucas?” Tracy came to his side, her eyes flashing with worry. “You’re taking too long on the phone.”

Lucas struggled to compose himself, and then he replied, “Nothing.”

“Your food is getting cold.” Tracy batted her lashes innocently. “Aunt and Uncle are beginning to worry, too.”

Lucas frowned and returned to the dining table, suddenly losing his appetite. As he walked away, Tracy’s gentle expression turned bitter, wondering who he was on the phone with.

Despite eavesdropping on the conversation, she couldn’t hear what the other person was saying.

“Dad, I want to make an announcement,” Lucas said after sitting on his chair.

His father looked up from his food, and his stepmother stared at him eagerly.

Lucas didn’t look at the woman, though. He and his stepmother had not always been on good terms. He only tolerated her because of his father.

“Heidi and I have divorced.”

The spoon dropped from his father’s hand, and his stepmother’s lips parted.

Tracy, who had just returned to her chair, also looked shocked.

“What do you mean, Son? What was the cause of your divorce?”

Mr. Harrison didn’t like his daughter-in-law because she wasn’t from an affluent family. Still, it surprised him that his son had divorced her. Hadn’t he been adamant about marrying her despite his disapproval?

Lucas wasn’t going to reveal to his father that his grandfather had strategized everything. He only sighed and said, “Our marriage was doomed from the start. We don’t love each other.”

“Well, that’s good riddance, Son.” His stepmother chimed in. “Tell me you didn’t give her any money. I know those kinds of girls are only after what your pocket can offer.”

“She didn’t take the compensation,” Lucas grumbled, disliking the way the woman called him ‘Son’ so freely. For goodness sake, she wasn’t even older than him.

“She didn’t take the money?”

Both his father and stepmother looked puzzled.

The reason why Mr. Harrison hadn’t pestered his son to divorce her in the past was partly because his son had to give her money as compensation, apart from fearing Grandpa Winston’s rage. His wife had fed him with information about girls like her, which he didn’t like.

“Well, what are you planning to do with your life now?” Mr. Harrison said. “And how are you going to break the news to your grandfather?”

Knowing Grandpa Winston, he would surely seek an explanation.

“Grandpa doesn’t have to know,” Lucas replied. “I plan to marry Tracy, Dad.”

“Oh.” Mr. Harrison nodded in realization.

Tracy feigned surprise, covering her mouth. “Oh, Lucas, what are people going to think?”

Dramatically placing a hand on her chest, she shot glances from Lucas to his father. “You just got divorced, and people might say all sorts of things. What will Heidi think?”

“Heidi doesn’t matter.” Lucas shook his head. “You are the only one I love.”

Tracy lowered her head, and her eyes sparkled. She side-eyed Mrs. Harrison, who was also stifling a laugh.

None of them expected Lucas to drop the bomb about marrying Tracy soon.

When Tracy returned to the country, she had thought it was going to be hard to be together with him. After all, she initiated their breakup. Who knew it was going to be a piece of cake?

Mr. Harrison and Mrs. Harrison left after a while, and Tracy stayed back with Lucas in the restaurant. She wanted some fresh air, and Lucas took her to the rooftop.

“I am sorry for leaving three years ago, Lucas,” she said sadly. “But I was afraid someone might hurt me.”

Lucas was about to respond when something caught their attention.

Against the dark sky, several drones formed the shape of a bird, their colorful lights brightening up the atmosphere.

Tracy’s jaw dropped, and Lucas looked confused. Thinking that Lucas had planned the show for her, Tracy’s heart fluttered. “You didn’t have to, Lucas… this is too much-”

But before she finished speaking, a male’s voice interrupted from the other side of the rooftop.

“Cheers to the end of ‘Happily Ever After’ and the start of ‘Whatever Makes Me Happy Now’! You are a free bird, Princess.”

A champagne bottle popped up, followed by the sound of laughter.

Both Lucas and Tracy looked in that direction, and Lucas’s expression darkened.

“What are you doing here, Heidi?”

Heidi, enchanted by the colorful drones, frowned a bit when she heard Lucas’s voice.

Turning around, she faced Lucas and Tracy.

She shouldn’t be shocked to see them together, yet their appearance dampened her mood.

“So he’s your new lover.” Lucas stared at Zach, who was beside her. “It is not even up to a day, and you are messing around already.”

“I can say the same for you, Mr. Harrison.” Heidi folded her hands. “And unlike you, I didn’t cheat while we were married.”

“Who will believe that?” Lucas looked from her to Zach. “Heidi, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Lucas didn’t like the way she addressed him with his surname. Where did her confidence come from? Was it because she was now dating a rich guy?

Of all people, Lucas didn’t expect her to hook up with Zach Olsen. He was the President of AG Group and was notorious for his playboy personality.

“Whether you believe her or not, nobody cares.” Zach’s blood was boiling the moment he sighted Lucas and his mistress. “You have no right to question whoever she hangs out with. If I were you, I’d stay out of her way.”

Zach swooped in, grabbing Heidi’s waist, catching her off guard. She shot him a questioning look, and he responded with a wink. Lucas, on the other hand, clenched his fists, growing even more furious. Tracy, noticing the tension, became concerned. What was it about Heidi interacting with another man that made Lucas so visibly jealous?

“You have gone too far, Heidi,” she said softly. “Even though Lucas no longer wants you, you shouldn’t have stooped this low.”

“Tracy or whatever you’re called, no one invited you into this talk,” Heidi sharply replied.

“I know you’re mad at me, Heidi.” Suddenly, Tracy grabbed Heidi’s hands, giving her a pleading look. “But it is wrong of you to blame me. Didn’t you come between us three years ago? If it wasn’t for you-”

“Let go,” Heidi demanded, shaking off Tracy’s grasp. Tracy stumbled to the side just as a waiter approached, carrying a tray loaded with all of Heidi’s favorite dishes that Zach had ordered. Tracy crashed into the waiter, and the bowl of soup flipped in the air, causing the hot tomato to splash on her.

“Heidi, are you crazy!?” Lucas hollered.

“No, please don’t blame her, Lucas.” Fake tears ran down Tracy’s face. “Heidi is just jealous. I know she’s mad because-”

“Tsk tsk tsk.” Heidi’s lips twitched, and she shook her head. Knowing that Tracy had intentionally bumped into the waiter, she couldn’t help but applaud her acting.

“If this is the kind of woman you are going to end up with, Lucas…” Her lips curled into a smirk. “Congratulations.”

With those words, she strolled away, Zach still holding her waist. Lucas stood there, utterly bewildered, gazing at their retreating figures in a daze.