Chapter 170



After a while, she ventured her own theory. “I think Belinda’s feelings for Mr. Thomas stem more from possessiveness than anything romantic. She just can’t stand the thought of him with someone else.”

Lillie replied sharply, “Be it possessiveness or real affection, if she won’t support me, then she’s against me!” She paused for a moment, eyeing Kylee. “You’re on my side, aren’t you?”

Kylee offered a small smile. “Both you and Belinda are my family. I hold you both dear.”

Lillie’s sneer was icy. “You are being too naive, Kylee. Too soft. Has Belinda ever treated you like a sister? Why waste your kindness on someone who couldn’t care less about you?”

Without waiting for Kylee’s answer, Lillie turned and strode toward their car.

As Lillie turned away, Kylee’s face contorted with resentment and anger, but she swiftly regained her composure and caught up with Lillie.

At the Clark family estate.

Belinda had just ascended to the second floor when she encountered Lucas exiting the study.

Lucas raised an eyebrow at the sight of her. After a brief pause, he frowned, his voice low and gravelly. “Have you been drinking?”

Belinda, puzzled by his sudden interest in her, managed to keep her expression neutral and nodded. “Yes,” she replied.

Lucas’s face grew stern. “Don’t you know how you always act when you’re drunk? Yet, you still drank today.”

Belinda was caught off guard by his words. She straightened up, her voice firm. “I can handle my drinks quite well! A few drinks are hardly a challenge for me.”

Hearing this, Lucas couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

Seeing Lucas like this reminded Belinda of her previous drunken embarrassments. Her eyes flickered defiantly as she said, “That incident was an exception!”

Lucas gave her a brief, dismissive glance before going inside the room.

As she watched him walk away, Belinda clenched her teeth, silently swearing never to be caught inebriated again—at least not in front of Lucas.

Just as she was about to go to the bathroom, Lucas suddenly called out, “Belinda.”

Belinda paused and turned to look at him.

Lucas looked at her intently, his expression unreadable. After a moment, his voice, cool and direct, cut through the silence. “What exactly is going on between you and Johnson?”

Upon hearing this, Belinda suddenly remembered that on the night she had gotten drunk, Lucas had taken her from Johnson’s care.

She kept her face calm. “He and I are just good friends.”

“Good friends,” Lucas echoed her words, his tone neutral. His gaze was unyielding as he looked at her. “Everyone knows how close Johnson and I are. If you’re seen too closely with him, consider what people might say about me, about the Clark family.”

Belinda’s brow creased slightly in defiance. “What exactly are you suggesting here?”

Lucas was forthright. “I expect you to keep a respectful distance from Johnson.”

.

.

.