Chapter 498



“You can have no more blind dates, starting now,” Lucas declared suddenly, his tone firm and final.

Still focused on her food, Belinda replied, “Not only will I go on dates, but I’ll meet at least two guys a day!”

Lucas’ face darkened, his mood souring instantly.

With a sharp inhale, he growled through gritted teeth, “For every date you go on, I’ll make sure it ends in disaster!”

Belinda rolled her eyes dismissively. “Suit yourself,” she replied, unfazed.

Her lack of reaction only served to irk Lucas further.

Before he could speak again, his phone rang abruptly.

Glancing at the screen, he saw Ryan’s name flash across it. He furrowed his brows slightly, thought for a moment, then set the phone aside, deliberately ignoring the call.

Belinda noticed, a spark of curiosity lighting up her eyes.

She silently guessed that it was either Ryan or Verena calling Lucas now.

The ringing stopped, but not long after, Lucas’ phone rang again.

This time, Lucas hit decline without hesitation.

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However, as soon as he did that, his phone rang once more.

Reluctantly, he picked up the call, his voice clipped and icy. “What is it?”

“Lucas, you need to get to the hospital now! Verena… she tried to take her own life!” Ryan’s voice crackled with panic and urgency on the other end of the line.

“What?” Lucas’ expression shifted instantly, shock etching across his features.

Ryan wasted no time explaining, “She slashed her wrist in the bathroom! The tub was soaked in blood when we found her.

They’ve just rushed her into the ER, and it’s bad—really bad.

Lucas, you need to come here right now! I don’t know if Verena’s going to make it…”

Desperation laced every syllable of Ryan’s words.

“I will be there right away.” With that, Lucas quickly ended the call. He then turned to Belinda, his expression grave. “Ryan just called—Verena tried to take her own life. I have to get to the hospital now,” he said.

Belinda’s brows knitted together at the news. Verena tried to end her own life? Her initial surprise flickered for only a moment before she masked it with calm indifference. Parting her lips slightly, she said, “Go on. You don’t have to tell me this.”

Lucas rose without hesitation at her response. But after taking a few steps, he paused, as if a thought had struck him, and turned back to Belinda. “Would you like to go there with me?” he asked.

Belinda let out a cold chuckle. “No thanks. I’d rather not meddle in your affairs with Verena,” she said.

Lucas stood there for a moment, his eyes contemplative, but he ultimately left without another word. The room fell quiet again, the air still and heavy. Belinda reached for her cup, taking a slow sip, her expression unreadable. She then set the cup down, and her eyes drifted to Lucas’ empty seat, her gaze shadowed with a tangle of emotions.

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