?<strong>Chapter 224:</strong>


    Belinda smiled in response. “Thank you, Mom.”


    The tension between them eased as they chatted for a while longer. Eventually, Holley left, leaving Belinda to her thoughts. On her way back to her office, Belinda felt a sense of relief. She had expected her mother to be far angrier, but Holley’s reaction had surprised herpletely. Knowing that Holley wasn’t upset with her allowed her to breathe easier.


    Back at her desk, Belinda refocused on her work, her mind finally at peace.


    Meanwhile, Lucas had an unusually busy day. By the time evening rolled around, he still hadn’t made it home for dinner. As he prepared to shut down hisputer and call it a day, his phone rang. The name on the screen made him pause. It was Ryan calling.


    “Hello,” Lucas answered.


    “Lucas,” Ryan’s voice came through, calm but tinged with concern. “Verena and I are at the Dream Club now. Can youe?”


    Lucas instinctively wanted to decline. But before he could respond, Ryan continued, “Verena is not in a good ce right now. She has been drinking non-stop sincest night. No matter what I say, she won’t listen to me. She’s really in a bad mood, and I think she believes alcohol is the only way to drown her pain.”


    Lucas frowned, his grip tightening around the phone. Ryan hesitated for a moment before adding, “I am worried that she might be having a rpse.”


    This sentence sent a jolt through Lucas. His tone turned sharp and urgent as he replied, “I’ll be there right away.” Ending the call, Lucas grabbed his keys and headed straight for the Dream Club.


    When he arrived at the private room, he found Ryan wrestling a beer bottle out of Verena’s grasp. “Verena, that’s enough!” Ryan said. “You can’t keep drinking like this.”


    gα?ησν????s is where imagination thrives


    The sound of the door opening drew Ryan’s attention. He looked up, relief washing over his face when he saw Lucas enter the room. “Lucas, thank God you’re here,” he said with a weary smile.


    At the mention of Lucas’ name, Verena froze. Slowly, she turned to look at him, her eyes shimmering withplicated emotions.


    Lucas walked over and sat beside Verena, his voice low and husky. “Verena, is drinking really the answer to whatever’s troubling you?”


    The moment Verena’s eyes met his, they turned red, and tears welled up in them. She bit her lip, her voice trembling as she choked out the words that had been weighing on her heart for a while. “Lucas,” she muttered, “why did you kiss Belinda during the gamest night? Why didn’t you refuse her?”


    Lucas fell silent upon hearing Verena’s question. Why hadn’t he refused Belindast night? Honestly, he didn’t know. Perhaps it was because rejecting Belinda would have embarrassed her in front of everyone. Or maybe, in the presence of Johnson, he had intentionally yed along, hoping the man would back off. Or perhaps, deep down, he simply didn’t want to refuse Belinda.


    Lucas couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, and because of this uncertainty, he didn’t answer. His silence was deafening.


    To Verena, it felt like a de had sliced through her heart. Her voice trembled, tears threatening to spill. “Lucas… Does this mean that… you have developed feelings for Belinda now?”


    Lucas turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. He thought for nearly half a minute before finally saying softly, “No.”


    But Verena didn’t feel relief. If anything, her heart sank further. Because Lucas had hesitated just now.


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