?<strong>Chapter 228:</strong>


    Lucas turned and left the room without another word.


    Verena watched Lucas leave, a triumphant smile lighting up her face. Despite Belinda’s efforts to win Lucas’ affection, Verena was confident in her own strategies to bring him back to her.


    At the Grand ins General Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Department, an unexpected visitor arrived to see Belinda just before lunchtime.


    As Belinda scrutinized the man standing before her, she asked impatiently, “Mr. Adams, what do you need?” Ryan, captivated by the sight of Belinda’s enchanting visage, felt a flutter in his chest.


    He said, “How about we go out for lunch, Belinda?”


    With a dismissiveugh, Belinda replied, “There’s no need for that. Just tell me what you want to say.” She believed their rtionship wasn’t close enough to justify casual lunches. She had shared a meal with himst time solely to extract information.


    Ryan was unfazed by her refusal. “Ah, I see. Now that you have the Thomas family’s support, I suppose you’re above such invitations.”


    Belinda had no patience for his sarcastic remarks. “Is there something you actually need to say here?” she asked sharply.


    The impatience in Belinda’s voice triggered Ryan’s annoyance. He let out a coldugh and replied, “At that party, when Lucas intervened on your behalf andter kissed you, you must have felt quite happy, right?”


    Belinda gave him a steady look, maintaining herposure. She was eager to know what he was trying to convey.


    After a pause, Ryan continued, “Well, Lucas made it clear to Verena the next day. He said he only stepped in because it would look bad if you were too intimate with another man since you were still his wife. That was his only reason for doing that. And about that kiss? It was merely to prevent your embarrassment in front of others. Don’t think too much of it.”


    Belinda responded coldly, “Why would you care what I think about the incident? What business is it of yours?”


    Ryan’s face clouded over as he took a deep breath and said, “Lucas didn’t return homest night, did he? Do you know where he was, or who he was with?”


    Belinda’s sharp gaze didn’t waver as she remained silent. Ryan smiled slightly and continued, “Lucas spent the night with Verena; she was feeling sick.”


    Belinda’s facade cracked slightly, and she couldn’t help but clench her teeth. Despite her efforts to remainposed, a hint of paleness on her face betrayed her inner turmoil. It turned out Lucas hadn’t made it home the previous night because he had been spending time with Verena. It appeared that the events from game night had unsettled Verena,pelling Lucas to hasten tofort her.


    This thought sparked a sense of bitterness in Belinda. She couldn’t help butugh at herself internally. She believed Ryan wasn’t deceiving her. She knew she could easily verify his ims by asking Lucas about this.


    As Belinda’splexion turned noticeably paler, Ryan felt aplex mix of emotions. He was partly pleased but also somewhat frustrated by this. This internal conflict stirred difort within him.


    After taking a deep breath, Ryan said to Belinda, “It was merely a game when Lucas kissed you. Don’t read too much into it. Verena has always been the one Lucas loves!”


    Upon hearing this, Belinda coldly raised her gaze to meet Ryan’s, replying sharply, “I’m aware of Lucas’ feelings for Verena. You don’t need to reiterate that for her sake. Doing so only makes her seem insecure.”


    Ryan furrowed his brows slightly and countered, “Insecure? That is absurd! What reason does Verena have to feel insecure?”


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