?<strong>Chapter 454:</strong>


    Belinda froze momentarily but quickly regained herposure.


    “I heard you were dining here, so I came to pick you up,” Lucas said in a low voice, stepping into the room.


    Though his words were directed at Harold, his gaze lingered on Belinda.


    “Have a seat then,” Harold said.


    Lucas sat down but said nothing further.


    Belinda and Harold continued their conversation, their words unaffected by Lucas’ presence.


    They ignored him entirely.


    At one point, Belinda excused herself to use the restroom.


    When she stepped out of the restroom a few minutester, she stopped in her tracks.


    Lucas was nearby, leaning casually against the wall, his posture rxed but his eyes sharp as they locked onto hers.


    When Lucas spotted Belinda, his expression slowly shifted to one of coldness.


    He slightly parted his thin lips, each wording out with careful precision. “Belinda, how long has it been since our divorce? Are you really in such a hurry to move on?” he asked, his tone sharp.


    Belinda’s expression remained unchanged.


    Without sparing Lucas a single nce, she responded coolly, “That’s my business, Mr. rk. It has nothing to do with you.”


    With that, she took a step forward, ready to leave.


    But just as she moved past Lucas, he swiftly seized her wrist, pulling her and eventually pinning her against the wall.


    Lucas then leaned in, his body closing the space between them.


    He pressed one hand against the wall next to Belinda’s head, effectively trapping her in ce.


    His dark eyes were fixed on her, his gaze sharp and unwavering.


    His voice was deep and gravelly,ced with a touch of hostility. “It has nothing to do with me?” he asked, his words cutting through the air.


    His tone then grew more intense. “We’ve only just divorced, and you are already out dating? Have you ever considered how that will make me look? That will affect my reputation.”


    At his words, Belinda instantly lifted her gaze, her eyes shing with anger.


    Her voice, frosty and unyielding, cut through the tension as she retorted, “Your reputation? Why would I care about that? We have nothing to do with each other now. Your reputation is the least of my concerns.”


    Lucas was momentarily speechless, and before he could respond, Belinda spoke again. “Besides, weren’t you the one so desperate to be with Verena? You—”


    Before she could finish speaking, Lucas cut her off, his voice sharp. “Who told you I was desperate to be with Verena?”


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