?<strong>Chapter 728:</strong>


    On the way, Lucas broke the silence.


    “Today, Macie came to see me. Do you remember her?” he asked.


    “Macie?” Belinda frowned slightly, her gaze distant as she tried to ce the name. After a moment, realization dawned. “Isn’t she one of Minna’sckeys?” she asked bluntly.


    Lucas chuckled at her directness, nodding. “That’s her.”


    His tone grew serious as he continued, “Macie told me Minna hasn’t given up on targeting you. Minna can’t act directly because of her current situation, so she’s keeping her hands clean by using Macie to do her dirty work.”


    Belinda felt a sense of resignation wash over her as she absorbed this. It seemed like Minna hadpletely lost her grip on reality. After everything, after all the consequences she had faced, Minna still hadn’t learned her lesson.


    After a brief silence, Belinda spoke. “So, Macie wants out but doesn’t know how to escape Minna’s control. That’s why she came to you, hoping for protection?”


    Lucas nodded, his voice steady. “Exactly. I told her to keep an eye on Minna and report anything suspicious directly to me.”


    Belinda didn’t respond immediately. Her expression was unreadable as she processed his words.


    After a while, Lucas spoke again. “Belinda, earlier… did you think I would agree to take Verena home?”


    For a moment, Belinda froze, unsure how to answer that.


    Lucas lightly pursed his lips. When he spoke, his voice carried a low, maic intensity. “I told you before that I would prove my change to you through my actions. I understand what matters most to you, and I won’t cross that line again.”


    He paused, his grip tightening slightly on the steering wheel as he took a measured breath. “I didn’t handle things the right way before, but I promise, I’ll do better from now on.”


    The sincerity in his tone made Belinda’s heart stir, an unexpected warmth spreading through her chest.


    Belinda couldn’t deny it. Lucas’ actions just now had actually pleased her. But that was all.


    With that thought in mind, Belinda pursed her lips slightly, stared ahead, and then said calmly, “That’s your business, not mine.”


    Lucas felt a flicker of helplessness and disappointment, but he had expected this response from Belinda. He stayed quiet for the rest of the drive.


    When they reached Belinda’s ce, Lucas stopped the car. With concern in his voice, he said to Belinda, “Make sure you apply the ointment to your neck and keep it dry.”


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