Chapter 5 He’ll Be History
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Caught off guard by the sudden question, Kaia was at a loss for a
moment.
Just moments ago, she’d been laughing at Alden, but now, the tables had turned, and she couldn’t manage a smile.
Not only was Alden afraid of the man before them, but Kaia also dreaded seeing Lucien.
***
At sixteen, Kaia spent a month psyching herself up to confess to Alden when the Graves adults were out.
Nervously, she stood outside Alden’s bedroom door, head bowed, her eyes fixed on the tip of her shoes. With all her might, she rapped on the door.
The door creaked open slowly, but she kept her head down, too shy to look at the boy she liked.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she finally blurted out, “Alden, I like
you.”
Then came the worst moment of her life.
A somewhat apologetic voice sounded in her ear. “Kaia, Alden’s room is downstairs.”
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She looked up. Horror hit.
It wasn’t Alden, but his uncle, Lucien!
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He had a towel slung casually over his shoulders, and a faint scent of body wash wafted from him.
His eyebrows lifted slightly, confusion written all over his face.
Kaia didn’t dare to meet his eyes. She mumbled an apology and dashed downstairs without looking back.
After that incident, she didn’t dare set foot in the Graves Manor for months.
***
“What’s got you so lost in thought?”
Alden gave her a gentle tug, and Kaia snapped back to the
present.
She quickly lowered her head and murmured, “Hi, Mr. Graves.”
Alden scoffed silently to himself.
Funny how you’re all claws with me, but turn into a scared kitten around Uncle Lucien.
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Then, he turned to Lucien and said, “Uncle Lucien, we were just talking about you. Missed you.”
Lucien pulled out the chair next to Allen, shrugged off his coat, and tossed it over the back of the chair.
He casually rolled up the cuffs of his shirt and quipped, “Really? You laughed the hardest when I left.”
Alden looked a bit sheepish. “That was a long time ago.”
“Sorry, I’m late, Dad. This one is on me,” Lucien said, holding a glass of wine.
Allen wore a warm, wide smile. As everyone knew, Lucien was his apple of the eye.
“Come on, Lucien. Just off a flight. Skip the drink,” Allen said, waving his hand gently.
Lucien offered a faint smile, without uttering a word, and downed the drink in one go.
His calm gaze then swept across the table, finally resting on Alden sitting on the left.
“Have you got your marriage license, Alden? I flew all the way back just for your big day.”
Suddenly, Luna dropped her glass, and it shattered on the floor.
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Quickly bending down, she apologized. “Sorry, I wasn’t holding
it right.”
Then she reached out for the broken glass.
“Ouch…” she yelped in pain.
“Watch out!” Alden exclaimed.
The moment he saw blood oozing from her hand, Alden dashed to her side.
He cradled her hand, his voice soft. “Still my clumsy girl.”
Turning to Allen, he added, “Grandpa, I’ll get Luna’s hand patched up.”
Without a glance at the others at the table, he put his arm around her quivering shoulders and led her out.
Kaia let out a scornful sneer.
Well, you’d better hustle and get that cut bandaged.
Otherwise, it’ll heal up on its own in no time.
The expressions of Allen, Zane, and Joanne all changed.
They could clearly see through Alden’s little scheme.
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Joanne offered a gentle smile and patted Kaia’s hand.
“Kaia, Luna has been delicate since she was a little girl, so Alden’s just used to looking after her.”
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Lucien flashed a half–smile and slid the fish dish in front of Kaia.
“Have some fish. I remember you loved it as a kid,” he said
casually, sounding like an older relative. It made Kaia feel
uncomfortable.
She hated it when he brought up her childhood.
Still keeping her head down, she mumbled, “Thanks.”
***
During the whole banquet, Alden and Luna never came back.
Kaia stood up with a polite smile. “Sir Graves, it’s getting late. I’ve got a court case tomorrow, so I’d better be off.”
Allen silently fumed at his grandson in his mind, but his tone stayed warm.
“Sure thing, work always comes first.”
Then he looked around and asked, “Kaia, you didn’t drive here, did you? How about having Lucien give you a lift home?”
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Kaia politely declined right off the bat. “No thanks. He had a few drinks just now.”
He just got back to the country. I don’t want him to end up in hot water for DUI.
Lucien let out a soft laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ve got an
international meeting tonight. I’m heading back too. The driver can drop you off on the way.”
Reluctantly, Kaia made her way to Lucien’s car.
She tried to hop into the front passenger seat, but the driver locked the door.
With a helpless smile, she slipped into the backseat. “Thanks.”
Lucien gave her a half–smile. His breath carried a faint whiff of alcohol as he spoke.
“It’s okay. So, where to? Your wedding house with Alden?”
Kaia was about to shake her head, but then remembered that the Graves family didn’t know about their breakup yet.
So, she nodded instead. “Cypress Cove Residences.”
Lucien’s expression turned a bit frosty.
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“Cypress Cove Residences. Let’s roll,” he told the driver.
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Kaia turned towards the window, avoiding even a glance at him.
Even in silence, Lucien’s powerful presence made it difficult for her to breathe.
“Nice view out the window?” he asked.
“Not really,” Kaia answered.
Only after the words left her mouth did she realize who she was chatting with.
Lucien let out a soft chuckle. “If it’s not that good, you were staring at it so hard. You’re just scared of me, ain’t you?”
Hearing this, Kaia gave a little shiver and murmured, “I won’t look anymore.”
After that, she settled back against the seat and drifted off to sleep.
When Kaia woke up, she found a blanket draped over her.
She shook herself awake and said, “Why didn’t you wake me up when we got there?”
As she turned to look, she saw Lucien with carbuds on, buried in work on his laptop.
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So he truly has a meeting.
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Kaia quietly unfastened her seatbelt, set the blanket aside, and mouthed a “thank you” before getting out of the car.
“Mr. Graves, did you hear something just now?” someone in the meeting asked.
Lucien frowned slightly. “Yeah, it was my nephew’s fiancée. Let’s get back to the meeting.”
***
Finally, Kaia was out of the car.
She plopped down on the sofa, still feeling a bit rattled.
Five years had passed, and Lucien was even more of a mystery.
Serena asked, “Mrs. Graves, would you like something to eat tonight?”
Kaia glanced at the time. It was already nine o’clock.
“No, thanks,” she said.
After waiting for another ten minutes, she muttered to herself, “My case files are at my place. I can’t show up in court in this tight dress tomorrow, can I?”
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With that, Kaia got to her feet and snatched up her handbag.
Serena looked taken aback. “Mrs. Graves, you’re going out again?”
Kaia flashed her a kind smile. “Don’t call me Mrs. Graves.”
Soon, Alden will be history.
