Since She Met Lucian

"I'll come with you, Darren," Amelia calmly said, putting on a kind smile.

"Amelia?" Lucian said in surprise as he gripped her arm, shaking his head. It seemed that he didn't want her to go inside and talk to Nicholas.

Amelia knew what was on Lucian's mind so she smiled and held up the portrait in front of him. "No matter what, your parents are still elders. I don't need to be angry anymore because I got my mother's portrait back. It wouldn't be polite of me to suddenly leave especially that your father asked to talk to us," she explained.

Her face wasn't stained with tears anymore and she was beaming now. It was as if she hadn't cried at all.

"I don't want you to pretend. Let's just go home." Lucian couldn't help but notice the cracks in Amelia's smile. She wasn't as fine as she was making it out to be. He grabbed her hand in an attempt to leave already.

Amelia loosened her hand free and handed him the portrait, still smiling. "Hold this for me. I'll be back in a jiffy."

Flattered by the trust she had given him, Lucian's wrinkled eyebrows smoothened. Then he said gently, "I'll come with you."

In the time that they spent together, Lucian had gotten to know Amelia a little bit more despite their constant bickering. They were always fighting but she was still very respectful to Fannie. With that, Lucian decided to accompany her inside.

In the study, Nicholas sat at his desk, reading the paper. Upon seeing Lucian and Amelia come in, he put the paper down and asked gently, "Amelia?"

His voice was low as he spoke but there was a hint of affection in it.

She stepped forward, nodded, and said in a guilt-ridden tone, "Uncle, I'm so sorry for storming out like that a while ago." She wanted to apologize for what she had done but didn't realize that she'd made an error in how she referred to him.

Lucian frowned and pulled her sleeve. He reminded her gently, "You should call him dad."

What? Amelia quickly came to her senses and corrected herself, "Dad..."

Her tone was stiff which gave away her discomfort.

When Lucian first met her father, he sounded so natural when he first referred to him as dad. She couldn't help but be impressed at how quickly he was able to adjust. Unlike her.

"I don't deserve to be called your father just yet..." Sighing, Nicholas took a hold of his cane and tried to stand up. Immediately, Amelia reached out to try to help him.

This gesture not only surprised Nicholas but also Lucian.

"Ha-ha! Such a sweet girl!" All of a sudden, Nicholas burst into laughter. Then, he turned to his son and praised, "Looks like you have good taste."

It's... Hesitating for a moment, Amelia turned to look at Lucian. She didn't understand what Nicholas meant.

beaming. When he turned to look at Nicholas, he looked just as happy. She felt so silly not knowing what to

happy for me." Lucian then walked over to support Nicholas, relieving Amelia

smiled in satisfaction. Then he frowned and said apologetically, "Your mother's just short-tempered. Don't take it too

his gaze to Amelia,

days and your legs are sore. You shouldn't be watching your friends do

put because I know my legs and feet are too sore for me to exercise anymore. I comfort myself by watching my old friends do that. You could say that I'm living vicariously through them," Nicholas explained, a gentle smile on his

behind them. Observing the father and son carefully,

were his family background and his handsomeness but now, she was discovering that he had a tender side

each other, sharing a chuckle every now and then. Soon, they arrived at the gate of the mansion, Nicholas

as she was momentarily stunned. When she finally collected herself,

a little nervous," Lucian explained as he pulled her

was both nervous and worried. 'Did Nicholas just technically say that he already accepted her?' she pondered to

Amelia got in the car, clutching her mother's portrait in her arms. Lucian then leaned in to fasten her seatbelt for her. She

drive?" Lucian asked matter-of-factly, sitting up

before she was able to fully process his

"Are you scared because

not!" she cried defensively, her

first ever woman I took home to

be confused and asked, "What does that mean?" He'd been with so many other women. She found it hard to believe that none of them was good enough for him to take home and meet his parents. Maybe, he

she turned

Amelia was glaring at him. He raised the corners of his mouth, looked at Amelia with burning eyes,

face. Overwhelmed, she moved so that her back was completely pressing against her seat, safely

was flushing like a fresh bouquet of

she looked charming. Stroking Amelia's face gently, he spoke, his

my God! What...

pulsing in her ears. Her heart racing and her chest tightening were all proof that

he out of his mind? How could he say something like

I'll wait until you fall in love with me and then..." Lucian lowered his head and covered his lips with hers. Amelia felt her insides explode. This kiss was

she was floating and this was all just a

to just follow her heart but

she fixed her eyes on

had indeed developed a crush on him