Since She Met Lucian

"I'm telling you now, Kent. If you so much as dare make a decision without my knowledge, you'll face consequences!" Melissa's words were still ringing in Kent's ears when she hurried to the elevator.

And although the words were not addressed to her, it was Amelia who felt the sting of those words as soon as the elevator doors closed.

"It's almost five," Amelia said. "I need to talk to you. Do you have time after work?" Amelia never thought of the office as the proper place to be asking colleagues about personal affairs, so she thought it best to talk to Kent elsewhere.

"I know that you and Courtney are good friends," Kent began, facing Amelia. "Before you reached out, I was actually thinking of talking to you." Amelia could see that Kent was struggling to turn his frown into a relaxed smile.

"You didn't change your number, did you? I'll call you after work." Deep down, Amelia knew that she was angry, but one look at Kent's worried expression seemed to vanish her feelings of hate.

"I'll call you later," Kent repeated before he himself entered the elevator.

Amelia realized that she'd been out for too long. She quickly turned back to head to her desk, her face contorted into an expression of confusion, anger, and hurt. She forced a smile when she saw Lucian looking at her. "Sorry," she meekly said, "I left my post without permission."

"I'll ask Frank to drive you home." Lucian's reply was cool but quick. He got up, adjusted his coat, and grabbed his suitcase, reaching for the door.

"So, are you doing anything tonight?" Amelia hesitantly asked. She knew the answer to her question. She had already heard the conversation between Sasha and him, but she couldn't keep herself from asking.

"Yes," Lucian replied curtly before looking at Amelia with the gentlest of eyes. "I'll head out soon. I just have a few more things to attend to."

He didn't say much and Amelia didn't want to press.

"Okay," she said. "I'm sorry, it's nothing. Go, finish up." Turning her head back to her desk, she realized that it was five minutes to five and she was supposed to meet up with Kent after work.

Lucian left Amelia to her thoughts. She was packing her things up when her phone began to ring. She picked it up and answered, "Yes?"

"I'll meet you downstairs." It was Kent. Amelia shoved her things inside her bag and hurried to the elevator.

Stepping out of the Zhan Group building, it was Frank who first caught Amelia's attention. He was waiting by the car as instructed. The man smiled at her. "Mrs. Amelia, Mr. Lucian asked me to drive you home," he politely said.

Amelia realized that she forgot to inform Frank of her plans for the night. "I'm sorry, Frank. There's, uh, something I have to deal with right now. I'll just take a cab home."

"But Mr. Lucian made strict orders for me to drive for you," Frank protested. "I have to inform him once you're home." Frank looked worried.

"I'll explain everything to Lucian," Amelia reassured Frank. "Don't worry."

"Well, if you say so." Frank looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped himself midway. Instead, he bid Amelia goodbye and drove off.

Kent watched the car go before approaching Amelia.

there." "Did you call Courtney?" Amelia asked. She walked ahead of him towards the

her way here," Kent replied. He couldn't look at

an empty seat. She quickly found one and waved for coffee. There was a moment of silence between the two until Amelia spoke.

was scared of the answer, but she was determined to know the

looked earnest, and Amelia

Melissa?" Amelia asked. She withdrew her eyes from Kent and looked down instead on the cup of coffee the waiter placed in front of

difficult to understand. If Kent loved Courtney, how

sorry I am for what I did." Kent knew for a fact that he was truly in love with Courtney, so it was hard for him to put his mind around

what happened." Anyone watching would see that Kent's expressions were the complete opposite of Amelia's.

the coffee shop, but not even its melody could soothe Kent's

to Courtney. He thought for a long time before finally exclaiming in resignation,

understand how Kent could have thought this, and his

that what you want?" Amelia asked. Courtney was never one to leave without all of the answers. Amelia knew that Courtney wouldn't

Courtney's own words, she would die if she must, but she would get the whole picture. Amelia knew what

will only hurt her if I tell her the truth." Amelia could tell that Kent felt hopeless

around." Amelia tried to cheer Kent up, but even she doubted the words which came out of

to speak again when a familiar figure

and reached out to hold Courtney, but the

coldly took the seat next to Amelia. Her face was contorted in

each other calmly." Amelia wanted to be there for her

she could go. "Are you sure you want to leave me with

She initially thought it would be best for her to leave the two alone, but

it was too obvious that he was perplexed. The guilt

whisper, "I know that you and Kent have already gone through so much. If you still love him,

Kent. I want to know what the girl you broke up with me for is like!" Each word that came out of Courtney's mouth was spoken through gritted teeth. With eyes like daggers,

to utter her name. "Courtney," he began, "you've given up a lot for me these years. I know how much you've sacrificed. You even went up against your family..." Kent fought the urge to break down. "I've done something

folded her arms in dismay. "What did you do? Did you sleep with her? Do you

close his eyes in shame. He wanted so much for

was quickly becoming the most difficult confrontation Amelia had ever found herself caught in. Trying to break the tension, she turned to her

leaving until I have all the answers that I want!" Ignoring Amelia, Courtney continued addressing Kent, "You know what I'm like. I will never be

could turn everything around. Courtney's anger

There was only one thing left to say. He raised his head slowly and turned to Courtney. "Take care of yourself," he said

me?" Courtney was raging. "Of course!" she sneered, "Another woman is waiting for you. How could I've forgotten? Of course, you're leaving because you

and threw the contents