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

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

coffee. There was a moment of silence between

she was determined to know the whole truth. She knew she had to ask questions

Kent looked earnest, and Amelia thought she saw love in

from Kent and looked down instead on the cup of

to understand. If Kent loved Courtney, how did

bastard! You can't imagine 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 the fact that it was he who caused her pain. It

said, reaching for Kent's hands. "Tell me what happened." Anyone watching would see that Kent's expressions were the complete opposite of Amelia's. While Kent

in the coffee shop, but not even its melody could soothe

to Courtney. He thought for a long time before finally exclaiming in resignation, "I've done what I've

thought this, and his

cry? Do you want her to beg you for answers down on her knees? Is that what you want?" Amelia asked. Courtney was never one to leave without all of the answers. Amelia knew that

would get the whole picture. Amelia knew what her friend was like, and

hurt her if I tell her the truth." Amelia could tell that Kent felt hopeless and that he didn't want to drag out the pain

would happen if you explained your side! It's not over yet," Amelia protested. "Things could still turn around." Amelia tried

again when a familiar figure

reached out to hold Courtney, but the latter was quick to push

took the seat next to Amelia. Her face was contorted in a mix of

both to talk, as long as you promise me that you'd talk to each other

she could go. "Are you sure you want to leave me with him?" Amelia couldn't

much for Amelia but she steadied herself. She initially thought it would be best for her to leave the

himself but it was too obvious that he

"Courtney," she said in an almost whisper, "I know that you and Kent have already gone through so much. If

the girl you broke up with me

betrayed nothing but guilt. He stared blankly at Courtney before finally forcing his mouth 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

in dismay. "What did you do? Did you sleep

close his eyes in shame. He wanted so much for the

was quickly becoming the most difficult confrontation Amelia had ever found herself caught in. Trying to break the tension, she turned to her friend, "Courtney, I've already told you what Kent

I want!" Ignoring Amelia, Courtney continued addressing Kent, "You know what I'm like. I will never be a fool in love. I cannot and will not forgive you

how he could turn everything around. Courtney's anger was as deep as her love had

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

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 can't wait to see

cup of coffee in front of her and threw the contents to Kent. Things happened so quickly, Kent couldn't have possibly avoided getting