Since She Met Lucian

"I'm fine," Amelia quietly responded as she withdrew her hands.

While her eyes were dry, her voice indicated that she was on the verge of tears. Notwithstanding what she was feeling, she decided to force a smile in order not to make Lucian feel guilty. "If that will make you feel better," she started, evidently avoiding Lucian's gaze, "I guess I have nothing else to say."

Lucian felt a painful pang in his chest. What Amelia said and what happened during the press conference were things that he never anticipated would happen.

He admitted that while he had been curious about the nature of Amelia and Jonny's relationship, he had never doubted her love for him.

'But now... what is happening? What is going wrong?' he asked inwardly, confused and frustrated.

"Amelia..." he finally said. His voice was quiet and his tone was grave. "Tell me the truth. What are we? Were you just... playing with my feelings?" An expression of hurt, exasperation, and disbelief contorted Lucian's beautiful face. No matter how much he tried to stay strong and composed, his emotions were overwhelming every bit of his spirit.

Upon hearing Lucian's question, Amelia's head shot up. Her eyes met his, and she immediately saw how cold his gaze was. However, behind his menacing glare, she noticed that his eyes were bloodshot, and that he had unkempt stubble on his chin. She also realized how thinner and more stressed out he looked as compared to the last time she saw him.

Because of that, Amelia couldn't help but tear up.

"Lucian! Don't talk to Amelia in such a rude tone!" Jonny warned, moving in front of Amelia as if to protect her.

With Jonny's sudden intervention, Lucian became fired up with rage. He turned his gaze to Jonny and asked, in a tone so cold one would shake, "Why are you so hell-bent on taking everything I have?"

Jonny straightened his stance in defiance of the visibly angry Lucian. "Just accept the reality, buddy," he said with a dismissive tone. He then wrapped his arm around Amelia and whisked her away from Lucian.

Claps from someone watching the events unfold trickled slowly. Shelly quickly came over with her head high and a smug expression on her face. Because of her extremely lavish ball gown, she looked like a victorious princess. With a malicious smirk on her lips she said, "Oh wow, what an incredibly realistic rendering of a disaster that is about to happen!" Her voice echoed throughout the whole hall, loud and clear.

"At this point, you even intend to become my sister-in-law?! Stop being such a pathetic bitch!" she added.

Amelia knew that the more she tried to explain her side to Lucian, the more complicated things would be. 'I am not willing to risk that, ' she thought, feeling powerless. 'I'd rather him hate me to the core forever than cause any more damage. And besides... he will be marrying Shelly.'

"Lucian," Shelly continued, her tone still pointed. "Don't be sad. A woman like her who only cares about fame and fortune will receive what she deserves one day!" She then turned to Lucian, a sweet smile lighting up her face. It was her way of comforting him.

"You better shut your nasty mouth, Shelly!" Jonny shouted, anger evident in his voice. Upon hearing Jonny's voice, the previously arrogant woman suddenly became meek and agreeable. She gently wrapped her arm around Lucian's, as if looking for protection and comfort.

"Dear brother, please do not think that you can do anything you want just because you won't inherit An's property. That woman will never marry into An family!" she said, a gloating smile on her face.

a place to live, Shelly. You don't have to worry

Never mind that. I have an advice for you: hold a wedding as soon as possible. I am sure that if that girl gets pregnant before your marriage, she will claim that Lucian is the father of the baby

"You!" As much as she wanted to say and do worse things

was no point in fighting Shelly, or in trying to prove that she was right in

eyes and took a deep breath. After a few seconds, she opened them and said in a very calm tone, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Shelly. Jonny and I will consider your advice." With that, she turned around and left. She

a nightmare to her, and the last thing she wanted to consider was Lucian's feelings.

this time. 'For my own good this time around,

smug smile on her face. Soon enough,

however, was not in the mood for Shelly's games. Quickly, he removed her from his body and told her coldly, "When you

her father's terms, but

she once again seized Lucian's arm to shake

Lucian answered flatly. Despite his answer, there was sadness in his eyes

felt both anger and sadness well up inside her. Not wanting to keep it in, she channeled all her negative emotions on the remote control on her hand—she threw it on

was Courtney. Amelia guessed that she must have seen the

picked up the phone, Courtney laid it all on her with no repercussions. "Hey, Amelia!" she shouted on the other end of the line,

had to quickly compose herself in order not to alarm her friend. Biting her lips, she responded, "Yes." The heartbreak was making her chest painful. 'Isn't this what you want? This is what you want!' she thought, trying to calm herself

how you are," Courtney said on the end of the line. "But... do you want to go out for a drink? If you want to.

her. Everything was dark, except for the distant streetlights that were twinkling like stars. Cars were passing by occasionally, but aside from that, the night was peaceful. According to Jonny, he had bought the villa two years ago but no one had lived in it since then. He told her that he wanted her to move in to clean it

at all. Why would I drink?" Looking at the lights seemed to have calmed her down.

happens, just call me, okay?" "Yeah, yeah,"

the news a while ago, a huge wave of sadness hit her hard and it had not left. She didn't dare think about Lucian because she knew that it would send her on a downward spiral. Because of

profitable. Lucian began to appear in various business activities, and every time he did, only one person was next to him: Shelly.

in front of the television and saw them smile at each other from time to time. They seemed

a follow-up, the interviewer asked which celebrities were invited, but Lucian said that he wanted the ceremony to be simple, and that only the immediate families from both sides were

were nice, but some wanted to attract controversy. That was when a

member of the An family. Will you invite her

however, he was able to gain his composure back. He smiled

continued and it became obvious that Lucian had a disdain for questions that involved her. The

in her ears. 'Is it because I am sensitive when it comes to him

over and brought