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.

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

live together, huh? Isn't it too soon for that?" As she said that, Shelly looked at Amelia from her head to her toes with much contempt. With obvious disgust in her voice, she said, "You know what, dear brother? 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

she wanted to say and do worse things to Shelly at that moment, seeing the expression on Lucian's eyes stopped

misunderstood her. There was no point in fighting Shelly, or

your concern, Miss Shelly. Jonny and I will consider your advice." With that, she turned around and left. She didn't know what Lucian was going to think about her after everything that had happened, but she didn't care. All she wanted

a nightmare to her, and the last thing she wanted

be ruthless, she would be this time. 'For my own good this time

Shelly suddenly whispered. "I'm here with you." There was a smug smile on her face. Soon enough, she was leaning on him in an attempt to flirt. In her sweetest voice possible, she

he removed her from his body and told her coldly, "When you

terms, but here

true?" she earnestly asked, as she once again

his answer, there was sadness in his eyes that Shelly

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 the

guessed that she must have seen

laid it all on her with no repercussions. "Hey, Amelia!" she shouted on the other end of the line, shock in her voice. "Is Lucian really getting married

responded, "Yes." The heartbreak was making her chest painful. 'Isn't this what you want? This is what you want!' she

on the end of the line. "But... do you want to go out for a drink? If you want to. I will accompany you! Damn it, my treat!" Despite Courtney's efforts to sound enthusiastic as if nothing was wrong, she wasn't

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

all. Why would I drink?" Looking

call me, okay?" "Yeah, yeah," Amelia answered. Courtney then hung up

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.

person was next to him: Shelly. They were playing their part as a newly engaged couple and they looked happy to be with each

smile at each other from time to time. They seemed to have a tacit

asked which celebrities were invited, but Lucian said that he

questions kept pouring in—majority were nice, but some wanted to attract controversy. That was when

member of the

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

Lucian had a disdain for questions that involved her. The reporters quickly caught wind of

her, the nastier he got. Soon, Lucian's voice was ringing in her ears. 'Is it because I am sensitive when it comes

came, Jonny came over and brought many delicious dishes for her.