Chapter 140
The sunset painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, its warm light reflecting off the calm waters around the cruise ship. The gentle sway of the boat, coupled with the faint hum of laughter and conversation from other passengers, created an almost dreamlike atmosphere.
I stood at the railing, gazing out at the endless ocean, my thoughts tangled and confused. Beside me, Lucas was quiet, his presence steady and grounding, as if he knew I needed a moment to gather myself.
“This is beautiful,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.!
“It’s not the sunset that’s beautiful,” Lucas said softly, leaning closer. “It’s the person watching it.“E
I glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips despite myself. “Smooth, aren’t you?”
He grinned, that same cocky, infuriatingly charming smile that always managed to get under my skin. “I try.“E
Moments like this were what confused me the most about Lucas. He had this ability to make me feel like the most important person in the world, and as much as I wanted to resist, part of me craved it.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this… cherished. But at the same time, doubts lingered, clawing at the edges of my happiness. Could I really let myself fall for him? Could I trust him after everything I’d been through?
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in deep purples and blues, Lucas turned to me. “Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand.
I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand in his. His fingers were warm, strong, and the simple touch sent a spark of warmth through me. He led me to a quieter part of the ship, away from the crowd, where a table had been set up with candles, a bottle of wine, and a bouquet of white roses. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.!!
“You did all this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He shrugged, looking almost bashful for the first time since I’d known him. “I wanted tonight to be special. “E “It already was,” I said honestly, and the soft smile that spread across his face made my heart ache in the best way
We sat down, and as we ate and talked, I found myself relaxing. Lucas had a way of making everything feel easy, even when it wasn’t. He asked me about my favorite memories, my dreams, and even my fears. And for the first time in a long time, I opened up. I told him about my childhood, about the things that made me laugh, and even the things that kept me awake at night. He listened, really listened, and it felt like the walls I’d built around myself were slowly crumbling.
When the fireworks started, I couldn’t help but gasp. The sky lit up in bursts of color, each explosion reflecting off the water like a painting come to life. Lucas stood behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist as we watched the show in silence. For a moment, it felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist–just us, the ocean, and the stars.
“I don’t want to ruin this,” I said quietly, breaking the spell.!!
“You’re not ruining anything.” Lucas replied, his voice low and steady. “You’re perfect, Zoe. Even when you don’t think you are.” I turned to face him, searching his eyes for any hint of insincerity, but all I saw was honesty. It scared me how much I wanted to believe him.
“What about my brother?” I asked, trying to find something–anything–that could keep me grounded. “He’s going to be
I
furious.”
Lucas smirked. “I doubt that. He’s the one who told me I should marry you.“”
My jaw dropped. “What?!”
“It’s true,” he said, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “He wants me to be part of the family, and you’re the way for that.”
“That’s….. insane.”[
“Maybe,” Lucas said, taking my hands in his. “But I meant what I said, Zoe. I want to be with you–for real this time. What do you say about getting married for real?“:
The question hung in the air between us, heavy and charged. My heart raced as memories flooded my mind–Cameron’s betrayal, Tyson’s cruelty, Nadine’s lies. The scars they’d left behind felt fresh, raw, and I couldn’t ignore them. I thought about all the nights I couldn’t sleep, the tears I’d cried, the way I’d sworn to myself that I’d never let anyone hurt me like that again.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “Maybe it’s too soon. I’m not… ready for that yet.” Lucas didn’t look disappointed. Instead, he nodded, his expression softening. “That’s okay. I wait.”
“Lucas-”
“I mean it,” he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “I’ll wait as long as it takes, Zoe. You’re worth it.”
His words settled over me like a warm blanket, easing some of the tension in my chest. “Thank you,” I said quietly, and I
meant it. K
The rest of the night passed in a blur of laughter, stolen glances, and whispered confessions. And when we finally returned to
12:26 PM
his room, I didn’t stop him this time. I let myself fall into him again, let myself feel, even if it was just for one night.
After that, I decided to finally go home. Vacation is done. I have work to do–revenge to do
“I’m ready” I said to my brother. “I want them to finally see Zoe again–the new version of Zoe ”
The past few weeks had been a whirlwind
