Chapter 4
“How about having some Shabu–Shabu? I know a place that makes an amazing beef slices, you’d love it.“>
Whenever I go for Shabu–Shabu, I always order the beef slices. But then Dorian mentioned how it looked gross, so I kind of stopped.->
Though I vaguely remember Lucian always preferred lighter meals.”
“Lucian, you don’t have to cater to my taste. I’m not picky anymore.“}
“I actually just got a craving for it. Remember back in college, there was that cafeteria with the best Shabu–Shabu? The beef slices was so tender and fresh.”
Hearing him talk about it, my mouth started watering too. That place was indeed delicious. I ate there for four years straight and never got tired of it.
“Alright, let’s do Shabu–Shabu then.”
“I’ll come pick you up now.”
“Okay.“”
Lucian took me to a restaurant in Lindor that had been open for many years. The place was small and a bit shabby, but it was always packed.
Lucian, in his sharp suit, looked completely out of place in the cozy little restaurant.}
I watched him pull out the chair for me to sit, and he even had my favorite juice ready. For someone so groomed and polished, he wasn’t the least bit clumsy with these little tasks.
“Lucian, your ex–girlfriend really trained you well,” I couldn’t help but remark.
Unlike me, who spent seven years in an on–again, off–again relationship.
I only felt pampered at the beginning when Dorian was courting me.”
After college, when we moved in together for more than a year, I turned into a housemaid.§
Dorian had a sensitive stomach, so I learned to cook and make soups. I took care of his meals and day–to–day life like a devoted partner. But I realized too late that I loved him so much I lost myself, forgetting the lesson of loving oneself first. How could I expect his affection to never fade?}
Lucian, while dipping the vegetables, glanced up at me, “Who told you I had an ex–girlfriend?“}
I paused, “Wasn’t there always a girl hanging around you back in college? I thought you two grew up together.“}
“You’re talking about Celeste?” Lucian chuckled, “We did grow up together, but we never dated. I didn’t like her that way, she was like a sister to me.”}
“So you haven’t dated anyone all these years?“}
Lucian calmly rolled up his shirt sleeves, “I’ve been on a few blind dates, but they didn’t work out, so we parted ways.”>
“Oh, and after that?”
I lowered my gaze, remembering his behavior that evening. It made his words seem much more credible.§
“Isabella, I won’t do it again,” Lucian suddenly said, leaving me puzzled, “what did you say?”
He turned away slightly, clearing his throat.”
Maybe it was the heat inside, but his ears were flushed a deep red.)
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Lucian ladled some beef slices into my bowl, “Eat up.“>
It wasn’t until he drove me back to the hotel and I was fresh out of the shower, when he carried me from the bathroom to the bed, that I finally understood what he meant earlier.
But at that moment, I felt like my whole body was about to fall apart.
“Lucian.”
I couldn’t help but glare at him, though my eyes were misty, making me look anything but angry.”
The way I said his name sounded more like a playful tease than genuine annoyance.
Lucian leaned down, kissing me gently, “Bella, are you feeling alright?“}}
shook my head, refusing to answer him.”
Chapter 4
He didn’t mind, just kept kissing me softly over and over.”
