Chapter 3

In Scarlett's Perspective:

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the private box at the graduation ball but under a luxurious chandelier.

I knew this room well. The paint on the walls and the feel of the sheets all brought back vivid memories.

It was Lucas's bedroom.

When I was ten, my mother passed away from a severe illness, and Lucas took me into his house.

My parents had a troubled relationship, which deteriorated after I was born. They argued almost every day, sometimes resulting in physical fights.

I originally didn't want to come to this city. My maternal grandfather's family saw me as a disgrace and treated me poorly by throwing my things into the pool and making me dive in during the winter to retrieve them.

Then Lucas appeared.

Lucas promised to take care of me and make sure I could go to school. Later, he took me to the amusement park, and we rode the merry-go-round together.

I still remembered all of this vividly.

Over the years, everyone thought Lucas was cruel and heartless. Some said he was the Mafia King, while others called him a demon. But to me, he was gentle and inarticulate.

I used to depend on Lucas. Just being near him made me happy. I thought I could follow him forever, and he would take care of me like a father. But it didn't last. I ran away.

I can't forget that Christmas Eve afternoon. I came home from school with a gift for Lucas, only to find him and a woman naked in the living room.

The woman had her legs wrapped around his waist, and he was cursing her with all sorts of filthy language while fucking her.

I didn't know how to face Lucas, nor did I know how to accept him having sex with another woman.

In my opinion, he was gentle and strong. I couldn't accept that the man behaving like a beast was the same person I had always respected and loved.

The scene kept replaying in my mind like a nightmare I couldn't shake off. That night, I ran out despite Lucas's attempts to stop me and wandered outside for a long time before returning to his place late at night.

From then on, I moved out of Lucas's house and rented a place of my own.

I didn't want to come back here, nor did I know how to face him.

Thinking about this still makes me feel awkward and helpless. If I hadn't been injured, I probably would never have come back here.

I rubbed my head as I got up from the bed, picked up my coat, and prepared to leave. But to my surprise, Lucas was standing at the door.

"Where are you going?" Lucas asked in a cold voice.

"I'm leaving here, of course." I tried to pass by him with my head down.

Lucas suddenly blocked my way with his arm against the doorframe.

"Don't worry. I didn't do anything extreme to Alexander," he said with a bitter smile.

"That's not what I meant." Since Lucas didn't intend to let me leave, I decided to look directly at him. "I don't care about him anymore. These days, I realized he's no longer the Alexander who doted on me. So, I won't have any more expectations of him."

After I finished speaking, Lucas's gaze flickered slightly but quickly returned to calm.

"Do you need assistance with the divorce and lawsuit?" Lucas nodded, his face always bearing a thoughtful expression.

Over the years, I hadn't told him anything, yet he knew everything.

But I wasn't surprised. Lucas's abilities far exceeded my imagination. Since I was little, he had never broken a promise to me, and there was no problem he couldn't solve.

In my eyes, he always seemed omnipotent. But I didn't want to rely on him on this matter. I'm a law school student anyway.

"No. I can handle this myself." I shook my head and hugged him lightly. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Lucas's embrace was as warm as it had been when I was a child. He would always hold a special place in my heart.

Many things couldn't revert to the way they were. Despite my gratitude, I struggled to engage with him.

"Even though we're not related by blood, I'm still your uncle in name," Lucas said, stepping closer, "You can accept my help without worry."

He leaned down, and our eyes met. When he blinked, I could feel the flutter of his eyelashes. Lucas's eyes had a magical power, like a deep, bottomless pool.

Lucas should know how foolish it was to consider me family. I appreciate his care but the Bennett family's demands would only make this a burden for him.

My mother was the only daughter of the Mafia Bennett family, but she broke ties with the family for my father. She made a wrong decision, and the Bennett family abandoned her.

They adopted Lucas and raised him to be an heir. Now, he was a capable Mafia King, a figure whose name people dared not even mention.

Lucas should have kept his distance from me and my mother.

The Bennett family saw me and my mother as a disgrace. Being too close to me wouldn't do him any good.

"You don't need to help me because we are 'family.' My mother and I are no longer part of the Bennett family," I said with a forced smile, "We're a disgrace to the family. Don't let us be your burden."

I meant every word, but Lucas didn't seem to believe me. Or rather, he didn't take my words to heart at all.

As an adult, I had my judgment about this matter. I didn't want him to be affected by me; it wouldn't be fair to him.

"Don't overthink it, Scarlett." He suddenly chuckled, looking genuinely happy.

Lucas rarely laughs. At least, that's how it was when I was a child.

"I didn't take care of you because we are family." He explained as he pinched my cheek.

"Then why?" I immediately pressed on. His words only made me more confused. If not for familial ties, why would he treat me nice?

"It's because..." Lucas's large hand suddenly landed on the back of my head and then kissed me.