Now it makes sense.
Now everything is becoming as clear as day. The devil never smiles but whenever he does, it’s a smile of victory or a smile for the prospect of a new plan.
It’s all making sense to Lucas now. The smile that plucked at Danika’s lips when he returned from the orphanage wasn’t an ordinary, welcoming smile.
It was a smile of victory. Lucas now understands why the brutal relief he attained when he spent time with the girls was suddenly ripped off of him. He never knew his subconscious had already perceived this but he was too relaxed to understand Danika’s sudden change of attitude.
It all makes sense now. Lucas’s heart is in his throat. He has a ray of hope that Danika hadn’t taken the documents for the house or that she’s joking.
Danika can’t do this to him. That house was built by his parents. The company and the villa are the only legacies he has left so if Danika sells it off he’s finished. He’ll be nothing. Left with nothing.
The company is already flopping to add another wood to the already burning flame.
His jaw tenses as he gripped the steering wheel, rolling down the street, heading back to his villa.
Danika never said a word since they exited the Woods villa. She kept mute, looking outside her window.
The blood kept sluicing from Lucas’s palms but he’s too physically numb to catch a feel of the pain. Only his mind is at work ’cause he kept thinking and thinking that the revelation isn’t true.
When they pulled into the villa, Lucas dashed out of the car. However, he didn’t catch a glimpse of his security guards though he didn’t pay attention to it.
He shoved into the house and as he hastened to the flight of stairs, he saw suitcases heaped in the hallway.
Ignoring the clustered boxes, Lucas fled to his room and to his nightstand drawer. On flipping it open, he rummaged for his plastic file.
When he caught the file, Lucas poured all the papers on the bed and frantically searched for the document for this villa.
He searched direly.
He rummaged again. Twice, thrice. Many times but…it’s not there.
The document is fucking gone!
The document his uncle handed him weeks before he died. That document is gone.
Defeat. Lucas feels too defeated. Why the fuck is Danika and her mother messing him up? She has the document and she has the say. Lucas’s life is a jumbled mess. One that might not right again.
He heard Danika’s clomping feet halt by the doorway and he lazily whirled around and gawked at her. She hadn’t taken off her clothes. But beside her is another suitcase.
“Where is the document?” He asked her. His voice gruff with anger.
Danika held her chin high when she said, “I’ve given it to the new owner.”
Lucas’s heart slammed to a stop. Did she say new owner? A while ago, Danika spilled she put the house on sale not that she sold the house. So how come she had already given it to the new owner?
It doesn’t make sense yet. He rose from the bed and strolled toward Danika. Sucking in a rush of air, he rested his wounded and unwounded hand on Danika’s shoulder.
“Danika, you can’t sell this house. You just can’t.” He said with a frustrated tear.
“I’m afraid, Lucas. I already sold the house.” She divulged and it only made Lucas tear up.
That woman will only turn you to a puppet and destroy your life. No”
His granny’s words crawled into his ears and he can’t agree more. Danika is just turning him to her puppet.
“We were given twenty hours to pack out. And it’s only one hour left to leave. C’mon, let’s head back to the villa. Our new home.” She told him. Danika framed his face with her hand and kissed his lips, so hard but Lucas was too numb to speak or react.
“I only want the best for you. And for me. Everything I do is to make you happy, Lucas.” She said when she broke the kiss.
“How?” He asked.
“When we stay at my place we’ll live like one family. Not only that but my mother will see how serious you’re about me and then give in to whatever you want her to do. This is for the best.” She said. The assurances in her words didn’t sit well with Lucas.
“Tell me. Who bought this house? My house. Tell me. Please.” He quickly held her hand and thread their fingers together in a rush of desperation.
“I honestly don’t know. The person didn’t show their face. I can’t even tell if it’s a man or a woman. I advertised it on social media and someone indicated their interest.” She said candidly.
A sharp gasp left Lucas’s lips. “You fucking don’t know? What? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” Lucas cursed and cursed and cursed.
Danika gripped his hand, “Listen. I can always change my mind. This is more like getting to experience how we would be when we begin to make kids. We’re family, Lucas. She’s just my mother.”
“Danika I’m…not ready to move in with you now. You said it’s for the best right? For us right? Then I need time to process all these. For now, I can’t move in with you.” Lucas said gruffly.
Danika chuckled. “You fucking need time to think? Is that it?” She drew her brow apart and asked. “Are you saying I don’t know what’s good for us? Are you saying I’m being selfish?”
Lucas has lost so much and can’t keep on losing. Danika might have other plans. Even though he doesn’t want to continue. He needs to stick to them until he gets what he wants.
Danika sold this house but he sure will get it back. This is the Evangelista’s legacy. One that he should uphold as the heir.
He walked past Danika and descended the stairs. Danika followed him from behind, pestering him.
“Lucas get in the car let’s leave. Don’t make the whole country know about this. I did what’s good for us. For you.” She yelled as she trailed behind him.
Lucas stood on the base of the stairs and looked at the suitcases, that was when he figured those are his.
“You packed my things already?” He asked. “How fucking long have you planned this?” He added, knitting together. His chest tightened with disgust.
“Days after you returned from the meeting with Mark’s on your neck. That was when I knew that to prove your sincerity we should live in my place.” She spilled and her words caused Lucas to jitter.
‘Danika still suspects me?’ He questioned himself. “I didn’t fucking cheat on you for chrissake!” He exclaimed, throwing his hands up.
Gathering himself together, he said, “I’m leaving, Danika. Once the date for the wedding approaches, we’ll tie the knot, and then I can move in with you.” Lucas said and shoved out his phone from his pocket to call his Uber driver.
It didn’t take long for the ride to arrive, so Lucas pulled his suitcases into the car.
As they were about to leave, he spun around and took a final glance at the house before leaving.
Danika stood there with a smile of satisfaction hovering over her face. What a successful plan!
She knows that Lucas is just angry but he’ll definitely agree to move in with them ’cause Lucas has no money to rent a place. She thought.
Lucas went to the only place he could find comfort in for tonight which is Ethan’s house. The driver helped him haul his suitcases from the car trunk when they pulled into Ethan’s driveway.
The neighborhood already turned quiet as everyone already curled up on their bed. The only semblance of noise that could be heard is Lucas’s rough breathing. Minutes after he rang Ethan’s doorbell, the door fluttered open and Ethan stared surprisingly at Lucas.
“What are you doing here, man?” He asked with a muffled tone. When his eyes landed on Lucas’s luggage, Ethan’s jaw tensed and his brows pulled apart.
“What the fuck happened?” He asked Lucas as their gaze met again.