Lucas left Ethan to pull in his suitcases and barreled into the house in search of something cold to cool his burning heart. It’s hard to process what just happened to him.
Within a twinkle of an eye, he lost his villa. The Evangelista’s villa. Lucas feels so powerless. He couldn’t fight like others do but crumbled at Danika’s mercy. He didn’t rage against her like a man or anyone would do but he pled for her mercy. He teared up right in front of Danika. All because he wants help.
Are the Woods really helping him or breaking him?
Lucas decided not to react about this because he overheard Danika that same afternoon he returned from the Orphanage speaking with someone on the phone about him and his company. So Lucas assumes it’s her mother.
His torn between being mad at them or agree to their terms and conditions just so he can achieve his plans. One thing is certain to Lucas, he’ll get back that villa from whoever bought it.
All it’ll take is money and he definitely will get money. That house holds many memories for him and his parents. Sia inclusive. Different corners of it is where he and Sia spent time, having heart-to-heart talk, confessing their love for each other. Lucas can’t let go. He has lost Sia but can’t lose the memories as well.
When he made it to Ethan’s kitchen, he forced open the fridge and took out the Orange juice there. He opened the lid and down all the content in it in one go.
When the juice rippled through his heart the heartburn transforms into an ache. He’s aching and feels like sinking on the floor and let the waters flow from his eyes but he won’t. He needs to remain strong and in control of his emotions.
Ethan pranced into the kitchen and settled on the Island pegging Lucas with his stare.
Lucas leaned on the Island and rubbed his face. “I’m fucked up, Ethan.” He said, feeling tears stinging his eyes.
They heard Estrella’s footfall before her sleepy voice streamed in.
“Babe. Where are you?” She called on Ethan. She passed by the kitchen and spotted the men. Estrella clung to her robe tightly around her as she sauntered into the kitchen.
“What’s happening?” She asked when she slipped between Ethan’s lap.
“I’m yet to find out.” Ethan said with a shrug. He slung his hand around Estrella’s waist and pulled her closer to him. Her back to his chest.
“What’s wrong, Lucas?” Ethan asked. He can see a modicum of tears at the corners of Lucas’s eyes and he knows it’s taking him all his willpower not to let the tears pull down.
Sucking in a long breath of air, Lucas spoke up. “Danika sold my house.”
Gasps and screams was what danced off Estrella and Ethan’s lips. It’s so unbelievable.
“Wait a minute. A house that isn’t hers?” Estrella asked, twisting her head in utter disbelief.
She has known Danika to be selfish but not foolish. What was she thinking when she sold Lucas’s house? Estrella wondered.
They’re on the brink of getting married. It’s twenty days away from their wedding day and she sold their house. Where they’d live in once they tie the knots. Estrella’s mind went in an overdrive.
It’s obvious good women are blessings to their men and bad women are chaos. Danika is chaos and she has put Lucas’s life in chaos.
“She got a handle on the property’s document and sold it off.” Lucas finished up.
He knows what it took him to get a handle on that document. It made him sacrifice his love life. He sacrificed the only person that brought peace into his life. The woman he had always wanted to make his. To bear his children. He sacrificed it all just for the damn document but Danika shamelessly stole it from him and sold his fucking house.
Lucas rubbed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and balled his fists.
“That’s so…cruel. How could she?” Estrella nagged. The bitterness she feels is unmistakable. She gripped Ethan’s sweatpants tightly and regard Lucas with wistful eyes.
“I fucking don’t know again.” Lucas blurted out.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Ethan gushed. “Where does she intend you guys stay?” He asked
“Her house.” Lucas wasted no time spilling it.
A look of shock clouded Ethan’s and Estrella’s faces. Is that even a thing?
In an actual sense, a woman is the one that’s meant to glean her things and move into her man’s house after the wedding or before. But here the table was reversed. Lucas will be the one to move into Danika’s place?
This is bizarre. Estrella rattled on inwardly, bobbing her head in disapproval.
“Who the heck does that?” Ethan blurted out.
“Danika does.” Lucas worded. “She wants us to stay at her mother’s place,” Lucas said it as if everything is still a dream to him.
“What are you going to do?” Ethan asked again. He held his breath not wanting to hear Lucas agree to such a thing.
“What I’m gonna do?” Lucas tasted Ethan’s question on his lips and chuckled. “I’m going to find a condo and move in there. I’m going to find the person that bought the house and take it back. That house is my father’s legacy.”
Ethan blow out the breath he held back in his lungs after Lucas said this. He sighed and relaxed his thoughts.
“That’s what I really wanted you to say.” He told Lucas, bobbing his head. “We’ve to find an apartment for you…”
“But I’m not financially stable enough to pay for one.” Lucas cut Ethan off with his words.
Those words jabbed Ethan’s heart. This is not the Lucas he knows. It’s not the popular Lucas the whole state knows. The Lucas they know was financially stable.
Is this what the anonymous means by ‘His days are numbered?’
This is all a mystery. One it’s truth will be hard to dig up.
Expelling a long sigh, Ethan said, “No shakes. Adriano and I will see to it.”
Lucas can’t be more grateful about this news. He rounded the Island and shook Ethan’s hand. Estrella was touched seeing the drip of tears from his eye duct. She can’t imagine Ethan being in such a situation.
“I’m going to take your suitcases to the guest room,” Estrella said and exited the kitchen, giving the men time to discuss privately.
“Do you know the person she sold the house to?” Ethan asked when Estrella was out of sight. Lucas shook his head ‘no’ before saying.
“She said someone indicated an interest in buying it when she advertised it on the media.”
“She fucked up. Dude, you ain’t gonna marry that bitch.” Ethan said with authority. “That bitch has destroyed your life.”
Tsk tsk tsk. Lucas need not be told that Danika has shattered the semblance of peace she has. His life is a total mess now.
They were still in their heated conversation when Lucas’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. Grey is the one calling and it’s making Lucas wonder if he’s going to spew good news or a bad one.
Of course, Lucas still hopes the widow grants his proposal.
Swiping the receiver tab, Lucas placed the phone to his right ear and leaned back on the Island.
“Mr. CEO.” Grey’s voice boomed. “I just received an email from the CEO of Woods enterprises minutes ago.” The urgency in Grey’s voice makes shiver ripple down Lucas’s spine.
And the mention of Woods Enterprises sends adrenaline through his system. He erected himself from the Island to drink in Grey’s words.
“She’s going to introduce three angel investors from England to us tomorrow. So she scheduled a meeting around nine in the morning.” Grey divulged.
Every cell in Lucas’s body sparked with joy. Oh, does that mean Hera is now sending a sliver of help?
Let it be so.
“Fine then. Let’s meet by 8:30 tomorrow.” Lucas said to Grey before ending the call.
Looking over at Ethan with the smiles that split his lips, he worded. “Dude, I guess the plan will work.”