“So can you tell us now, why are you wearing this?” Nica asked Lucas when they returned to the orphanage.
Lucas had been with them all day and they kept peppering him with questions about the gauze he wore, despite saying he was not hurt.
However, Lucas promised to tell them why after they returned from their little stroll.
“Because I don’t want to be with someone else.” He gave them a vague answer.
Heaving an exaggerated sigh, Nica crunched her lips. “I don’t understand, fine uncle.”
“Me too.” Abbey chimed in. They both nestled their chin on the palm as they leaned on Lucas’s kneecap.
“Okay.” He smiled. “I was supposed to marry someone I don’t love. So I wore this to fake that I’m ill. You understand now?” He asked.
Nica flashed him a sharp grin, exposing her broken incisor. “So if I don’t like someone, I can fake that I’m sick? And the person will not talk to me again?” She drawled, endeavoring to understand in full detail what Lucas just said.
“Yeah, something like that. Except that this person will not stop pestering me.” He said with a cocked brow.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Abbey asked.
Ruffling her hair, he said. “‘Cause they are stubborn. Very stubborn…”
“Yay! I’m stubborn too!” Nica drawled, throwing her hands up.
“Tsk…tsk… no you’re not. It’s not good to be stubborn. Besides if you’re I would not be coming here to see you.” He teased.
“No uncle. Please don’t stop. I want you to always come to see me. I promise I won’t be stubborn, fine uncle.” Nica pled.
Seeing the apologetic look on her face, Lucas smiled and pecked her cheek, likewise Abbey’s.
After spending the whole day with the girls, Lucas returned to his apartment only to find Danika and a middle-aged woman standing by the door of his apartment.
He held onto his crutch in his free hand and the other one wrapped in a sling.
The moment his eyes landed on Danika he remembered his words to the girls. Danika is stubborn no doubt and it’s jarring Lucas’s nerves.
“Jesus!” Danika exclaimed when she spotted Lucas limping down the hallway. In a haste, she rushed to him for support.
The fact that Lucas is forcing himself to walk not only scares her but also angers her. Doesn’t he want to heal real quick so they can get married?
“Where were you?” She asked in a rush of desperation. Her annoyance seeps through her words.
Raising the bag full of groceries in lieu of an answer, Lucas sent answering glares at Danika.
“It’s good that I hired a nanny.” She mouthed and shooed him inside the apartment when he opened the door.
The woman darted her eyes around, taking in her environment but Lucas wasn’t comfortable with the whole nanny thing and he’s going to counter.
Settling down on the seethe, Lucas regard Danika from over his lashes and asked. “Why did you call a nanny?”
“Don’t play dumb.” She snapped. “I want you to heal real quick. So I called the nanny over to help in changing your sling and taking care of you. Besides I’m traveling to Paris for a small fashion show organized by a friend of mine.” She spilled in detail.
Lucas can’t be more relieved she’s traveling. At least it will give him the space he so desperately wants.
“I don’t want a nanny, Danika. I already hired a nurse who will help in changing my Band-Aid.”
Not buying his words, Danika inched closer and said, “I hired her and she’ll work for you.”
The implacable look on Lucas’s face didn’t whittle. Boring his eyes on Danika’s he fired rather mildly. “I can’t. Not after hiring a professional nurse.”
Getting a read on Danika’s change of expression, he droned on to avoid suspicion. “I can only accept her to get groceries for me. That’s it.”
Despite the suspicious urgency in his voice, Danika didn’t take cognizance of that rather she gave him defeating shrug.
She nestled next to him on the couch and beamed. “I already began preparation for our wedding again. It was a disaster you ended up in the hospital on our wedding day. It took me a fortune to clear the news from the media.” She said, earning a heated glare from Lucas.
“What? Don’t you want us to pursue our wedding?” She asked, tilting her brow.
“I think you’re rushing things, Danika. I mean, we should give it time.” He suggested rather mildly.
Lucas wants her to give it time, so he could come up with a better excuse to call off the contract. Of course, he remembers Hera’s words about the money his late uncle owes them and if he is to call it a quit, he’ll pay the money.
“And why should I…” Danika paused. Heaving a heavy sigh, she said, “Okay, I’ll give you the fucking time, yeah?”
Danika stood up from the couch when her phone rang. Lucas got a hold of the change in her demeanor as if she’s in a hurry.
“I should go. Need to prepare for my departure. And for this woman…” She turned to the woman standing a few feet away from them. “She’ll be at your beck and call. That’s if you want.” She said hurriedly and dropped the woman’s number for Lucas before whisking away with her.
The instant the door slammed shut, a wave of relief washed through Lucas. Convincing Danika has never been easy but for some reason, she acquiesced to his words today.
Lucas reached for his laptop to work on his deals with the angel investors who had already raised the funds as promised.
He sailed through their advertisement online and how the products are dominating the market against their competitors.
Lucas is excited knowing that Grey is handling the job well and before the month runs out they will generate huge revenue and ROI for the angel investors.
He shot his granny a message that he and Danika didn’t wed and within a heartbeat, the granny called.
“I thought the news was fake.” The woman’s voice sounded.
“Not at all, granny. I choose you over Danika. You didn’t let me explain. I owe Danika’s family and consequent to that I had to marry her. But right now I’m thinking of ways to quit the contract and pay them off.” He explained.
The granny sighed. “I know she’s not the one for you, Lucas. You’ll find someone who deserves you and not that Dinka girl.”
A smile split Lucas’s face in two. His granny will never cease referring to Danika as Dinka and he definitely is tired of correcting her.
They said a few more words until Lucas heard someone call on his granny and he is certain it’s John. Her boyfriend.
Dropping the call, Lucas huddled on his bed as memories of him and Sia press down on him.
He definitely doesn’t know about the surprise that lies ahead for him.