40

CHAPTER 40.
As they walked into the dining hall, Andrianne couldn’t help but be amazed by the sight before her. The table was beautifully set with a variety of delicious-looking dishes, fruits, and drinks.
“Wow, Lucas, this looks amazing,” she said, her eyes widening in surprise and delight.
“I’m glad you like it,” Lucas replied, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Andrianne took a seat at the table, still in awe of the spread of food before her. Lucas took a seat across from her and began to serve them both. Andrianne watched as he expertly plated different dishes and couldn’t help but notice how graceful and precise his movements were.
As they began to eat, Andrianne couldn’t help but let out a small moan of pleasure at the first bite of the delicious food. Lucas grinned at her reaction, clearly pleased with her response.
“Is it good?” he asked, taking a bite of his own food.
“It’s amazing,” she said, grinning back at him.
As they ate, Andrianne couldn’t help but feel grateful for Lucas’s kindness. It was clear that he had put a lot of effort into preparing this meal for her, and it made her feel special. She also couldn’t help but notice how his cooking skills seemed to match his impressive physique, and she found herself admiring him even more.
Despite the delicious food and pleasant conversation, there was still an awkward tension in the air, particularly between Andrianne and Steve. She couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable around him, knowing that he was her ex-boyfriend and that he still had feelings for her. She avoided his gaze, focusing instead on Lucas and the food in front of her.
After they had finished eating, Lucas offered to clear the table while Andrianne relaxed in the living room. She gratefully accepted, feeling a little bit full and sleepy from the delicious meal.
As she settled into the couch, she couldn’t help but reflect on the evening. Despite the awkwardness with Steve, she had thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Lucas. His kindness, thoughtfulness, and cooking skills had all combined to create a wonderful evening that she would not soon forget.
After clearing the dishes, Lucas walked up to her his hands a little damp from washing the dishes,
“How’s she… How’s Emily?” Andrianne questioned, her eyes focused on the Leonardo da Vinci portrait on the wall.
Lucas couldn’t believe his ears. Andrianne knew about Emily, his mistress, and she was surprisingly calm about it. He had expected her to lash out at him, to blame him for betraying their marriage vows. But instead, she was being so understanding, so rational.
“I’m sorry, Andrianne. I never meant to hurt you,” Lucas said, trying to make amends.
“It’s alright, Lucas. Our marriage was never based on love. It was an arrangement, remember?” Andrianne replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Lucas was taken aback. He had always known that their marriage was an arranged one, but he never thought that Andrianne would be so nonchalant about his affair. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in his chest.
“I know, but still, it’s not an excuse for my actions,” Lucas said, his voice filled with remorse.
Andrianne sighed. “Lucas, I don’t blame you for seeking comfort in another woman. Our marriage has always been a business arrangement, and we both knew that.”
Lucas reached for her hands but she gently pulled away… she was torn between her emotions she didn’t even know the right expression to give, she wasn’t entirely sad about Emily and as she stared at Luca’s sorry face she completely fought the urge to burst out laughing… real laughter that leaves tears tugged at the corner of the eyes.
Lucas leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “I ended things with Emily,” he said, looking at Andrianne.
Andrianne’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Lucas sighed deeply. “It’s complicated,” he said, rubbing his forehead wearily. “She was becoming too possessive, jealous of you and my attention towards you. She didn’t like the fact that we were spending so much time together.”
Andrianne’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “Jealous?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Lucas. I’m the last person she should be jealous of.”
Lucas smiled faintly. “That’s what I told her too, but you know how these things can get,” he said with a shrug.
Andrianne stared at him intently. “What agreement did you have with her?” she asked, sensing there was more to the story.
Lucas hesitated for a moment before answering. “It’s nothing, really,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “Just an understanding we had about our relationship.”
Andrianne didn’t buy it. “What kind of understanding?” she pressed.
Lucas sighed again. “Emily knew from the beginning that our marriage was arranged, that there was no love between us,” he said, looking at her squarely. “We agreed to have other people in our lives, as long as it didn’t interfere with our marriage.”
Andrianne listened in stunned silence. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was still a shock. “I see,” she said softly, not sure what else to say.
Lucas looked at her, his eyes searching hers. “Andrianne, I’m sorry. I know it’s not the ideal situation, but we can still make the best of what we have,” he said, his voice low and earnest.
Andrianne nodded slowly. “I understand, Lucas,” she said, her voice softening. “I don’t blame you for anything. We both knew what we were getting into.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Lucas spoke up again. “Anyway, enough about Emily,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s talk about something else. What do you want to do tomorrow?”
Andrianne smiled, grateful for the change in topic. They spent the rest of the evening chatting and laughing, their previous tension forgotten.