Since She Met Lucian

"Yes, Mr. Lucian. I already took the hit so you better fulfill your promise," Jasper said, his tone full of resentment and pain.
Lucian's calm look turned into a glare. Coldly he replied, "Is this how you respond when you've hurt others?"
Jasper answered in a disapproving tone, "So what else would you have me do?"
"Jasper, stop! Don't say anything more," Vernon said in panic.
Jasper tried his best to control his temper. Finally, he smirked and tried to flatter Lucian. "Well, you're the big boss of the city.
Whatever you wish will be done."
"I asked them to slap you because of Amelia. You've done her something terrible and I wanted to even things out as her ex-
husband. You have to apologize to her," Lucian said without any hint of expression.
Jasper was having a hard time control his anger in front of Lucian. His face was beginning to turn red when he said, "You've
already hit me. What else do you want? Why won't you just let things go?"
"Jasper, don't..."
"Dad! Why don't you tell him the truth? The only reason I've been trying to put up with this guy is because of your stupid
company!" Jasper shouted as he faced Vernon.
Vernon's face contorted into a mix of shame and fear. He slowly turned to Lucian and said, "Mr. Lucian, I hope you can help me
for the sake of our family."
Lucian had never been cold-hearted. After Zhan Group went through its own financial crisis, Lucian knew what it was like to not
have enough money. But what really got him upset was the fact that Jasper had slapped Amelia and he did not show even a hint
of remorse. And to top it all off, Jasper only took the hit so they could ask for capital for their project.
"What family? Did you ever treat Amelia like she's part of your family?" Lucian sneered.
Speechless, Vernon merely frowned and looked at Lucian with pleading eyes. The whole situation was making the old man
anxious.
"Amelia is not..."

"Jasper, enough!" Vernon snapped. With a smile that conveyed nothing but apology, Vernon turned back to Lucian and said,
"You're right, Mr. Lucian. I do owe Amelia an apology."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. He was unconvinced of the old man's sincerity so he said quite bluntly, "I don't like beating around the
bush. I will give you the funds and invest in your company, but only if you would own up to your mistakes and apologize to
Amelia. In addition, you will no longer say anything that will hurt her for the rest of your lives. Otherwise, I will make sure that no
business endeavor of yours would ever succeed."
Having said this, Lucian picked up his cup of tea and took a sip.
His appearance of calmness intimidated Vernon and Jasper all the more.
Vernon shuddered after hearing his threat. Jasper could only look helpless.
Zhan Group may have gone through a terrible crisis but it was still the city's leading company as it had been for years. It had a
reputation for buying out any business that dared compete against it. No business owner in his right mind would dare go against
Zhan Group or the repercussions would be dire.
"We're leaving now, Mr. Lucian." Vernon stood up and smiled. He didn't want to make the situation any worse.
"But what about the money, dad?" Jasper whispered.
"You better do as he said and apologize to Amelia," Vernon sighed.
Jasper looked like he wanted to protest, but taking his father-in-law's cue, he bowed in Lucian's direction and went out.
"Mr. Lucian, are you really going to help them?" Eric broke the silence once the two men had left.
Lucian's face went darker. Without answering Eric's question, he said as if he were speaking to himself, "Jasper just said
something that got me a little confused. What would he have said if Vernon hadn't interrupted him?"
"Leave it to me, Mr. Lucian!" Eric answered, "The project is Jasper's so he's in urgent need of money. I'll find out what he's
hiding."
Lucian smiled and nodded in agreement. "I'll leave it to you then, Eric. Oh, and help me set up an appointment with Edmund."
Eric asked in confusion, "I thought you didn't want to meet with Mr. Edmund? What made you change your mind?"

As Lucian's assistant, Eric always understood how Lucian's mind worked, but he didn't know why he suddenly asked for
Edmund.
"This is going to be fun, Eric. It's time for the man hiding backstage to make an appearance." Lucian's face was dark but his eyes
had a sharp glint.
Lucian stayed in the room for a long time after Eric had left. He couldn't help but feel happy at the thought that he would soon be
reunited with Amelia.
It was almost midnight when the store's last customer went away. Seeing that Amelia was tired from a whole day of working,
Carlotta called to tell her not to clean up.
However, Amelia still cleaned up the shop before leaving for home.
There were no longer buses available when Amelia stepped out, and she didn't want to shell out much for cab fare so she opted
to walk home.
Amelia's short sleeves were no match against the coldness of the night. Rubbing her exposed arms with her bare hands, Amelia
walked quietly along the dimly lit avenue. Shivering as she made her way home, she felt terribly lonely.
Thoughts of Lucian immediately flooded Amelia's head.
When she touched her belly, she mindlessly thought, 'Baby, your dad loves mom very much, but mom has to leave him...'
She was trying to shake those thoughts off when a Porsche parked near the intersection caught her eye.
A tall man wearing a white shirt got out of the car. Amelia instantly recognized him despite the distance.
She felt as if her feet were made of lead as she couldn't move from where she stood. She considered going the opposite
direction to avoid him, but she quickly stopped herself.
Lucian knew where she worked so it was not a surprise that he knew where she was. She wondered how long he had been
waiting.
She watched as he closed the distance between them. When he finally got to her, the light above his head cast a shadow on her
face.
She raised her eyes to meet his gaze. She tried to maintain a calm expression despite the loud thumping in her chest.

"Put this on," Lucian said, his voice magnetic yet concerned. He handed her a big coat, which she took and wrapped around
herself.
Amelia could only blush. She looked up at him, but the light behind his head rendered his face dark. She wondered what his
expression was.
Pulling the coat over her shoulders instantly warmed Amelia. When she propped the collar up her neck, Lucian's familiar scent
wrapped her senses and she felt her empty heart swell.
"It's late. Why don't you go home?" Her voice was as cold as the breeze.
Moved as she was, she pretended to be indifferent.
"How can I go home when you're still out at this hour?" He reached out an arm to hold her.
But Amelia was quick to avoid him. Offended, she glared and said, "Mr. Lucian, please remember you're married."
With that, she turned and rushed away.
Amelia's pace was quick but it was no match against Lucian's. He immediately caught up with her despite her efforts.
He held her by the hand and without waiting for her approval, took her into his arms.
Amelia felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't move away from him.
"You know very well who's in my heart," Lucian whispered into her ear. The gentleness in his voice made her feel very nervous.
Feeling Lucian's body pressed to hers, Amelia was overcome with feelings of guilt. She struggled to break free from his
embrace.
She regretted not turning away once he saw him approaching. But she thought that it was better to stand there and wait for him
than have him chase her.
Lucian wouldn't let her go despite her protests. The words out of his mouth went straight into her heart like bullets. Hearing him
then dealt nothing but pain.

She stopped resisting after realizing that it was useless to struggle. But when she spoke, her voice was like ice, "You make it
impossible for me to live my own life. You're pathetic and disgusting."
Amelia was furious.
Lucian's face fell but he still wouldn't let Amelia go. Stubbornly, he replied, "You can go ahead and live your life, but I'm not going
anywhere. You can't make me leave."
Lucian did not mean to sound overbearing but Amelia thought his voice domineering.
"I don't want you in my life!" Amelia spoke through gritted teeth.
Her words felt like barbed wire strangling Lucian's heart.
"You say that but you don't mean it. I can't do it, Amelia. My life is meaningless without you!" He almost shouted at her. The
passion in his declaration made Amelia feel uneasy.
She knew it was all her fault. Not once did he betray their love. So much guilt filled Amelia's heart that she thought it best for
Lucian to just give her up.