As Anne took a step toward Lucas Anderson, ready to embrace him, Pete stepped in front of his father protectively and declared, "Don't hug my daddy. Only my mom can hug him."
Lucas's lips twitched into a fond smile as he gently patted Pete's head and affirmed, "That's my boy. You're right, Pete; your mom is the only one who should hug me."
Standing beside them, Andrea's cheeks warmed with a blush, feeling as if she were an invisible bystander in the intimate exchange between father and son.
Anne's visit to Vegas City was no casual outing. A star of her caliber wouldn't typically be found in a local cinema without good reason. She was there specifically to see Lucas.
Feeling a surge of anxiety, Anne quickly shed her incognito look, revealing the famous visage that graced countless screens and magazines. She had assumed Lucas hadn't recognized her because of her attempted disguise.
"It's me, Anne, Lucas," she said with an excited quiver in her voice.
"I don't know you. Let's go, Andrea," Lucas replied curtly, taking Pete's hand and walking away.
Glancing back, Lucas saw Andrea still rooted to the spot, her expression one of astonishment at the sight of Anne, the current queen of the celebrity scene.
"Andrea, have you turned into a fangirl too?" Lucas teased with a playful grin.
Andrea gave an eye roll and hastened to catch up with Lucas and Pete.
Anne stood frozen, a look of disbelief etched across her face as she watched them disappear into the cinema. Her companion, Helen, approached with a sympathetic gaze.
"Helen, did I just mistake someone else for Lucas?" Anne whispered, her confidence wavering.
Helen shook her head firmly. She knew it was impossible to mistake Lucas Anderson, the man who had written the songs that catapulted Anne to fame and fortune.
"Miss Anne, that's definitely him. I think he's still upset with you," Helen replied, her voice tinged with sorrow.
Anne's heart sank as she recalled the happier days spent with Lucas, always greeted by his smile. But since the last conversation they shared, when she revealed her dream of becoming a billionaire through her music, he had vanished from her life.
Suddenly, her reverie was broken by excited shouts.
"Anne!"
"Oh my God, it's Anne!"
Fans began to gather around her, their excitement palpable. They had come to watch a movie, but the chance encounter with Anne sparked a frenzy, and they swarmed for autographs, causing a standstill at the entrance of the cinema main hall.
Inside the cinema main hall with Lucas Anderson, Andrea couldn't shake the thought of featuring Anne as the face of her new product. Despite being there, her mind was elsewhere.
Lucas, noticing her distraction, reassured her, "You don't need to worry. Anne will come to you when she's ready."
Curious, Andrea asked, "Why did she call you Lucas? Do you two know each other?"
Lucas flashed a confident smile. "Yes," he replied simply, before teasingly adding, "Who doesn't know the country's most popular singer? I can't escape the media bombardment even if I tried."
With a playful shrug, Lucas adopted a defeated expression, reminiscent of a student faced with a daunting assignment.
Andrea couldn't help but chuckle before their moment was interrupted by Pete's voice exclaiming, "Daddy, look!"
Andrea's face twisted into a frown as she cast a resentful glance at Pete. Ever since Lucas Anderson had entered their lives, Pete had grown incredibly close to him, seemingly forgetting all about his own mother.
Despite this tension, the family of three found joy in watching a movie together. The film depicted a couple facing opposition from their parents due to racial differences and family backgrounds.
Though Andrea found herself enjoying the movie, she couldn't help stealing glances at Lucas Anderson, her mind echoing the way Anne had referred to him as Lucas.
"Daddy, we should make this a regular thing and watch more movies together," Pete exclaimed enthusiastically as the credits rolled. The warmth of being sandwiched between his mother on the left and his father on the right filled him with happiness, his wide smile revealing all his teeth.
"Don't worry, son. We'll make it a weekend tradition to go to the cinema," Lucas Anderson reassured Pete with a pat on his head, a gentle smile on his face.
In a burst of affection, Pete hugged Lucas Anderson tightly and praised, "You're the best dad in the whole world!"
Feeling a pang of jealousy, Andrea couldn't help but interject, "What about me?"
Realizing his unintentional neglect, Pete quickly turned to his mother, planting a kiss on her cheek and gushing, "Mom, you're already the best mother anyone could ask for. No matter how many times I say it, it doesn't change the fact."
A sense of contentment washed over Andrea as she watched Pete grow and flourish under the influence of Lucas Anderson.
After leaving the cinema, they drove home but made a few stops along the way. They visited three different restaurants and then went to pick up toys for Pete. Pete, who was overly excited, fell asleep as the car pulled up to the Singer mansion.
Lucas Anderson got out of the car, carrying the sleeping Pete in his arms. Housekeeper Win warmly welcomed them and offered, "Sir Valentine, let me put Pete to bed."
"Thank you, Miss Win. You can just call me by my name; there's no need for 'sir,'" Lucas Anderson replied, handing Pete over to her.
As Housekeeper Win carried Pete, she remarked, "But you are Ma'am Andrea's husband. Calling you 'sir' is only proper."
Lucas Anderson felt unsure how to respond and decided not to argue the point with Housekeeper Win.
"I'll be in my study," Andrea informed Lucas Anderson before giving him a peck on the cheek and walking away.
Lucas Anderson watched her leave with a smile before heading to the bedroom. After taking a bath, he lay down on the bed and drifted off to sleep.
An hour later, Andrea quietly entered the bedroom and found Lucas Anderson fast asleep. She took a deep breath, then crept over to him, playfully tugging at his hair before slipping out of the room.
As soon as Andrea left, Lucas's eyes opened, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He didn't seem sleepy at all.