Lucas wore a charming smile as he assumed the role of a palace eunuch, his knees slightly bent and his head respectfully bowed as he replied, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Andrea couldn't help but roll her eyes at Lucas's antics, though a smile crept onto her face as she playfully scolded him, "Enough with the jokes."
With the conversation over, Andrea swiftly reached for her phone and dialed her assistant's number to organize the upcoming meeting.
Meanwhile, Lucas, still wearing a smile on his lips, focused intently on his phone, his eyes betraying a hint of ruthlessness.
"We are scheduled to meet the Mayor at 6 pm, so we should be back in time for dinner," Andrea informed Lucas, who looked up from his phone with a smile in response.
As the room's door creaked open, Pete entered, exclaiming, "Mom, Dad, I'm starving!"
"Let's go have lunch," Lucas suggested, taking Pete's hand as the three of them made their way to the dining table together.
After enjoying their lunch, Lucas and Andrea prepared themselves for their upcoming meeting with the mayor of Winchester District.
"Mom, you and daddy are going out to have fun, what about me?" Pete's lower lip jutted out in a sulk as he voiced his complaint.
Lucas affectionately ruffled Pete's hair and replied, "We're not going out to have fun, buddy. We have an important meeting to attend. How about I bring you a new toy when we return?"
Pete responded with a frown, "Dad, I don't want more toys."
He already had plenty of toys at home but lacked companionship; their housekeeper Win was advanced in years, and the rest of the staff were not exactly youthful either. Playing alone just wasn't enjoyable.
Seeing his son's discontent, Lucas's expression softened with curiosity. "If toys aren't what you want, what would you like instead?"
"I want a little sister. Actually, two would be good, or even three," Pete mused, tallying on his fingers, his mind wandering to the toys he could share with them.
Overhearing the conversation, Andrea's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She chided Pete in a flustered tone, "Pete, go to your room and start on your homework."
Pete looked up at Andrea with wide, innocent eyes and pouted, "Mom, I really need some playmates. Playing by myself is so boring."
Lucas chuckled at this, then gave Pete's head another gentle pat, saying, "Obey your mom, Pete. Tomorrow I'll take you to the playground so you can play with other kids from the neighborhood."
Pete's face instantly brightened.
"You're the best daddy ever!" Pete exclaimed, planting a kiss on Lucas's cheek before dashing off, his spirits lifted.
Andrea let out a displeased huff. Pete was showing a clear preference now, and she missed the days when he was simply sweet and obedient.
Lucas puzzled over Andrea's inscrutable expression, her dissatisfaction evident on her face. "Andrea, my dear wife," he began tentatively, "about Pete..."
Andrea cut him off with a roll of her eyes. "No need to explain. He's your ally now. Like father, like son."
Lucas could only manage a helpless smile as Andrea turned away and headed towards the car. Together, they drove to the supposed meeting location, only to find it was a clubhouse instead of the hotel they had anticipated.
As they approached the entrance, two imposing bodyguards scrutinized Andrea and Lucas. One of them spoke to Lucas, "You'll have to wait here. Only she can see the Mayor."
Andrea's temper flared at the implication. "He's my husband. If he can't come in, neither will I. We'll be on our way then," she declared firmly.
Andrea firmly grasped Lucas's arm, causing him to turn abruptly, his expression transforming as a strange, unfamiliar emotion flooded his heart.
"Mrs. Singers, you and your husband may proceed inside," the bodyguards announced, quickly stepping aside after receiving instructions to ensure Andrea Singers gained entry to the clubhouse.
With a steely gaze, Andrea pulled Lucas along and confronted the bodyguard who had previously blocked his path. "Apologize to my husband now, or we will simply leave," she commanded, her tone icy and unwavering.
Recognizing Andrea's identity, the bodyguard swiftly offered his apologies. "Mr. Anderson, I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding. It was a mistake on our part."
Lucas responded with a silent smile before walking past the bodyguard into the clubhouse alongside Andrea Singers.
"Mrs. Singers it is nice to meet you" The Mayor of Winchester, a man shorter than both Andrea and Lucas, with a crew cut, rose from his seat in his well-tailored suit to greet Andrea. He conspicuously ignored Lucas Anderson, regarding him with disdain as a man who had lost his worth and was now living off his wife's success after losing control of Val. Corp. To the Mayor, Lucas was nothing more than a 'soft rice man' - a derogatory term implying he was financially dependent on his wife.
"Mayor, it's nice to meet you," Andrea responded with a cool detachment. She noticed his hand extended for a handshake but deliberately chose not to reciprocate the gesture.
Lucas, attempting civility, reached out his hand, only to be met with the Mayor retracting his own. Addressing Andrea, Mayor Bestman Taylor said, "Mrs. Singers, please, there's no need for formalities. Call me Bestman Taylor. Please, take a seat."
Once seated, Taylor proceeded to pour a glass of wine for Andrea, commending her on her development plans for the Woodfill neighborhood. "Mrs. Singers, your approach is commendable. If only all capitalists were like you, the world would be a much better place. Please, accept this wine as a token of my appreciation..."
However, before Taylor could finish his effusive speech, Lucas quickly took the glass of wine and downed it in one go.
Taylor's lips twitched in suppressed anger, but he contained himself and poured another glass. Yet, once again, Lucas intercepted the wine and drank it.
When this sequence repeated a third time, Taylor's patience snapped. He looked at Andrea with barely concealed rage and demanded, "Mrs. Singers, what is this behavior? Are you mocking my office because you are the richest woman in the country?"
It would have been less insulting if Lucas had shown any sign of inebriation, but he remained as clear-headed as if he had merely sipped water.