- Zara's POV
Lucas didn't come home last night, and to my surprise, I stumbled upon a Facebook post about the famous model, Giselle, returning to the country. They were even seen embracing Lucas Son at the airport. It stirred up the familiar feelings of a tight chest, aching heart, and unbearable pain that I experience whenever I suspect he's having an affair.
Even though I was legally his wife, I still feel like I was in the shadows, hidden away. I carried the burden of guilt, aware that I have divided Lucas's life between myself and Giselle.
At my age, playing games feels tiresome. Being just Lucas Son's shadow is mundane and unfulfilling.
Even my son seemed down and lethargic that night. He must have been disappointed that his dad didn't come home. Reluctantly, I reminded him about our agreement but Lucas didn't reach out to me.
Fortunately, Nick didn't take my threat seriously and came to the rescue. He visited us at home, bringing toys, food, and treats. It turned out he had just returned from a business trip and then he also apologized to me for beating Lucas. When he mentioned Lucas, I snorted because I didn't want to think about his betrayal. When I took care of him at the hospital, I thought he would realize that Enrique and I were the only persons he would need in his life. However, as soon as he was discharged, he went to meet with Giselle. What a bastard!
Nick played with my son until he grew sleepy and drifted off to sleep early. We even managed to finish his homework beforehand, so the mischievous boy was already sound asleep.
Late into the night, around 10 p.m., Nick insisted on heading home. "Thank you for the visit. It's nice of you to come by while he was feeling sad," I said, a grin forming on my face.
"You know, Enrique is just like me, Zara. If I have spare time, I can always spend it with your son," he said.
"That's why I want you, Nick!" I teased, playfully nudging him.
"I hope you feel the same way about me," he whispered, causing me to strain my ears to hear.
"Are you saying something, Nick?" I asked, catching him off guard.
"Huh? Oh, I said I should head home because it's getting late. That's all!" he stammered, still blushing.
"You're young; don't be so hasty," I joked. He chuckled and bid farewell, acting a bit strange.
The next day, I entered my office with a bad mood. How could I not be annoyed when Lucas went to Giselle? Another sigh escaped from my lips as I tried to stop thinking about his betrayal. The man just didn't learn his lesson!
"Good morning, Miss Zara," Mariz stood up to greet me, but I couldn't muster a smile for her.
"Good morning," I replied, but my tone must have been offensive because she sat back down and avoided eye contact. "I'm sorry, I was just really annoyed earlier," I explained.
"It's okay," Mariz replied. "By the way, have you heard that the famous model Giselle is now back in the country? I heard she is getting married to her billionaire boyfriend!"
"Really? Where did you hear it?"
"From the news earlier. Honestly, I am excited to see her boyfriend. I bet he's really great looking to have someone like Giselle fall for him," Mariz continued.
"I bet he is," I said but I didn't comment further. I understood why she told me about Giselle because she has always been a simp for the model. "I heard a different story about the man she was dating, Mariz. I heard he was married with a kid so I doubt if there would a wedding coming up soon for that woman," I didn't intend to say that but I was provoked. I couldn't let the fake news about Giselle and Lucas getting married anytime soon.
"Oh, really?" Mariz asked.
"Yup," I replied. "Have you had breakfast? If not, let's go to the restaurant together," I suggested to Mariz.
"I already ate at home, but I'll accompany you," Mariz said.
"Okay, let's go. By the way, any updates about the branch in Stonewick?" I asked Mariz because I've been absent from work for a few days.
"It's set for a soft opening. I also asked the LGU there for the job fair that will happen next week," Mariz informed me.
"Next week? Why not tomorrow or the day after? Call them later and reschedule it," I ordered Mariz.
"Oh, okay," Mariz agreed.
"Thank you," I said as we picked a nice spot for breakfast. It's still early, and I wanted to enjoy my meal, especially since I'll be busy later. She signaled a waiter for the menu, and when he approached, they quickly chose their food.
"I'll go American for breakfast," Mariz said to the waiter.
"Really? Don't you want continental?" I teased her because I knew why she said the American word. The waiter serving us is American, and the flirtatious Mariz couldn't help herself, even in the morning. "It's continental for me," I said to the waiter.
"Sure. And your fruit juice? Is it orange, pineapple, mango, or watermelon?" The waiter asked.
"Orange will be fine," Mariz answered.
"How about the eggs? Poached, scrambled, boiled, or omelet?" The waiter asked again.
Mariz decided to check the menu thoroughly and went for her choices for hot beverages. "You're hotter than coffee, can I order you instead?" she jested, and he smiled before leaving. "He's cute," Mariz said after the waiter left.
"That's why you didn't refuse to accompany me," I said to her.
"Of course," Mariz replied nonchalantly.
"You really are something," I said. "Wait, he's coming back already."
"Oh, yeah," Mariz said, gaping as the waiter placed her order for American breakfast. "Gosh, is this for me?"
"That's American breakfast," I said to her, and the waiter smiled. "Enjoy," I told Mariz before I started eating. There were also plenty of dishes in front of me, even though the menu said they were for one person, the serving was good for sharing.
"Why am I the only one with fruits?" Mariz asked.
"But it's okay, we both have a bread basket." But of course, Mariz's pastry choices are more upscale than mine. "You'll manage!" I said.
After we finished eating, Mariz could hardly walk properly back to the office. For a moment, I forgot my annoyance with Lucas.
"In fifteen minutes, let's start working," I told Mariz, who still seemed to be catching her breath. "Why did you have to finish everything? You could have had it wrapped to go!"
I just shook my head while looking at my assistant, who seemed as big as her desk. Perhaps if she loses weight, her beauty would shine even more. Mariz was pretty; she's just a bit overweight.
I had coffee in the restaurant, but I still felt lacking in attention. Oh well, so much for it. After opening my computer, I went to the pantry to make some coffee.
"Good morning, Miss."
I just smiled at the employees who greeted me in the pantry. "You probably haven't had breakfast yet, right? Eat before you start working," I reminded them all.
"We're done, Miss," they replied in unison, and I nodded.
"That's good," I said and excused myself from them.
After working, I called Antoinette and meet with her for a couple of hours before I picked up Enrique from school. I noticed that the boy was sulking so I didn't bother him a lot. I just bought a tub of ice cream we could enjoy after dinner.
To make my son happy, I just didn't get ice cream for dinner but also his favorite fried chicken, and we enjoyed it with lots of gravy. After dinner, we had ice cream while watching his favorite cartoons in the living room. After an hour, Enrique was sleepy and I took him to his room. I didn't leave until he was already asleep.
From his room, I went straight to my bedroom to freshen up and to change into my pajamas.
Then, I was surprised when someone knocked on the bedroom door. It was Lucas, but I wondered what he needed.
I opened the door to be greeted by a mixture of alcohol and his cologne, suffocating the air around him. Lucas, being of mixed race, had a flushed complexion, most likely from drinking. Why was he drowning his sorrows in alcohol? Had he fought with Giselle?
"Lucas? What do you need? It's late, and you haven't slept," I told him, concerned. He stared at me intently before speaking in a serious tone. Though he wasn't stuttering, his words came slowly.
"You know, it's all your fault," he said, pointing his finger at me. I wasn't sure if he was angry or something else, but I felt a surge of guilt.
What had I done this time? I should stay quiet and go to sleep! But guilt started creeping in; maybe I was the one at fault. After all, I had been the cause of so many issues between us.
"What are you talking about? You're clearly drunk, Lucas. You better go back to your room and get some sleep." If anyone is the liar here, it's him.
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. Time seemed to slow down as he held my face and our lips met. It was a brief moment, yet it felt electrifying.
You're crossing the line, Lucas!
Whatever magic Lucas possessed, it had kept me awake throughout the night. It was his fault!
But that doesn't give him the right to get drunk and kiss me. I won't be disrespected like this! Maybe he forgets that we're on the verge of breaking up. All of this confusion was driving me mad.
As he lowered his face towards mine, I no longer played hard to get and welcomed his kiss. I first sucked his lower lip, but he didn't back down and also sucked my lips.
Just from the kiss, I was already overwhelmed with desire, so I lowered one of my hands and explored his muscular chest, then down to his stomach, until I reached the part of his body that was burning with heat.
Lucas tensed as I touched him there. However, he didn't leave my lips. He continued to assault me with his tongue until he got tired, and then he moved to my neck. He slightly nibbled on my neck, as if trying to find where he could pierce it.
His mouth gradually went down to my chest, and I moaned when I felt him gently bite my breast. What he did was slightly painful, and I knew he left a mark.
"Lucas..." I called his name when he covered one of my breasts. I shivered, and that was the last thing I remembered before he laid me down on the bed.
Despite my sleep deprivation and pounding headache, I woke up early. I decided not to go to work and would inform Jozel later. I couldn't function with this throbbing sensation in my head.
The memory of his passionate kiss lingered, making me feel conflicted. For the second time, I had tasted the lips of the man I loved, still loved. I needed to shake myself out of it, for the sake of my peace of mind. Stop thinking about Lucas, Zara. Just, please.
I prepared breakfast for the two of them, even packing a bento box for my son's lunch. I wasn't sure if I could eat it myself later. I managed to push past my headache and hangover, even though my eyes felt heavy.
Father and son came downstairs, and my annoyance began to fade as I watched Lucas lift our son and set him down. It seemed like he had already bathed the child and made all the necessary preparations. I could focus on cooking now.
"Good morning, Mom!" my handsome son greeted me cheerfully. He was in good spirits, and his mood seemed unaffected. Lucas, on the other hand, still showed signs of being hangover. The kiss thief.
"Good morning, and breakfast is ready," I said, pouring a glass of fresh milk for my son.
I acted as if everything was fine with Lucas, even offering him a cup of coffee to help with his hangover.
"Yes, please," he responded. I nodded and quickly prepared his coffee.
"Dad, are you okay? You still look tired," my son asked his father while we sat down to eat. He had noticed his dad's lethargy. Of course, he's hangover!
But despite everything, I couldn't help but notice how attractive Lucas looked, even in this state. Even with a hangover, he was far from unappealing. Handsome, no matter the season, as others would say.
"I had a bit too much to drink last night, kiddo. I'm sorry I couldn't make it home. I'll make it up to you, alright?" Lucas assured our son.
My son smiled warmly. "It's okay, Dad. There's no problem," he replied, displaying a maturity beyond his years.
"I'll drop you off at school, son. I'll drive you. So finish up your breakfast," Lucas said.
"Really? Thanks, Dad! Besides, last night was fine. Godfather Nick was here, and he had lots of fun with me," our son shared.
I noticed the crumpled expression on Lucas Son's face when he heard Nick's name. Why did he have such a problem with the man?
Nick is kind and honorable, unlike him! Perhaps Lucas's competitive nature prevents him from accepting Nick's presence. Don't always let that competitive streak get the best of you.
My son ate his breakfast without any issues, and I avoided questioning him to prevent him from choking. Exactly at 7, they left the house, and I considered calling Jozel.
"Is that so, ma'am? Alright, I'll take care of things at the cafe. Rest well and have a good day," Jozel said as we concluded our conversation. I immediately got to work in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes so that I could rest without any mess around.
Suddenly, Lucas spoke from behind me, making my heart skip a beat. "About last night," he said. I nearly jumped out of my skin!
"Why are you startling me like that?" I exclaimed, annoyed. To my surprise, he chuckled. Wait, is he actually laughing? It caught me off guard.
"Didn't you sense my presence? You were deep in thought, and I suddenly started speaking! Hey, you're already here, and I'm still doing something," he replied, amused. I didn't know where I found the courage to respond like that.
I used to tremble in his presence, but now I no longer feared him. I wasn't afraid of losing anymore because that's where our relationship was headed. It was amusing to think that I could somehow absorb the truth.
"And why are you still here? Don't you have work now?" I asked, genuinely curious about him.
"I have a free schedule this morning. I have a dinner meeting later tonight, so I can't make it for Enrique just yet. But Nick is not allowed in this house, Zara. I hope we understand each other at this point. I don't want that guy in my own home," Lucas asserted. What's with this attitude, Lucas Blackwood?
"Why? What's your problem with him visiting? He used to come here, sometimes with Antoinette. He's a kind person, and don't try to insinuate anything about our friendship," I responded, defending Nick.
"I am so sorry, Zara," the man apologized.
"Seriously? Oh well, Lucas, I almost believed you, but I also know how much you love Giselle. Isn't that why you went running to see her as soon as she returned to Claybourne?" I asked him.
"I regret it," he said.
"Wow! You're really good at lying. Come on, admit it!" I pestered him until he finally admitted, but he seemed to have a different plan for me.
"You really don't want to believe me?" he whispered.
I shook my head. Of course, I couldn't believe what he said about apologizing for what he did. Oh God, just the thought of how he betrayed me made my blood boil with so much anger!
"I told you I am sorry!"
"Convince me some more that you were sorry for betraying me over and over again," I challenged him, but instead of answering my question, he bit my earlobe. "Are you a dog? Why did you have to do it?"
"This is just the only way I know how to stop you from talking so much," he replied, but I knew he had other plans for me.
He slid his hand under my clothes. I almost didn't want to wear clothes anymore because I'm always enticed by Lucas. When his hand reached between my thighs, I bit my lip. He only made a light touch as if teasing me.
He tried to separate my legs to have more access to my femininity. I felt like I was going crazy with his teasing, and I knew he also couldn't resist the fire of desire. So, I touched his manhood over his pants, and he let out a soft moan.
"Say it, Zara," he said in a husky voice, and I knew what he wanted to hear from me.
But I also knew that he was burning with desire, so I rubbed his manhood over his pants, making him moan softly.
"Say it, Lucas!" I threw back the words he said earlier.
"I want you...I need you right now" he seemed to struggle to speak.
"I want you too," I said, and I didn't wait long. I voluntarily lowered his pants and boxer shorts. Then, I simply removed my underwear and let him do his way with me.
However, he wasn't satisfied, and he lifted my top and immediately cupped my breasts after unhooking my bra. While he had my breast in his mouth, I teasingly rubbed my wetness against his manhood.
He let out a soft moan as my body rubbed against him. And when I couldn't resist the desire any longer, I sat on his manhood and we ended having a quickie.
Afterward, I was mad at myself because when it came to Lucas Blackwood, I couldn't resist the temptation. I wished he wouldn't seduce me from time to time because it would be difficult for me after the divorce.
"I have to go to the bathroom now," I told him.
"Why do you need to shower?" Lucas asked.
"Well, I need to freshen up because we did something," I replied. "Do you want Enrique's teacher to find out that I let a man fucked me before taking my son to school?"
"Alright, go ahead and shower," Lucas said but a few second later, he called my name again.
"What is it?"
"Don't forget about what I said earlier. Nick is not allowed in this house anymore," he reminded me.