Chapter 87: Chapter 87

After soaking in the hot bath for nearly an hour, Beauty felt as though her skin was about to wrinkle right off.

It seemed like the slightest touch would peel it away, leaving behind only the lingering fragrance of rose-scented body wash.

Lucas sat on the sofa, impatiently scrolling through his phone.

His assistant had called multiple times—there were several international video conferences scheduled for the afternoon, but he had postponed them all.

The bathroom door swung open, releasing a wave of warm steam and floral perfume.

Beauty had already changed into fresh clothes, delivered earlier by the department store at Lucas’s request.

He knew she wouldn’t want to wear that old dress again, so he’d instructed the cleaning lady to toss it in the trash.

You were so quiet there, I thought you’d passed out," Lucas remarked with a smirk, flashing a row of pristine white teeth.

His eyes, however, remained as unfathomable as ever.

Beauty pressed her lips together and said nothing, her gaze sweeping across the room—every corner, every crevice—before finally lifting her eyes to meet his.

"Where’s my old dress?" she asked softly.

"I had the maid throw it away.

Figured you wouldn’t want to wear it again."

A flicker of reluctance crossed her face as she lowered her lashes, murmuring in a voice barely audible even to herself, "You gave me that dress last year... for my birthday."

Lucas didn’t catch her words, only the faint movement of her pink lips.

Assuming she was reluctant to part with the expensive garment, he tilted his head slightly and said, "Your closet is full of clothes—one less won’t make a difference.

Even if you don’t mind, I’d rather not see you parading around in that dress in front of me again."

Beauty’s eyes welled up with tears, her fingers clenching tightly.

Her lips trembled slightly from overwhelming emotion.

Lucas pulled her close, forcing her to sit beside him, then gripped her chin with a firm hand. His voice was icy.

That’s not what I meant.

I just failed to protect you, and that’s a disgrace to me.

Laying a hand on my woman is like plucking the whiskers off a tiger—it won’t happen again."

Her chin ached under his grip, the tears threatening to spill now forced back by sheer will.

When they reached the hotel lobby, Mr. Marson sat on the sofa surrounded by his men.

Every face was cold, devoid of expression—until the moment they spotted Beauty.

Mr. Marson immediately beamed and strode forward.

"Beauty, are you alright?

This was all my fault for not arranging things properly.

But don’t worry, that man has already been dealt with—harshly.

He won’t be living a normal life anymore.

Please don’t hold it against me."

The sight of Mr. Marson’s face made her sick.

But for Lucas’s sake, she bit back her words.

After all, it wasn’t Mr. Marson who had dragged her away and tried to assault her.

Shifting blame would be all too easy for him.

"How could I blame you?" she forced out, summoning her brightest smile.

"You treated me so well today—such fine food, such generous hospitality!

And that little... *gift* from your men?

Well, I’m sure you had nothing to do with it.

Since nothing actually happened, I won’t press the matter.

She lightly looped her arm through Lucas’s, tearing her gaze away from the old man’s face.

Inside, her emotions raged like stormy waves—but on the surface, she remained perfectly composed.

Lucas lifted his gaze coldly toward Beauty, his expression commanding without a trace of anger.

His sharp brows arched high.

"Though You Beauty is generous enough to let it slide, I, Lucas, am not one to forget grudges.

I don’t want a repeat of this—next time, don’t blame me for disregarding our father-son bond and leaving you with no face to save."

Mr..Williams hadn’t expected his son to humiliate him in front of so many people.

His aged face flushed crimson, fists clenched in silent fury, yet with no outlet for his rage.

Once inside the car, Beauty finally exhaled in relief, sinking into the backseat.

The icy defiance she’d shown earlier had vanished completely, like a balloon deflated of all its air.

"From now on, unless it’s my driver, don’t get into anyone’s car unless my assistant calls you first.

If I need you, I’ll contact you myself."

Lucas had reverted to his usual frosty demeanor, the fleeting gentleness from earlier now gone without a trace.

Thank you for coming to my rescue today.

I won’t forget this favor—I’ll find a way to repay you someday."

The best repayment would be causing me less trouble.

Do you have any idea how much time and money I wasted today because of you?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI★Fire.net

Of course, he was still the same old lucas the Viper—incapable of going a single day without needling her.

Already frustrated, Beauty’s face flushed with indignation.

"It’s not like I *wanted* to cause you trouble!

Maybe you should keep your family in check instead!

Tell them to stop harassing me.

*I’m* the one who suffered today.

Just because I didn’t say anything doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt."

Her voice wavered as she sniffled, the pent-up grievances finally spilling over.

To her surprise, Lucas only smirked in response.

With a sardonic smirk, he glanced at her tear-streaked, messy face in the rearview mirror.

"Can’t even handle a little humiliation as my woman?

Then you might as well resign yourself to a life of tears," he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

The harder it hurts, the less you should let your enemies see it.

You were putting on such a convincing act in front of my father just now—what happened?

Couldn’t even keep it up for five minutes before crumbling back into this pathetic mess?"

"Who said I wanted to be *your* woman?

She bit down hard on her soft pink lips, cutting herself off mid-sentence as she turned her gaze out the window, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Weren’t you all sharp-tongued earlier?

Now you’re just a defeated little puffin?"

Lucas kept needling her, as if her frustration only fueled his amusement.

His usually icy expression thawed slightly, a faint, mocking smile playing at the corners of his lips as he watched her.

The car rolled to a stop at the school gates, but before it even came to a complete halt, Beauty flung the door open and leaped out.

She stumbled, nearly face-planting onto the pavement.

"You got a death wish?

If you want to die, do it somewhere far away!

Don’t think crippling yourself means I’ll be stuck with you for life!"

Lucas rolled down the window and barked at her, his voice razor-sharp.

The veins in his neck pulsed visibly beneath his skin.

Beauty steadied herself, planting her hands on her hips as she shot back, "Oh, I’m not dying anytime soon!

You’re older than me—*you’ll* probably kick the bucket first, and when that happens—"

She barely got the words out before his expression darkened, storm clouds gathering in his eyes like an impending tempest.

Instantly, she swallowed the rest of her taunt and bolted, vanishing into the crowd before he could react.