Romance With The CEO

Chapter77: The Last Way 1

Velia winced as Diana treated the cuts and bruises on her face. The sounds of pain escaped her lips despite Diana's efforts to clean them as gently as possible.

"We should report this to the apartment management, Miss. That woman needs to be reported," Diana said.

Velia shook her head softly, accompanied by a faint smile. "There's no need to make a big deal out of it. It's just a minor injury. It's just a waste of time."

Diana's eyes widened. The red marks on Velia's cheek and the bruise on her slender neck were clearly not minor injuries. Not to mention the cut on the corner of her lip. It was undoubtedly an assault.

"This isn't a minor injury. We should--"

"No need, Diana," Velia interrupted quickly, trying to reassure Diana as she nodded repeatedly. "Besides, I'm not in too bad of a condition."

Diana knew that Velia was lying, but what could she do? In the end, she could only feel regret. She should have arrived earlier so Velia would not have experienced all of this.

"I'm fine."

Velia repeated for the umpteenth time, trying to convince herself as well. However, it was unclear who she was emphasizing that statement to. Diana or herself?

A sad thought crossed Velia's mind. She would not be able to do anything if it involved Lucas. Velia could not fight back. Her body seemed frozen and unable to move.

"Can you cook lunch, Diana? I don't know when Lucas will come home, but he's preoccupied. I don't want him to be late for a meal and fall ill."

Diana nodded after finishing treating Velia's wounds. "Do you need anything before I leave?"

"No, I just want to rest. I want to sleep."

Diana made sure Velia was comfortable lying down. She left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Velia alone in silence.

Eyes closed, Velia tried to calm her heart. She attempted to push away all the recent unpleasant thoughts.

I've tried to avoid Lucas, but I can't. I don't want to fall in love with him again, but...

Warmth seeped from the corners of Velia's eyes. She clutched the blanket, trying to contain the tumultuous emotions that overwhelmed her. They were intense, so intense that it almost suffocated her.

It was a torturous rest. The silence that engulfed Velia did not bring comfort, but rather the opposite. There were sad sighs and painful moans accompanying every breath.

Velia did not sleep for long. The discomfort woke her, greeted by confusion. Her position had shifted, and a pair of arms trapped her.

"Luc."

Lucas lowered his head and gazed at Velia with a melancholic look. He remained silent for a moment. All he did was stare at Velia as deeply as possible.

"When did you come home?" Velia asked. "Have you had lunch?"

Lucas cleared his throat briefly. "I came home about an hour ago. I found the unit empty and looked for you. Turns out you were sleeping. So, of course, I haven't eaten. How could I eat when you're asleep here?"

"You should have woken me up."

The smile that curved on Velia's face made Lucas feel uneasy. He could barely breathe or speak because of it.

"Disturbing your peaceful sleep?" Lucas asked, shaking his head quickly. "Impossible."

Velia smiled again, making sure not to show too much of her face to Lucas. She arranged her hair as best she could to cover the parts that bore red marks and wounds.

"I wondered while waiting for you to wake up."

Lucas's voice sounded heavy, causing Velia to close her eyes. His next question made her tense up.

"Why is your face so red?"

Apparently, Lucas had already seen it.

Impossible not to when it was Lucas who adjusted Velia's sleeping position. He had seen every bruise and scrape that remained.

"It's nothing, Luc."

Velia exhaled deeply. She inched closer to Lucas, shaking her head.

"You don't need to know."

Lucas's face hardened. "Ve--"

"Hold me."

Velia's whimper melted Lucas's face. Velia's strengthening embrace shattered his heart.

"Please, Luc. Just hold me."

Lucas blinked in an attempt to dispel the heat in his eyes. He held his breath to ward off the stinging sensation. Sadness surged. The pain could not be put into words. In the end, all he could do was hold Velia as tightly as he could.

"Don't let go, Luc."

The embrace tightened. The hug grew deeper. Lucas nodded quietly.

"I'll never let go."

The body still felt sore. The wounds still throbbed. But this time, Velia could feel peace. She felt calm and light. Everything felt alright as long as Lucas continued to hold her.

Velia fell asleep again. Lucas took the opportunity to reach for his phone and call Vlora.

"How did it go?"

"It's all done, Sir. Just as you expected. I apologize for being forward. Are you not going to withdraw this?"

Lucas looked at Velia in his embrace. Determined, he answered, "I will never withdraw it in my lifetime."

*

On Monday morning, Lucas was neatly dressed in a business suit while Velia, on the other hand, was still in her pajamas.

"Just listen to what I say. Just rest," Lucas said.

Velia nodded. "Of course. I'll happily relax here. You don't need to worry."

Lucas felt relieved by her response. However, it was not enough to make him immediately get up and leave. Instead, time continued to pass as Lucas cherished the sight of Velia's face longer than usual.

Lucas's hand reached out, gently caressing Velia's slightly swollen cheek.

"Do you know what I want right now?" he asked.

Velia lifted her face and gazed at Lucas. "What?"

"I just want to protect you. I want to make sure no one can hurt you anymore."

There was an implied meaning unknown to Velia. Something completely unpredictable that made her smile widely. And praise.

"That's so sweet."

"Anyway," Lucas continued. "I'll do anything for you."

Velia could feel it. Not just the firmness in his words, but the sincerity radiating from Lucas's eyes. With that in mind, she held on to Lucas, tiptoed, and gave him a brief kiss on the lips.

"Be careful on the road."

Lucas did not say anything. He hurriedly left and headed towards the car waiting in the apartment building's courtyard. However, the office was not Lucas's destination that morning.

"We're going to my parents' house."

Will glanced briefly through the rearview mirror. "Alright, Sir."

Lucas arrived at his family home on time. Jeff and Sandra were chatting in the living room, discussing various things related to the company and future plans.

Lucas's arrival surprised his parents. Especially Jeff, who did not expect his son to come so soon after their argument a while ago.

Sandra felt the same way. Her forehead creased as she wondered.

"Why are you here so early, Luc? Aren't you going to the office?"

Ignoring his father's question, Lucas approached Sandra instead. His face was a mess of mixed emotions.

"Forgive me."

The first words Lucas uttered only deepened Jeff and Sandra's confusion. They exchanged bewildered looks.

"Why are you apologizing? What are you suddenly apologizing to Mama for?"

The confusion did not end there. A moment later, Lucas dropped to his knees. He clasped Sandra's hands tightly.

"Forgive me, Mom. I sincerely apologize."

It was not just the apology that made Sandra more confused, but Lucas's expression. He looked distraught. His jaw clenched, and there was something that left Sandra stunned as she looked into his eyes.

There was pain. Sadness. It was filled with suffering.

"Luc, what's wrong with you?"

Jeff's unease grew. "You look troubled this morning, Luc. Maybe it's better if you rest first. Calm your mind."

"I have to end all of this, Dad. I can't let the woman I love suffer because of my own mother."

Sandra froze, a sudden coldness washing over her. Lucas's words made her heart seemingly stop beating.

The woman he loves? Has to suffer because of me?

Desperation tore apart every hope Lucas had ever built. Prayers and pleas seemed useless when fate could not melt a hardened heart.

"I've thought countless times about how to end all of this, but I never wanted it to come to this."

Lucas shook his head. His eyes turned red as logic and emotions battled in a lump of reality that would never change no matter how long it lasted. Not even doomsday could alter the fact that Sandra was his biological mother.

Sandra was the woman who carried and gave birth to Lucas. She nursed and raised him with love. She had always been a good mother, and Lucas loved her. But...

"I have no other choice, Mom," Lucas whimpered helplessly. He was truly unable to bear it when everything exploded in a single sentence. "I don't want you to hurt Velia again."

*