Chapter 3

Suddenly, footsteps coming down the stairs echoed in the stairwell.

"Lucas, you're back!

"My fever's mostly gone. I'm so glad you let me rest at your old place - I really didn't want to go to the hospital...

"Oh, I was just about to take out the trash. There was a lot of clutter in the apartment, so I helped clean it up for you."

It was Isabella's voice.

"Who told you to touch my things."

Lucas's voice was ice cold.

"Huh? I just thought a lot of that stuff wasn't worth keeping..." Isabella was taken aback.

The next second she put down the trash bag and tugged at Lucas's hand.

"Come on, don't be mad. I didn't know you don't like people touching your stuff."

As Isabella was speaking, she noticed me and her movements faltered slightly.

"Aria Ning? What are you doing here?"

Isabella frowned, her tone somewhat sharp.

Seeing no reaction from me, she suddenly made an "oh" of realization, let go of Lucas's hand, and walked past him. She crossed her arms and stood in front of me, looking down her nose with a smirk.

"Came running to latch onto success, did you?"

"Or..." Isabella leaned in close to my ear, lowering her voice.

"Ryan isn't satisfying you?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Lucas clench his fist.

Isabella continued with a smile.

"Should I remind you how you abandoned Lucas back then?"

"You go first," Lucas cut Isabella off. "I already called a car for you earlier, it should be waiting at the alley entrance."

Isabella was speaking to Lucas but looking at me triumphantly.

"Then I'll come find you at your place tomorrow, Lucas."

As she passed by me, she leaned in close to my ear again.

"If you dare bother Lucas again, you know what the consequences will be."

I stumbled back slightly from her shove.

Not long after Isabella left, it started pouring outside.

I stood dazed in front of the building entrance.

I took out my phone, debating whether to call Ryan.

I had refused his offer to pick me up earlier. But now with the heavy rain, he was the only person I could think of to help me.

The stairwell light behind me flickered off and on again.

I turned around to see Lucas.

His face was hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable.

"Come up."

"What?"

I was slightly stunned.

"I need to go. I was about to call Ryan to..."

The name "Ryan" seemed to provoke Lucas.

Before I could finish speaking, he gripped my wrist tightly.

"Come up."

"Lucas... let go of me..." I struggled to break free.

Lucas's grip only tightened.

"Your fiancé doesn't show up for hours,

"You tell him not to come, and he just leaves you alone here?

"You're that eager to go with him?"

"I need to go home..." I stubbornly tried to pull away.

"Back to the home you share with Ryan?" Lucas's tone grew increasingly cold. "He's nothing but a hypocrite. You're going to marry him?"

"Lucas, let go of me!"

The pent-up emotions finally exploded. My voice carried a hint of tears.

"What does it matter to you... In your eyes, I'm already..."

Lucas ignored me, dragging me up to the third floor.

He unlocked the door one-handed, pulled me inside the apartment, and kicked the door shut.

My wrist was gripped painfully as my back slammed against the wall.

The light switch was accidentally hit.

In the dim yellow light.

Lucas's eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse.

"It matters to me."