Indeed, when Lucas went to Carla and told her about the beach getaway, she rejected his offer at once.
Bluntly, she told him that Zayn would be here in two days to pick the kids up, so she would be spending the remaining time with Venus in the manor.
Though Lucas usually would not press the matter if he got rejected, this time, he tried to convince her by saying Venus could come with them and that he had a surprise all planned out.
Alas, no matter what he said, Carla insisted on remaining in the manor.
Dejected, he could only leave reluctantly.
The children's joyous cries sounded from downstairs when he stepped out of the room.
"I can't wait to see the magic show!"
"Is the magician any good?"
"Can he teach me some magic?"
The three children gathered around Lisa and chattered about the magician troupe that was to arrive tomorrow excitedly.
"Of course, the magicians are good. You'll love them, I promise. They can teach you magic. If you wish, I can ask them to teach you." Lisa was good at coaxing the children.
"Yay, that sounds amazing!"
Lucas felt a stab of jealousy in his heart when he saw how overjoyed the kids were. He was about to return to his room when Randy and Venus came upstairs to look for Carla.
Venus had a few dresses in her arm. Hopping happily along the hallway, she asked, "Randy, which dress is the prettiest? When Daddy and Josh are here, I want to dress up for them!"
"They are all pretty, " Randy replied. He seemed to be in a good mood on that day. "All three are of different styles, so you can pick whichever you like most."
"Hmph, you know nothing. I shall ask Mommy."
Venus gathered her dresses and scampered off to Carla. When she ran past Lucas, she greeted him politely, "Hello, Sir Lucas!"
"Hello, Venus." Lucas flashed her a smile before turning to Randy. "Hi, Randy!"
Randy gave him a friendly nod and followed Venus into Carla's room.
"Mommy, pick the prettiest dress for me! I shall wear the prettiest dress when Josh and Daddy arrive!"
"They are all pretty, " Carla responded with a hearty laugh.
"See, I was right, " Randy chimed in.
As the mother and children trio chattered merrily in the background, conflicted feelings washed over Lucas.
The insecurity he felt in the face of Zayn's arrival was insurmountable. Strangely, he had a hunch that his relationship with Carla would end once Zayn arrived.
It also meant that their wedding scheduled to be held nine days later might be called off.
At that thought, he plodded back to his room unhappily and drowned his sorrows.
"Lucas." Right then, Marianne knocked on his door and entered with a tonic in her hand. "You've just recovered from a cold and require a proper recuperation. Aunt Lisa told me to give you this—"
"Thank you, " Lucas cut her sentence short. He was propping his forehead in his palm, slightly drunk from the alcohol he had consumed earlier.
"What's wrong, Lucas?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "Why are you drinking? Are you in a foul mood?"
"I'm fine. You can leave now." He brushed her off and returned to his drink.
"Stop drinking!" Marianne reached out to take the glass from him, but he refused to loosen his grip.
Losing her balance, she fell onto his lap.
Lucas shoved her away hastily and demanded sternly, "Marianne, I'm about to get married soon. Don't do this, please."
"Get married? Doesn't sound like that would be happening, " she mumbled to herself.
"What did you just say?" he hissed in displeasure.
"I went past Ms. Lierger's room earlier, and I overheard her speaking on the phone with someone. She talked to the person so affectionately, and I even heard her say ‘Hubby.' I think she hasn't forgotten about her ex-husband. They will definitely get back together once he comes here, " Marianne said, embellishing the truth.
"That's not possible!" Lucas panicked.
Though the rational side of his mind was telling him that Carla was not someone like that, he could not help feeling restless at the thought of Zayn and Carla's past relationship.
"It's true. I heard it with my own ears!" Marianne pressed. "Ms. Lierger even told the kids that she won't marry you, for she sees you as a good friend. She even said their family will reunite once their daddy arrives."
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