Chapter 34



Lucas eyed the logo on the meal container with a slight frown. “What is this, Belinda? You expect me to eat this?”

Belinda, turning to face him with her arms crossed, said, “It’s from a five-star restaurant—hardly substandard.”

With a dismissive gesture, Lucas pushed the container aside, his tone firm and cold. “I’d prefer you make something for me.”

“Really?” Belinda scoffed, her laughter tinged with sarcasm. “You’re joking, right, Mr. Clark?”

Lucas’ face clouded over. “Belinda, my father told you to bring me food, not just toss some random takeout my way to get it over with! I want food you made.”

Belinda remained unfazed. “This is what I brought. Whether you eat it is your choice.”

With those final words, she turned to leave without waiting for any response from Lucas.

As she approached the door to exit, it was suddenly opened.

When Belinda saw the two unexpected visitors, her expression tightened. Verena’s reaction was subtle—a slight narrowing of her eyes in shock—while Ryan’s demeanor brightened instantly.

“Ms. Thomas, what brings you here?” Ryan said to Belinda with a friendly smile.

Belinda offered them only a glance, then walked past them and continued on her way out.

Verena and Ryan then stepped into the office.

Verena quickly questioned Lucas, “Lucas, why was Ms. Thomas here?”

Instead of answering the question, Lucas asked with an expressionless face, “Why are you two here?”

This evasion deepened Verena’s suspicions of a lingering connection between Lucas and Belinda.

Ryan replied, “Verena was concerned you hadn’t had lunch, so she brought you something.”

“I already have food here,” Lucas replied, nodding toward the container.

Verena eyed the takeout food, her intuition telling her it was from Belinda. Her gaze shifted as she said, “That takeout isn’t nutritious at all. Try this instead; it’s home-cooked by my family’s chef.”

As Verena moved to discard the container, Lucas suddenly intervened.

“Don’t touch it,” he said.

Instantly, Verena’s hand halted mid-air.

Ryan tried to smooth over the tension. “Let’s just leave the food here, Verena. Lucas can choose what to eat himself.”

Acknowledging Ryan’s words with a nod, Verena withdrew her hand.

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