Chapter 109

Lucius looked on with disgust as she wiped her tears.

He picked up a handkerchief off the ground and, without gentleness, yanked her hand away to start wiping her face. He didn’t control his strength and rotated Violet’s face from left to right, hurting her skin.

Violet tried to stop him, but he quickly pulled back, looking pleased with his efforts, and commented, “That’s more like it.”

She began to walk away, ignoring him.

Lucius seized her wrists once again and said, “Violet, you haven’t given me an answer.”

“Answer what?” Violet asked, confused.

“Am I your first man?” Lucius pressed, his voice loud enough to attract onlookers. Violet blushed. with embarrassment, too embarrassed to face anyone.

“You’re out of your mind,” she replied, trying to escape his grip.

Lucius was adamant. “I’m warning you, and you better answer honestly. I’ll force you to have sex with me if you don’t!”

He appeared serious, as if he meant his words.

Violet wished she could vanish. She tried unsuccessfully a few times before realizing she needed to offer him an answer for him to let her go.

“Yes, okay?” She nodded unwillingly. “Are you happy now?”

“Really?” Lucius’s stern expression softened into one of gratification.

Violet glared at him. “Isn’t there anything better you could be doing?”

Finally managing to free herself, Violet left Lucius behind.

Lucius touched his nose, and even though he thought his question was stupid, he was secretly thrilled with her response.

Being Lucius, he wouldn’t reveal his joy to Violet.

He resumed his cool facade, and continued, “Good, it should be the first time. Remember, being in my bed is an honor. If you’ve been unfaithful, I won’t be kind.”

+15 BONOS Violet couldn’t help but wonder if Lucius saw himself as an emperor, considering how he described being in his bed as an honor.

She rolled her eyes at this, choosing not to engage further.

His harshness had surprisingly lifted her spirits, lessening the sting of Oliver’s previous actions.

Glancing at her watch, she realized It was lunchtime.

“I have to go. My mom’s waiting for lunch,” she said, hurrying to where Naomi was.

Lucius trailed behind her. Initially, Violet was unaware, but when bystanders began looking at something behind her, she sensed something was amiss.

Turning around, she saw Lucius following her. She moved aside to let him pass.

He gestured with his chin, asking. “Aren’t we having lunch? Why aren’t you moving?”

Violet questioned why Lucius would be concerned with her lunch plans.

She gestured toward the door, suggesting. “You go ahead. We can eat later.”

“Why wait if it’s already mealtime? Where shall we eat?” he asked matter–of–factly, glancing around.

Violet found his interest in their dining location a bit overbearing, and was about to retort sarcastically when a sudden realization dawned upon her. In disbelief, she asked, “You’re not thinking of joining us, are you?”

Impossible! The thought seemed hard to believe.

She expected Lucius to mock her, even envisioning him accusing her of delusion. To her amazement, he nodded. “Of course.”

His confirmation left Violet in shock, as if being struck by lightning. “Really?“.

He nonchalantly replied, “Why not? We’ve eaten together before.”

Violet remembered that those times were under different circumstances. Back then, she was forced to do it.

“I don’t want to eat with you,” she said.

She was afraid of indigestion. As blunt as it may sound, she desired the freedom to enjoy her food. She yearned for some control over her life after so many setbacks.

Lucius’s mood visibly soured at her response, as if he were about to throw a tantrum.

+15 BONOS He clarified. “My interest is in eating with Naomi, not you. If you’re uncomfortable, you can eat alone. I’m not going to stop you.”

His chilly comments plainly defined a boundary between them. He then took long strides past her.

Violet, considering her relationship with Naomi, felt compelled to follow. It wouldn’t be right to let Naomi dine alone with Lucius.

Upon her return, she found Lucius already waiting near Naomi, who was shaking so much she couldn’t handle the mop. Seeing Violet was like seeing a lifesaver.

“Let’s eat together,” Naomi suggested, relieved by Violet’s presence.

Violet thought she had made the correct decision to go to Naomi.

After they helped Naomi to store the mop, the trio left for lunch.

Lucius, with his tall and graceful body, was beautiful from every viewpoint. Walking beside Lucius.

Violet felt dwarfed by his imposing stature.

Annoyed, she purposefully linked arms with Naomi, keeping a distance from Lucius. There was a definite border between them, and neither breached the other’s space.

Internally, Violet preferred not dining with Lucius. Therefore, she opted for a simple fast–food restaurant.

“Are you sure this is okay?” Naomi asked, worried about Lucius’s presence.

As they sat down, Violet comforted her, “We have to get back to work in the afternoon. Fast food is more efficient.”

“That’s true.”

Being late would result in a pay deduction, and taking Lucius to a better restaurant would undoubtedly cause them to be late.

“But, Master Lucius…”

Before Naomi could finish her sentence, Lucius took a seat across them. His eyes were filled with contempt, but he said nothing.