NovelEnglishHe let out a disdainful laugh, that tnot even bothering to look at me. "Maybe it's because you're so ugly, I just couldn't stand it and had to give you a makeover?" Ugly? Please! He was the real piece of work! "Lucas, you might want to get your eyes checked. The sooner you treat them, the better. Wouldn't want you to go totally blind." My sense of decency only letgo so far with insults. I was not one to really lash out.
He smirked, "Sure, I'll get that checked out. There must be a risk of blindness, or how else could I have ended up with someone like you?" I was speechless.
Silence took over as we drove for about half an hour until we pulled up outside the bustling auction hall in the city center. I had no clue why he had broughtthere.
What was he up to? It did not take long to figure out. He was not there to bid. He was there to get under Idris's skin.
Follow current on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMadam Young from the Youngs family would auction off sof their pricey collectibles every year. The proceeds went to charity, usually to orphanages, nursing homes, or to build Hope Primary Schools in the less fortunate areas of the mountains.
I had been to these charity auctions a few times before.
I never imagined Lucas would bringthere. When I caught sight of Idris, I was taken aback. He was busy schmoozing with the guests, but he tensed up when he saw me.
When he noticed Lucas by my side, his look turned even sharper.
"Con, let's go say hi to Mr. Young," Lucas said, suddenly grabbingby the waist and practically draggingover to where Idris stood.
All the today, and he was just lurking there, definitely up to no good.
"Mr. Young, it's been ages!" Lucas grinned, the kind of grin that madewant to wipe it off his face, his hand lingering on my waist as he greeted Idris.
Idris looked at us, his eyes narrowing, a storm brewing behind them. He ignored Lucas and turned to me, his voice low, "Aren't you cold?" I was in the dress I had picked out at né the mall, light and breezy, not exactly warm. However, it was not the chill that madeshiver-it was the intense look in Idris's eyes, the barety-there bulge of a vein in his neck that toldhe was holding back a sea of anger. What had set him off? Then it hithis gaze fixed on the ide of my neck, where a red mark, a souvenir from Lucas's impulsive noment back at the villa, stood out ke a sore thumb. I had seen it in the nirror, a glaring reminder of something I could not just wipe way, something that needed to fade. Content belongs to >wI never thought Lucas would paradein front of Idris, that he would see the mark.
Realizing that was the dark cloud over Idris's mood, I instinctively covered it with my hand, my eyes pleading with him for understanding, even though I was at a loss for words.
How could I even begin to explain? That Lucas did it on purpose? Idris was not a fool, he did not needto spell it out.
Follow current on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhat right did I have to explain, anyway? What was I to him? Just then, a warmth spread across my shoulders—Lucas's jacket. I tried to shrug it off, but he pressed it onto me, still wearing that annoying smirk. "My bad, I should've thought about the cold. I was too focused on letting you pick out a pretty dress." As he was talking, he casually threw his coat over my shoulders. Then, with a grin aimed at Idris, he said, "Mr. Young, you're like a seasoned warrior when it comes to looking after the ladies. I've got to take a page out of your book." Ugh, that line made my skin crawl.
Idris just gave him a blank stare and replied calmly, "I wouldn't say I'm that experienced. When you care about someone, you just pay more attention. It's only natural to overlook things when your heart isn't in it." It was a little bitter, but man, what a comeback.
Lucas, with a smile that was anything but genuine, snaked his arm around my waist and said, "How could I not think of her? She's all I see, all I want. Let's head in and find something she'll adore. I'd go broke if it meant getting a smile from her." I was so tempted to tell him off for being a total nutcase, but before I knew it, he was dragginginto the auction, Kall. I had no idea how he managed to snag those tickets especially seats in the VIP section, which were usually reserved by the Youngs well in advance. He must have had sserious skills to pull that off right under the Youngs' radar.
We had barely settled into our seats when the auction kicked off.
All the items up for grabs were pricey antiques from Madam Young's collection. I could not care less, honestly. Lucas only broughthere to get under Idris's skin.
Just sitting there, doing nothing, was already enough to make anyone squirm.
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