Chapter 276: I Feel a Bit Seasick  

The next day, the two of them lazily got out of bed and went to the city hospital to visit Lima's grandmother. They also took the opportunity to meet Lima's family: her parents, brother, and sister. 

Since he had gained a bit of fame in the country, most of Lima's family had a favorable impression of him, except for Lima's father, Old Gio. 

Old Gio seemed to have heard some rumors about him, and his expression was rather stern when they met. 

However, Lima's father mentioned that he liked men who could drink and invited him for a drink. 

Luca didn't particularly enjoy drinking, but he accompanied his future father-in-law a few times. In the end, he finally won a smile from him. 

"Not easy at all!" 

At Lima's family estate in the small town of Praia Harbor that morning, Luca rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache. 

In the two days since they arrived, his father-in-law had invited him for drinks three times—once in the city and twice more back in town. If he didn't drink, Old Gio would frown, but if he drank, he would get a smile. 

Thinking about the possibility of drinking again today, Luca felt a bit anxious. If he kept this up, he'd turn into an alcoholic. He needed to leave soon. 

"Here, have some juice!" 

Lima walked into the living room with a smile. 

"Thank you, dear." 

Luca took a few sips of the cold pomegranate juice, feeling much better. 

"If you can't handle drinking, just drink less. Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?" Lima said with a light laugh. 

"If Gio wants to drink, of course I'll accompany him." 

Gio, Lima's father, was the kind of man who couldn't hold his liquor but would always act tough after drinking. 

Lima chuckled. "Do you know why my dad keeps inviting you to drink?" 

"For hospitality!" 

Brazilians are known for their warm hospitality, and it's always genuine. 

"Nope!" 

Lima sat down and wrapped her arm around his, smiling. "He's testing you." 

"Testing me?" 

Luca looked puzzled. "Testing what?" 

"He's testing whether you become violent when drunk. It's a local custom here in Salvador. In the past, many men would get drunk and abuse their families. My dad's worried you might have that issue too, so he's testing you." 

"You got drunk twice, and both times, you just slept quietly without causing any trouble. So, congratulations, you passed the test!" 

"..." 

Luca stood there, stunned, half-laughing and half-crying. Lima's father was really thoughtful. 

"Little chubby girl, you know I don't have that problem. Why didn't you vouch for me?" 

"I did, but my dad still wasn't convinced," Lima laughed. 

"What's there to worry about? You're an Amazon warrior! It's a miracle you don't beat me up. There's no way I'd dare hit you. I wouldn't even win in a fight!" 

His father-in-law's concern was entirely unnecessary. 

Lima giggled lightly. "Alright, you did well this time. My family really likes you." 

"That's great news." 

Luca laughed heartily, feeling that his effort had been worth it. 

"Let's go, I'll take you to the beach. Want to go diving? This area has some of the best diving spots, with coral reefs and beautiful sea turtles. We even have a turtle conservation area. Some of the turtles are as big as small cars! How about a dive to clear your head?" 

Lima stood up and tugged at his arm. 

"Alright!" 

Luca went along with her suggestion and spent half the day exploring the underwater world. They even had a romantic picnic on a small island before he left Salvador that afternoon. 

Lima didn't join him this time. 

Last year, she stayed in New York and didn't spend Christmas with her family. This year, she wanted to be with them and would come to Rio for New Year's instead. 

They parted reluctantly. 

He had taken an airbus on the way there, which was slow and frustrating. On the way back, he opted for a different mode of transport—a ferry. 

When he asked Lima how the boat ride was, she just smiled mysteriously. 

Only after boarding did he understand why. The ride was rough. 

The captain must have been a former pirate, because his sailing style was wild. 

In the summer, the sea was choppy, and the wind was strong. No matter how big the waves got, the captain powered through them. 

Although Luca had been on ferries before without getting seasick, this time was different. He'd eaten a lot of seafood that afternoon, and before he could digest it, he threw it all back into the sea. 

His normally handsome, well-defined face turned pale. 

After enduring three long hours, he thought they were about to dock, but when he asked, they had only reached Barra Port. He was speechless. 

After suffering for what felt like an eternity, the ferry finally docked at the São Cristóvão Pier. 

The sky was completely dark as he wobbled off the boat, his legs trembling. 

He felt stronger for surviving the ordeal. 

Beep beep! 

A champagne-colored BMW X3 slowly pulled up. 

The door opened, revealing a stunning woman in a cream-colored suit with medium-length hair draped around her shoulders, working on a laptop. 

"Need a hand?" 

Kate turned her head, smiling at him. 

"No, no need!" 

Luca waved her off and used the railing to steady himself as he got into the back seat. As soon as he sat down, the world stopped spinning. 

"Haha, Lima was right. You really had a rough time," Kate said, handing him a bottle of water. 

"Lima guessed?" 

Next time the little chubby girl visits, he's definitely going to give her a good spanking. 

He took a sip of water and looked at her laptop. 

"Are you done with work?" 

"Pretty much. I can rest for a few days and pick things up again after New Year's," Kate said, stretching her neck. 

"You deserve a break. You've been busier than the president lately," Luca said as he started massaging her shoulders. 

Recently, Kate had been swamped with book signings, fashion shows, charity events, and even a speech at the International Cultural Exchange organized by the Ministry of Culture, which landed her on international news today. 

"You don't need to overwork yourself. Book signings don't need to be so frequent. Brazil's illiteracy rate is 18%; not many people here like to read. Even if you do a ton of signings, it won't boost sales much. 

"It's the same with fashion shows. Brazilians wear the same three things all year: tank tops, flip-flops, and beach shorts. High-end fashion? They can't afford it and don't need it. 

"You could do a hundred fashion shows here, but one in Paris or New York would be worth more. 

"As for charity donations, take it slow. In a few years, we could even set up a foundation. Spend what you can on the causes that matter. Keep things clear and transparent. 

"For other meetings, go if you like them, but don't force yourself. 

"We're making money to live comfortably, not to burn ourselves out. I don't want to see you working so hard that I don't even get to see you some days. You agree, right?" 

"..." 

Kate didn't respond. 

He looked at her curiously. 

She had fallen asleep, breathing softly. 

Well then. 

She was really exhausted. 

He stopped talking, closed her laptop, and gently adjusted her position so she could sleep more comfortably. 

"Jinna, drive a little slower!" 

"Got it!" 

Jinna lowered the speed, and they slowly made their way through the city streets. 

Night had fallen, and neon lights lit up the buildings on both sides of the street. Clubs pulsed with lights, while the hillside favelas twinkled with countless lights. In the dark, both the wealthy areas and the slums looked the same. 

Bang, bang, bang! 

Suddenly, gunshots echoed from the road ahead. 

All the cars on the road stopped. The drivers waited quietly, their expressions calm. 

Luca gently patted Kate's shoulder. 

She didn't wake up. 

After more than ten minutes, the traffic slowly resumed. It was as if nothing had happened, though there was a car ahead with shattered windows and blood on the ground. 

Luca glanced at it, then turned his gaze away. 

This was Rio. 

These things happened every day, and after seeing it a few times, he was used to it. 

The car pulled up to the estate, and Luca tucked Kate into bed before making a quick phone call to Lima. Then, exhausted, he headed to his room. 

Seeing the script and filming schedule on the desk, he hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the desk. He began writing character backstories and planning acting exercises based on his ideas from the past few days. 

(End of Chapter)