chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Ex - Girlfriend

Outside the Geneva Central Station, a beaten - up Fiat 500 was parked haphazardly at the curb. In a city where Audis and Porsches zipped through the streets, the Fiat was an eyesore. However, the two women standing beside it were impossible to ignore.

The older woman, in her mid - fifties but looking ten years younger thanks to a strict skincare routine and a healthy dose of Botox, was dressed to kill. Her short, leather skirt barely reached the top of her thighs, paired with a leopard - print blouse and a pair of designer sunglasses. Her platinum - blonde hair was styled in a perfect bob, exuding an air of self - importance.

The younger woman, Victoria, was a stark contrast. Dressed in a simple pair of blue jeans and a white cotton shirt, she had an understated beauty. Her long, chestnut hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her clear blue eyes sparkled with innocence.

This was Victoria and her mother, Mrs. Vivian Hart. At that moment, Vivian was tapping her foot impatiently, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm roasting out here! I had a hair appointment, you know," Vivian complained. Despite their middle - class background, Vivian fancied herself a socialite and was overly concerned with her appearance.

"Mom, the train's already in the station. He'll be out any minute," Victoria said, trying to soothe her mother's irritation.

"Three minutes! That's how long we've been waiting. My French skincare products cost a fortune, and this sun is ruining everything." Vivian's voice rose an octave.

"I told you to bring an umbrella."

"What? Now that you have a boyfriend, you're talking back to me?" Vivian's eyes narrowed.

"Okay, I'll call him." Victoria reluctantly dialed Lucas' number. Just as she did, she spotted Lucas wheeling his suitcase out of the station.

"Lucas, over here!" Victoria waved enthusiastically.

"Victoria, it's been a while." Despite having no feelings for Victoria anymore, Lucas didn't want to seem overly cold, at least not yet.

"Hey! Don't you even say hello to me?" Vivian sneered. From the moment she laid eyes on Lucas, she was unimpressed. In her mind, her daughter deserved a wealthy heir, not some outsider.

Lucas was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a plain T - shirt. His sneakers were scuffed and worn. Vivian could tell at a glance that his entire outfit probably cost less than what she spent on a single manicure.

"Mrs. Hart, hello."

"Hello? Is that all you can say? You made us wait in the sun for ages, and you don't even have the decency to apologize?" Vivian's tone was acidic.

"Mom, can you stop?" Victoria pleaded.

"Forget it. What are we standing here for? Let's get in the car. I'm melting." Vivian opened the passenger door and immediately pulled out a compact mirror to touch up her makeup.

Once inside the car, Victoria turned to Lucas. "How have you been?"

"Fine." Lucas' response was curt. He was no longer the naive young man Victoria had once known.

"Hey! Is that any way to talk to my daughter? What's with that attitude?" Vivian interjected.

"Mom, just focus on your makeup." Victoria sensed that something was different about Lucas. In the past, his eyes would light up whenever he saw her. Now, they were cold and distant. She attributed it to her mother's presence.

Just then, Victoria's phone rang. She quickly tucked it under her seat, trying to hide it from view.

As the car drove through the upscale neighborhoods of Geneva, Vivian pointed out a luxurious apartment building. "Victoria, look at that! That's the Lakeview Towers. The views from there are to die for. I'm not asking you to buy a mansion, just a nice penthouse here."

"The average price per square foot must be at least 10,000 francs," Lucas remarked. He knew from his past life that this prime - location building was extremely expensive.

"Ten thousand francs? Is that too much to ask? Do you expect my daughter to live in a shoebox?" Vivian scoffed. "The apartments on the outskirts are cheap, but I'm not having my daughter slumming it."

Lucas remained silent, choosing not to engage in Vivian's tirade.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of a modest two - story house in a middle - class neighborhood. The house was in need of a fresh coat of paint, and the small front yard was overgrown with weeds. Victoria's father, Mr. Hart, was a factory worker, and they were still paying off the mortgage on the house.

Mr. Hart had initially liked Lucas, but under Vivian's influence, he had turned against him.

Lucas looked at the house where he had been humiliated in his past life. This time, things would be different.