Chapter 19

While we were eating, he suddenly spoke, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us. "Let's have a vacation."

"What?" I asked, my fork pausing mid-air as I processed his words.

"I'm free recently. Why don't we go out on a trip? Have some rest together," he suggested, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Why did you think of that so suddenly? Did you eat something weird?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood, but I could see the seriousness in his expression.

"I'm serious," he said, wiping his mouth with a table napkin. "I've thought about it for a while now, but I can't think of somewhere else to go."

I stared at him for a moment, my mind racing. After living together for some time, I realized that despite our closeness, there was still so much I didn't know about him. He had lived by himself for years, and I could only imagine the weight of that solitude.

He looked at me, his eyes steady. "Why? Is it troublesome to go with me?" he asked softly.

"That's not it," I shook my head, trying to dispel the tension. "Don't you have friends who can hang out with you?"

He hesitated, then leaned back slightly. "In the business world, there are only two ways people see others—either as competitors or partners. Once you befriend someone, it's often complicated. They might stab you in the back later or even sell you out. That's why I focus solely on work," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips, but I could see the underlying seriousness in his expression.

I froze, the weight of his words sinking in. I hadn't realized how hard it must have been for him to become the youngest CEO of his company. The pressure of building his empire while constantly watching his back must have been incredibly stressful. My heart ached for him, knowing he had faced such challenges alone.

I decided to change the topic, hoping to lighten the mood. "Before we met, did you ever like someone?"

He shrugged. "No, not really," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "Although a lot of women, especially the daughters of my business partners, pursued me a lot, I turned them down. They all had their hidden agendas. But the most important thing is that I never wanted to get married."

When I heard the last sentence, my heart ached. A rush of thoughts flooded my mind, but I forced myself to push them aside when Lukas spoke again. 

"Is there any place you want to go?" he asked, shifting the conversation back to the vacation.

I hesitated for a moment. I didn't have any particular destination in mind. When I was with Jake, we used to plan trips together, dreaming about places we wanted to visit. But as time went on, work took over. We got so busy that the only trips we managed were to nearby countries, just quick escapes when we had a free weekend. Now, honestly, all I wanted was to go somewhere to relax—somewhere peaceful.

"A beach," I said softly, a small smile forming. "I've missed the sea. Being by the water always gives me a sense of peace."

"So you like the seaside?" he asked, his interest piqued.

I nodded, a smile spreading across my face as I recalled the memories of sun-soaked days and the sound of waves crashing against the shore. "That's right. There's something about the ocean that just calms me."

"Shall we go this Saturday then?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Without hesitation, I beamed. "Yes!" I said excitedly, feeling a lightness I hadn't felt in a while. This trip was exactly what I needed.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

However, it seemed that fate had other plans. The day before we were set to travel, I received a call from home that sent my heart racing. My mom's voice trembled on the other end of the line as she informed me that my dad had fallen down the stairs at home and was now in the hospital.

"Stella, he's stable, but they want to keep him for observation," she said, her voice filled with concern. "I think you should come home."

My stomach dropped at the news. "I'll be there as soon as I can," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the wave of anxiety crashing over me. "Is he okay? What happened?"

"He's banged up but conscious. The doctors say he should recover, but I just want you here," she said, her worry palpable.

After hanging up, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me—fear for my dad, concern for my family, and a sense of disappointment about our plans with Lukas. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. 

When I found Lukas later that evening, he was in the living room, looking over the list we had made for our beach trip. His face lit up when he saw me, but that light quickly dimmed as he noticed my expression.

"Stella, what's wrong?" he asked, concern etched on his features.

"My dad… he fell down the stairs and is in the hospital," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I need to go home. We'll have to reschedule our trip."

My hometown was located far away in a rural town in the mountains. It would take about six to eight hours by car, depending on the traffic and road conditions. 

"I'll go with you," he said, his expression resolute. 

With that, we quickly packed a few essentials and set off on the road. My mind was swirling with thoughts, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Although Lukas and I weren't married yet, my parents were aware that we were living together—though I hadn't introduced him properly to them. Still, I knew my parents; as long as I was doing well and staying true to myself, I believed they wouldn't worry too much.

What truly gnawed at me was the gossip of the neighbors. Jake and I grew up in the same town, attended the same high school. From the beginning, our love story had been quite high-profile—almost everyone knew about us. People had always expected that Jake and I would end up together and marry someday. If they found out I was with someone new, especially not Jake, I wasn't sure what the town's reaction would be. The thought made my stomach tighten with anxiety.

I ruffled my hair in frustration, feeling the weight of those worries pressing down on me.

Lukas seemed to notice that I was jittery for a long time. "Are you worried about me?" he asked, glancing over with a mix of concern and curiosity.

I hesitated before replying, "Yes."

He squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Don't worry," he said softly. "The worst is over."

His words caught me off guard, but somehow, they brought a strange sense of comfort. I didn't fully understand why, but I appreciated his kindness and the calm certainty in his voice. 

I slept for a long time before we finally arrived at the hospital around lunch. The exhaustion from the drive had taken its toll, but the moment I stepped into the hospital, adrenaline kicked in. I immediately made my way to the room where my dad was.

As I entered, relief washed over me. Thankfully, he was fine; it was just a fracture, and he was waiting for a follow-up examination. He looked a bit weary but was alert, a smile breaking through the pain as he saw me.

"Stella!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth. "I'm glad you're here."

"Dad!" I rushed to his side, wrapping my arms around him. "I was so worried. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, just a little sore," he replied, gesturing to his leg, which was propped up on a pillow. "They say it's just a fracture, but I have to wait for my turn for the follow-up examination."

I nodded, understanding the situation all too well. This was the only hospital in our small town, and the equipment was limited. Patients with severe and acute illnesses were given priority, which meant my dad would have to wait for a day or two before he could receive the care he needed.

I was used to this already; my dad had always been prone to accidents since I was a child. I had learned to anticipate these moments, to brace myself for the calls that would send me rushing home. It was a part of life in our family, and I had come to accept it, even if it was never easy.

"Where's mom?" I asked dad, glancing around the hospital room.

"She went to change her clothes—oh, she's here already," dad said, nodding toward the door.

I turned to see mom entering, her face lighting up when she spotted me. "Mom!" I rushed over and hugged her tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of her floral perfume.

"Stella my dear! How's my baby girl doing?" mom said, patting my back before pulling away. Her sharp eyes immediately landed on Lukas, who stood quietly by the window. "Won't you introduce him to us?"

"Oh!" I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I stepped back and pulled Lukas forward by his sleeve. He came willingly, his posture straight but his expression uncharacteristically nervous. "Dad, mom, meet Lukas. Lukas, meet my parents."