Chapter 20

Lukas gave a respectful bow. "It's an honor to finally meet you both," he said, his deep voice steady despite the tension in his shoulders. "I've heard so much about you."

Mom's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked him up and down. "So you're the famous Lukas," she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I can understand why Stella never wanted to introduce you to us. You're much more handsome in person; maybe she's scared that the women here will snatch you away from her."

"Mom!" I hissed, mortified, but Lukas only chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter.

Dad cleared his throat from the bed, his expression suddenly serious. "Are you taking care of my baby well, young man?" His gaze was intense, scrutinizing Lukas as if he were assessing a potential threat.

"Dad!" I hissed again, my face burning with embarrassment.

Lukas, however, never backed down. He met my dad's gaze with a confident smile. "Don't worry, sir. I've been taking care of her since the day she moved into my home."

Dad's expression shifted, a smile breaking through the intensity. "Good," he said, nodding approvingly. But then his gaze darkened again, and I felt a chill run down my spine. "But don't make my baby cry, or I'll certainly burn you down to the ground."

"Honey!" Mom exclaimed, rushing to his side and covering his mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with a mix of amusement and concern.

"What? I'm just joking," Dad said, laughing, though his eyes remained fixed on Lukas, secretly warning him. 

Mom looked at us with a knowing smile. "Go and eat dinner first before heading to the house. I'll stay here and take care of your dad. You know the routine already, right?"

I nodded, giving them both a kiss on the cheek. "We'll get going now. See you soon!"

As I pulled Lukas with me toward the parking lot. "I know a good restaurant nearby," I said, trying to shake off the weight of the day.

"What did your mom mean by 'routine'?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice as we walked.

"Oh, whenever one of them gets injured, they call me here so that I can continue their work," I explained, my mind already shifting to the responsibilities that awaited me.

"What work?" he inquired, tilting his head slightly.

"Overseeing our business," I replied, unlocking the car and sliding into the driver's seat. "I'll be the one driving," I said to the driver, who nodded at me as he settled into the back while Lukas took the passenger seat.

I glanced over at Lukas, who looked intrigued. "I forgot to tell you, but we own a ranch and plantation."

"Really?" he said, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Can you show me around?"

"Okay," I said, feeling a sense of pride swell within me.

After we finished our meal, we decided to take a walk around the town. As we stepped outside, I felt a wave of familiarity wash over me. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden hue over the fields. I took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy scent of the land.

As we walked, I greeted the townspeople, who all smiled warmly at me. They were used to seeing me around, and I could feel their curious eyes on Lukas. Since I had lived here my entire life, everyone knew me and my parents, who were the number one suppliers of livestock and crops in the area. Our business was booming, and my parents were considering to expand due to the high demand.

The townspeople were warm and hospitable, but they had no shame in prying into others' lives. As we passed a group of familiar faces, I could hear whispers and see the glances directed at Lukas and me. It was obvious that my scent had mixed with his, and they couldn't help but ask about what had happened with my relationship with Jake. 

"Stella! Whose this guy?" one of the women called out, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I offered her a polite smile. "This is my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend? What about Jake?" another woman asked, leaning in slightly.

"We broke up," I replied simply, trying to keep my tone steady.

"Really?" a passerby approached us, his brow furrowed in surprise. "But the two of you were already talking about marriage! What happened?"

The women nodded in agreement, exchanging glances as if trying to process the news. The questions kept coming, each more persistent than the last, and I sighed inwardly, wishing for an escape.

"Excuse me," I interrupted gently, "but my boyfriend is a bit tired now, so we should be leaving first." I quickly pulled Lukas away from the crowd.

The three townspeople started to follow, but I was relieved when the driver, who had been quietly waiting nearby, stepped in. With a firm glare, I signaled for them to back off, and they finally stopped in their tracks, watching us as we moved on.

We couldn't walk around the town without being bombarded by questions, so I had no choice but to head home. "Let's just go to the house; I'm tired anyway," I said, trying to shake off the weight of the day and forget what I had just heard.

Lukas smiled, his expression warm and understanding. "I'm fine."

But I knew he had heard even worse things than I had. Instead of going straight home, I made a spontaneous decision and turned toward the seaside.

"I thought we were going to your house?" he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"I changed my mind," I said with a playful smile as I grabbed his hand and excitedly ran toward the water. The salty breeze whipped through my hair, and I felt a rush of freedom wash over me.

"W-Wait!" he called out, laughing as he bent down to remove my sandals and set them aside along with his shoes.

I couldn't help but smile at his thoughtful action. Without further ado, I splashed him with water, the cool droplets catching the sunset as they flew through the air.

Lukas laughed, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, it's on!" he shouted, and before I knew it, he was chasing after me, splashing water back in retaliation.

We played in the water like kids, our laughter echoing against the waves. I felt the weight of the day lift off my shoulders as we chased each other, the worries of the town fading into the background. The cool water felt refreshing against my skin, and I reveled in the joy of the moment.

"You're going to pay for that!" Lukas shouted, his competitive spirit ignited as he lunged toward me, splashing water everywhere.

I squealed and darted away, my heart racing with exhilaration. "You'll have to catch me first!" I called back, my laughter mingling with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

As we continued to play, I felt a sense of pure happiness enveloping me. In that moment, nothing else mattered—no rumors, no expectations, just the two of us enjoying each other's company.

Eventually, we both collapsed onto the sandy shore, breathless and laughing. I looked over at Lukas, who was lying beside me, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

"That was amazing," he said, turning his head to meet my gaze. "I haven't had this much fun in ages."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Me neither. I needed this."

We lay there for a moment, the sun beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was a beautiful sight, and I felt grateful to share it with him.

"Do you like it here?" he asked, turning to look at me.

"Of course, it's where I was born," I replied softly. "And I feel very comfortable here. Although the people like to poke into others' business, they're generally nice."

"That explains why your expression became much brighter," he said with a small smile.

I returned his smile, feeling a bit more at ease.

Lukas seemed to recall our earlier conversation. "How do they all know Jake?" he asked curiously.

"Well, we've known each other since childhood and were classmates from kindergarten through high school. He's even come to our house a few times," I explained, then added with a teasing tone, "I thought you already investigated my affairs. All those domineering CEOs in novels I've read act like this."

"I only checked the basics," he admitted without denying it.

I widened my eyes in surprise. "So it's true! You could have just asked me!"

He chuckled softly. "I wanted to, but you were like a kitten showing her claws the first time we lived together," he said with a hint of amusement.

"Oh..." I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush. Without thinking, I stood up quickly to hide my embarrassment.