Ten Minutes Later Walking Through the Streets
Lucian walked steadily down the crowded market streets, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. The scent of fresh bread, grilled meat, and spices filled the air, but he paid no attention.
Alex stuck close beside him, stiff and uncomfortable. His gaze darted around, avoiding eye contact. The silence between them was suffocating, yet Lucian seemed completely unbothered.
After several minutes, Alex finally broke. I can’t take this anymore.
“Sir, what exactly are we doing here?” he asked, turning slightly toward Lucian. “We’ve been walking around this market for ten minutes.”
“Just exercising,” Lucian replied without looking at him, his tone flat.
Alex blinked. That’s it?
“Wouldn’t it be better to return to the hospital?” he tried again. “Your sister”
Lucian exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand through his hair. “Let things settle first.”
Alex hesitated. Talking with this lunatic… it’s exhausting. He swallowed, debating whether to keep quiet. I might die if I make him mad.
Then again… Death is better than awkwardness.
Lucian kept walking, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t go back to the hospital. It would be awkward too soon after that moment. The kiss.
Celestia’s reaction still unsettled him. It had been… strange. Unpredictable. Who the hell even was she? She had always been calm, reserved but the way she had acted last night made it feel like she was someone entirely different.
And Rose… Lucian sighed again, rubbing his temples. He had never thought of her that way. Not once. But what about her? Was there something more to it? Did she mean it romantically?
Going home wasn’t an option either. His mother was already furious with him. If he went back now, she’d know he was just trying to avoid the situation, and that would make things even worse.
Damn it.
Lucian groaned, placing a hand on his head. “Maybe I should call Jimmy and Garry,” he muttered to himself.
He really hoped they weren’t getting into trouble. Especially with anything related to the Silvit family.
Lucian was sure Garry hadn’t heard about what happened yet. But Jimmy… Jimmy always knew.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the new phone Vladimir had given him and dialed Jimmy’s number.
After a few rings, the line connected.
“Hello? Lucky? Got a new number again?” Jimmy’s voice came through, amused as always. “What happened to the other SIM?”
“Lost my phone,” Lucian replied simply. “Got a new one.”
“Yeah, figures. Anyway, how are you now? Is Rose fine?”
Lucian exhaled. “Yeah, she’s fine. Don’t worry too much nothing can happen to them under my watch.”
A brief pause. Then, Lucian’s voice lowered. “You didn’t do anything… right?”
Jimmy chuckled. “What, you think I went after them?”
Lucian didn’t even bother to ask how Jimmy knew about what happened last night between him and Rose. He was sure Jimmy had his ways he always did. The man had a habit of knowing things before he should.
Jimmy’s voice came through the phone, casual but sharp as ever. “Silvit family manor was empty I heard it from people before I even found out what happened to you.”
Lucian frowned slightly, his grip on the phone tightening. “You didn’t go there or anything, right?”
“No,” Jimmy replied, almost exasperated. “Didn’t even step foot there.”
Lucian wasn’t convinced yet. “You sure? You didn’t go anywhere? Didn’t beat or kill anyone?” His voice was firm, but there was a trace of something else concern. A warning.
There was a pause. Not long, but just enough to make Lucian hold his breath.
“No,” Jimmy finally said. “I was with Garry the whole night. I didn’t do anything like that.”
Lucian exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Alright. That’s good.” He allowed a small, genuine smile to touch his lips.
Jimmy and Garry were the only real people he had left the only ones who hadn’t turned their backs on him. He couldn’t let them go down the same road again. Not in this life. They had lost too much in their past chasing violence, drowning in blood. There was no coming back from that once you were too deep.
But then, Jimmy’s tone shifted.
“So… are you fine?” His voice was lower now, more serious. “I heard about Melvic Island disappearing.”
Lucian’s breath hitched for just a second.
“Umm…” He didn’t know how to answer.
Jimmy seemed to sense it and quickly cut in. “Forget it. Just try to control yourself, idiot.” There was frustration in his voice now, but also something else worry. “I get it, you protect your family. But think about what you’re doing.” He sighed. “Whatever. We’ll talk about this later.”
Lucian frowned. Jimmy never talked like this unless something was wrong. And now, there was a certain edge to his words.
Jimmy suddenly hesitated.
Lucian noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
[“…”]
[“Jimmy.”]
[“Ah… well.”]
A nervous chuckle.
[“It’s… about Garry.”]
Lucian stopped walking.
His voice dropped.
[“What about him?”]
Jimmy sounded weird.
Like he didn’t know how to say it.
[“It’s… complicated.”]
Lucian’s fingers twitched.
[“Complicated how?”]
Jimmy exhaled sharply.
[“Listen, just promise me you won’t overreact, okay?”]
Lucian’s eyes darkened.
[“Jimmy.”]
[“…”]
[“What. Did. He. Do.”]
Jimmy hesitated again, then finally spoke.
“Well… nothing much. He didn’t do anything bad, but…” Another pause. “I don’t know what happened, but he says he figured out why that girl rejected him before.”
Lucian blinked. “What?”
“He said he went to meet her brother yesterday… without telling me.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow. Now, that’s interesting.
“And?”
“And now he’s saying that girl actually loves him. That she never really rejected him in the first place.” Jimmy let out a tired sigh. “I don’t know, man. He’s been acting weird ever since. Spacing out, overthinking. And now he’s asking for help.”
Lucian’s curiosity deepened. “Help? What kind of help?”
“Well… from what I did get out of him, she rejected him to protect him. Her family background is complicated, apparently.”
Lucian’s expression shifted slightly. “So, you’re telling me Garry found out that she was lying that she pushed him away for his own safety?”
“Yeah, pretty much. But he didn’t give me much detail.”
For a brief second, Lucian just stood there, processing it all.
Then he let out a small chuckle.
At least something good is happening after me coming back in time, he mused.
In his past life, he had been with Garry long enough to know how obsessed that idiot had been with a girl who rejected him. It had broken him. Badly. Lucian still remembered when Garry had nearly ended himself over it.
But back then, Lucian never got the full story. Garry never spoke about it, and neither he nor Jimmy had ever pressed him, assuming it was something too painful to dig into.
And now
Lucian smirked. So that’s what it was all about, huh?
Shaking his head, he spoke into the phone. “What about her family?”
Jimmy hesitated. “That’s what we need to talk about. Garry wants to meet. He’s asking for our help with something.”
Lucian’s expression turned thoughtful.
“Where?”
“Restaurant at Central Park. Me and Garry are already heading there.”
Lucian exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “Alright, I’m on my way.”
Then, with a small chuckle, he added, “Tell that idiot to hold his emotions together till I get there.”
—
Hey guys, LazyDiablo here! Well, no, I’m not being lazy just really busy. Ahh, sigh… I haven’t been able to find time to write. Even today, I was insanely busy and barely had a moment to spare. But I promise, starting today, this book will get regular updates!
First of all, I want to give a huge thank you to Collin_McCall, the great Richyyyy of the Lazy Cult haha!
I really appreciate you guys waiting so patiently and supporting me, even when I haven’t been able to release regular chapters. Sigh… I feel bad for making you wait.
ahh guys look in author thoughts!.
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