Facade of Love

Chapter 403 Have You Touched Alice?

Lucas gave a nod, staying silent.

I kept my eyes down, watching the garden through the window, not in the mood to chat with him. It did not take long, however, before I noticed something off.

Outside, I spotted someone I knew: Gregory.

He was not alone. There were others, all in plainclothes, but it was clear to me that they were cops. Were they on Lucas's tail?

No, it was not like he was creeping around in the shadows. Lucas was being followed, but whoever was doing it was not exactly trying to hide.

He must have known they were on his tail because he just leaned back in his chair, hands casually laced together, and threw me a look that was all smirks. "Getting tailed this early on? Looks like your ex isn't keen on letting us stroll out of Lake City without a hitch," he said. I kept my lips sealed.

If Idris had figured out Charlie and Lucas were one and the same, my words would not change a thing. Lucas was not getting out of Lake City without a fight, especially not with the border so close. If he made it that far, catching him would be a whole other level of difficult. However, with the cops on our tail, even a wild card like Lucas would not dare lash out at anyone else. That thought alone lightened my mood a bit. Soon enough, the table was heaped with all sorts of tasty dishes, all my favorites.

I did not even glance at Lucas as I dug in. It had been days since I had had a real meal, and this felt like a tiny bit of comfort after all the chaos. Once we finished, Lucas eyed me, his dark gaze narrowing. "You like this place?" he asked.

The guy was still up for small talk, which meant his nerves were steel. I mean, a guy who is a walking nightmare for others is not going to sweat a few cops. I did not bother with his chitchat and just said, "I'm done."

He quirked an eyebrow and stood up. "Let's go!" I had no clue what he was planning, but I was in no position to argue. I was the fish, and he was the knife. Whatever he decided, I had no choice but to go along."

Half an hour later, standing outside the local office, I bit my lip and gazed at the aging building, memories flooding back. It had been two years since I had last been here. Back then, Idris and I barely knew each other.

During our wedding photo shoot, the photographer kept telling him to lighten up and smile. No matter what, the final pictures showed him stone-faced, and the photo on our marriage certificate was even more intimidating than his driver's license pic. I remember thinking I would have to spend my life with Mr. Freeze. Would I end up frozen solid? Now, it felt like a lifetime ago.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Lucas's voice interrupted my thoughts.

I scowled and shot back, "I don't need you." From NôvelDrama.Org.

I marched into the office, leaving Lucas behind. Idris showed up a few minutes later. We locked eyes; however, I brushed past his gaze and said, "Fill out the form. I've already gone over the details with the staff. Just sign it, and we're done here."

I tried to hand him the form. He did not take it, though. Instead, he just stared at me, his voice a mix of hurt and anger, "Yvette, do you really trust me that little?"

My heart clenched, a sour ache spreading through me. I shook my head, "Trust doesn't even come into it anymore between us."

His forehead creased into a deep frown, and suddenly he grabbed my hand, his eyes searching mine, "Is it because of what happened on New Year's Eve? Is that why you're choosing him? Planning to run away with him?"

The pain in my eyes was impossible to hide as I fired back, "And you? What about Alice? Did you touch her?"

Pretending I did not care was a lie.

They say you do not realize your mistakes until you crash and burn. Despite telling myself it was all Lucas's doing, I needed to hear the truth from Idris himself. Was what I saw between him and Alice real?

He hesitated for just a second, his dark eyes clouding over with thought. It took him a moment before he said, "That night was just an accident."

An accident. That meant it all really happened.

I could not accept it, fighting the ache in my chest, I pressed on, "But wasn't she in a hospital accident? Why did you end up at the hotel later?"

Asking that took every ounce of bravery I had.

His lips tightened, and his expression darkened, "You texted me and told me to come get you."