Chapter 65:
“Lucas, I’m sorry to wake you at this hour,” came Verena’s hoarse, frail voice over the line.
“What’s wrong?” Lucas’ tone was even, his expression unreadable.
Through coughs, Verena’s voice conveyed her distress. “I’m not feeling well, Lucas. Could you come over to my place now? Please?” Her voice broke slightly with each cough.
Lucas responded directly, “You are feeling unwell? How about I call an ambulance for you now?”
“No!” Verena’s reply was swift. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. I hate hospitals.”
On the other end of the line, Lucas fell silent, digesting her words. Verena’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she coughed again before continuing, “Never mind, I’m fine. It’s just an old issue of mine. It happened occasionally when I was abroad. I’ll handle it on my own. Lucas, you can go back to sleep now. I won’t keep you up.”
Despite her words, she made no move to end the call. Lucas stayed silent, the weight of the moment hanging between them.
After a moment of silence, Lucas’s low, slightly rough voice broke through. “I’ll be there soon.”
At his words, a subtle smile played on Verena’s lips. “I’ll wait for you.”
Ending the call, Lucas swung his legs out of bed and stood. The room was dark until the soft click of a bedside lamp illuminated the space. Belinda, now awake, propped herself up on one elbow, her eyes following his movements.
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Her voice was soft, her tone casual. “Where are you going at this hour?”
“It’s none of your business,” Lucas replied calmly, his voice tinged with a lazy hoarseness.
“You’re going to see Verena, aren’t you?” Belinda asked pointedly.
“Yes.” Lucas hesitated for a moment before adding, “Verena’s feeling unwell. I’m just going to check on her.” After speaking, he questioned himself silently. Why was he offering explanations to Belinda?
Belinda let out a soft chuckle. “If she’s unwell, shouldn’t she be going to the doctor or calling an ambulance? What can you do there? Are you suddenly a doctor?”
Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly. “It’s none of your business. Just go back to sleep.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the closet. When he returned, he found Belinda fully dressed. His gaze was steady as he asked, “What are you doing?”
Belinda’s smile widened, a spark of defiance lighting her eyes. “I’m coming with you.”
“Why would you do that?” Lucas’s tone was laced with irritation.
