Chapter 27: Steaks, Scores, and a Dangerous Ass

As Lucas rang the doorbell, footsteps soon echoed from inside the apartment.

A moment later.

Click.

The door slowly opened.

Standing there was a beautiful woman Lucas had never seen before.

For a brief second, Lucas froze.

She looked to be around twenty six or twenty seven. She wore a simple fitted home outfit that somehow only emphasized her figure instead of hiding it. Her long dark hair rested loosely over her shoulders. Although she wore little to no makeup, her features were naturally attractive.

But what caught Lucas off guard the most.

Was her figure.

Her waist was slim yet her hips curved out naturally. This gave her an undeniably mature charm. Even standing casually by the door, she carried an elegance that made people instinctively look twice.

Lucas subconsciously glanced once.

Then again.

Right at that moment.

[Ding! Morgana Sykes comprehensive score: 8.9 points!]

Lucas nearly choked internally.

8.9?!

He felt strangely frustrated.

Why not just make it 9.0?

If she crossed the nine point threshold he could trigger the ten times rebate.

Was the system intentionally messing with him?

Before he could think further the woman suddenly smiled.

"You must be Lucas?"

Her voice was warm and pleasant.

Lucas snapped back to reality immediately. He inwardly suppressed his disappointment.

"Ah... yeah," he said awkwardly. "Is Henry around?"

"Of course," she replied softly while stepping aside. "Come in."

Lucas entered the apartment while quietly observing the surroundings.

The place was not luxurious but it felt warm and lived in.

The kind of home people actually built together.

At that point Lucas had already guessed her identity.

Henry’s girlfriend.

As he sat down on the couch a familiar voice suddenly sounded from deeper inside the apartment.

"Lucas?"

Henry walked out of the bedroom wearing casual home clothes.

The moment he noticed the bags in Lucas’s hands he frowned slightly.

"Seriously? You should’ve just come over. Why bother bringing things?"

Lucas smiled helplessly.

"No way. You’ve taken care of me for years. I can’t just show up empty handed."

Then he lifted the bag.

"Besides it’s your favorite."

Henry looked inside.

The moment he saw the premium steaks his expression changed.

"You brat..."

He laughed helplessly.

"This stuff is expensive."

Then he shook his head before saying proudly.

"Oh right. Lucas meet my girlfriend."

He glanced toward the kitchen.

"Morgana."

"We’re planning to get married soon."

His face softened visibly as he said it.

"When the wedding happens you and Jessica better show up. I’m planning to make you my best man."

Lucas paused briefly.

Then he chuckled lightly.

"I’ll definitely be there."

"But Jessica..."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"We broke up."

The smile on Henry’s face disappeared instantly.

"What?"

He looked genuinely shocked.

Out of everyone Henry understood better than anyone how much Lucas had loved Jessica.

Back when Lucas worked himself half to death taking extra shifts just to buy her gifts.

Henry had seen everything.

Sometimes when Lucas was exhausted Henry even covered shifts for him.

To Henry the two of them had practically seemed destined to end up together.

"What happened?" he finally asked.

Lucas shrugged with forced casualness.

"Simple."

"I’m broke."

"She found someone richer."

"It is what it is."

Henry frowned deeply.

He could hear the bitterness hidden beneath Lucas’s calm tone.

Although Lucas looked relaxed on the surface Henry assumed he was simply pretending to be okay. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

After all.

Three years of devotion did not disappear overnight.

Henry sighed inwardly.

Poor kid...

Trying to lighten the atmosphere he changed the subject.

"So what exactly did you bring me this time?"

When he finally checked properly and saw five premium steaks from a high end restaurant his eyes widened.

"This much?"

"You actually bought five?"

His expression immediately turned complicated.

He knew Lucas’s financial situation better than anyone.

This amount alone was probably more than half a month’s wages for him.

"Where the hell did you get money for this?" Henry asked suspiciously.

Lucas waved his hand dismissively.

"Don’t worry about it."

Henry clearly did not believe him.

Still seeing Lucas unwilling to elaborate he decided not to push further.

After chatting for a while Henry suddenly spoke again.

"Actually... don’t worry about being my best man anymore."

Lucas looked up.

Henry scratched his head awkwardly.

"Suits are not cheap. You don’t need to force yourself and spend money you don’t have."

Lucas immediately frowned.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I’m definitely attending."

Then he grinned.

"Relax. I’ve got money now."

"I’m rich."

Henry burst into laughter.

"Yeah right."

He naturally assumed Lucas was joking.

At most Lucas had probably picked up extra overtime shifts again.

Still.

If Lucas truly wanted to come Henry obviously would not stop him.

At that moment Morgana walked over carrying a tray of sliced fruits.

"Here," she said softly.

"You two have been talking nonstop."

As she leaned forward slightly to place the plate on the table.

Lucas froze.

Unfortunately for him.

The angle her ass was facing was... difficult to ignore.

His eyes widened for half a second.

Damn.

Compared to Ivy, Morgana had a huge ass.

Lucas immediately looked away.

That’s Henry’s girlfriend.

Basically your future sister in law.

Nothing weird. Nothing weird.

He mentally repeated it several times like a desperate mantra.

Meanwhile Henry had been talking continuously for the last few minutes.

But Lucas had not heard a single word.

Finally.

"Lucas?"

Henry frowned.

"You good?"

Lucas blinked.

"Huh?"

"I’ve been talking for like five minutes," Henry said suspiciously.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Lucas coughed awkwardly.

"Nothing."

"Just... thinking."

Henry sighed.

He assumed Lucas either had not recovered from the breakup yet or was exhausted from working too many night shifts.

"Take it easy on yourself," Henry said seriously.

"You don’t have to carry everything alone."

Those words made Lucas pause slightly.

For a brief moment.

He genuinely felt touched.

After chatting for a while longer Lucas finally stood up to leave.

Henry walked him to the door while reminding him to stop overworking himself.

Lucas only smiled.

After saying goodbye he stepped out of the apartment.