Lucas stirred his coffee as he looked at Molly.
"If you want to live in peace, you need to overwhelm Toby with love. Do you understand?"
Loving someone constituted more than just being nice to each other.
It involved sacrifices and commitments that would last a lifetime.
"Lucas, do you still think about Ayla? Are you still in love with her?"
She knew that Lucas had fallen in love with Ayla two years ago.
When Ayla had disappeared, he had also mysteriously disappeared.
He only reappeared recently.
Lucas nodded, "Yes! Very much so!"
His tone betrayed helplessness.
He would never stop loving her.
"Lucas, have you been searching for her over the past two years?"
She couldn't comprehend how he could possibly love someone who always gave him a cold shoulder.
"Let's change the topic.When you are free, let's invite Toby to join us for dinner," Lucas said, sipping his
coffee.
"Okay, I'll get back to you on that," Molly said with a smile.
"I'm attending a dinner party with him this evening."
After leaving the cafe, Lucas headed for the office building where Ayla was working.
Brian had neglected the drug business in the past two years and this gave Tatum a chance to revive his
business.
It was obvious that Brian's only objective now was to defeat Tatum.
Lucas had warned Tatum many a time not to be reckless, but he was ruled by his greed and risked
everything.
Seated in her office, Ayla was concentrating so deeply on her painting that she lost track of time.
Ellie, who was a responsible assistant, just waited in silence for instruction from her.
Lucas entered with some coffee and tiramisu he had bought from the bakery.
He noticed Ellie sitting at her own desk with a helpless, aggrieved expression on her face.
Meanwhile, Ayla, who was so engrossed in her work of art, was oblivious of the presence of both Ellie
and Lucas.
Ellie livened up at the sight of her savior.
"Good evening, sir.What can I do for you?"
It was only when Ellie addressed Lucas that Ayla raised her head and greeted him.
"Lucas." She looked at her watch.
It was already seven o' clock in the evening.
"Ellie, you may leave now! You can leave at the end of your shift.You don't need my permission."
Ayla felt a little embarrassed.
Ellie nodded, took her bag and bid them goodbye as she left.
Clasping her hand in his, Lucas sat on the sofa and remarked, "You're so busy with your masterpiece
that you forgot how late it is, didn't you?"
He should have thought of this.
Ayla nodded with embarrassment.
"You know I have a deadline to meet."
It was only when she saw the tiramisu in front of her that she realized how hungry she was.
"Snack on a slice of cake first then I'll take you out for a sumptuous dinner."
Seeing Ayla take a big bite of the tiramisu, Lucas smiled.
"Eat it slowly.No one is going to grab it from you!"
Lucas wiped her mouth with a tissue and asked, "Did you skip lunch?"
Ayla hesitated then said, "I have eaten."
She had only nibbled.
"Why do I find it so hard to believe you?"
He handed her a cup as he sipped on his coffee.
"Don't stay up too late tonight!"
"I won't."
When something was bothering her, she would not be able to sleep.
At other times, she dozed off so easily.
Ayla packed away all the design drafts into the drawer.Then she left the office with Lucas.He draped
his coat over her.
"It's a little chilly outdoors.What do you fancy for dinner?"
"Let's go home," she said.
For her, Antawood was too small and she didn't want to risk running into Brian.
"Okay, let's go home then."
Hand in hand they walked towards the apartment building across the street.It was a real advantage to
live close to one's work place.
Besides, Ayla liked to reach home in good time to cook.
After leaving the company, Brian drove back to the villa.Anna had gone home ahead of him to prepare
dinner.
Ever since she had made her desire to have a baby with him known to him, she had always gone home
early and helped with dinner preparations.
She wanted to prove to him that she could be the perfect Mrs.Clark.
"Brian, you're home! Dinner is ready.Let's tuck in."
She took his briefcase and helped him with his coat.
They enjoyed a quiet dinner.
"Brian, have you been working overtime?"
"Hmmm." Brian nodded.
He was extremely busy these days, strategizing on how to destroy Tatum.He swore he would make
Tatum rot in hell for what he had done to Ayla.
"Anna, is everything ready for the new designer, Wenny?" Brain asked after a long pause.
Anna was taken aback.
"Brian, why are you so concerned about Wenny?"
She felt ill at ease.
"What's wrong? You seem to be dissatisfied with her." Brian looked her in the eye.
She was always generous and supported women in business.
"No, not at all! Wenny is a very capable person."
Anna smiled faintly and uneasily.She was hostile to Wenny, because she was afraid of Ayla taking
Brian away.
Ayla was her biggest threat.
"Really? Then why don't you invite her out for dinner sometime?" Brian said casually.
But his words jarred her and she dropped her chopsticks.
Anna hurriedly picked them up and apologized, "I'm sorry.My hand just slipped."
"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
Brian's eyes tore into Anna.
Anna shook her head.
"No, it's just that Wenny is so busy these days.I'll ask her at a more convenient time."
Why did he broach the topic of wanting to see Wenny? Was he getting suspicious? "Then forget it.If
she is busy, we will contact her at a later date.I would imagine that she must be pretty busy with the
next season's fashion show."
Brian continued to relish his meal.
She was filled with a great sense of relief.
Anna made coffee and took it to his study.
"Brian, a delicious cup of coffee for you."
"Just put it there," he motioned, without raising his head.
He was busy analyzing the information sent by Jaime.
If he wanted to completely destroy Tatum then he needed to usurp all Tatum's power globally.He must
come up with a foolproof plan.
"Brian, why don't you go to bed? It's late now."
Although they lived together, they rarely met or spoke.She wondered if it was the same case when Ayla
was there.
Brian replied, "You can go ahead to bed.I still have some urgent work to complete."
The truth was, over the past two years, he hadn't totally given up on the drug business.
He just observed Tatum''s complacency.At the earliest opportunity, he would make him pay for the
prices.
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