Chapter 44 Intimacy
"Okay, Mom, it's getting late. You should go get some rest." Arthur did not need to think twice about his mother's intentions when he saw her smiling eyes. He was, of course, anxious for Lucia and Theodore to meet the rest of the family, but he did not want to make it difficult for Lucia.
Arthur knew his mother, but Sophie also knew her son very well. When she heard him tell her to go back, she knew that he was afraid that she might force Lucia again. So, she could only sigh and stand up to say to him, "Okay, let's go back home."
"Mom, let me get you down here." Arthur stood up, too, and said naturally.
"Aren't you going back?" Sophie thought he was going back to the villa with her.
"I haven't seen my son in two days. I want to spend more time with him." Arthur said to Sophie with a smile.
"You want to spend time with your son? I think you just want to spend time with your wife!"
Sure enough, the wife was always more important than the mother.
Sophie thought that herself. But she also wanted her son to spend more time with his girlfriend and son, so she did not stay longer. After saying goodbye to Lucia, she asked him to send her to Jan. "Jan, it's foggy tonight. Be careful when you drive." Arthur stood beside the car and said to Jan, who was in the driver's seat. Although Jan had been a driver for many years, Arthur still reminded him. "Got it, Mr. Arthur," Jan replied with a smile.
Arthur was about to leave when Sophie stopped him. "Arthur, there's something else I want to tell you."
Arthur obediently opened the door and got in the car. He sat down next to his mother and listened to what she had to say to him.
"I need you to talk to Lucia more these days." Sophie talked like she was a psychologist. "You know what Lucia's worried about. Even if she doesn't mind the rumours, she may mind that she was divorced. That child is innocent, and that's why she's afraid to meet your father and your family, and it's your job to persuade her. We're all reasonable, and I'll help you talk to the others. The most important thing is to let Lucia understand it herself."
"I got you." Arthur listened carefully and nodded.
"And Theodore doesn't know you're his father yet. This is something you should discuss with Lucia if you want to make it clear to him. Theodore is very clever. He asked me if you were dating Lucia the other say. Although usually he is just playing around with us, he will listen to us. He took some words to heart, too. Don't leave such a young child in doubt."
"Well, don't worry about Theodore. Lucia and I will clear it with him when we get the chance."
"Okay." Sophie was relieved to have her worries explained to her son, so she started to tell him, "Go be with your wife and son. I'm going back to rest." "Okay," Arthur answered quietly.
Arthur watched Sophie leave until the car disappeared in the thick fog in the middle of the winter night, then he turned back to the apartment.
He took the elevator and reached the door of his house. The door opened by itself. Lucia looked out, saw Arthur, and smiled, "What took you so long?" Lucia was worried about him, and Arthur smiled when he realized it. He took Lucia in his arms and went back into the warm house and replied. "I just talked to my mom. She's worried about you."
Sitting back on the sofa with Arthur, Lucia said apologetically, "I also know what Sophie is thinking, but I really don't want to meet your family in this way." This silly woman.
Arthur thought as he took Lucia into his arms lovingly and put his chin on her forehead.
"I know how you feel. You know, when I was at the press conference today, I wanted to tell them who Theodore's father is, but that would only prove that I was the man who was in your room five years ago, and it couldn't prove that we were not together back then. It couldn't prove you weren't having an affair. So..."
Lucia frowned at the words. She didn't expect Arthur to think so much about her. He wanted to make it public because he wanted to clarify the rumors about her five years ago, but he was troubled by the lack of evidence.
If she could prove her innocence, she would not be so embarrassed tonight when Sophie mentioned going to New York for Christmas. These things were closely related. While she was minding her own business, Arthur had thought of every possibility for her.
This kind of touching feeling was really beyond words.
Lucia responded to his embrace, whispering in her heart... "Arthur, thank you."
Not aware of Lucia's subtle emotions, Arthur tightened his arms when she tried to hug him back so that she could comfortably stay in his arms. Then he continued, "Mom mentioned something earlier, something we missed."
"What is it?" Lucia asked Arthur, looking up. Arthur's chin had been down on her forehead, and when Lucia lifted her head, his chin slipped onto the tip of her nose.
It was evening, and there was a thin stubble on Arthur's chin that tickled the tip of Lucia's nose. It was so pleasant and fun that Lucia couldn't resist rubbing the tip of her nose against Arthur's chin.
Arthur was about to answer Lucia when he noticed that she was gently rubbing his chin. He looked down and saw that Lucia was squinting slightly, moving her head with satisfaction.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
He hugged Lucia tightly and rubbed her back with his hands. Arthur really didn't know how to get rid of the emotions that were rushing through his heart except in this way.
Lucia did not know why Arthur suddenly hugged her silently, but she liked the feeling of being close to each other. But, however much she liked it, Arthur's increasing pressure was beginning to wear on her, and she said in a whisper.
"Hey, Arthur, I'm choking..."
Arthur was shocked and realized what he had done. He quickly releaseds his hand to check Lucia's condition. He saw that her body was soft, her little face was flushed, and her eyes began to burst into tears. So, he quickly kissed her on the forehead and apologized.
"I'm sorry I hugged you too hard."
Lucia was a little dazed because of the lack of oxygen. Hearing Arthur's apology, Lucia smiled back at him, which made Arthur feel very excited again. This time, he restrained himself a little, hugged Lucia again, and sighed helplessly.
How could she just flirt with him so easily?
Lucia slowly returned to normal. She remembered what they had said before and said, "Arthur, what else did Sophie remind you of?"