Chapter 30

In Scarlett's Perspective:

Our gaze met. Startled by Lucas, I instinctively covered my mouth.

Bloody, ruthless, and merciless—that killing machine just now was Lucas, right?

I noticed Lucas's cold gaze softening, with a hint of panic creeping in. However, I couldn't shake off his earlier expression.

"Scarlett." He walked toward me, still holding the blood-stained gun.

Lucas reached out to touch me, but I instinctively took two steps back. This wasn't right; the Lucas that I knew wasn't like this! He was just like the other Mafia members; there was no difference at all. He looked terrifying, like a demon now.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?" Lucas approached me again, and I felt fear.

I turned and ran, leaving Lucas behind. I had believed he was unlike the others and not a part of the Mafia. I was confident that our love would lead him away from that life, and we could build a happy future together. 

However, everything had now changed.

Lucas probably thought human life was insignificant too.

When Lucas killed, I couldn't see a trace of reverence or tension in his eyes.

Maybe killing someone was no different from cutting a medium-rare steak for him.

How was he any different from Alexander?

But after I ran away, I found I had nowhere to go. Other than returning to Lucas's house, I had no place to stay.

After much hesitation, I returned to Lucas's house. Emily was still there.

I actually believed that Lucas wouldn't do anything to Emily and that he would treat me well.

But I still couldn't accept his other side.

I sat in the living room all afternoon until Lucas came home.

"I'm back." Lucas had changed into clean suits and shoes and even tidied his hair. However, he still smelled of blood.

"After the baby is born, I want to leave here." I wanted to say something else to Lucas but couldn't get the words out.

Lucas fell silent upon hearing my words.

"Okay." He didn't ask anything or offer his usual advice.

After that, he went back to the room.

In the following days, I took a break from school, studied law at home, and assisted in caring for Emily.

Lucas continued to leave early and return late, always carrying a strong smell of blood. We no longer shared a room and barely spoke to each other.

Even during meals, Lucas was often not at home.

I thought that my feelings for him would diminish due to our lack of interaction. However, my concern for him remained unchanged. 

I made the decision to speak with Lucas.

I was aware that Lucas never stayed out overnight, a habit he formed when I was young due to my fear of the dark. He would always come home every night. 

After putting Emily to bed, I waited in the living room for Lucas to return. Late at night, I heard a faint noise at the door.

"Damn it." Lucas didn't seem to see me. He dragged his tired body to the couch and carefully climbed onto it.

"Scarlett should be asleep by now," Lucas muttered to himself, even mentioning my name so gently.

Did I misunderstand him?

I stood by the chandelier switch and turned on the light.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas was startled and immediately retracted his arm. "I thought..."

His face showed nervousness and awkwardness.

"You thought I was asleep?" I sat down beside Lucas and pulled his arm.

He gasped in pain.

"It's nothing," Lucas said, trying to pull his arm back.

He was severely injured, with the wound breaking the skin and appearing to have been left untreated for hours. Despite this, the bleeding had not been stopped, and the wound was still oozing blood.

"Do you want to lose your arm?" Seeing Lucas's wound, I couldn't help but feel distressed.

"I was just about to take care of it." He smiled at me, trying to seem energetic.

But his face was pale, clearly very weak.

"I need to talk to you," I said, detaining Lucas. Fetching the first aid kit, I continued, "I've been reflecting, and I suspect you have a specific reason for deliberately projecting a tough image to intimidate me. Can you tell me why you've been acting so strangely lately?" I looked at Lucas's already infected wound, my hands trembling.

"I'm really fine." He still wouldn't say, patting my hand.

"I don't believe you." I didn't lift my head.

Lucas couldn't possibly think I wouldn't see through his lie.

"Alright." Lucas stared at me for a few seconds, then reluctantly nodded. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"My situation has been very precarious lately," he said, clenching his fist, the muscles under the wound shifting slightly, "Many families have begun engaging in risky enterprises."

"They are trying to disrupt this balance and have a plan to eliminate everyone." Lucas expressed his strong disapproval of their actions. "These individuals are solely driven by greed. But if this persists, nobody will be safe."

"If they don't die, we will," Lucas said, closing his eyes.

He must have been forced to do this. I would rather believe that this was the real Lucas.

"So, I don't want to involve you." Lucas gently held my hand and said, "I hope you can leave here temporarily."

His pleading eyes conveyed the seriousness of the situation; it was clear he wasn't joking. The potential consequences were even more daunting than his words suggested. 

Despite this, I couldn't abandon Lucas.

"I will stay." I finished treating his wound and wrapped it with gauze. "I believe what you said, so I won't leave."

"But staying here will be dangerous for you." Lucas looked at me with some surprise.

"Staying by your side isn't dangerous." I shook my head and stood up, stretching.

I was puzzled by Lucas's emotional display. Disregarding his arm injury, he embraced me tightly. Throughout the night, Lucas held me close, unwilling to part. 

The following morning, I quickly prepared for school.

"I need to deliver my documents to the school."

"I'll have Mark take you." Lucas was more cautious than usual. He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead before calling Mark.

I walked out the door and saw Mark waving at me from the car. 

I quickly got in, only to realize as we drove that we were heading in the wrong direction.

"Mark, stop the car!" I immediately became alert, intending to make Mark stop.

Unexpectedly, Mark seemed not to hear and drove the car toward the roadside slope.

Under the high-speed impact, the car emitted a strong smell of gasoline, followed by a scorching wave that engulfed me and the vehicle.