"Do I look like someone who would take back the things he's given out?" Lucas asked."Well... okay then, thanks for the gifts," Coco expressed her gratitude. "By the way, there's a Comic Con next week. The magazine company is organizing a small autograph session for me there. Are you free to come look around after the autograph session?""A Comic Con?" he asked."Yup. The exhibition hall is open until 10 PM. We're free to walk around the place before then. Of course, if you're busy, I can walk around on my own after the autograph session," she said.She often attended Comic Cons alone. If Minnie had free time, she would ask Minnie to go with her. But this time... she really wanted to go with him. She wanted him to learn a bit about her interests, and if he could also find enjoyment in them too, that would be even better."Alright. Let me know the time and place," Lucas answered.Coco's face brightened with a radiant smile upon hearing his response.Her smile stunned him slightly
If Lucas were to fall in love with anyone, it should be her! She bore the closest resemblance to Serenity!The next day, Snow visited Coco at the studio. "Do you have a moment, Miss Souza? I would like to discuss something with you," Snow said."Do I... know you?" Coco regarded the woman suspiciously. At first glance, she resembled Serenity, but upon closer inspection, the differences became apparent.Serenity was currently pregnant and staying at home, while the woman had a slim figure and a flat stomach."I'm Snow Norris, Lucas' secretary while he was abroad. I have some information about Lucas that I’m sure you'd be interested in. Don't you want to know?" Snow said.Coco frowned. The fact that the woman referred to Lucas by his first name suggested a close relationship. A pang of jealousy surged within her."No, I don't. If there's anything I want to know about Lucas, I'll ask him myself. I don't need to find out through someone else," Coco replied. "Miss Norris, if you have n
"You seem to be feeling really smug about the fact that you look like Serenity," Coco retorted. "It's not uncommon for two people to look alike, but you're going to the extent of imitating Serenity’s hairstyle and the way she dresses. You're trying to impersonate her and become her substitute! Do you really think Lucas would fall in love with a substitute?""So what if I'm a substitute? I love Lucas, and I don't mind being a substitute for him!" Snow said."I would never want to be a substitute. Even if I temporarily gain the affection of the person I love by being a substitute, it's nothing to be happy about. I'm simply taking advantage of someone's vulnerability! When the real person appears, I’ll become utterly insignificant," Coco said ruthlessly.Snow's expression turned unpleasant. She tried to embarrass Coco, but she was the one being humiliated instead."What do you know? Lucas loves Serenity so much that he would never fall in love with anyone else! When he was abroad, he
Snow gritted her teeth in hatred. She could have persuaded Lucas without Coco's intervention."It's none of your business, Ms. Souza. It's my freedom to like Lucas," Snow hissed."You're free to like someone like him, but trying to destroy another couple's relationship is not right. It's simply immoral!" Coco said harshly."Ms. Norris, if you came to steal my boyfriend today, you're not welcome here. Please leave!"Snow's face contorted in anger, and she could barely choke out a response through her shock."Didn't you hear her?" Lucas turned around and narrowed his gaze at Snow. "You shouldn't be here. Also, I've already told you. It's impossible for us, and it never will be! If you want to leave your work abroad, you may submit your resignation. We don't hire useless people!" Snow pursed her lips tight. She could tell that Lucas was extremely angry. "I-I'll leave now. Don't be mad at me, Lucas. I know I was wrong. I'm sorry for making Ms. Souza feel uncomfortable." Then, Snow
There was a short pause, then Lucas continued, "Well, Snow resembles Serenity very much. That's indeed why I saved Snow abroad. I didn't want her to fall deeper into the pit, so I provided her a job."Coco did not expect Lucas to tell her so much. Lucas had never liked to explain himself, but he was giving her an explanation.Coco seemed confused, so Lucas quickly clarified, "I'm saying this because I don't want you to get the wrong idea.""Oh." Coco nodded. "But she seems to know a lot about you," she said, a hint of jealousy in her tone."What about you? What do you want to know about me? I'll tell you everything you want to know." Lucas stroked her hair in encouragement."I want to know about you and Serenity. Will you tell me that too?" Coco blurted out, then she froze as she realized what she had said.Lucas' dark eyes fixed on hers, and they seemed to burn with emotions she could not understand. Coco swallowed hard. She could have just said that it was a joke, and busines
A flicker of something flashed in Lucas' eyes."Yeah. I missed my chance with Serenity, but at least I'm here with you," he whispered. Maybe he was at God's mercy, so he had met her that fateful day."I don't know how long it'll take me to fall in love with you, Coco," Lucas admitted frankly. "But… If you're willing to stay by my side all the time, I want to marry you." Coco was struck dumb by Lucas' melodious voice."Get married?! You want to marry me?""Yes. As long as you're willing, I want you to be my wife."Lucas hoped Coco would not despise him for his inability to love her. If she could accept him as who he was, he would give her everything in his power!-Was that a proposal? That thought had been bothering her, even after Lucas left the studio. Was this a compensation for her? Because he did not have the confidence to fall in love with her? But why would anyone use marriage as compensation? Coco kept thinking about this until she became confused.Fortunately, he
Uncle Dave remained nice to her, but Aunt Clementine's repeated demands eventually strained their relationship. Their relationship soon turned sour, and she no longer spoke her mind to Uncle Dave.Aunt Clementine and Harold had always been the ones who demanded money from her. Why did Uncle Dave call her suddenly? Maybe she would find out soon!Coco felt a pang of pain in her heart, especially as she thought of her happy times with Uncle Dave as a child. How wonderful it would be if everything was the same as it used to be!Later at night, Coco came to visit Uncle Dave at home. Uncle Dave and his family were waiting for her arrival. Coco entered the living room and found her parents' black-and-white photos neatly displayed on the table. The incense and candles around her parents' portraits made it seem like an offering to her late parents."What's going on..." Coco looked around in confusion. What were they up to? This was not a special day nor her parents' death anniversary. D
"Is that so? You'd better hurry. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to your wedding." Dave pretended to sigh emotionally."Don't say that. The doctor said you can be cured with proper treatment, didn't he?" Clementine hushed."But it'll cost so much money. Let's just forget about it. I might as well leave the money to you and Harold. I just hate my incapability in my life. I couldn't make a fortune and give you a good life. I even dragged Coco down, and she has to suffer with us," Dave let out a heavy sigh."Coco, say something! Tell Uncle Dave to get better soon!" Clementine shouted at Coco."Is Uncle Dave sick?" Coco finally asked."Yeah. Dad got a medical checkup, but he's diagnosed with kidney disease," Harold revealed and began complaining, "The doctor says he needs timely treatment. If we delay it any longer, he may need a kidney transplant to save his life. If he wants to get better results from the treatment, he needs to use special medicines, which are really expensi