LUCAS’ POV

The next days that followed the court hearing were full of media rounds like I was some sorta celebrity– being a Hernandez was enough baggage to cope with.

I still had to win back Samantha. She was still upset over my actions, even though she tried to keep it civil in the public view I could see through her distress.

Samantha stayed with Valerie in the hospital and wouldn't budge to leave her best friend which was quite understandable given the incident that almost took her life. I stopped by the hospital to check up on Valerie but more importantly asked Samantha back to the office, she'd stopped coming to the office and for the most part I didn't want to be the reason– even though I knew I was.

"Hey it's Lucas," Valerie's face lit up when she saw me. Samantha shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

"You came," she said quietly. We held gazes for a while before she looked away. I nodded, "Yes, I decided to come check on Valerie, given the fact that my…" I didn't want to complete the state