Love Me Or I Die

CHAPTER 25

Lucia was bewildered. She turned and hugged him tightly at his waist without care. Tears of happiness were sliding down her face. Would this necklace really bring her love?

Only time would be able to tell her everything.

This moment was captured by a concerned reporter. In an instant, Lucia became a household name while Daniel appeared on the headlines. This time, he was the absolute representation of a good husband, and Lucia’s name was associated with happiness.

Justin flipped the newspaper inside the CEO’s office in the Daniel's Company. His left hand was placed under his jaw as he caressed and tapped. “Cousin, look at how tender your smile was. It was so unlike you from the past. Did your face feel numb? Your mouth cramped?”

Daniel remained indifferent, too lazy to pay attention.

Justin was not dissuaded by him, and he pushed the newspaper right in front of him. He hugged his chest. “You stole my first love.” As he finished talking, he felt a glare targeted at him. That was it. His face froze as he gaped. He hastily put his hand on his mouth and made an action to seal his mouth. “I have something to do so I’m leaving.” He waved his hand as he laughed and made his escape. Of course, his words were meant to be a joke. His heart had fluttered, but it was not the feeling that he wanted.

Even he did not know what kind of feeling he was searching for.

The office door closed. It was at this moment when Daniel put his pen down. He leaned against his leather swivel chair, putting his whole body weight on it.

There was a photo printed clearly on the newspaper. It was a photo of a man and a woman hugging; Lucia was hugging him. The photo had been taken by then.

There was pure love that moved on her face.

As he looked at the photo, his fingers moved to his lips and then shifted to the woman’s face in the photo.

Lucia, I know you must be basking in happiness by now. The happier you are, the faster I can destroy you. He smiled colder and became unpredictable.

At his villa, Helen picked up the newspaper, opened it, and placed it in front of her. Her eyes widened like those of a cow’s as she took a second look at Lucia who sat at the sofa.

“Madam, Sir treats you so well.” Her hands were cupping her face. “I have never seen a man treats his wife with such love. Whoa, a 3-million necklace. I wonder how many lifetimes it’ll take me to earn that amount. Hmm, maybe buying a lottery ticket and winning will help.”

Lucia smiled faintly as she took the newspaper from Helen. The headline was a photo of Daniel and her. This time, her heart was warmed with happiness. She touched her throat, her fingers gently caressing the pearl necklace. Compared to the necklace, it was the casual tenderness from him that she treasured more.

The door opened at this moment. Helen saw the man enter, and she hurriedly went back to work, using that as an excuse. She stuck her tongue out. She had no intention to play gooseberry. The room was already brightly lit. There was no need for more.

Daniel lowered his head as he looked directly at the newspaper in Lucia’s hands. Then, he sat beside her and carried her onto his lap. “Miss me?” With his lips pressed against her ear, his breaths felt warm. He was surprised to see her blush. They had done things together, and yet she was still shy with him. Was she being too pure and innocent?

Lucia’s fingers held gently onto his shirt at chest level, not daring to look directly at his masculine face. She felt her heartbeat grow faster. There was no way for her to escape the trap of love, and she had no intention of escaping.

“Do you miss me?” Daniel did not hear her response. He nipped on her earlobe, knowing that this was her most sensitive spot. As expected, her face blushed as if she had applied a layer of rouge. It was extremely gorgeous.

“Yes.” she nodded lightly as she answered honestly. She looked up at him with love and longing in her eyes. Of course, she had missed him. She had hoped to be with him every minute, never to be apart from him.

“Ha…” A low and deep laugh rang. It shocked her sensitive eardrums.

“I’m sorry. I will compensate you well for all that I’ve done to you in the past.” He lifted her slender chin and looked at her soft features with his dark eyes. He was not one to apologize. This was his first time apologizing to a woman and saying he was sorry.

Lucia shook her head faintly. “It’s okay. I don’t want your compensation. I did everything willingly.” She pulled on his hand and put it against her face. “I don’t care about what you’ve done to me in the past. I know you have your reasons.” She rubbed his palm gently. His hand was huge, and there were calluses among his fingers. It did not feel like this hand belonged to a man who had grown up with a privileged background.

“You are really foolish,” he replied, unsure of whether it was a sigh. Something then flashed past his eyes as his hand caressed her very soft face.

“Yes, I am foolish.” Lucia laughed as a look of warmth showed from between her long eyelashes. She was not one to hold grudges. If she did, then she had to haggle over too many things. From childhood to adulthood, all the hatred and injustice was enough to bury her. Even her best friend, Betty, had said that she was a fool. A real fool.

She had not owed anyone, but she had given so much.

Stella, Sophia, and even Daniel.

“The more foolish you are, the better. I like the way you are.” Daniel lowered his head and rested his jaw at the top of her head. The warm light fell on both of them. It had been too long since he had rested like this.

The more foolish, the better. Yes. The more foolish, the better.

‘Like.’ Lucia’s heart skipped a beat. It was not love, but like was close enough. She had finally got there, didn’t she?

She had been waiting for her ‘destined husband’ for so many years and loved him for so long.

“Ah! Dan, when was the first time you met Sophia?” She looked up abruptly, looking slightly anxious and worried.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed for a bit. “Why are you asking this?” He had a faintly cold smile. He did not want her to mention Sophia at this point of time, and he did not want to know anything about Sophia. She has remained a barrier between them that they could not cross.

“Oh, it was nothing.” Lucia forced a smile and pinched her right fingers with her left hand. There was an instant when she had really wanted to tell him that she was the one whom he had met over ten years ago. Not Sophia.

Would he believe her?

“Lucia, I don’t want to hear you talk about matters regarding Sophia in the future. Do you understand?” The look on his eyes got more serious. He put his hand above her eyes, blocking all the lighting from her.

Lucia nodded her head obediently. “I’m sorry. I won’t ever do that again.” Daniel was satisfied, but he missed the sadness that was in her eyes.

She cowered slightly and leaned closer to him. She was definitely hurt, but she remained stubborn and stayed with him.

“Are you cold?” Daniel hugged the woman’s small and weak frame tightly in his arms. He had noticed her shudder and felt it, but right now, she had brought up a taboo topic which was his weak spot. Even one as tough as him had a weakness.

He had almost forgotten everything earlier. All he wanted was to sit like this with her and forget everything.

No. Lucia moved closer to his chest as her hand reached out for her own neck. It was the same strand of pearl necklace, but she felt something choking her by the neck, making it difficult to breathe.

“Little liar. You are obviously cold.” His fingers slid across her chin, and then he pinched her face. He realized that her face was softer than any of the women he had ever met, like tofu.

This soft and pale skin did not have any damages. Its beauty was natural and flawless.

“I didn’t. I have never lied to anyone.” Lucia shook her head. Although she said that, the gloomy feeling he had felt earlier was swept away by her little lies like this.

This man could really land someone in hell in one second… and bring the same person into heaven the next. Such unpredictable emotions caused her to be frightened that she might suffer a heart attack.

“Aren’t you a little liar who said one thing and mean another?” He gave her nose a pinch. His eyes were oozing with faint pampering and a loving look. A little of that was enough to make a woman live and die for him. Especially one like Lucia, who had lost everything just by loving him.

As for him, he had known that this woman totally belonged to him. Her body, heart, mind, and soul.

Lucia’s eyelashes fluttered. She hugged him tightly at his waist, refusing to let go. Telling herself that this wasn’t a dream. It really wasn’t a dream.

Their lives at this moment seemed to have stopped at happiness. There were no arguments, no hatred, and no Sophia. There was only a touch of happiness.

In reality—to put it frankly, Daniel was not a good lover. He was naturally aloof, and it became habitual. However, she could feel that he was trying very hard to make an effort.

He would frequently buy her a different kind of flowers each time. Actually, she did not tell him that her favorite was that bouquet of bellflowers.

Mr. and Mrs.James, Daniel's parents, visited often. They were pleased to see the both of them living in harmony. At times, they would stay for dinner. The hours of their visits grew longer. They liked Lucia; she was a simple girl with no agenda behind everything she did. She conveyed her true feelings through her actions like cooking a few dishes, a small gift, or a few caring words. It might not have meant much, but it was very thoughtful.