Page 56 of Lucas (The Valeur Billionaires #2)

“I’m aware. Believe me, I’m aware.” He gives a fake laugh.

“That’s all I could think about at first. That my son is marrying the enemy.

” He looks at me. “And no revenge is worth marrying the enemy. I wanted him to find a cute girl and date her a bit before the wedding, to fall in love and get married. But it’s my fault he rushed into the deal he did with you. It’s because I pressured him.”

I nod, remembering he told me he needed to get married to get the CEO position.

“My intentions were good. The board was worried about his wild behavior, and I wanted him to find love like I did. Getting married sounded like the solution to both problems. In hindsight, I think I succeeded too.” He tilts his head. “Right, Ava?”

I lick my lips.

“You still love him, don’t you?” Peter asks. “If you still love him, the rest can be resolved.”

I still love him, but the betrayal is still there, still hurting me.

I nod, and Peter’s shoulders visibly relax.

“I know now you weren’t involved in your father’s fraud. Lucas told me. It took me a while, but I understand I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have judged you based on your father’s sins, and I’m asking you not to judge Lucas because of my mistakes.”

“It wasn’t your mistake. He planned it all himself.”

“No.” Peter straightens and appears agitated.

“No. He wouldn’t have done any of it if I hadn’t pressured him.

If he hadn’t grown up thinking that’s what I wanted from him.

And just like I put your father’s sins on you, I put mine on him, and for that, I’m sorry.

I beg you to forgive him. He loves you so much, and I don’t want to see him fall because of my mistake.

I see how strong you are, how well you suit him.

He needs someone like you, a brave and strong woman who will tell him what she thinks and challenge him.

I want you to be part of our family, Ava. I want you to be my daughter.”

Tears well up in my eyes, and I swallow and blink. I rest my palms on my knees so he won’t see how much I’m shaking.

Dad always painted him as a monster. Our biggest enemy. And he’s just accepting me?

“Are you okay, Ava?” His voice softens. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me. The opposite.” I shake my head. “You’ve probably heard my father cut me off.”

“No. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“As far as he’s concerned, there’s no forgiveness for switching sides.” A single tear rolls down my cheek. “I have no family left. I never really had one to begin with.”

“We would be happy to be your family.” He smiles at me. “If you’ll have us.”

I stand and wipe my tears. “I appreciate the offer and everything you’ve said. It means a lot to me. But first, I have some things to work out with your son.”

He smiles and stands too. “Well, thank you for agreeing to talk to me. I know you’ll work everything out because you’re both coming from a place of love.”

And then he’s pulling me into a hug, warm and strong and filled with promise.

The warm aroma of the brewed coffee envelops me as I settle into the plush armchair at our favorite cozy café. Michelle slides into the seat across from me, a giant chocolate milkshake topped with whipped cream in hand. She takes a big slurp and grins.

“Should I go out with Lucas or not?” I sigh, fiddling with the delicate handle of my coffee mug. The milky swirls in the dark liquid seem to echo the indecision churning inside me.

“Well, what does your heart say?” Michelle asks, tilting her head. A smudge of whipped cream lingers on her upper lip.

I huff out a breath. “My heart’s an unreliable narrator these days. What do you think?” Lucas said this social event is a contract obligation, but he wouldn’t force me if I refused.

“That you need to go. Show him you’re thriving without him. Remind him what he’s missing out on.” She slurps her shake for emphasis.

“But that’s just it, I’m not,” I admit, my shoulders slumping. “I miss him, ‘Chelle. So damn much.”

“Oh, honey. He doesn’t need to know that now, does he?” She winks.

I drop my head into my hands with a groan. If only it were that simple.

“Ava...” Michelle’s voice gentles. “Why did you two break up anyway? From where I was standing, you seemed so crazy in love. It was nauseating.”

“He was planning to destroy my father’s company. He wanted revenge for all of my father’s dirty deeds over the years.”

Michelle gasps. “Oh my God! That two-faced son of a?—”

“That’s not all,” I interrupt. “I also found out my dear old Father had been embezzling money. For years. Millions of dollars.”

Her mouth drops open. “Holy shit.”

“Yeah. He was fudging the books, funneling funds, the whole shebang. He cheated Valeur and nearly ruined them in the process.” I laugh.

Michelle shakes her head. “Wow. Just...wow. I mean, I never liked the guy, but this is next level. How are you not freaking out?”

“Oh, I freaked out plenty. I ranted, raved, ugly cried, and threw some spectacular tantrums. The works.” I pick at my mug. “But honestly? A part of me gets it on some level. What Lucas did, I mean. If the tables were turned, I’d want to burn Gant Construction to ashes too.”

“So why the breakup then?”

Tears sting my eyes as the familiar ache blooms in my chest. “Because he made me feel like the biggest fool on the planet. Like everything between us was just a perfectly crafted lie. How could I have been so blind? So stupid?”

Tears prick my eyes. “Because he made me feel worthless, like an idiot who fell for his act. Everything seemed fake and manipulated. I felt like I didn’t know what was real between us anymore.”

In an instant, Michelle is out of her seat and wrapping me in a fierce hug. “You listen to me, Ava. You are many things—brilliant, strong, kind, a terrible dancer—but stupid has never been on that list.”

A weak chuckle escapes me at that. She’s not wrong about the dancing.

“And as for Lucas…” She pulls back, forcing me to meet he r gaze. “That man is head over ass in love with you. A blind person could see it.”

I sniffle. “You think?”

“Ava. He looks at you like you invented oxygen. It’s in every word, every action.” Michelle smiles. “Remember my birthday party? The way he defended you, put those petty bimbos in their place? He didn’t hesitate for a second.”

“You saw that?”

“Everyone did. He was a regular knight in Armani armor.”

“He did what I should have done ages ago,” I admit, hanging my head. “Shut down their catty comments instead of always trying to make nice.”

“So why didn’t you?” Michelle asks.

“I wanted them to like me. Pathetic, right?” I huff. “I thought maybe if I laughed at their jokes, complimented their shoes, acted like I gave a crap about their juice cleanses and parties... That’d I’d fit, somehow. That I’d finally belong.”

“Oh, Ava,” she sighs. “You beautiful, na?ve, ridiculous girl. You’re never going to fit in with them. You’re too good. Don’t you see that?”

Fresh tears threaten at her fierce conviction.

“For the record, it was wrong of me to ever make you feel you needed their approval. I don’t think I like them anymore, either. I just didn’t want to let go of my good memories.” Her voice wobbles. “I hope you can forgive me for that.”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I insist, squeezing her hands. “We’ve both been playing pretend for far too long, I think. Trying to be shiny and cheerful with people that don’t fit us. Not anymore.”

Michelle barks out a watery laugh. “God, we’re a mess, aren’t we? ”

“The messiest,” I agree. “But there’s no one I’d rather be a beautiful disaster with.”

We cling to each other for a long moment, sniffling and giggling in equal measure.

“How about a new topic before we turn into complete sobbing wrecks?” I suggest, dabbing at my cheeks with a napkin. “Tell me, how are things with Noah? Still in the honeymoon phase?”

A dreamy expression crosses her face. “That man is amazing. I’m talking grade-A, write-home-to-mama, call-the-Vatican-‘cause-it’s-a-miracle level oral skills.”

I gag on my coffee. “Jesus, ‘Chelle!”

She cackles. “What? Don’t even pretend Lucas doesn’t have a talented tongue. I saw the way you waddled after a night with him.”

“Okay, you may have a point,” I concede. “The man could win gold medals for his linguistic prowess.”

“I bet he could. Which is yet another reason you need to quit dicking around and go get your man!” She punctuates this with a decisive slurp of her now-melted shake.

I narrow my eyes. “By the way, you didn’t know about this whole corporate espionage revenge porn plot of his in advance, did you? Did Noah tell you anything?”

“Excuse you? No, I damn well did not! Frankly, I’m offended you even need to ask. You’re my ride-or-die woman. It’s chicks over dicks, bros before hoes, ovaries before brovaries. I would never hide something like this from you.”

The laugh that erupts from me feels rusty from disuse, but God is it good. “Okay, okay! Message received.”

“I’m just saying,” she sniffs. “My loyalty is ironclad, bitch. Doubting me should be a criminal offense. ”

“Duly noted. I hereby absolve you of all imaginary crimes and sentence you to be my bestie for life.”

“I accept my punishment with gratitude and humility,” she chants, then ruins it by grinning. “Anyway, let’s get back to the issue at hand, a/k/a you quitting this noble self-sacrificing martyr act and going after what you want.”

I heave a sigh, gaze distant as I recall the sheer unflagging determination Lucas has shown. “He’s been coming by my place every morning. Just to say hello and give me the puppy eyes before I leave for work.”

Michelle whistles. “Damn. That’s some rom-com-level devotion right there.”

“Especially considering he lives so far out of town, and yet, he just keeps showing up, day after day.”

I meet Michelle’s calculating stare. “So what are you going to do about it?”

I take a deep breath, resolve solidifying in my bones. “I think... I think I’m going to go to this event with him. At least hear him out.”

“Atta girl,” she says. “Though I doubt there’ll be much talking, the sexual tension alone might cause a fire.”

My face flames, but I can’t help the little thrill that goes through me at the prospect. “You’re a menace, and I hate you.”

“Stop. You adore me,” she says. Then her expression turns serious. “For real, though, take it slow, okay? Make him work for it. You’re the catch here, and don’t let him forget it.”

I nod. “Any pro tips on resisting the Valeur charm? I’ve never been very good at playing hard to get.”

Michelle throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, honey. When you look the way you do? All you have to do is breathe to have him panting at your Louboutins.”

She stands and clasps my hand, tugging me toward the door. “Now let’s go get you gussied up because you, my dear, have a man to dazzle and a future to reclaim.”

An unexpected swell of excitement surges through my veins as I let her pull me out of the café and into the bright sunlight. She’s right.

It’s time to find out if the profound love that first drew us together can weather the secrets and lies meant to tear us apart.

It’s time to see if we’re meant to be.