Outside the Bai family's villa.
Adrien Lefèvre's face was dark with anger as he stared at the manor. A man's figure slowly emerged from within.
The moment he recognized who it was, veins bulged at Adrien's temples.
Damn it.
As Lucas walked out, Adrien finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Lucas!" he barked. "What are you doing? Why are you walking so slowly?"
He was in an extremely foul mood.
It could be said that Lucas had always been his emotional outlet.
Whenever he was angered by Claire Dubois—or irritated by Camille Laurent—Lucas was the one he vented on.
But this time, Lucas didn't display the usual obsequiousness.
Instead, he smiled faintly."Adrien, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Adrien sneered. "You still dare ask me what's wrong? You weren't inside just now, were you?"
Lucas tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled.
Adrien's expression grew even colder. He warned in a low voice,"I'm telling you—stay away from Yingying. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
What he couldn't tolerate most was another man being so close to Claire Dubois.
Especially someone about the same age.
It felt like a thorn lodged deep in his heart.
And especially after what had just happened.
Lucas smiled helplessly."Adrien, of course I know."
"You saw the situation earlier. Mr. Bai was there—I'm just a small figure. How could I dare change positions without permission?"
His tone was calm, almost innocent.
Yet those words left Adrien momentarily speechless.
Adrien stared at him sharply for a long moment.
Finally, he suppressed his anger and said through clenched teeth,"I won't take this as an example."
He would never allow any man to be closer to Claire than himself.
If it weren't for Lucas's past submissiveness, Adrien would have already turned hostile.
Lucas nodded lightly.
An example?
I'll dare again next time.
You being unhappy is your problem—what does it have to do with me?
Besides, all your assets will eventually be mine.
But I won't be the one who kills you.
The protagonist will do that himself.
Back in the car.
Adrien's Rolls-Royce Phantom led the way, while Lucas's Porsche Cayenne followed at an unhurried distance.
As usual.
Inside the car, Lucas pondered quietly.
I can't just wait for the protagonist to kill him, can I?
I need to arrange something of my own.
The convoy traveled for some time.
When they reached the Lefèvre family's villa area, the Rolls-Royce in front suddenly stopped.
Lucas braked as well.
He frowned.
"What's going on?"
Then—
He saw Adrien get out of the car aggressively.
There was only one person capable of provoking such fury from him now.
"…Camille?" Lucas muttered.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out.
As he approached, Adrien's furious roar rang out.
"Camille Laurent! What the hell are you trying to do?!"
"I've told you countless times—I don't like you! Stop pestering me! I don't have the slightest feeling for you!"
Lucas arrived just in time to witness the scene.
Adrien snatched a bouquet of ninety-nine roses from Camille's hands.
Then he threw it onto the pavement and stomped on it repeatedly.
Petals scattered across the ground.
The once-beautiful roses were trampled into a mess.
"I've made myself very clear!" Adrien roared."Don't bother me! Don't bother me!"
"Especially don't come to my house with this nonsense!"
He pointed angrily toward the villa gate."Get out of my sight!"
Camille Laurent stood there, stunned.
Her eyes were dull as she stared at the man she had loved for so long.
Why… did wholehearted devotion only lead to this result?
Why had he become so violent?
Was I really that unbearable?
Her vision blurred as her eyes gradually reddened.
In a hoarse voice, she murmured,"Adrien… I've confessed to you dozens of times."
"Even though you reject me every time, I've never been angry."
"I believed that one day I would move you. But instead, you've only become more impatient."
"I like you more than anyone else… yet you've never once spoken to me gently."
Her gaze didn't fall on Adrien anymore.
Instead, it fixed on the crushed roses at his feet.
In a hollow voice, she asked,"Don't you want to know why I'm so persistent…?"
Before she could finish, Adrien cut her off sharply.
"I'm not interested in your nonsense! I'm in a bad mood right now!"
"Disappear from my sight. Immediately!"
With that, he pointed behind him and walked straight toward the villa gate.
Camille stepped forward, trying to block him.
Adrien paused for only a split second—then shoved her aside.
"Don't block me."
He walked away without looking back.
The Rolls-Royce soon reversed slightly and drove off.
Watching this, Camille suddenly laughed.
So… was all of this just my own wishful thinking?
Tears streamed down her face.
They fell one by one.
She collapsed into sobs.
What was all of this for?
Just for that shallow love buried deep in her bones?
At that moment—
A packet of tissues appeared in her blurred field of vision.
Camille raised her head through her tears.
She saw that familiar, handsome face again.
This time, the emotions she had been suppressing completely overflowed.
Her sobbing grew louder.
She didn't even reach for the tissues.
Without hesitation, Lucas pulled one out himself and gently wiped her tears.
He sighed softly.
"Miss Laurent," he said quietly,"a beautiful girl like you shouldn't cry."
"Why won't you listen to me?"
"You don't look good when you cry."