Chapter 144 Mind Your Boundaries
Yara nodded in agreement with Calista’s sentiment. While she had considered making some sarcastic remarks initially, she chose to refrain from doing so in the presence of Paul.
She didn’t want to ridicule his friend while he was around, so she kept her comments to herself.
Yara handed Calista a gift and explained, “My mom brought this souvenir for you from her trip. It’s some food items. She was worried they might spoil, so she asked me to bring them to you.”
Calista accepted the gift with gratitude and replied, “Please thank your mom for me.”
Changing the topic, Yara inquired, “Oh, how did you handle that vase from the last time? The employer is getting impatient because they’re about to travel abroad and asked if they could have
it early.”
Calista assured her, “I took care of it. I’ll go get it for you now.”
Yara had access to Calista’s place with a spare key, but she recognized Calista’s eagerness to leave
the hospital and did not mention it.
All Calista wanted at that moment was to put some distance between herself and Lucian.
Paul, perhaps sensing Calista’s intentions, chuckled and said, “You take care of your business. I’ll
keep an eye on Lucian for a while.”
Calista appreciated the offer, even though she knew Lucian could take care of himself. She
decided not to voice her thoughts, as having someone around might prevent him from causing
trouble.
She replied, “Thank you so much. I’ll be back soon. He’s in room 507.”
To some extent, Calista felt responsible because she still held the title of Lucian’s wife, and
Lucian’s accident had occurred because of her.
In contrast, while Paul was a friend of Lucian’s, he wasn’t obligated to look after Lucian. So, even if
it was merely a gesture, she felt it was important to express her gratitude.
Paul smiled gently and replied, “Certainly. Take your time.”
Just then, Lucian emerged from the elevator and immediately noticed the warm exchange of
smiles between Calista and Paul.
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It struck him that he couldn’t recall the last time Calista had directed such a radiant smile his
way. In his memory, her expressions toward him had always been either cold or mocking.
The contrast in Calista’s demeanor was unmistakable.
She had treated Lucian with irritation in the hospital room only moments ago, but now she was
beaming with a radiant smile while conversing with Paul.
The difference in her behavior was stark and caught Lucian’s attention. Lucian’s intense gaze
immediately captured Paul’s attention.
“Lucian, you …”
Paul began to speak, but before he could finish his sentence, Lucian moved swiftly and pulled
Calista into his arms with a stern demeanor.
Caught off guard, Calista couldn’t react in time, and she collided with Lucian’s chest. Pain surged
through her, causing her eyes to redden and tear up.
It was a stark reminder of the pain Lucian had experienced when she accidentally bumped his
nose yesterday, and now, she could empathize with it firsthand.
Paul furrowed his brows, taken aback by Lucian’s rough behavior. He could see the pain on
Calista’s face from her expression.
His instinct was to reach out and pull Calista out of Lucian’s arms, but just as Paul moved, Lucian
firmly pressed his hand as a warning.
Lucian’s rigid posture exuded an extreme coldness. He clenched his jaw tightly, and his gaze as
sharp as ice, showing no mercy as it seemed to pierce into Paul’s very bones.
Although Paul had known Lucian for many years and had seen him covered in blood before, he
had never witnessed Lucian being this possessive.
“Paul, mind your boundaries. She is still my wife,” Lucian warned, leaving Paul stunned.
Before he could even respond, Lucian had already taken Calista away.
The elevator was packed, with people practically shoulder to shoulder. Lucian exuded a chilly
presence that prompted everyone to distance themselves from him instinctively.
Calista was nestled in his embrace and remained oblivious to the crowded surroundings.
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Despite her reluctance, the presence of so many people made Calista realize that arguing would
be fruitless and would only draw unwanted attention.
As soon as they exited the elevator, she broke free from Lucian’s grasp and returned to the ward.
On the other hand, Paul watched as Lucian walked away with Calista in his arms. His usually
warm and smiling eyes now revealed a hint of melancholy.
He pursed his lips together and chose not to follow them. Yara sighed as she watched the scene
unfold. She had thought of stopping Lucian when he took Calista earlier.
However, Lucian seemed intimidating, and she worried about the possibility of a violent outburst.
Recent news about domestic violence had left her cautious, and she couldn’t fathom the internet’s
obsession with such topics.
Yara couldn’t help but remark, “If Calista had married you instead, perhaps she’d be happier today.
She couldn’t confirm the accuracy of her prediction, but one thing was certain.
Paul’s gentle and accommodating nature made him a much better person than Lucian. He
certainly wouldn’t engage in the stubborn refusal to divorce like Lucian did.
Paul remained silent. He was not the type who could open up to strangers easily.
Just as he was about to bid Yara farewell, she continued, “Why didn’t you meet her when she went
to the bar to find you?”
Paul shot a puzzled look and asked, “What?”
Yara, somewhat surprised by his reaction, explained, “She went to the bar to find you about three
years ago, remember? She had brought up the topic of marrying you earlier that day, but you
didn’t respond. She couldn’t wait and went to Luminary Lounge to seek your answer later that
evening.”
Calista was a bankrupt socialite then and couldn’t afford entry to a private room at the Luminary
Lounge, so she had to stay in the main hall.
Paul shook his head and replied, “She never came to find me.”
Paul had regarded Calista as a sister since they were young. While they weren’t remarkably close,
he couldn’t fathom how he might have responded if she had come to see him that night.
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Yara was growing increasingly irritated.
“That’s not possible. She even sent me a video from the Luminary Lounge. She ordered a bottle of
wine to gather the courage to face the situation. She even handed ten dollars to a waiter and asked
him to run an errand for her.”
While ten dollars might not be much, it was significant for Calista, who was struggling financially.
Yara was no longer concerned about preserving Calista’s dignity. She wanted to expose the
hypocrisy of this man.
“I understand if you rejected her. After all, it’s not a small sum. But isn’t it wrong for you not to
acknowledge that she came to meet you?”
Paul furrowed his brows. Yara didn’t seem like she was lying.
However, the Luminary Lounge was an upscale bar, and the waitstaff there earned decent wages
that were on par with white–collar workers from big companies.
Why would they agree to do something like that for ten dollars? Wasn’t she with Lucian that
night? Could there have been some misunderstanding?
