Chapter 256 We’re Even
Calista knew Lucian was probably full, but she didn’t know he was that full. And she didn’t expect him to be dumb to the e
“I’m not betting with you,” said Calista.
She wouldn’t bother to waste her time on such an idle matter.
“Then come and eat with me now,” Lucian remarked.
Calista was at a loss for words.
She reached for her phone subconsciously as she wanted to call Paul to let him know she was safe. Only did she realize her phone wasn’t with her as she reached for it.
When Paul was grabbing her earlier on, he also took hold of her bag strap. She tossed him her bag as she was struggling to get away from him.
Paul was searching the streets for Calista. David followed him closely.
“Mr. Baker, Mr. Northwood just texted me. Mrs. Northwood was a bit frightened, so he took her back to
the hotel first.”
Paul halted his steps. He turned around and looked at David.
“Did Lucian lure her away?”
David swore to him.
“No way. Mr. Northwood just happened to see what happened so he went after her. If he knew there was
a person who’d trigger such a huge reaction in Mrs. Northwood, he would’ve sent this person to her right away instead of trailing her miserably. And most importantly, his efforts are still not going to be
appreciated.”
“Lucian and Calista are already divorced. Stop calling her Mrs. Northwood. Her reputation is really important. If people hear you, they might start gossiping behind her back.”
After saying such with a grim expression, Paul hailed a cab on the street. David rubbed his nose
awkwardly. This wasn’t something ideal for him to do!
On the other hand, Lucian pointed to the minute hand on his watch.
“It’s been ten minutes. You lost. Let’s go grab something to eat.”
Calista shot him a disapproving look. She lifted her hand, which was still in his grip.
I’m forced to lose the bet
“At least I saved you just now. It’s only right for you to eat with me, isn’t it?”
“You’re so good at spouting nonsense without even batting an eye, isn’t it? You must’ve been trained professionally in it. I wasn’t even in danger earlier on, so what’s with you saving me then?”
“That place was so deserted and dark. You weren’t in danger because I came fast. If I had come a bit later, you might’ve ended up in a sack in the trunk of their car. You won’t even have the chance to negotiate with me here.”
Calista was speechless. Initially, she thought given Lucian’s character, he would likely go for a fine dining restaurant. However, to her surprise, he brought her to the food stalls at the carnival instead.
There were tacos, burgers, grilled oysters, salads, and kebabs. The entire street offered a collection of
famous snacks from all over the country.
But these were the kind of food Lucian would never lay his hands on. He’d even avoid looking at them as
if his eyes would be dirtied by the sight of it.
Calista had been out all day and her legs were sore. After parading around like a model with Lucian for
ten to twenty minutes, she couldn’t hold on any longer.
“What exactly do you want to eat? Can’t you even choose one from all of this? The places up ahead sell
the same things too. Why not just choose one that’s more popular?”
They looked so out of place when they were striding across the crowd with empty hands.
The norm in the streets was people holding their skewers and cotton candy while their mouths were
stuffed with tacos.
Lucian looked at the various vendors ahead. The fishy scent of the oysters lingered in the air, mixed with
the pungent smell of black pepper and chili peppers.
The trash can was piled with disposable plates and cutlery. He couldn’t even bear the sight of the
environment, let alone have a meal here.
But Calista seemed to favor these foods a lot. She devoured the food like it was gourmet when Paul
bought them for her along their way earlier on.
As this crossed his mind, Lucian didn’t feel too pleasant. He pursed his lips.
What do you want to eat?
Calista shook her head. She was already full. How could she take in some more food when she had just
eaten with her colleagues and Paul had been buying her snacks all along the way?
Lucian held back for a moment but couldn’t resist saying, “Is it because I’m the one buying for you so you don’t feel like eating? Do you prefer the stuff he bought?”
In the end, it turned out that this asshole was jealous. Calista had no idea how long he had been trailing
her in secret.
She smiled faintly at him.
“Didn’t you say you wanna eat? Give me your phone then. I’ll buy, you eat.”
Suddenly, a chill went down Lucian’s spine. But he still handed his phone to her.
“What’s your payment pin?”
“It’s still the same. It hasn’t changed.”
“Okay,” Calista said as her fingers holding onto his phone curled slightly.
Lucian’s payment pin was her birthday, a fact she stumbled upon when they went grocery shopping once.
He was wearing a mask and sunglasses so the application couldn’t recognize his face. He keyed in the pin instead–that’s how she found out about it.
That time, she did ask him about it. He said he simply set it without much thought and he didn’t know it
was her birthday.
The moment of nostalgia brought by the payment pin was fleeting for Calista. She quickly suppressed the
thought of it.
Maybe he was just being lazy and didn’t want to change it. Nowadays there weren’t many who’d still manually input the payment pin, considering how inconvenient it was.
“Hi, can I have one taco, and some skewers as well? Make it less spicy …”
Lucian watched as Calista lowered her head and carefully selected the menu. She had a cheap plastic basket in her hand as she deftly picked the items she wanted to eat.
It seemed like she had done this countless times before. There wasn’t a single trace of an affluent lady
on her
Once the food was ready, she took the food from the owner. She tasted a bit of each dish and offered the
rest to Lucian
Have some
Lucian was reluctant to try this heavily seasoned street food. And they didn’t look hygienic either: But he
It didn’t taste good. The spices were too overpowering. Plus, he saw the owner was using the tablecloth to clean his knife. And he was using the same knife to cut the vegetables.
Calista widened her eyes slightly. Slightly aggrieved, she said, “Did you not like it because I bought it?”
“No,” Lucian replied.
After he finished the taco and the skewers, she handed him a burger right away. Having experienced what happened earlier, he didn’t say anything and ate the food instantly.
Before he could even throw the packaging away, a different dish came up.
Lucian was dumbfounded. Calista had been buying nonstop along the way.
Whenever Lucian showed any sign of not wanting to eat, she would shoot him an ‘aggrieved‘ look and ask, “Do you think the stuff I bought isn’t delicious?”
Seeing how much he’d eaten along the way, Calista hoped he would no longer accuse her wrongfully given that he was uncomfortably full.
After Lucian finished a pudding, he stopped Calista, who was about to buy something again.
“Alright, I get it. If you can’t eat anymore, just say so.”
He frowned as his face turned a bit pale. Calista returned his phone to him.
“If I did say so in the first place, you’ll probably think I’m just making excuses. You just have to experience
it for yourself, since experience speaks louder than words.”
In the end, Lucian led her out of the carnival. They headed toward the hotel. He felt too full like his stomach was ingested with oil. He was feeling a bit nauseous.
Lucian tightened his lips and tried with all his might to hold it back. As he passed by a trash can, he could
no longer hold it in.
He strode toward it, and lowered his head as he vomited everything he hastily consumed earlier on.
tent that he only voiced out when he could no longer take it.
She subconsciously wanted to head toward him, but she halted. She turned around and went to the mart
nearby to buy some water.
When Calista came out, Lucian had finished vomiting. He was standing there with an unbearable expression. She handed him the water.
“Sorry. But if you can no longer take it, you can just say so. There’s no need to act tough.”
Lucian took the water. He rinsed before he slowly gulped in the water.
His arched neck created an elegant line, and his slightly protruding Adam’s apple shifted up and down with each swallow. Through the slightly open collar of the shirt, his collarbones were faintly revealed.
With the dazzling neon lights and ink–blue sky behind him, he looked as captivating as a carefully crafted
painting from any angle.
Calista stared at him. The words Lucian said when he found her crossed her mind. She couldn’t help but reminisce about how he was always there whenever she faced difficulties.
When she was abducted by the loan sharks, he also appeared all of a sudden in the end and saved her.
She felt like she knew why she would still fall in love with Lucian uncontrollably. Even though she was aware that he had feelings for another person and he treated her indifferently.
Aside from his exotic appearance, he showered hope upon her miserable life when she was at her lowest.
Lucian gave her a stable and no longer evasive life. He allowed her to pursue her dreams freely.
After all, she couldn’t even bother to think about her dreams and hobbies when she was already financially struggling. Earning money was her ultimate goal.
Although she could earn from commissions, it took way too long. To restore an artifact would take
months to years.
When she’d finally earned enough to pay off the debt, the interest would’ve already been multiplied
countless times.
If it weren’t for Lucian back then, Calista would probably end up in some remote corner of Southeast Asia
now or in some high–rolling club.
Or perhaps, she might have taken a path of no return with her abilities to make money. Lucian twisted the
lid on.
Without the slightest intention of moralizing, he said casually, “Maybe I just wanted to see whether you would still care for me.”
Lucian’s direct words stunned Calista for a moment since she was already used to him constantly beating around the bush.
A few seconds later, she regained her senses and beamed at him without a trace of mockery.
“Yes, Lucian. We’re just not suited as a couple, but you’ll always remain my greatest savior. I’ll always remember how you offered me your hand when I was at my lowest.”
Lucian’s expression didn’t look quite good. Although there wasn’t a trace of visible mockery on his face, his tone sounded peculiar.
“When was it?”
“You had a halo on you when you signed that seven–figure check.”
To be honest, Calista held a grudge against Lucian when they first got divorced. Especially when she found out that this marriage began with his scheming.
But now that she thought of it, if it had been someone else who lent her so much money when she was at her lowest, she would have undoubtedly remembered this favor for the rest of her life.
Not only would Calista shower Lucian with gifts and greetings during festive seasons and special occasions, but she would also put on her best manners toward him.
If he faced any difficulties, she would go all out, even if it meant to go extreme lengths to help him out.
A favor was a favor, a marriage was a marriage. They shouldn’t be confused. Just because he wasn’t a good husband didn’t erase that enormous favor.
Lucian sneered as he turned and walked away. He took a couple of steps before he turned back again.
He said in a hostile manner, “Calista, I’m trying to develop feelings with you, and all you talk about is money, You’re one to talk when you criticize me for being too straightforward. Who’s the more
straightforward one now?”
From now on, Calista decided to treat him as her savior, so that it would help her to hold back her temper.
Lucian, we’re even now! You didn’t treat me particularly well in our marriage, and neither did I when we divorced. And I was messing with you on purpose tonight. After tonight, I’ll think of you as my savior. Just
Lucian snorted and remarked icily, “Don’t make empty promises. You probably can’t do what I want you to
do anyway.”
When they walked back to the hotel, Calista saw that he had no intention to register at the front desk. She thought he was just seeing her back.
“You don’t have to see me off. This hotel’s quite safe.”
Lucian glanced at her and remained silent. Once they stepped out of the elevator, Calista saw Paul who was waiting in front of her door with a bag. As he saw her, the anxious look on his face gradually faded.
“Calista, are you alright?”
As he spoke, he glanced at Lucian who had a dark expression on. Calista shook her head.
“I’m fine. Just happened to run into someone I know.”
She strode briskly over and took the bag from Paul with both hands.
“You don’t have to wait for me at the door. I’ll knock on your door to find you as soon as I get back.”
She felt so unsettled without her phone as if she was running around naked. Paul smiled.
“You disappeared right in front of me. Although you called to let me know you’re safe, I have to see it for
myself for me to feel at ease.”
The sound of a card being swiped to unlock a door buzzed behind them. Calista turned back. She happened to see Lucian opening the door to the room on her right.
She was flabbergasted. Suddenly, she understood why he gave her a meaningful look when she told him
he didn’t have to walk her back downstairs earlier.
His look indicated that she was overthinking the situation.
Paul said, “Shawn and the rest are at the bar upstairs. Everyone else is there too. They told us to go up to
meet them. Since we spent the whole day out today, everyone will have their own opinions. Let’s go have
a brief discussion.
Calista was planning to turn it down, but Paul’s last sentence prevented her from declining.
She had no choice but to reply, “Sure. I’ll go get changed first.”
The bar upstairs was only for hotel guests to relax and have fun. It wasn’t open to the public, Shawn waved at Causts and Paul once they went up.
“What took you guys so long? We’ve already ordered the drinks. Just cocktails–light and pleasant, to lift the spirits a bit. Mr. Baker, you’re not going to forbid this, aren’t you?”
Paul looked at the colorful array of drinks. Being a gentleman, he pulled out a stool for Calista.
“You guys are allowed to drink but don’t drink too much. We still have work to do tomorrow.”
Calista felt like Shawn meant something else which veered slightly in another direction as he said so. But Paul’s words made her think that maybe she was just overthinking.
She didn’t know whether she should explain. When some things weren’t voiced out back then, it’d be strange to do so now. Hence, this topic was left untouched.
Although Shawn was a technician, he was good with his words and he had high emotional intelligence. It’s easy for him to woo girls with his words.
Calista was coaxed into drinking several glasses of alcohol. But as he’d said, the alcohol content wasn’t
high.
The drinks went down sweet and sour and they tasted almost like beverages. The taste of alcohol was almost completely suppressed.
The vibe on the table was amazing. The mood was relaxed even though they were talking about work, unlike how serious and formal they were in the meeting room.
Calista suddenly felt a cold gaze on her back, as if someone was staring at her intently. She couldn’t help but turn her head and follow the direction of the other person’s gaze.
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