After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 74

"It's my job to know what was going on with my son. Everything he does with his life, it's my job to find out. I'm asking you this for the sake of this family. You are dear to my heart, Scarlet. Your mother is my life. Please don't break my trust and do as I say. Leave and forget about Luke."

"Thomas, I love him," I sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

Thomas shut his eyes. "I know."

I wiped my tears away, "I understand. Just let me be with him for a day. I won't even say goodbye. Please, Thomas?"

Thomas agreed, "One day. I don't want you to go, but you know how wrong this is. I need my son by my side. I'm sorry if I have to separate you from your mother. Come back to us if you think you are ready."

I nodded. "I'm so sorry, Thomas."

The last words Thomas said had me unsettled. He wanted me to come back, but I didn't know if I would still have the courage to face him. I was too ashamed of myself. I knew from the very start that a relationship with Luke was impossible.

I asked Thomas and Mom to allow me to go back to the apartment. Mom didn't want me to go, but I told her I needed to pack my things for my trip. It's not, in fact, the real reason. It was hard for me to stay at Luke's apartment, where I could smell him everywhere.

Katherine opened the door for me. I'd been texting her along the way, and I told her everything. Katherine gave me a tight embrace. I began to cry hard.

She stroked my hair gently. "It's all right. You are leaving anyway. You already made this decision even without your stepfather's opinion."

"I know." I cried, "But it's too painful!"

"You are lucky your stepfather didn't cast you out."

"He wants me to leave!"

"But he said you can come back. That's your original plan."

I pulled away and stared at her face. "I don't want to come back."

"Well... that's up to you now, Scar. Don't cry. He even gave you a day to be with Luke." Katherine wiped away my tears with her thumb. "You'll be fine. I will be here for you."

I nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm always like this."

"Why don't we pack our things together and we go shopping for a few things tomorrow too?" She smiled excitedly.

I chuckled softly. "Sounds good."

"For now, you need a beauty rest."

I woke up early the next morning. I could already hear murmuring in the kitchen. I smelled butter and bacon in the cold air. Nate was probably early today. It was unusual for him to come over early because he was a sleepyhead.

I swung my legs out of the bed and wandered out of my bedroom. Katherine wasn't talking with Nate. Luke? I frowned hard and blinked my eyes a couple of times, but he was still there.

Luke and Katherine were in front of the kitchen. She was laughing at him. Luke was smiling back at her, as well.

"What is going on?" I told them.

"Oh, there she is." Katherine grinned.

Luke turned around. He was still in a white long-sleeved shirt, but there was an apron hanging around his waist.

"You... you are here?"

Luke smiled. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No, no." I swallowed hard, still surprised. "I thought…" I don't know how I should react. Of course, I was happy to see him. I missed him too much, but his presence made me sad at the same time. He didn't know a single thing about Thomas' plan for me. He wouldn't ever forgive me if he knew. All I thought about was I only had a day to be with him.

"I came this morning. Why don't you come here and give me a hug?"

I walked towards him slowly. I was expecting him to come to the commencement day tomorrow. He just came back from London, and he didn't tell me about it. He went there for me. How could I ever leave him like this? I slipped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest.

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"I'm happy." I hugged him tightly.

"Easy." He chuckled. "We have a lot of time. I'm not leaving anymore," he said softly.

We don't have a lot of time. I'm going to leave. I'm going to leave you, and I promised your father not to tell you.

"You're not?"

"My work there is done. Why are you crying?" His brows furrowed.

I shook my head. "Done?"

Luke pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I missed you so bad."

"Alright!" Katherine interrupted. "This is your day. I should leave you two. I'll just get one of these." Katherine grabbed a toast and a glass of milk.

I chuckled. "Thank you," I mouthed. I pressed my head back against Luke's chest. He smelled too good; it was too much. I couldn't take this anymore. "I missed you too."

"Hey, I prepared breakfast. Why don't we eat together?"

"Wait... did you tell your father that you're here?"

"No. I came here straight. I wanted to see you."

I nodded. If Thomas didn't know, it means I have more than twenty-four hours with Luke.

We sat at the small table and began eating our breakfast. I watched him eat breakfast slowly, and how I loved watching him eat. But I wanted to tell him so badly and didn't want to lie to him. He was still expecting me to come home with the family in Manhattan.

"Stop staring."

I laughed. "Hey, can we go out today?"

He swallowed his food. "Of course, where do you want to go?"

Well, there's somewhere I wanted to go to. "Let's go to the arcade!"

His eyebrows knit together. "Arcade?"

"Yes! Streetfighter? Dance Revolution?"

"Yes, I know what an arcade is. But why there?"

"Oh, come on, Luke! It'll be fun. Can we just go out like normal people?"

"Of course, I'm coming with you, wherever that is. I'm just curious."

"Because I'm supposed to go with Katherine, but you came. So, I'd like to go with you instead."

Luke let out a soft laugh, "Okay. So, you are asking me on a date?"

I blinked. "Well…"

"Then I'll take you to the arcade, but I know a good place to play."

"Hmm?" I hummed, but my eyes focused on the beautiful scene in front of me.

"I'm sorry about the last few weeks. She's just really a business partner."

"I believe you."

"I bought the Hightower," he said out of the blue.

"You what?" That caught my attention. "What did you do?"

"You heard me."

"It was Raoul's club. How…" I swallowed hard. "That's what you did in London?"

"I wanted to bring him down."

That's what Thomas meant when he said Luke was chasing the man after me. I didn't know about his plan, but still, it was too risky. Raoul won't let this go if he found out.

"You didn't have to…"

"I have to. I didn't tell you. I'm sorry."

"What happened? I mean, how did you do it?"

"That's not important. Unfortunately, I didn't meet him. They said he's here."

I looked away. "I know."

"You know?"

"Yes." I nodded. "He sent me a message."

"He—what?" Luke grabbed my arm.

"Don't worry. He didn't show up yet. I'm still wondering why."

But yes. A few years ago, he did promise that he'll come back for me.

"How come this doesn't bother you? You should have told me!"

"It bothers me, okay? But he didn't do anything yet."

Luke's shoulders fell. "I won't let him come near you. I promise you that."

I smiled faintly at him. "I'll be fine. Really."

He'd never come near me because, by that time, I wouldn't be around anymore. Maybe I didn't belong anywhere in Manhattan or Cambridge. Perhaps I really belonged somewhere else.

"Luke, can we just enjoy the night and forget about him?"

He nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried. So, what do you want to try next?"

I bit my lower lip. "Let's go down. I want to see the arcade."

He chuckled. "Not really going to let it pass, huh?"

"Yes, and then, dinner later!"