Chapter 48 Some Things Need to Be Said Face to Face
There was another moment of silence, Lucia thought the signal was interrupted, and just wanted to hang up the phone to call again, when Auntie Esmae’s voice sounded, low and solemn.
“Arthur, the chairman of New York Davonnis Corp, Edwin’s third son, is that him?”
“Yes,” Lucia responded immediately, and then asked again, “Auntie Esmae, do you know him?” Hearing that Auntie Esmae immediately said Arthur’s father’s name, Lucia remembered that Auntie Esmae’s family was equally good – maybe they knew each other.
“One of the best people in the financial industry in the USA, Edwin of Davonnis Corp – how could I not know…” Auntie Esmae’s voice was still that low.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.
Auntie Esmae’s tone didn’t sound like a compliment or approval, but rather sarcasm. She sounded completely different from the excitement when she learned that Lucia was in love. Lucia was even more puzzled, but she didn’t know why. At this moment, Auntie Esmae continued.
“You guys should book a ticket on the 20th and come back. I have something to tell you in person.”
Lucia originally planned to take the flight on the 23rd with Arthur. It was the end of the year, so the company was very busy, and Arthur couldn’t leave earlier. So Lucia hesitated and said, “Auntie Esmae, can we go back on the 23rd instead? I would like to wait for Arthur and the others…”
“No, you and Theodore should come back to me first, just the two of you.” Auntie Esmae’s voice was unquestionable – she was telling Lucia that it had to be done, not asking for her opinion.
This time, Lucia was even more confused. Just as she was about to say something, Auntie Esmae said she was tired and all could be waited until they were back. She then hung up the phone in a hurry, leaving Lucia puzzled.
Arthur saw Lucia like this when he came out of the living room with Theodore smelling fresh from the shower.
On the balcony, Lucia looked alone in the dim light. Although the heating in the room was pouring out from the open drag window, there was still a white mist around Lucia, as if wrapping her in the cold.
“Lucia, what are you doing standing on the balcony?” Arthur hurried over, stretched out his hand, and pulled Lucia back into the warm room, only then did Lucia come back to her senses.
Seeing Lucia’s confused face, Arthur frowned slightly and asked her worriedly, “What was on your mind just now?”
Lucia’s expression was stunned, but her mind was racing. She and Auntie Esmae were just talking on the phone, however, after being told that her boyfriend was Arthur, Esmae’s tone was obviously off, and she even faintly revealed hostility to Edwin. Lucia couldn’t make up her mind for a while, but there was one thing she could be sure of – she wouldn’t go against Auntie Esmae.
Auntie Esmae was a good friend of Lucia’s father Eric before she went abroad. The two had a deep friendship. Although she went to the USA very early to develop her career, she rarely returned to China, and she didn’t really meet with her friends often, their friendship never ended. Lucia had always remembered that it was Esmae who would bring herself countless gifts whenever she returned to China and who treated her like a daughter, not to mention the kindness Esmae had shown to her in recent years.
Auntie Esmae was too important to Lucia, so Lucia looked up and spoke to Arthur.
“Arthur, I am afraid I might not be able to leave with you. I talked to Auntie Esmae on the phone just now, and she said that she missed Theodore so much that she wanted me to fly to the USA on the 20th. And I am on vacation now anyway. I am going to leave a day earlier and spend some extra with her.”
It was not the first time that Arthur heard Lucia mention Auntie Esmae. He also knew that if it hadn’t been for the help of Esmae five years ago, there would be no Lucia today. So even though he wasn’t very pleased, he still showed understanding in his words.
“Okay, how about this – I spend some extra time to finish my work earlier these two days and I will leave with you.”
As a husband and a father, Arthur knew that Lucia could take care of herself, but he just wasn’t sure, and naturally wanted to go with them.
“There’s no need!” Lucia subconsciously refused after hearing this, because Auntie Esmae made it clear that only she and Theodore would be expected to go back. Lucia then immediately realized she had answered too fast, which made Arthur’s expression change, she hurriedly added an explanation.
“It’s the end of the year, and your work is more important. Besides, our destinations are different. I’ll take Theodore back first, don’t worry, okay?”
In this situation, Lucia could only choose to lie.
Arthur stared at Lucia’s slightly flickering eyes and could only nod his head in agreement.
“Okay, I’ll help you change your ticket to the 20th and get to you guys as soon as I go back on the 23rd.”
It was just the difference between a few days early and a few days later.
Arthur’s understanding made Lucia feel both relieved and guilty, and she couldn’t figure out the purpose of Auntie Esmae’s request. Lucia was afraid that Arthur would see something wrong with her, and she quickly turned her attention to tease Theodore.
“Baby, we’re going back to see Grandma Esmae in a few days.”
Auntie Esmae treated Lucia as her own daughter and loved Theodore even more, so Theodore immediately cheered when he heard this. The child’s excitement really distracted Arthur. He hugged his son and started listening to him talk about Grandma Esmae – how she was treating him nicely. Lucia looked at the two of them with mixed emotions.
It was late at night, and Arthur still stayed at Lucia’s house. Sophie sent Jan back to the villa. Theodore slept obediently. And now it would be Arthur’s favorite time to be alone with Lucia.
Lucia lied to Arthur. Even though the lie was not a big deal, there was always a small grudge in my heart. She sat on the sofa in his arms and watched the evening financial report together. When she talked to him, there always seemed to be something off – she seemed a little absent-minded.
Arthur hugged her on the sofa and talked about Athegate’s recent financial changes. Sometimes he noticed that she didn’t respond to him right away. When he looked down, he saw her obediently nestled on his shoulder, her eyes blurred, and even a little confused, but he didn’t think too much into it.
Now, there were sixteen days left until Christmas, and three days before Lucia and Theodore went abroad.
In the past three days, Lucia took time to start packing. After packing her and her son’s luggage on the 18th, she took time to ask Nia out for coffee, listen to the updates on her recent work, and leave some of her business affairs’ exhortation.
After the official business was over, Nia asked about Arthur out of curiosity. Lucia didn’t hide anything deliberately, and she satisfied Nia’s curiosity by telling her some daily life stories with Arthur. Nia listened with great interest.
“After the last press conference, everyone now knows that you are Mr. Davies’s real girlfriend and is envious!” Nia said with a little excitement while holding the coffee. That Lucia was attracting attention, and it was positive attention, made her happier than anyone else.
“Really?” Lucia replied with a faint smile, quite relaxed.
Nia looked at Lucia as soft as water, her tender eyes that could make the years quiet, both distressed and admired her.
“So, didn’t everyone use to occasionally slander you with what happened five years ago? Now, most of those people have changed their views. I have to say that Mr. Davies’s words at the press conference really subverted people’s inherent thinking a lot. Lucia, fortunately, Mr. Davies believes you.” Nia said with emotion.
When Lucia heard this, the small smile on the corner of her mouth gradually deepened along with the change of light and shadow outside the window. Right, the faith Arthur had in her was more important than any other thing. The truth was always by her side, she had nothing to be afraid of.