009

Lucas stood outside the Cottage, checking his watch when he heard a familiar, mocking voice behind him.

“Well, well, look who’s slumming it at a place he can’t afford,” Ashley sneered, her tone laced with satisfaction. Dressed provocatively, she looked him up and down, her eyes filled with contempt. Tom Brooks, her wealthy husband, stood beside her with a smug smirk, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist.

Lucas sighed, his patience thinning. “Ashley, I’m here for a meeting. It has nothing to do with you.”

She scoffed, folding her arms. “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you’ve actually managed to raise money for Ella’s treatment. I thought you’d come crawling, begging for help.”

Tom chuckled, pulling Ashley closer and pressing a kiss to her cheek, a deliberate display meant to taunt Lucas. “Looks like you’re still a ‘poor bastard,’ Lucas. Hard to believe you thought you could keep up.”

Lucas clenched his jaw, refusing to be baited. This is about Ella, he reminded himself, not them.

Ashley’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “Why don’t you just let go, Lucas? We both know you’ll never win me back.”

Lucas opened his mouth to respond, but a bright red Ferrari pulled up beside them, its engine purring. The luxury car drew everyone’s attention, and Tom’s grip on Ashley’s waist tightened as they both stared, wide-eyed.

As the Ferrari parked, a striking woman stepped out, dressed in a tailored suit that exuded elegance and confidence. It was Samantha Lowe. She took one look at the scene in front of her and, without missing a beat, walked straight to Lucas, slipping her arm through his with practiced ease.

“There you are,” Samantha said smoothly, glancing at Ashley and Tom as if they were mere background scenery. Her tone was warm, even affectionate. “I was wondering if you’d keep me waiting.”

Lucas blinked, taken aback but quickly catching on. “Samantha… you made quite an entrance,” he replied, unable to hide a small smile.

Ashley’s face turned beet red as she looked between Lucas and Samantha. “And who is this?” she demanded, her earlier confidence crumbling.

Samantha raised an eyebrow, tilting her head with mock curiosity. “Oh? And who are you exactly?”

Ashley huffed. “I’m his ex-wife.”

Samantha feigned surprise, linking her arm more tightly around Lucas. “Oh, I see. I hope you know that’s all in the past now.” She glanced at Lucas, smiling playfully. “Isn’t that right, darling?”

Lucas, fighting back a chuckle, nodded. “Absolutely. Nothing to worry about.”

Tom, visibly envious, stared at Samantha with barely concealed interest, which didn’t go unnoticed by Ashley. Samantha, appearing oblivious to the tension, pouted and tugged on Lucas’s arm. “Come on, I’m starving. Let’s go in.”

“Of course,” Lucas replied, steering her toward the entrance of the Cottage, leaving Ashley and Tom fuming.

Once inside, they were shown to a quiet table by the window. As soon as they sat, Lucas exhaled, a mixture of relief and amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Thank you for… well, for that,” he said, glancing at her gratefully. “I owe you.”

Samantha waved a dismissive hand. “No need to thank me. Consider it making up for the slap I gave you yesterday.”

Lucas chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Apologizing by showing up in a Ferrari and pretending to be my girlfriend? That’s… unconventional.”

She gave him a sly grin. “Well, I’m a woman of unconventional means.”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I get the feeling you don’t hold back.”

“Sometimes, you have to push boundaries,” she replied, her expression turning serious. “Besides, Ashley and her husband needed a reality check.”

Lucas’s smile faded slightly, and he gave a thoughtful nod. “Maybe, but it felt good to walk away this time. They’ve had enough space in my life.”

Samantha studied him for a moment, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. “It’s strange, isn’t it? That sometimes letting go means facing what we’d rather avoid.”

He met her gaze, a hint of surprise at her perceptiveness. “Yes. I guess it does.”

Just then, the server arrived to take their orders. Once he left, Samantha leaned forward, her tone softening. “Lucas, about yesterday… I wanted to apologize. My response was… harsher than it needed to be.”

Lucas gave a small smile. “Your way of apologizing is certainly memorable. But really, Samantha, thank you. It meant a lot.”

Outside the restaurant, Ashley watched through narrowed eyes as Samantha and Lucas shared a relaxed conversation, looking closer than she had ever anticipated. Jealousy burned through her as she noticed Tom still eyeing Samantha’s figure with a faint smirk on his face.

She jabbed him sharply in the ribs. “Why are you staring at her like that?”

Tom, caught off guard, tried to play it off. “Relax, Ashley. I was just… admiring the car.”

Ashley crossed her arms, her expression a mix of fury and insecurity. “So, that’s it then? You’re going to let Lucas act like he’s better than us?”

Tom sighed, shifting uncomfortably. “Come on, Ashley. They’re obviously putting on an act.”

Ashley’s eyes narrowed, her voice laced with venom. “I want to see him humiliated. He has no right pretending he’s moved on to something better.”

Tom, sensing her determination, nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll take care of it. Just wait and see.”

As they walked away, their petty resolve only reinforced their inability to let go, clinging to their bitterness and the need to prove Lucas inferior.

Back inside the restaurant, Lucas and Samantha continued their conversation, the mood relaxed.

“Thank you again, Samantha,” Lucas said, his voice genuine. “I know it sounds strange, but… for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel weighed down by all of it.”

Samantha tilted her head, a rare softness in her gaze. “Sometimes, all it takes is a little perspective.” She leaned back, smiling thoughtfully. “And maybe a bit of unconventional help.”

Lucas chuckled, nodding. “Unconventional seems to be your specialty.”

She laughed, her eyes twinkling. “You’d be surprised how far it goes.”