My mind went completely blank at Lucien’s words. He had just announced in front of the whole mall that I was his woman.
I didn’t know if he’d lost his mind or if this was some kind of game. But for some strange reason, my heart started pounding like crazy, like I’d already fallen for him.
How was that even possible? I barely trusted anyone at this point. So why was I feeling , so recklessly crazy for him?
It felt like I’d known him forever, but I knew for sure I’d never met this man in my previous life.
What was happening to me? Why did hearing those words make me feel so elated? Why am I feeling like spring has come?
Before I could think any further, Lucien’s next request hit me like a blow.
He wanted his friend to give me the entire mall.
I barely managed to keep my mouth shut.
The mall’s annual turnover alone was in billions. And he expected the owner to just hand it over to me?
He must have lost his mind.
"Are you for real, Lucy?" Joseph gritted his teeth as he glanced at me, his eyes full of disbelief and disgust as if I were some bewitching witch out to rob his friend.
I understood his look perfectly. It wasn’t new to me. Everyone I had ever met had given me that same expression, full of disgust and suspicion.
"Mr. Lucien, I don’t mall anymore!" I murmured, my voice low but steady. "I only came here because I wanted to buy a watch for my second brother’s birthday. But since the people here are so trashy, I don’t want to dirty myself by being around them any longer."
"No! Why buy a watch when I can just give you the whole fucking mall?" Lucien said, looking down at me with fire in his eyes. His voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
I looked up at him and replied, "Because I saved that money with a lot of effort and hard work. You giving me this mall... it has no meaning behind it."
Lucien frowned, his brows knitting together as he shifted his gaze first to Joseph and then to Lia. "How come?" he asked quietly but firmly. "You defended me when I was being insulted, so why can’t I just give you something that you truly hold dear?"
Was he crazy? Or just completely oblivious? Had he not heard a single word I said about only being here to buy a watch? Who in their right mind would want something this grand from someone they’d just met?
I looked away, suddenly unsure how to respond. His words sounded almost too sincere, and that made my heart race even more.
"Hah! You’re just trying to kick me out because you think you’re some big shot around here," Lia suddenly shot up, her voice sharp and defiant. The managers nearby were sweating, unsure of what the future was ahead for them.
"When I said she was a gold digger, out with her ’Sugar Daddy,’ no one believed me!" Lia scoffed as her eyes burned with anger. "But look at her now who would say she’s innocent?"
"You’re right," I said quietly, my voice low and bitter. What else could I say right then?
I had called Lucien for protection, but instead, he had insulted me in ways I couldn’t even process as insults.
"I know what he’s doing is unfair and unreasonable," I added, voice trembling just a little, "but that doesn’t mean you get to walk away unscathed just because you tried to defend yourself."
"All right, that’s enough," Lucien interrupted coldly. "If you don’t want the mall, then how about I just ruin her family and make them go bankrupt?"
My head spun at his words. The sheer excess of his response was making me dizzy. He spoke as if destroying lives was nothing but a gesture of affection.
I didn’t understand him.
Just what was wrong with this man? Why was he going so far for me?
I didn’t have time to waver.
"Thank you," I said in a steady but firm voice, "but that won’t be necessary."
I looked him in the eyes, trying to keep my emotions from spilling out. "If I’m right... and if my brothers love me even a little, they would stand up for me. They’d do what’s right."
Lucien’s eyes darkened. His expression twisted with something cold that felt almost like disappointment.
"You’d rather let her insult you again," he said bitterly, "and sit around hoping your useless brothers will avenge you? Who wouldn’t even dare to stand up for you?"
His words stung because of the way he had put them.
"Who said her brother wouldn’t stand up for her?"
I was still fumbling for the right words to throw back at Lucien when Brother Asher’s voice cut through the tension.
His presence alone shifted the energy around me.
"And who asked you to buy a whole mall for her?" he continued, his tone sharp and cold. "We Lancasters don’t need this kind of help."
Brother Asher walked straight toward me, he then reached out and took my hand.
Without asking, he gently pulled me closer to him and began scanning me from head to toe, checking me and silently questioning if I had been hurt.
While he was doing that, whispers exploded around us like wildfire.
"Oh my God, is that Mr. Asher?"
"Damn! I never thought I’d see him this close."
"Forget that—why is he here? And why is he siding with that mental patient?"
Every word stabbed at my ears. I could hear every filthy whisper entering my ears, and I wanted to bash their faces and become a real madman for once!
How could they say such things in front of my brother?
"Can we please talk somewhere else? I have become the talk of the town already!" I said coldly as I glared at Lia and the others.