Jake continued forcing calmness onto his face even though inwardly, panic still consumed him completely. And the pressure of maintaining his image before Maya and her parents was becoming more difficult than ever before. He held Maya’s hand gently again. He forced another smile onto his face and slowly led her back toward the sitting room where her parents were waiting anxiously. The moment they returned, Maya’s mother quickly stood up from the couch again. “What did he say?” she asked immediately while looking between both of them. Maya hesitated briefly before glancing at Jake. Jake subtly nudged her hand gently, silently reminding her to support what he had already told her privately. Maya noticed the look in his eyes and swallowed hard before speaking. “I think I finally understand what Jake means,” she said slowly. Her parents frowned in confusion. Maya forced a small smile. “He only wants the best for us,” she continued carefully. “And honestly, after

He released a slow breath before finally speaking.“Nobody is coming to renovate the house anymore,” he explained carefully.The moment those words left his mouth, Maya stared at him in disbelief as though she had misheard him completely.“What?” she asked immediately.Jake avoided direct eye contact with her and nodded awkwardly.“I canceled the renovation plans,” he admitted.Maya folded her arms slowly while staring at him with narrowed eyes.“I knew it,” she said quietly.Jake looked up at her.“What do you mean you knew it?” he asked.Maya sighed heavily before answering.“That is exactly why I left my parents behind and took a taxi through the shortcut to get here before you,” she explained. “Something about your behavior earlier did not feel right to me at all.”Jake forced out a dry laugh.“You are overthinking things,” he replied quickly.But Maya shook her head immediately.“No, I am not,” she insisted firmly. “Just a few moments ago, you were practically desperate to get my

Lucas let out a faint scoff before turning toward the elderly couple.“Thank you for the information,” he said politely.The man smiled and nodded.“You are welcome.”Lucas gave them a brief wave and then began walking away from the apartment.The couple watched him with curiosity.After a few steps, the elderly man suddenly called out to him.“Wait a moment!”Lucas stopped and turned around.“Yes?”The man looked puzzled.“Aren't you going inside to see Maya's parents?”His wife nodded in agreement.“You came all the way here looking for them,” she said. “Why leave now?”A faint smile appeared on Lucas's face.“I will be back shortly,” he replied.The couple exchanged confused glances.“Oh.”Lucas simply nodded.Then he turned around and continued walking toward the taxi waiting by the roadside.The couple eventually smiled.As Lucas approached the taxi, he shook his head slightly.A cold amusement danced in his eyes.“Once a dog house,” he muttered under his breath, “it will always

Lucas paid absolutely no attention to the shocked expressions on Maya's parents' faces. Instead, after stepping through the doorway, he calmly walked straight past them as though they were not even standing there. His shoulder brushed lightly between them as he entered deeper into the house.Maya's mother stared at him in disbelief.Maya's father was equally stunned.Neither of them had expected Lucas to walk into the house so confidently.Especially not after everything that had happened between them.Lucas behaved as though he owned the place.Of course, the painful truth was that he actually did.Without saying another word, Lucas walked into the sitting room.His eyes casually swept across the familiar surroundings.The old couch.The television.The small center table.Everything looked exactly the way he remembered it.A faint smile appeared on his face.Then he calmly lowered himself onto the couch.Crossing one leg over the other, he leaned back comfortably as though he were

Maya's father clenched his jaw so tightly that the muscles along his face became visibly tense. His hands curled into fists by his sides as he glared at Lucas with anger, finding it difficult to believe that Lucas had the audacity to suggest that Jake Cole might be selling the mansion because he had gotten himself into some kind of serious trouble.After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he let out a cold scoff before speaking in a voice that dripped with both contempt and certainty."Lucas," Maya's father said through gritted teeth, "you must have completely lost your mind to ask such a ridiculous question. In fact, I think you have finally gone insane if you can stand here and seriously assume that my son-in-law would ever find himself in the kind of situation you are describing."He shook his head repeatedly as though Lucas's words were too absurd to deserve a proper response."You seem to have forgotten exactly who Jake Cole is," he continued proudly. "That young man is on