Chapter 433: Fight
Despite her composed expression, there was no doubt she meant every word. The thought of him even glancing at someone else twisted something deep inside her.
’I can’t share... I won’t.’
Lucian simply smiled. "I agree."
Lana continued anyway, "It might sound like too much, but it’s just..."
She stopped mid-sentence.
He had already agreed. No hesitation. No questions.
’He... didn’t even doubt me ...’
Taking a breath, she stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly against him again.
"Also... no female assistant," she added.
Lucian chuckled softly. "Never had one. Never will."
He paused, a teasing note slipping into his voice.
"Unless... I make an exception for one woman."
Lana’s eyes narrowed instantly. "Which woman?"
His smile deepened.
"You," he said simply. "If you become my secretary, I’d gladly make that exception. I would like to see how you can stay professional."
A flush crept across her cheeks before she could stop it.
The way he said it... it carried something she couldn’t quite explain, something that made her heart skip in an unfamiliar way.
She shook her head lightly. ’How can someone so proper say things like that ...’
Taking another steadying breath, she pressed on.
"And one more thing," she said. "You won’t get engaged or married to anyone else because of family pressure. If needed, you can leave everything behind... or you can walk away from your uncle’s side. I’ll support you."
She even patted her chest confidently, her expression resolute.
For a fleeting second, something flickered in Lucian’s eyes, but he looked away, masking it before it could surface.
"Agreed," he said calmly.
Lana felt as if she were floating, as if she had just cleared every possible obstacle in her path.
A quiet thrill ran through her as she leaned in again, her lips brushing softly against his.
"There’s one more condition..." she whispered, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. "I don’t know if you’ll agree to it."
Lucian’s eyes slowly closed, his expression composed, almost restrained.
From Lana’s perspective, he looked every bit the gentleman, even now, as if refusing to cross a line unless she asked him to.
In reality, Lucien was barely two seconds away from completely losing control.
The thin thread of restraint he had been holding onto was fraying fast, his breath turning uneven as he tried to steady himself.
’Just a little more... and I won’t be able to stop ...’
Lana, completely unaware of the storm she was stirring inside him, continued without hesitation.
"If you agree to everything," she murmured, her tone carrying a teasing boldness, "then you’ll also have to let me touch wherever I want... your abs, your pecs... anywhere."
Her words lingered in the air, soft yet dangerously provocative.
Lucien’s mind went blank for a second.
’She really has no idea what she’s doing to me ...’
His rationality snapped like a fragile thread.
His hand instinctively moved, fingers twitching as they were about to wrap around her waist, to pull her closer, to...
Knock. Knock.
The sudden sharp sound shattered the moment.
Hector’s voice cut through the silence from the other side of the door: "Sir, the meeting has started. Everyone is waiting for you."
The atmosphere broke instantly, like glass under pressure.
Lana’s expression changed in a heartbeat. The confidence melted away, replaced by a flicker of panic. "The meeting..."
She instinctively tried to step back, her movements hurried and unsteady.
’No... I shouldn’t be here... what if someone comes in ...’
The next second, it was as if something inside her snapped.
In a flash of silver light, her form shrank, her body dissolving into a small, delicate kitten.
Lucien’s hand, which had just been about to hold her, froze mid-air.
"Wait..."
But before he could react, the tiny silver kitten vanished. Just like that. Gone.
The faint warmth that had lingered in his palm disappeared, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.
Lucien stared at his hand, his fingers slowly curling into a tight fist. His jaw clenched, frustration and regret flashing across his face.
’Just a few more seconds ...’
He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling sharply as he forced himself to calm down. ’It’s fine... I’ll see her again ...’
Straightening up, he turned toward the door.
"I’m coming," he called out, his voice steady again.
As he moved, his gaze dropped briefly, noticing the slight bulge in his pants. He paused for a moment, running a hand through his hair with a quiet sigh.
"...Cold shower first."
Meanwhile, Lana reappeared inside Lucian’s mansion, right in her bedroom.
The sudden shift left her momentarily disoriented. Then she froze. She looked down.
"I’m... completely naked ..."
A wave of heat rushed to her face before she let out a long breath of relief, her shoulders sagging.
"Thank God I’m in my room," she muttered, pressing a hand against her chest. "If I had ended up outside like this ..."
The thought alone made her shudder.
Quickly, she rushed toward her wardrobe, pulling out clothes in a hurry and dressing herself.
Just as she stepped out, a sharp flutter of wings sliced through the air.
Before she could react, a dark blur darted toward her.
"Hey...!"
Mr. Crow appeared out of nowhere, his wings striking at her in a flurry of agitation.
"You vanished!" he snapped, his voice sharp with anger and something deeper... fear.
Lana immediately raised her arms to block, glaring back. "And you’re attacking me for that?! Have you gone crazy?!"
"I was worried!" he shouted, flapping his wings furiously. "Do you even know how scared I was when you disappeared?!"
"And this is how you show concern?!" she shot back, dodging another swipe. "By beating me?!"
Their fight quickly devolved into complete chaos, more like two stubborn children than anything else.
Feathers flew, clothes shifted, and the room turned into a mess within seconds.
"If I go bald because of you, I’ll never forgive you!" Mr. Crow screeched as a few feathers drifted to the floor.
Lana froze for a split second, guilt flickering in her eyes. ’...Okay, maybe I went a bit too far.’