Chapter 154: Emma
"The buildings are so perfect, and they’re just so pretty!" Ashley couldn’t stop talking about the buildings she had visited that day while Nolan served their dinner. "Right, Nolan? I didn’t know picking a location for an office could be this complicated. I like all of them!"
Nolan chuckled. "They are equally competitive with one another, indeed."
"Haha," Ashley laughed, stopping as she noticed that Lucian and Primo were unusually quiet. "Huh? What’s up with you two?"
Her question made them both look up at her. Ashley smiled softly, leaning forward.
"Primo, how was school? Was it fun? Did you eat with your friends again?"
Primo pursed his lips and nodded.
"Madam, the young master’s packed lunch and snacks were all finished," Nolan murmured politely, making Ashley beam. "Not a crumb left behind."
That was because the other kids had wanted a bite, Primo thought. Aside from the girl and boy from yesterday, their group had gained two additional kids.
"Whoa?" Ashley nodded in satisfaction. "Do I need to pack more?"
If you keep adding more, you’ll be feeding the entire class, thought the young boy.
Then Ashley turned to Lucian. "By the way, I received an email from Primo’s school. There’s a parent-teacher meeting next week — the first one."
"Mhm," he hummed.
"Mhm, what?"
He raised his brows briefly. "I’ll send someone."
His answer instantly made her lips curve downward, and she looked at him with displeasure.
"Clear your schedule," she said, narrowing her eyes. "How can you send someone else for something like that? Isn’t it important?"
Ashley turned to Primo. "Right, Primo?"
Primo studied the look on her face, then glanced at his father. He didn’t nod or shake his head; he simply continued eating.
His reaction made her tilt her head. She glanced at Nolan, who shrugged, then at Lucian, who merely glanced back at her before resuming his food.
This is weird, Ashley thought, cupping her face. Is something going on? Did they fight?
Her curiosity deepened as she narrowed her eyes at Lucian.
*****
[My Boo:
Come down. Let’s take a night walk. ^.^]
Lucian read Ashley’s message as he dried his hair with a towel. He already had an idea what it was about. Knowing her, she had surely noticed Primo’s mood.
With that, Lucian put on a shirt and headed out.
But just as he stepped out of his room, Primo was standing in the hallway. The young master looked up at him, then held out his pad.
[Want.]
It was just one word — a vague message that could mean many things. But Lucian knew exactly what his son meant.
Then Primo flipped his pad and wrote again.
[So I can understand why I shouldn’t look for her anymore.]
Having been raised by this man, Primo understood Lucian’s intentions better than Lucian would ever bother to explain. Primo’s question had stemmed from his uncertainty about whether he should consider Ashley his mother.
In other words, before he could even think about giving Ashley that label, he first needed to understand why his father had tried to erase that role from his life — why Lucian had worked so hard to bury the existence of Primo’s mother in the first place.
"Okay," Lucian nodded, reaching out toward the boy’s head.
But before his fingertips could land, Primo had already turned and walked back to his room. A helpless sigh escaped Lucian as he watched the door close.
He shook his head and headed downstairs. When he stepped outside, Ashley was idling beyond the front fence, peering at the house across the street.
"What are you doing?" he asked, stopping beside her.
Ashley jolted slightly and turned to him. "Goodness, you startled me. Lucian, can you at least make some noise when you walk? You’re like a ghost."
"..."
"Ahem!" She cleared her throat and straightened up. "Anyway, shall we go?"
With that, they set off down the side of the street with no particular destination in mind. Silence settled between them, and Lucian glanced over at her.
She didn’t look troubled. If anything, she kept her eyes ahead, her expression relaxed.
"About —"
"By the way —"
They spoke at the same time and came to a stop, turning to face each other.
"Haha," she laughed. "You go first."
"No," he said calmly. "What did you want to say?"
Ashley puffed her cheeks and smacked her lips.
"Fine," she huffed and resumed walking. "I’m just thinking about the parent-teacher meeting. It says it’s not mandatory, but Nolan told me it’s best if one of us goes — or both of us."
She bit her lip, clasping her hands behind her back.
Honestly, she didn’t quite know how to say it. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go as Primo’s parent. But if she was being truthful, she wasn’t sure she should even assume that role.
What if Primo doesn’t like it? Besides, I’m not even sure I can commit to it. I don’t want to disappoint him.
Being let down by a parent was something she knew all too well, and the last thing she wanted was for Primo to feel the same because of her.
That was the very reason she had never encouraged Primo to call her mom, or anything like it.
As she carefully sorted through her thoughts, Lucian studied the conflict on her face.
"Don’t overthink it," he said. She looked back at him.
Lucian’s steps slowed until he stopped altogether. His eyes searched her face, and he thought there was no better time than now to tell her about the decision he had made.
"You don’t have to go," he said.
"It’s not that I don’t want to—"
"His mom will go."
Her words cut off. Her brows drew together.
"What did you say?"
Lucian exhaled. "I’ve contacted Primo’s biological mother. So don’t worry about any of this anymore. Focus on setting up your company."
"...ah," was all she managed, though she was thoroughly confused. Her expression shifted into something she couldn’t quite name.
In the end, she simply nodded, as if this were the most expected thing in the world. Ashley forced a wide smile.
"Really?" she laughed. "That’s... that’s a relief, then."
After saying that, she walked on ahead, her smile fading as confusion crept over her face. She pressed a hand lightly to her chest, feeling a small, inexplicable ache.
As for Lucian, he stood rooted in place and watched her back. Recalling her reaction, he should have felt relieved because it seemed as though a weight had been lifted from her. But deep down, his chest tightened all the same.
Maybe I won’t regret it after all.
*****
Days later, Ashley found herself answering the door after the bell rang — only to come face to face with a woman she had never seen before in her life.
"Hello, I’m Emma," the woman said. "... Primo’s mom."