Caroline brought Lucas back to her place and took out the first aid kit to clean his wounds.
Lucas kept glancing at her, obviously wanting to say something.
Caroline set down the kit. “Just ask whatever’s on your mind.”
She looked a little drained. Lucas hesitated and finally didn’t want to push.
Caroline caught the concern in his eyes and volunteered, “That was Aiden Kemnis”
She sighed before adding, “My ex–husband.”
Lucas immediately panicked, clearly thrown off balance. He knew nothing about Caroline’s past or what this man meant to her.
Caroline noticed the anxiety in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh.
“I said ‘ex‘ for a reason. I’m over him.”
Lucas relaxed visibly. “Can I ask why you divorced him?”
Caroline’s hand froze as she pulled cotton balls from the kit.
Lucas noticed her reaction. “You don’t have to answer. That was too much–sorry.”
Caroline soaked a cotton ball in alcohol and pressed it directly onto the cut at the corner of his mouth.
“Shit-” Lucas winced at the sting. “Damn, okay! No need for revenge!”
His tone was pitiful.
Caroline sighed. “No big reason. Just fell out of love.”
Lucas felt sympathetic at how empty she looked when she said it.
“Everyone runs into assholes. You kick them to the curb and find someone better.”
00:19
Done Plod
Chapter 17
Trying to lighten the mood, he joked, “What about me? Would I make a good replacement?”
Caroline looked at him and unexpectedly nodded. “Yes.”
Lucas froze, not processing what she’d just said. After a moment, he stammered.
“I… you… are you saying you’ll let me pursue you?”
Lucas was great, and he’d been nothing but good to her.
Caroline had been holding back because of the pain Aiden caused, unwilling to open herself to new relationships.
But now she realized her hesitation was only holding her back. Being stuck in the past had made her
miss out on so much.
Looking into Lucas’s sincere eyes, she decided to give herself another chance–An opportunity to start fresh.
“Yes. Unless you mind that I’ve been married before?”
Lucas shook his head quickly.
“Not at all. I just thought you might be joking. And honestly…”
He took her hand. “It was mine for not having the courage to approach you back then. Otherwise, maybe I’d be the one who married you.”
“Wait–we knew each other before?”
Caroline searched her memory for his face but couldn’t place it.
Lucas had distinctive features and was popular on campus. She should have remembered him.
Lucas finally revealed the truth.
“I used to be a fat kid. Like, real chunky. You probably can’t connect the dots.”
As he said this, Caroline suddenly remembered. “You’re Chubbs?!”
Lucas burst out laughing. “Yep. You finally remember?”
00:19
Done Playing My Uncle–Hubby’s Forbidden Backup Doll
12 69
Chapter 17
They had met in an after–school program. Back then, Lucas was overweight and none of the other
kids wanted to play with him.
Caroline had seen him crying alone in a corner and had offered to be his friend.
Their friendship had lasted until Lucas’s family moved away.
Lucas sat beside her. “I was at that gala too.”
“You were? Why didn’t you come say hi?”
A flash of sadness crossed Lucas’s eyes.
“Because you couldn’t take your eyes off Aiden Kemnis. I tried to approach you–I had lost the weight by then, but you didn’t recognize me.”
“I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore, so I left feeling crushed.”
Caroline was stunned to learn about this missed connection.
Maybe Lucas was right. If he had been braver, things might have been different.
“That day at the airport wasn’t a coincidence either. I begged Professor Flores to let me go.”
‘Caroline, I’ve liked you since we were kids. Thank you for giving me the chance to pursue y
