Page 62 of Forever His Favorite
It was Amelia who adored orchids.
Eventually, Emily stopped repeating herself. She had learned to smile through the sting and accept the orchids, burying her disappointment with every bouquet he pushed into her hands.
Now, as she looked at them in his trembling grip, the irony cut her deeper than any blade.
“Lucas,” she said softly, her lips curling into a bitter scoff. “Do you know how long I waited for you to bring me flowers… yourself? To hand them to me, like this, with your own hands, humbly, with affection in your voice?”
Lucas’s heart pounded. His lips curved into a hopeful smile as he stared at her, clinging to her words with desperate hope.
But her voice hardened. “And now, all I feel when I look at these flowers is sickness.”
Emily snatched the bouquet from his hands. With one sharp motion, she hurled it aside. The orchids scattered across the floor in a messy spray of petals and stems.
She stood, her face cold, and stormed off. The flowers crumpled and crushed beneath her heels with every step until they were nothing but a mess on the floor.
“Emily—” Lucas scrambled to his feet and rushed after her, panic tightening every muscle in his body.
But a voice stopped him.
“Lucas?”
Lucas froze mid-step and turned. Jeremy had risen from his seat, hands sliding casually into his pockets, his expression cold. “Why are you chasing after her now?” Jeremy asked, eyes narrowing.
Lucas spun toward him, rage flaring. “What’s it got to do with you?”
Jeremy tilted his head toward the empty chair across from him. “Sit down.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes. “What the hell doyouand I have to talk about?” His voice snapped with hostility.
Jeremy remained calm. “I know what you used to be, Lucas. A jerk who hurt Emily over and over again. Honestly, so many times, I thought you were a monster—eating away at her spirit until there was nothing left.”
Lucas dragged in a rough breath, his shoulders heaving. He turned his head away, dismissing his words with a low growl. “I don’t have time for this bullshit.” He spun on his heel to leave.
Jeremy’s next words stopped him cold. “I can help you get Emily back.”
Lucas froze mid-step. His entire body went rigid. Slowly, almost mechanically, he turned.
His jaw then he turned sharply, storming back toward Jeremy. Dragging a chair out with a scrape, he dropped into it heavily, his glare fixed on Jeremy. “Talk,” he ordered.
Jeremy studied him for a long moment, then leaned back, chillingly calm. He studied Lucas for a long moment before speaking.
“You’ve done a lot, Lucas. Big, grand gestures. But they’re not enough. Emily deserves more than apologies and scraps of your guilt.”
Lucas’s jaw flexed, his hands resting stiffly on the table. His voice came out rough, serious. “So what do you think I can do to have Emily back?”
Jeremy’s smirk deepened. He lifted his coffee cup, sipping leisurely before answering.
“In a few days, she’ll be launching a jewelry line Sebastian entrusted to her. That day, you give her the one thing that she always wanted from you.” His eyes gleamed, calculating. “A grand wedding. Lavish. Extravagant. Unforgettable.”
He set his cup down with a soft clink, leaning forward slightly.
“Women are simple, Lucas. They get angry easily… but they also forgive easily—if the effort is grand enough. Pacify her properly. Drown her anger in luxury. Make her feel like your world starts and ends with her, and she’ll forgive you.”
Lucas remained silent, his chest rising and falling with measured breaths. His eyes sharpened, suspicion flashing beneath the surface. He leaned in, his voice edged with distrust. “And why,” he asked coldly, “are you helping me?”
Jeremy chuckled softly, the sound laced with mockery. “Mr. Cantrell, do you think I’m one of your business partners?” He set his cup down with exaggerated care, eyes fixed on Lucas. “Do you think I’m talking to you right now for some deal, some benefit?” His smirk widened, cold and satisfied. “And you don’t have much of a choice, do you? Either take my advice… or lose her forever.”
Lucas’s jaw clenched. His gaze wavered, troubled, haunted by doubt. Silence stretched. Finally, he pushed back from the chair and stormed off without another word.
