Chapter 1249

Aurora looked at Lucas seriously. “I’m really grateful you came today. If it weren’t for you, I honestly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Megan quickly chimed in, “Exactly, exactly. I didn’t expect you to show up at just the right time, Lucas.”

For the two of them, facing Grace alone had been intimidating.

Aurora, bound by blood ties, couldn’t speak too bluntly. And Megan, remembering the kind Grace from their childhood, didn’t know how to speak either.

Those two layers of history made it impossible for them to deal with Grace without filters and barriers.

Lucas only smiled at Megan’s words, giving her a simple reply. “It was just coincidence I came by. After all, with Aurora opening her studio, I hadn’t been here in so long. I thought I’d make time to check in.”

“I didn’t expect to walk into something like this,” he added, his eyes never leaving Aurora as he spoke.

Megan glanced at him and immediately felt like she was intruding. Catching Ian’s eye, she saw the same awkwardness mirrored there.

Quickly, Megan seized on an excuse. “Ian, I think there’s still work inside we haven’t finished, right? Let’s go take care of it.”

“Oh—right, right. You’re absolutely right.” Ian smacked his forehead, and the two slipped away arm in arm.

Aurora was speechless.

Could they be any more obvious?

The moment Lucas arrived, the two of them transformed into completely different people.

When they were gone, Aurora turned to speak to Lucas and nearly bumped into his chest.

Startled, she stepped back, only for Lucas to pull her firmly into his arms.

Puzzled, she tilted her head up at him. “What is it?”

Leaning closer, his voice low and teasing, he said, “Now, no one’s here to disturb us.”

Aurora’s face flushed scarlet at once.

She pressed her palms lightly against his chest, giving a small cough. “You should behave yourself.”

“How am I not behaving?” Lucas looked at her, finding her utterly adorable like this.

“Having you come today, I really am so grateful,” Aurora said softly. “But I also feel embarrassed, letting you see such a shameful scene.”

Her words caught Lucas off guard.

“Why would you say that?”

Aurora turned her head away, unwilling to meet his gaze. “You saw how my mother treats me. And now it’s dragged you into being unwelcome in her eyes too.”

Lucas saw straight through the stubborn mask she wore. Even if she spoke this way, deep down she still longed for her mother’s love. These words were just her way of pretending not to care.

With that thought, he pulled her firmly into his arms, closing every bit of distance between them.

Aurora flushed, uneasy in his embrace.

But his low voice brushed her ear. “You don’t need to feel guilty with me. None of what you said matters to me.”

“But you shouldn’t have to endure this at all,” Aurora’s voice wavered, tinged with a choke.

“If it weren’t for me, for the way my mother treats me, you wouldn’t have to be dragged into this. It’s my fault. It’s me bringing you down.”

Lucas‘ hold tightened around her. “Don’t talk about dragging me down. Husband and wife are one—we share honor and disgrace together.”