CHAPTER 115: DRAKE IS ANNOYING

Once upon a time, Lucas had been the person she despised the most.

But now, strangely enough, she found herself warming up to him—which meant Drake had officially taken the throne as her least favorite person.

Just the thought of how he had shamelessly proposed to Samantha in front of a crowd, even sealing it with a public kiss, made her skin crawl.

Naturally, her expression darkened the moment she laid eyes on him.

"Hey there, Little Beauty," he chirped, flashing his usual bright grin.

He always greeted her with that infuriatingly cheerful tone, and the way he insisted on adding "little" before her name only made it worse.

"Please address me as Assistant Beauty, or just Beauty—drop the ’little,’ would you?" she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.

Drake blinked, taken aback by her hostility, then shot a questioning glance at Lucas.

Sliding one hand into his trouser pocket, he asked coolly, "Did you bully her again?"

Lucas, lounging on the sofa, tossed an orange lazily in his hand and smirked.

"Not a chance.

Clearly, she’s got a bone to pick with *you*."

"Exactly," Beauty crossed her arms.

"I can’t stand two-timing men—especially the sleazy ones."

In her eyes, after that birthday party, Drake had officially joined the ranks of scumbags, becoming the man she despised most. "What scumbag?

What do you know, you little brat?

You’ve never even been in a relationship—what gives you the right to judge?"

Drake’s expression darkened, his sharp brows furrowing slightly.

Normally, no matter how much Beauty criticized him, he’d dismiss her as just a kid, never bothering to argue or explain.

But these past few days, his mood had been foul, and he wasn’t in the mood to let it slide.

"I may not have dated anyone, but you don’t have to eat a whole pig to know what pork tastes like!"

What she really wanted to say was that she *had* wanted to date someone—once, she’d finally met a guy she liked, only for this very man to crush whatever spark of affection she’d felt.

Even now, every time she visited Dyson’s mother, she had to sneak around like a thief.

"Unless you know the full story, you don’t get to judge.

Sometimes, what you see isn’t the whole truth."

Drake’s voice softened, his face shadowed as if veiled in gray haze.

Seeing him like this, Beauty couldn’t bring herself to keep scolding him.

Instead, she stormed out of the office, refusing to engage further.

Only after she left did Drake let out a cold chuckle.

"That little hedgehog of yours has some sharp quills.

One word, and she’s all bristled up.

How do you even handle her normally?"

Lucas’s lips curled into a faint smile as he lightly smoothed his jet-black hair.

With a quiet laugh, he said, "Well, you *did* mess with her idol.

Right now, Sarah holds a much higher place in her heart than I do.

You’d better watch your back."

"Like you even *have* a place in her heart?"

Drake seized the opportunity with a mocking smirk, his cold eyes narrowing slightly.

Lucas shot him a frosty glare as he rose from the sofa.

His gaze drifted toward the window, voice low and measured.

"Still interested in my intel?"

The mention of intel instantly brightened Drake’s expression.

With an eager grin, he slung an arm over Lucas’s shoulder.

"Spill it.

What’s the scoop? Is Sarah really dating that Ryan guy?"

Only news about Sarah could spark such enthusiasm in Drake.

His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Lucas cleared his throat like a news anchor about to deliver a report, his cold stare fixed on the distant skyscrapers.

"From what I’ve gathered, Sarah and Ryan have been meeting up frequently.

Whether they’re officially together, I can’t say.

But lately, he’s been picking her up after work every day—never misses a beat, rain or shine, always with a fresh bouquet."

Drake’s expression darkened.

He lit a cigarette, exhaling a slow stream of smoke that curled around his fingers, his eyes shadowed and unreadable.

After a heavy pause, his voice came out icy.

"Guess I’ll have to step in.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be stationed outside your office after hours.

Let’s see where they usually go.

Maybe Samantha and I will drop by to... join the fun."

Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze lowering.

"Drake, I’ve been meaning to say this.

If you like Sarah this much—and I think she might feel something for you too—why keep pushing until you both end up hurt?

You’ve already hurt her once.

Do you really want to drag Samantha into this now?"

Drake stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, then popped a piece of xylitol gum into his mouth, chewing slowly.

Turning to face Lucas, he let out a bitter laugh.

"I don’t know what else to do.

When it comes to Sarah, I’m completely lost.

Around her, I’m just a clown—everything I do makes her laugh, and not in a good way.

But this is the only way I can keep her from drifting too far.

If she really ends up with that Ryan... I’ll have nothing left."

Lucas had witnessed the entire journey between Drake and Sarah.

As an outsider now, all he could do was remind his best friend not to push himself into a corner—and not to drive Sarah to the edge either.

Perhaps this was what they called a doomed relationship.

"What about you?" Drake suddenly shifted the topic, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he studied Lucas.

"Do you really want to be with Beauty, or are you just looking for comfort?"

"Since when have you ever seen me needing comfort?"

Lucas replied without hesitation, his tone sharp and decisive.

His eyes lifted slightly, his expression icy and proud. Drake chuckled. "So you’re serious then.

Honestly, I used to think you might actually give Cassandra a chance.

She’s liked you for so long, and when she finally had an opening, you really felt nothing for her?"

The words Cassandra had spoken that night still echoed in his mind from time to time.

Just the mention of her now made his brows knit tightly in displeasure.

One look at his expression made it clear—Lucas felt nothing for Cassandra.

If there was any emotion at all, it was merely nostalgia for Amelia.

Seems like there’s no shortage of pitiable souls, Drake mused, his lips curling into a wry smile.

Finally getting a day off, Beauty slept until the sun was high in the sky before heading downstairs for breakfast.

Dressed in comfortable loungewear, she had been sleeping so soundly every night due to work that she didn’t even notice whether Lucas had come home.

As she descended the stairs, she spotted Laura and Cynthia sitting on the sofa flipping through magazines, their heads bent together as they chatted and laughed.

It wasn’t until they noticed Beauty coming down that Laura’s expression twisted into one of disdain.

"You’re finally up, Beauty?" Unlike Laura, Cynthia didn’t seem to share the same hostility.

Instead, she greeted Beauty with a polite smile.

Beauty had little interest in engaging with these two privileged girls.

She merely gave them a faint nod before walking straight to the dining room, leaving them with nothing but the sight of her retreating back.

Unexpectedly, Lucas also came downstairs at that moment, dressed in a rare casual ensemble—a white leisure suit and sneakers, a far cry from his usual sharp business attire.

"Brother... you’re here."

Laura immediately rushed over, clinging to his arm with exaggerated affection, completely ignoring everyone else.

Clearly uncomfortable with her clinginess, Lucas pulled his arm free and said flatly, "Your friend is here.

Don’t embarrass yourself."

"Why should I care what others think?

It’s not like I’m the one shamelessly chasing after what doesn’t belong to me," Laura retorted with a pout, her sharp eyebrows arching as she shot a pointed glance at Beauty.

Lucas didn’t respond.

Instead, he quietly sat down to eat, his gaze lingering on Beauty’s face before he finally spoke in a measured tone, "Hurry up and eat.

I’m taking you to Chicago after this."