Chapter 210 Not Going to Happen

    The weight hit his chest before he even realized it. He leaned forward, fingers to his temples, trying to ease the pressure building inside him.

    And then–Sloane’s face slipped into his mind again. That girl who always carried herself with such poise, such confidence. She had walked into his life like it was nothing and somehow managed to capture his full attention without even trying. Before he knew it, she’d taken root somewhere deep in his heart.

    The truth was, he was grateful the Rivers family had sent her. He didn’t know what would’ve happened if it had been anyone else. But it was her–and thank God for that.

    After the breakup went public, all the pressure fell on him. usations of being cold, ungrateful, and heartless–he could take all of that. It didn’t matter what they said.

    But what stuck with him… what actually hurt… was the way Sloane had looked him in the eye and said, “Let’s call off the engagement.”

    That line? That cut deeper than any headline ever could.

    He knew she was still young, still figuring out what she wanted. And he understood why she asked for the breakup–she didn’t want to feel tied down by her family or the engagement. So he agreed. For her. Because thest thing he wanted was to be another burden.

    Still, knowing that didn’t make it easier to let go.

    Lucas kept telling himself—she was only neen. Still growing, still figuring herself out. And he was willing to wait. Wait for her to understand what she wanted. Wait for her to see him not just as the man her family paired her with— but as the one she could choose on her own.

    When Samson heard that Lucas had agreed to end the engagement, he showed up immediately–dragging Benjamin along with him.

    The second he stepped into Lucas’s office, Samson didn’t hold back. “Lucas, what

    the h*ll were you thinking? You’re crazy about Sloane–why would you break off the engagement? Do you even know what people are saying about you out there right now?” His voice was sharp with frustration and disbelief.

    Benjamin, more even–tempered, hadn’t nned oning. He trusted Lucas’s judgment. Lucas never made decisions lightly.

    He gently pulled Samson back. “Calm down. If Lucas made this decision, I’m sure he had his reasons.”

    Lucas set down his coffee, now long cold, and spoke quietly. “The engagement was never fair to her. It wasn’t something she asked for. And she’s still young. I didn’t want to tie her down because of something that wasn’t her choice.”

    Samson groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “She’s neen, man. She’s not a kid.”

    But Benjamin had already picked up on what Lucas wasn’t saying out loud. In those few words, he heard all of it–care, restraint, and something else: love. Deep, unshakable love.

    He studied Lucas for a second. “So what’s next?b” /b

    Lucas looked up, his gaze sharp but calm, and said simply. “The engagement’s over. That doesn’t mean we can’t get engaged again.”

    Samson blinked, stunned. Then his eyes widened. “Wait… what? Are you saying you’re going to go after her? For real?”

    Lucas didn’t answer directly. He just gave a quiet, thoughtful smile–eyes steady, unreadable.

    Benjamin exhaled slowly and nodded to himself. He had got it now.

    Lucas had always known the original engagement wasn’t her choice. And he was far too proud to ept anything forced–especially when it came to love.

    Calling it off wasn’t the end. It was just the first step. If he was going to win her heart, it had to be on her terms. And when she said yes next time, it would be

    because she meant it.

    iOf /iicourse/ii, /iBenjamin thought. iThat’s /iiexactly /iithe /iikind /iiof /iiman /iihe /iiis/i.

    Samson caught on quickly, but his expression shifted with concern. “Yeah, but Lucas… what if she really moves on? What if she falls for someone else?”

    A flicker of something darker shed through Lucas’s eyes, but it vanished almost as fast as it came. He set the cup down again and said, his voice low and firm.

    “That’s not going to happen.”

    And he wouldn’t let it.