"What's the meaning of this?" I asked, upon entering a room that I was lead on inside the hotel. One lady told me to follow her upstairs where my Dad is but when I got there, I was surprised to see him with someone that I just saw the other day.

Why is Philip here?

My mom is also here and she was entertaining other guests.

Yep, it is not an ordinary meeting. It's a party. A reception to be exact.

And I am not even prepared.

Mom walked towards me and hugged me. "HI, honey."

"Mom, what's going on?" I question, without bothering to hug her back as she slowly pulls away. My eyes are still focused on the crowd. Thanks for making me look like a rat again, you could have completed the text with a wear something nice

Three words and won't be hard to write down.

Mom leads me to Dad who is currently talking to Philip. They both seems to be too keen in a conversation.

"What's going on here, Dad?" I asked, not bothered that I interrupted their conversation. "Don't tell me you are also involved in this, Philip."

Dad gave me an amused look and smiled. "Is that how you greet your childhood best friend?"

"Yeah, it's been so long since you last seen each other." Mom chuckled. "Hello, Philip. How are you? Since when did you came back?"

Huh, isn't Philip the one who told them where to find me?

Philip smiled back at them and chuckled. "I just came back to finish some matter here but I will leave in a few weeks."

"Such a nice child, supporting his parents. This is what you should be looking for, Natalia. This is what I want you to be with for the rest of you life without fear."

I rolled my eyes. Here we go again, Dad. I crossed my arms and leaned on the post beside me. This place has no business for me so why stay here? It is better if I leave now or this thing with my parents get even worse.

The party is packed with people, business and friends together. Most of them, I don't remember at all but I'm sure they have something to do with this celebration which worries me.

"Mom, I have no business here. I want to go home."

"We are your home, Natalia. You come home with us." Dad butted in.

"Dad, you are talking nonsense. I am going home. Alone." I deepen my words and was aboht to turn when Philip grabs my hand.

"Stay for a little longer, Natalia. I want to catch up things with you." Philip says, his eyes seems to be pleading me.

But none of those will work on me. Whatever this means, or whatever this meeting stands for, it won't be good. They are just gonna keep on saying how much a failure I am to them for leaving and choosing the man that they hate over them. I groaned quietly and pushed his hand away. "Don't touch me." I muttered and crossed my arm, as if I am hugging myself away from them. "Tell me the real reason why I am here."

Dad and Mom looked at each other and sigh. It was my Dad who spoke first. "Now that we found you, Natalai, we are giving you the chance to come back to us. Your family. Let's go back and start over. You can resume your studies in Paris and we will let you continue the course you always wanted. Leave this town and come back to us."

"Then what?" my eyebrow arched.

"Then you have to marry Philip."

My eyes widen and I just jolted. "What..."

Philip and my eye met. He didn't look shock for a moment but it seems like he is agreeing to it. There is no sense of disagree in his face and I got more irritated for it. He knows I'm married.

"I can't marry Philip, you know that! I am already married to Lucas." I defended, can't help but to raise my voice. Without caring the people around me, our heated argument continues. The others just chose to ignore us.

"That's not a problem." Dad stated with a scoff. "If that boy won't divorce then I will do everything in my power. Wait and see, he will leave you soon."

My eyes narrowed. "That will not happen." am I doubting? No. I know Lucas will never leave me alone, other than that, I won't let go. I will continue fighting. If I need to hide then I will. That's what I'm always good at anyway.

"I should go and leave this hell." I muttered, turning around and walking out.

How could that Philip let this be?

Damn.

My parents are coming back into my life and we should leave. I don't want them coming back. I'm fine on my own with Lucas. Just us.

That's all I need.

When I got home, my enegy seems to be too drained. I just wanted to sleep but I can't. Not with all these problems coming into my life. I inhaled deeply and decided to call Lucas. He may be busy but I don't care. I want to hear his voice to boost me up a bit.

But after 12 calls, he is still not picking up his phone.

Jeez, this is irritating. Of course, he is busy. He is probably up there building something. Shit, I don't care. I need to see him right now and tell him. Once my Dad made up his mind, he might start ruining his life at this moment.

I pick up my things and asked for his help to solve this problem. I don't know if hiding somewhere is the answer because we finally grew to love the people in this place. It is hard to leave again.

I grab a taxi and told it to drive to the the construction site where my husband is working. As I was dropped there, I immediately saw Logan and he is probably just taking a short break.

"Talia, looking for your husband?" he asked upon seeing me walk by.

"Yeah, is he busy? I need to talk to him just for a few minutes." I replied, keeping my hair in place because the wind here is too strong.

Logan pointed somewhere at the end where there is a small office space. "I think he's there at the corner, he's discussing something with the other workers. Go on, they are taking a break too."

"Is he busy?"

He shakes his head. "No, I don't think so. Besides, he will be surprised to see you here."

I chuckled softly and thanked him before heading the direction he pointed. I was literally marching on the cemented floor, my mind is cloudy and I really need to know what should we do. Besides, this is the vert first time I interrupted him at his work, he should realise that this is an emergency.

But I was just closing to him, I can hear his laughter. He is chatting, not discussing something. I saw him, his back leaning on some hollow blocks, still in his uniform but no safely hat on, and he's chatting with Silvia.

This sight is enough to make me feel angrier. Discussing? Flirting is the right word.

Silvia is obviously flirting with just the way, she looks at him.

Just in a second, she noticed me causing Lucas to fall silent and gaze at what she is looking at. His eyes widen and immediately stood up straight, his eyes filled with shock. "Talia, hey." Lucas went to me with big strides. "Is something wrong? You should have called me to let me know that you are coming."

"I already did. Mutilple times." I stated, my voice is cold. "I guess you two are busy so I will leave you two alone." Turning my back against them, he quickly caught my wrist and pull me back to him.

"Natalia?" That soothing voice is Silvia. Urg, makes me want to vomit. "Wow, is that really you?"

I put on my fake smile. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Wow." Silvia looked at me with wide eyes. She is really surprise to see me, obviously. But damn, she is dazzlingly beautiful.

I totally look like her servant right now.

"So, are you two...like a couple? Boyfriend?" she carefully asked.

"Married." I shot at her. Glaring at Lucas for a moment. They have been working together for months, obviously talking all of the time, forget to mention...flirting and he didn't even mention that he is married. How brilliant.

She gasped as she gawked. "My goodness, you could have told me. You wife and I were classmates when we were younger. How are you? And I heard that you run away from home."

Okay, now is not the right time to mention that.

Lucas placed a hand around my waist and pulled me closer, rubbing a spot as if he is helping me to cool down a bit. Well, this is his new boss so we need to impress her. Is that it?

"It's a long story." I shorty replied, clearing my throat and crossing my arms. "I-I see that you are busy right now so I will just wait for you at our home." I snarled, turning around to leave. Walking too fast, very eager to escape this place but Lucas caught me.

"Hey" he pulled my wrist to turn me. "What's up? It's unusual for you to come to me at work."

"Oh, so that's why you are flirting with the woman I told you not to." I snapped, crossing my arms. "I'm sorry I interrupted you."

His eyebrows touched. "We are not flirting. And can you please stop thinking that way.

" I won't be thinking like that if I didn't caught you two talking alone at the back." I hissed, rubbing my temples with my hands."I'm loosing my mind here, Lucas. And all you gave me are silent treatments at home. You barely come back and you stick your ass here longer than before. Don't blame me if I'm like this."

Lucas sigh and placed both of his hands on my shoulder. He gives me a gentle caress and then leaned his forehead on mine. " I'm sorry if you feel that way."

When he leans his forehead to mine, that only means one thing.

He will give up for me

No more fight. He wants us to make up. I closed my eyes tightly and pulled softly.

"There is no way I will leave the most amazing woman to somebody else." He whispered, planting some kisses down to my ear. "So, tell me. What's wrong, kitten?"

I sigh and bit my lower lip, about to tell him but seems like we already made a scene here, everybody is looking at us,cheering to be exact.

"That's our man! Not so tough now, huh?" one worker shouted, clapping their hands and teasing Lucas.

"What can you say? Behind any tough man is a woman."

"Such a touch guy but not anymore. We finally know his weakness."

"Shut up, you idiots!" Lucas grunted but went back to me. "Proceed."

"Alright, we're done here. We will talk about this at home. It think it is appropriate to tell you that there." I replied.

This is not the right place to tell him that.

....

No more story telling because the tale is horrible.

True to his words. Dad made it hard for us for the next couple of days. When I told Luke that night, he was determined to keep on going.

"Do not underestimate my Dad, Lucas. He's more powerful than you think. He can wipe you out of the list of he can. Getting you out of the job is just a warm up."

Lucas was fired at the company. He went home the next morning and Silvia was not around. He was greeted by the her Dad which was the real owner of the building and told him to get lost. He kicked him out like a dog.

Now, he is searching all corners of the city just to get a job. Even if it is just a janitor, he said he would accept it but no.

I just have my job at the grocery so I told him that it's not a problem anymore. But he doesn't want to be a burden and sit around and let me do everything.

"This is what he wants, Talia. He wants me to fall under and let him win. So what, he can show everyone that I let his daughter work for our family. No can do." Lucas grab his things as he is ready to search for a job again. "When I married you, I promised to take care of you and I will never let you go...that you are mine...I'm keeping that promise and I will show him that."

His words melted my heart. I know that I didn't made the wrong choice choosing him.

"I know you would." I smiled and hugged him tightly. If things go wrong...I will still stay by your side. "You know something?"

"Huh?" He asked, turning his head towards me.

"I love you." I whispered and kissed him. "If there is anything I can do to make your day better, let me know."

His eyes glittered at that moment as he looks down to me with a smug smile before touching his lips on my earlobe and whispered back. "Well, as long as I go home to my beautiful wife and massages me all night long...that would be nice."

I giggled and closed our distance with a hot, feverish kiss.

"I will see you tonight, kitten. Be a good girl and wait for my return." He winked at me and head out.

I leaned on the door and watched him slowly disappear in my vision.

I know he will find a job. One person out there is surely kind enough to help us.

To be continued...