Chapter 271: The dinner with Audrey and her boyfriend

Words : 1557 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 271: The dinner with Audrey and her boyfriend Inside the room... Lucien paused mid-sentence on his call when he noticed Augustine stepped in. "I’ll call you back later." He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. "Augustine," he greeted with a faint grin, rising from his seat. The two men closed the distance, embracing briefly. "Busy man," Lucien chuckled, giving him a playful slap on the back. "Took you long enough to show up." "I’ve had my hands full," Augustine replied. "Company matters, fallout from the case... but it’s all lining up now. I’ve tracked every loose end. The evidence is solid. We are almost at the endgame." Lucien’s expression shifted instantly, his casualness giving way to cold focus. "Need me to send my men in?" he asked. "We’ll wrap it up in a matter of hours. Just give the word." Augustine shook his head. "No. This is my fight," he said with quiet steel. "They tried to hurt Anne. I’ll make sure everyone involved in this matter will be punished." Lucien held his gaze for a second, then nodded slowly in understanding. "Fair enough." He turned and motioned toward the corner of the room. "Come on. Let’s sit and have a drink." The two of them crossed to the leather sofa, where Lucien pulled a bottle of aged scotch from a nearby cabinet. He poured a glass for Augustine, then poured one for himself. Lucien swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he leaned back into the sofa. "Tell me, what did you find?" "It’s Megan," Augustine replied, "the Granets’ adopted daughter. She orchestrated the entire plan, arranged the poison, and manipulated Lorie, weaponizing her hatred. Megan knew exactly how much Lorie despised Anne, and she used it like a tool." "Audrey told me a little about Lorie and her mother. That kind of resentment, I can understand," Lucien muttered, a slow frown forming. "I’ve lived it." A shadow crossed his face as the memories stirred. As the illegitimate son in a family that never accepted him, Lucien had endured a childhood soaked in cruelty. His stepmother’s bitter glares, his half-brothers’ fists, the cold, dark basement where he was locked without food or water for days — all etched into his bones. At sixteen, he had walked away from it all. Later, a mafia king took him in, trained him, hardened him. Years later, Lucien had returned as a storm, swept away his abusers, leaving no one standing. That past made him sensitive to Anne’s pain. He didn’t just see her suffering. He felt it. It was like watching a reflection of his younger self. He was ready to go to any lengths to help her, to destroy those who dared hurt her. "But Megan..." he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I don’t get it. This wasn’t a random act. Attempted murder, manipulating a woman on the edge, turning her hatred into a weapon — that takes precision. Ruthlessness. Megan is calculating. Dangerous. And if she is capable of this, then we haven’t seen the worst of her yet." Lucien’s voice dropped lower, a chilling edge to it now. "But I don’t understand what her problem is with Anne. Is it some old grudge? Did something happen recently to spark all this?" "I don’t think Megan has that kind of intelligence," Augustine said flatly. "She is impulsive. She acts out of jealousy and fear, not calculation. But someone far more manipulative is guiding her. There is a hand behind the curtain, pulling the strings." Lucien listened intently, his expression sharpening. "This mystery figure doesn’t want Anne reunited with her family," Augustine continued. "And everything I’ve found so far leads back to Hugo, Oliver’s half-brother. He is the one hiding in the shadows, using Megan, fueling the chaos." He then narrated everything he had found out. "But there are still pieces missing," he concluded. "We don’t have the full picture yet. But we will soon find out everything. Once it’s all over, I’m planning to take Anne away for a long vacation. She needs rest, peace, and distance from all this madness." Lucien nodded solemnly. "Let me know if you need help with that," he offered. "I’ll handle the arrangements, find you a safe and quiet spot." But Augustine raised a hand in immediate refusal. "No, not again. Anne is pregnant. I’m not risking a shootout on some exotic island again." Lucien laughed under his breath. "That won’t happen. I’ll make sure of it." Augustine chuckled, setting his glass down. "Forget about us for a second — what about you and Audrey? When is the wedding?" Lucien’s smirk widened. "Soon. I’ll send you the invitation myself. And you, my friend, are going to be my groomsman." "Wouldn’t miss it for the world." Knock-knock. A light rap came from the door, followed by Audrey’s voice. "Dinner is ready. Are you guys coming?" Lucien was already on his feet. "Yeah, coming," he called back. Augustine stood as well, but a sudden realization hit him like a jolt of cold water. He reached out to stop Lucien before he could open the door. "Wait." Lucien paused and turned, one eyebrow raised. "What now?" "I haven’t told Anne yet..." Augustine scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "She doesn’t know that you are Audrey’s boyfriend." A devilish smirk spread across Lucien’s face. "You bastard," he muttered with a mock glare. "You didn’t tell her on purpose, did you? What are you scheming, huh? Are you disapproving of me for some reason?" Augustine raised his hands defensively. "No, no...That’s not it. I was just... surprised when I found out it was you. At first, I assumed it was some shady guy playing with her emotions. I didn’t expect it to be you. And honestly, I didn’t want to stress Anne out with more surprises at the time. I figured I’d tell her later. Then, when we got the dinner invite, I thought she’d figure it out herself. But now..." He exhaled and glanced toward the door. "Now I’m worried she might be shocked." Lucien was not buying it. "You sly fox. You wanted to throw me into the fire, huh? Let her see me at the table and flip out." Augustine chuckled nervously. "Come on, I didn’t mean it that way." "Oh no," Lucien growled playfully, grabbing his arm. "You are not walking away clean. You’ll walk in with me. You are going to be my shield tonight." Augustine let out a low, amused chuckle. "Look at you—the big, bad mafia king, feared by half the world, quaking at the thought of a woman’s reaction." Lucien scoffed, eyes glinting with mock offense. "Afraid? Please. I fear no one. But I am curious. I want to see how my best fighter handles this incoming storm." Before Augustine could retort, Lucien gave him a firm shove toward the hallway. "You go first. I’ll be right behind you," he said, positioning himself behind his friend. Augustine stumbled a step forward, half-laughing, half-resigned. "Coward," he muttered under his breath. "Fine, fine. But you better hope she doesn’t throw a fit." Lucien shot him a smirk. "If she does, I’ll make sure she throws it at you first." The two headed out of the room. "Dinner is served," Audrey said brightly as Augustine and Lucien emerged from the room. Anne, standing by the dining table and setting the last of the silverware, looked up with a glowing smile, eager to finally meet the man Audrey had spoken so fondly of. But the moment her eyes landed on the tall, broad-shouldered figure walking behind Augustine, her expression faltered. The color drained from her face, her smile froze, and her fingers went slack, sending the fork in her hand clattering onto the table. Lucien’s eyes met hers, a calm and amused gleam dancing in them. He offered a nod of greeting, casual and composed, while Audrey beamed and looped her arm proudly through his. "My boyfriend," she announced, radiant with excitement. "Surprised?" Anne didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed glued to Lucien, her mind trying to process the shocking revelation. This was Audrey’s boyfriend, Lucien. She stood there, stunned and motionless. Augustine’s smile disappeared the instant he noticed the way Anne’s posture stiffened. In two quick strides, he was by her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Anne, are you alright?" She turned her head slowly, eyes wide with disbelief. "You knew?" Augustine’s shoulders tensed. "You didn’t tell me?" she asked, her tone rising. "You kept this from me?" Lucien watched the exchange from across the table, his lips twitching with smug amusement. He raised an eyebrow at Augustine, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding. Augustine shot him a cold glance before turning back to Anne. "I... I was going to. I didn’t want to upset you—" But Anne shook his arm off sharply before he could finish. "You hide things from me." A hurt look crossed her face. He reached for her again but hesitated, his words caught in his throat. For the first time, he was truly unsure of what to say. "It’s okay, Anne." Audrey’s voice cut through. "Don’t trouble him. Let’s all sit down and eat. This is our first dinner together with the men we love. Isn’t it amazing? Let’s not spoil it. Let’s enjoy the evening."

Chapter 271: The dinner with Audrey and her boyfriend

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