---- Chapter 16 Lucas and Alina were locked in a passionate kiss on the street. Lucas's hand was holding Alina's waist, but his mind suddenly drifted away. What was Eve doing now? Was she spending her wedding night with that damned guy, Samuel? That thought made Lucas's chest tight, and his grip on Alina's waist unconsciously tightened. "Ouch!" Alina complained softly. "Are you still thinking about another woman when you are kissing me?" Lucas snapped back to reality and looked at the face with heavy makeup in front of him. Alina was indeed beautiful, especially when she was disheveled at that moment. She was somehow more appealing than her usual polished look. "So? Are you jealous?" he teased, leaning in closer. He deliberately brushed his nose against hers and said, "Aren't we just having a fling?" ---- Alina stomped her foot angrily, nearly breaking the heel of her shoe. "Lucas, you heartless man!" She pounded her fist against his chest and said, "I betrayed my dad for you and completely fell out with my most formidable sister. Is this how you treat me?" Lucas easily caught her wrist and pulled her into his arms. "Alright. | know you care for me. I'll be nice to you. | promised I'd marry you." He coaxed her perfunctorily, but his eyes wandered toward the distance, in the direction of Eve's marital home. Alina sensed his distraction and suddenly stood on her tiptoes to bite his ear sharply. "Your eyes are about to pop out," she said jealously. "Now she's Mrs. Vittorine. Do you think you, down-and-out, stand a chance?" Her words hurt Lucas like a knife into his heart. His face darkened as he suddenly pinned Alina against the wall. His knee pressed between her legs. "Shut up," he said in a dangerous tone. But he seemed to fascinate Alina more. "If you dare to say one more word, I'll hand you over to the police and let you experience what Eve had suffered." ---- Alina wasn't scared. Instead, she giggled. Her fingers traced his Adam's apple flirtatiously. "Why do you look so fierce?" Alina whispered in his ear. Her breath was warm and inviting. "Why don't we find a place... to let you blow off some steam?" Lucas stared at her for a short moment before letting out a cynical laugh. "Sure. I'm not busy anyway." He released her and gave her a gentle slap on her backside. "Lead the way, wildcat." Alina rolled her eyes at him and swayed her hips as she walked ahead. Lucas followed her, and his gaze involuntarily drifted back to the distance. Eve must have already bathed by now. Her hair should still be damp. She perhaps nestled in Samuel's arms. With that on his mind, Lucas quickened his pace and took Alina into a shabby motel by the roadside. He didn't care who she was and wanted to enjoy the moment. Lucas had always lived lavishly. But after being cast out by the Costa family, he nearly used up his money. However, he was no stranger to hardship and had lived rough before. ---- He could revel in luxury but also make do with rundown, leaky motels. The old man at the front desk of the motel handed over a key without batting an eye. His gaze lingered on Alina's disheveled dress for a moment. Lucas blocked that old man's view and tossed a few bills on the counter. As soon as they got in the room, Alina eagerly jumped on him. Lucas let her undress him, but he was thinking about Eve's face. When he and Eve began dating, she was always shy. He had to coax her for a long while for a simple kiss. "Focus!" Alina bit Lucas's shoulder in displeasure. Lucas snapped back, roughly tossed Alina onto the bed, and yanked off his tie. He just wanted to forget everything, whether he did it with Eve or Alina. In the room, as Lucas closed his eyes while having sex with Alina, he seemed to see Eve's tear-filled eyes. "| hate you." Her voice from memory rang clearly. He abruptly opened his eyes to see Alina's enraptured face beneath him. ---- A sudden surge of anger flared up in him, and his movements became increasingly rough until Alina was screaming for mercy.