Free Web NovelChapter 24: Consider it a Bride Price
Several male classmates shot Luca Hale knowing looks before heading toward their own rooms.
Even Mason Reid leaned close and whispered into his ear, "Take care of yourself tonight, brother."
"Get lost."
Luca laughed and shoved him lightly.
Mason burst out laughing and disappeared down the hallway with the others.
The standard room contained two separate beds.
Luca guided the heavily intoxicated Sophie Kennedy inside and carefully helped her sit down on one of them.
"Sophie."
He crouched beside her and gently patted her shoulder.
"Wake up for a minute. At least wash your face before sleeping."
"Mmm..."
Sophie opened her eyes halfway before letting out a soft hum.
Instead of answering, she simply stared at him.
The alcohol had dyed her cheeks a delicate shade of pink, and her usually calm eyes seemed hazy and unfocused.
A moment later, she suddenly smiled.
It was the kind of smile Luca had rarely seen from her.
Soft.
Sweet.
And dangerously beautiful.
"You’ve always been this nice."
Her voice was quiet.
Luca paused.
Before he could respond, Sophie slowly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Luca..."
"Hm?"
"I used to think about what would happen if I had been braver."
The room fell silent.
Outside the window, the lights of Ashford shimmered in the distance.
Luca’s heart skipped a beat.
Sophie lowered her head slightly, her fingers still clutching his sleeve.
"If I had said something back then..."
Her voice grew softer and softer. freёwebnoѵel.com
"...would things have been different?"
Luca froze.
He wasn’t stupid.
He understood exactly what she meant.
For years, Sophie Kennedy had been the unreachable class beauty in everyone’s eyes.
Yet at this moment, she wasn’t the perfect girl everyone admired.
She was simply Sophie.
A girl carrying years of regret.
A girl who had drunk too much.
A girl who was vulnerable.
Sophie slowly looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere inside the room became strangely warm.
Luca felt his heartbeat quicken.
Any man would be lying if he claimed he wasn’t affected.
Especially when the person in front of him was Sophie Kennedy.
The girl he had once quietly admired for years.
For an instant, he almost forgot himself.
Almost.
Then he suddenly remembered the smell of alcohol lingering in the air.
Remembered the look in Sophie’s eyes.
Remembered that she wasn’t fully conscious.
His expression immediately cleared.
’No.’
This wasn’t right.
No matter what Sophie truly felt, no matter what he himself felt, this wasn’t the time.
Luca gently removed her hand from his sleeve.
"Sophie."
His voice was calm.
"You’re drunk."
A trace of disappointment flashed across Sophie’s face.
She seemed to want to say something else.
But the alcohol had already exhausted her strength.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
Luca pulled the blanket over her shoulders.
"Get some sleep."
Sophie stared at him quietly for a few seconds.
Then she gave a small nod.
Perhaps because she was truly exhausted, perhaps because the alcohol was finally winning, she slowly lay back against the pillow.
Within minutes, her breathing became steady.
She had fallen asleep.
Luca sat beside the bed for a long time.
Only after confirming she was completely asleep did he let out a long breath.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"That was close."
He stood up, switched off the main lights, and left only the bedside lamp glowing softly in the darkness.
Then he walked to the other bed and lay down.
Neither of them spoke another word that night.
The next morning.
Luca Hale was still half asleep when he vaguely heard the sound of running water nearby.
His brows furrowed slightly.
’Water?’
Still groggy from yesterday’s drinking, he slowly opened his eyes.
At that exact moment, the sound of the shower stopped.
The bathroom door clicked open.
Wrapped in a soft white bath towel, Sophie Kennedy stepped out.
Her long hair was still damp, tiny droplets of water clinging to the tips as they slid quietly onto her exposed shoulders. Without a trace of makeup, her face looked even more delicate than usual. Her fair skin glowed from the lingering warmth of the shower, and her elegant collarbones were fully visible above the towel.
For a moment, Luca completely froze.
Sophie looked like a lotus blooming after the rain, fresh, graceful, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Of course, her petite frame meant she lacked some of the curves that women like Naomi Monroe possessed, but that only added to her unique charm.
"You’re awake."
The moment Sophie stepped out and found Luca staring blankly at her, a wave of embarrassment washed over her.
Yet beneath that embarrassment was a small sense of satisfaction. freewёbnoνel.com
At least his reaction proved that she was still attractive.
"Luca Hale, about last night..."
"I didn’t do anything to you last night."
Luca immediately raised both hands in surrender.
His answer came so quickly that Sophie didn’t even have time to finish her sentence.
He simply wasn’t the type of man who would take advantage of a woman while she was drunk.
A fleeting look of disappointment flashed through Sophie’s eyes.
It appeared for only a second before disappearing.
"Oh."
She lowered her head slightly and nodded.
After a brief silence, she picked up the hairdryer from the dressing table.
Then she turned toward him.
"Can you... help me dry my hair?"
"Sure."
Luca climbed out of bed and took the hairdryer from her hand.
Standing behind her, he switched it on.
Warm air flowed through Sophie’s damp hair.
The strands slipped effortlessly through his fingers.
They were smooth and silky, carrying a faint fragrance of shampoo that lingered in the air.
Luca had to admit that Sophie’s hair felt unbelievably soft.
By the time it was dry, he almost felt reluctant to stop.
"Done."
He switched off the dryer and placed it back on the table.
However, Sophie remained seated.
She didn’t turn around.
Her slender shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
A few moments later, she suddenly asked,
"Luca... am I pretty?"
Her voice sounded fragile.
Almost vulnerable.
The unexpected question caught Luca off guard.
For a second, he thought he had heard wrong.
"Sophie, what did you say?"
This time she raised her voice slightly.
"I asked if I’m pretty."
"Of course you are."
Luca answered without the slightest hesitation.
In his eyes, Sophie had always been beautiful.
Even back in high school.
Especially back in high school.
The moment his answer fell, Sophie’s emotions finally broke through.
She suddenly turned around.
Her eyes were already red.
"Then why?"
Her voice trembled.
"I deliberately got drunk last night and gave you the perfect opportunity."
"So why were you still completely unmoved?"
Luca felt as though a thousand horses had just stampeded through his mind.
For a split second, a ridiculous thought surfaced.
’Wait... was I actually supposed to do something?’
Fortunately, reason quickly returned.
No.
Absolutely not.
He liked Sophie.
He wanted her.
But he wanted both of them to be completely awake and clear-minded when that day came.
Not under the influence of alcohol.
Not because of desperation.
Not because of pressure.
"Luca..."
Sophie’s voice softened.
"I’m really tired."
"You already know about my family’s situation, don’t you?"
Luca nodded gently.
Trish had already told him everything.
Sophie’s mother was seriously ill.
The burden of the entire family rested on Sophie’s shoulders.
For someone their age, it was almost crushing.
Sophie lowered her head.
Then she took a step forward and buried herself in Luca’s chest.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
"Luca..."
"Take me in."
"And... can you lend me fifty thousand Dollars?"
The moment those words left her mouth, her entire body began trembling.
Luca’s heart tightened.
He could hardly imagine how much courage it had taken for Sophie to say those words.
This was the same proud girl who had always stood at the top of the class.
The same Sophie Kennedy who never accepted favors from anyone.
Yet now she was forcing herself to ask for help.
Slowly, Luca raised a hand and gently stroked the back of her head.
His fingers moved through her soft hair.
Gradually, Sophie’s trembling began to ease.
"Sophie."
His voice was gentle.
"I told you yesterday."
"If you need help, all you have to do is ask."
He absolutely wanted to help Sophie.
But not like this.
Never like this.
He didn’t want money, debt, or desperation mixed into their relationship.
"But I didn’t know how to ask."
Sophie’s voice sounded small.
Almost pitiful.
"It’s fine."
Luca smiled softly.
"Just treat it as a loan."
"You can pay me back whenever you want."
Truthfully, fifty thousand Dollars meant very little to him now.
If saving Sophie’s mother required five hundred thousand or even five million, he wouldn’t hesitate.
After speaking, Luca immediately took out his phone.
A moment later, he completed the transfer.
Sophie’s own phone vibrated.
When she saw the amount, her eyes widened.
"One hundred thousand?"
"Luca!"
"I only asked for fifty thousand!"
"Why did you send double that?"
Luca shrugged casually.
"Your mother will need supplements, rehabilitation, and follow-up care after treatment."
"That all costs money."
"But this is one hundred thousand Dollars!"
Sophie’s anxiety immediately surfaced.
"How am I supposed to pay all of this back?"
Luca grinned.
"If you can’t pay it back..."
"Then don’t."
Sophie blinked.
"What does that mean?"
Luca laughed.
"Just treat it as a bride price."
For a moment, Sophie stared at him blankly.
Then her face instantly turned red.
"You are so annoying!"
She lightly punched his arm.
"I bet this is how you trick all the girls around you."
Earlier that morning, she’d accidentally noticed a message notification from a woman on Luca’s phone.
Although she hadn’t asked about it, she wasn’t blind.
With Luca’s looks and current success, there was no way he lacked admirers.
Besides, who gives a one-hundred-thousand-Dollar bride price in a small city like Ashford?"
Luca rubbed his nose awkwardly.
’That’s because you haven’t seen the real world yet.’
Just a few days ago, he’d encountered a family demanding a one-hundred-thousand-Dollar dowry, a luxury car, and a massive apartment before even discussing marriage.
Compared to that, his "bride price" joke was practically charity.
Seeing the morning slipping away, both of them finally prepared to get dressed.
Naturally, Sophie returned to the bathroom to change.
The moment the bathroom door closed—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A series of loud knocks suddenly exploded from outside the hotel room door.
The violent pounding shattered the peaceful atmosphere instantly.
