Free Web NovelChapter 58: A Cheap Shield!
The customized black G-Class rolled smoothly out of the front courtyard of San Fierro Medical University before merging onto the bustling commercial street that cut through the heart of the university district.
Although it was still a little before eight in the morning, the neighborhood was already alive. Cafes were filled with sleepy students clutching cups of coffee, breakfast stalls sent clouds of steam into the cool morning air, and shop owners pulled up their shutters to welcome the day’s first customers.
As Luca drove past the lively street, he suddenly remembered the phone call he’d shared with Naomi a few days earlier.
She had happily told him she’d hired a professional moving company to transport all of her belongings into Golden Water Bay Villa.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Since she was officially moving in today, it felt wrong to show up empty-handed.
He parked by the roadside, stepped out of the G-Class, and walked into a nearby flower boutique. After a few minutes, he came back out carrying a delicate bouquet of fresh mountain laurels wrapped in elegant white paper.
Simple.
Clean.
Just like Naomi herself.
He then stopped by an old breakfast stall, buying freshly baked bread along with two cups of warm milk before making his way back toward the car.
Not far away, another pair of eyes had already locked onto him.
Ever since Rebecca Palmer had witnessed Luca walking hand in hand with another breathtakingly beautiful woman at an upscale shopping district a few days ago, she had been unable to stop thinking about him.
Every morning she spent nearly an hour choosing clothes, applying makeup, and perfecting every detail of her appearance before leaving for class.
She had even blocked every former boyfriend on her contact list.
Including the clingy Matthew Montgomery, whom she’d long since renamed "Annoying Sheep."
Rebecca had always envied Arabella Windsor.
Arabella never flaunted her wealth, but every girl at San Fierro University knew she came from money. Luxury handbags, Cartier jewelry, designer clothing... those weren’t special occasions for her. They were everyday outfits.
Rebecca had convinced herself there was only one explanation.
Luca.
Surely all those luxury items had been gifts from him.
Every time she imagined Arabella enjoying that lavish lifestyle, jealousy gnawed at her heart.
’If I can become Luca’s woman...’
’Even if I’m only his mistress...’
’I’d gladly accept it.’
As for Matthew?
She had already grown sick of him.
He’d spent the past week bombarding her with messages, begging her to reconcile. He had even waited outside her classroom several times.
Unable to tolerate him anymore, Rebecca finally agreed to meet him this morning just to end everything once and for all.
But the moment she arrived...
She saw it.
The familiar G-Class parked beside the road.
Her breathing immediately quickened.
Following the direction of the vehicle, she spotted the tall figure standing at the breakfast stall with flowers in one hand and breakfast in the other.
Luca Hale.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Without wasting another second, Rebecca adjusted her posture, softened her expression, and gracefully walked toward him.
"Excuse me."
Her voice was gentle and pleasant.
"Those flowers are absolutely beautiful. May I ask where you bought them?"
Luca turned around.
Standing before him was a heavily made-up woman dressed in expensive designer labels. The perfume surrounding her was so strong it nearly overpowered the scent of the flowers.
Her eyes weren’t admiring the bouquet.
They were studying him.
"The flower shop is just around that corner."
Luca pointed casually toward the boutique.
"You won’t miss it."
Rebecca’s smile widened.
The conversation had started exactly as she’d hoped.
She took another small step closer.
"Oh... I’m actually not familiar with this area."
She gave him a helpless smile.
"Would you mind showing me where it is?"
"No."
Luca answered without hesitation.
"I have somewhere to be."
He accepted the breakfast from the elderly vendor, paid with his phone, and turned toward his vehicle.
Rebecca felt her smile stiffen.
’He’s leaving?’
Her mind raced for another opportunity.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
"Becca!"
Matthew Montgomery jogged over with an excited grin, holding an elegant Louis Vuitton gift box.
"I knew you’d come."
"Look what I bought for you!"
He proudly opened the box, revealing a brand-new designer handbag.
"It cost me eighteen hundred dollars."
"I saved for months."
"I know how much you like luxury brands."
His eyes were full of hope.
"So... can we start over?"
Rebecca looked at the handbag as though it were garbage.
Then she laughed.
Coldly.
"Matthew, are you serious?"
"You think a cheap handbag can win me back?"
"I’ve already told you countless times."
"I don’t love you anymore."
"And besides..."
She deliberately smiled before pointing toward Luca.
"I already have a new boyfriend."
Matthew’s expression froze.
"...What?"
Rebecca wrapped one arm around Luca’s sleeve before he could move away.
"This is Luca Hale."
"He’s my boyfriend."
"He’s richer than you’ll ever be, more handsome than you’ll ever become, and drives that customized G-Class over there."
She spoke proudly, as though showing off a priceless trophy.
Luca slowly looked down at the hand clinging to his arm.
His eyes turned noticeably colder.
So...
She knew exactly who he was.
Which meant everything she’d said earlier about being unfamiliar with the area had been nothing but an excuse to approach him.
Now she was using him as a shield against her ex-boyfriend.
He disliked manipulative people.
He disliked being dragged into other people’s messes even more.
Matthew’s fists slowly clenched.
His face twisted with anger.
"You..."
He glared at Luca.
"So you’re the guy stealing my girlfriend?"
Before he could say anything else, Luca calmly stepped sideways, freeing his sleeve from Rebecca’s grasp.
"I’ve never met this woman before today."
His voice was calm, carrying enough clarity for everyone nearby to hear.
"I’m not her boyfriend."
Rebecca’s smile froze.
Matthew blinked.
For a moment, neither of them reacted.
Luca reached for the driver’s door.
Before he could open it completely, Matthew suddenly slammed a hand against it.
"So that’s how you want to play?"
He glared fiercely.
"You think you can humiliate me?"
Luca slowly turned to face him.
His expression was completely devoid of emotion.
"I already told you."
"I don’t know her."
"Whatever relationship the two of you have has nothing to do with me."
Rebecca immediately panicked.
If Luca drove away now, her plan would completely fall apart.
Without thinking, she grabbed his sleeve again.
"Luca..."
She forced out an aggrieved smile.
"How can you say that?"
"You were the one who bought these flowers for me."
"You even showed me where the flower shop was."
"Now you’re pretending not to know me?"
Matthew’s face turned green with rage.
"So it’s true!"
"I knew something was going on!"
He pointed angrily at Luca.
"You’d better stay away from my girlfriend, pretty boy, or I’ll..."
"Let go."
Luca’s voice interrupted him.
It wasn’t loud.
But it was cold enough to make both of them pause.
Rebecca instinctively loosened her grip.
Matthew swallowed.
Only now did he truly notice the difference in size between them.
Luca stood nearly a head taller than he did, broad-shouldered, athletic, and completely composed.
Matthew suddenly wasn’t so confident anymore.
Luca looked directly into his eyes.
"I’ll say it one last time."
"I don’t know her." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"And if you keep dragging me into your problems..."
He took one slow step forward.
"...you’ll regret it."
The pressure in his gaze made Matthew instinctively retreat.
One step.
Then another.
His earlier bravado disappeared almost instantly.
"F-fine..."
He pointed weakly at Luca.
"Just wait."
"We’ll settle this another day."
The moment he finished speaking, he turned around and hurried into the crowd without looking back.
Rebecca stared after him in disbelief.
Then she immediately switched expressions again.
She lowered her head slightly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and looked at Luca with pitiful eyes.
"I’m really sorry."
"I never meant to drag you into this."
She smiled softly.
"How about I treat you to lunch today as an apology?"
Her voice had become noticeably gentler, carrying an almost flirtatious tone.
Luca looked at her for several silent seconds.
Then he removed her hand from his sleeve with one firm motion.
His eyes showed nothing but disgust.
"Stay away from me."
Rebecca froze.
"And stay away from my car."
Without sparing her another glance, Luca opened the driver’s door, placed the flowers and breakfast on the passenger seat, climbed inside, and started the engine.
The powerful G-Class rumbled to life.
A second later, the SUV pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the morning traffic, leaving Rebecca standing alone on the sidewalk.
She stared blankly after the departing vehicle.
The seductive smile she’d worked so hard to maintain had long since vanished.
For the first time in years...
A man hadn’t merely rejected her.
He had looked at her as though she were something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
