Never Alone, Through Sorrow. Pretending Until Real.

Background Information:- Lucy was never kidnapped by Caleb.- This story takes place just before Jackson's death.- Angela and Lucy get along very well together.- Nyla has been there from the beginning.

It was a quiet afternoon in Los Angeles when Lucy Chen, a detective with the police, received a call from her beloved uncle Cole Wang. He invited her for a coffee at his favorite café in the city. Lucy had always had a warm bond with her uncle Cole, who had supported her through thick and thin, especially after the difficult breakup with her mother and stepfather. Arriving at the café, Lucy saw her uncle sitting at a corner table. He looked a bit paler and thinner than she remembered, but his smile was still as radiant as ever. She walked over and hugged him tightly."Lucy, my dear niece," Cole said with a warm smile, "it's good to see you." "It's good to see you too, Uncle Cole," Lucy replied as she sat down. "How are you?" Cole's smile softened slightly. "There's something I need to tell you, Lucy," he began slowly. "I'm sick. Terminally ill. The doctors don't give me much time." Lucy felt her heart sink. She took his hand and squeezed it. "Uncle Cole, I... I don't know what to say. This is terrible news." Cole nodded. "I know, dear Lucy. But I've had a good life. There's only one thing I regret: not being able to see you happy in your own life. I would love to see you engaged, sharing your life with someone who loves you."Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes. She didn't want to disappoint her uncle in his final days. In a surge of emotion and concern for his well-being, she heard herself saying, "Uncle Cole, don't worry. I am engaged." Cole's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and joy. "Please tell me it's with Tim? The Tim you always talk about? The police officer?" Lucy nodded, forcing a smile. "Yes, Tim. We've been engaged for a while, but we wanted to keep it quiet." Cole's face beamed with happiness. "Oh, Lucy, this is the best news I've heard in a long time. You make me so happy. Now I can go peacefully."

After their meeting, Lucy hurried back to her apartment, desperately trying to figure out how to explain this situation to Tim. When she finally met him by their cars after their shift, she felt nervous and tense. "Lucy, you look tense," Tim remarked when he saw her sitting there. "What's going on?" Lucy sighed deeply and looked him straight in the eye. "Tim, I need to tell you something. It's about my uncle Cole. He's terminally ill. He told me his only regret is not seeing me engaged. In a moment of impulse, to reassure him, I said that we are engaged." Lucy looked down. Tim looked at her, surprised, but also felt a wave of pity and understanding for Lucy's situation. "Lucy, that's... a big lie to uphold. But I understand why you did it. How can I help?"Lucy felt a wave of relief at his willingness to help. She looked at him again. "I know it's asking a lot, but would you be willing to go along with this lie? At least until my uncle... you know."Tim nodded. "Of course, Lucy. If this means your uncle can spend his last days happier, then I'll do it."

The following week was filled with preparations for Uncle Cole's beach wedding, which he had always wanted. Lucy and Tim began to take their roles as fiancés seriously. They practiced their story, worked on their acting skills, and tried to radiate as much love and affection as possible whenever they were around her uncle. A week later, the weekend of the beach wedding arrived. It was a beautiful summer day in a small coastal town, with clear blue skies and gentle waves lapping at the beach. The small town had beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the scent of saltwater hung heavily in the air. Lucy and Tim arrived at the beach house where Cole was spending his final days."Are you ready?" Tim asked as he parked the car and looked at Lucy."No," Lucy replied with a sigh. Tim chuckled and got out of the car. When Lucy eventually stood next to Tim, she took a deep breath in and out. "It's okay, it's just UC work." "Hmmh." "Come on." Tim takes her hand. They held each other's hands as they walked into the house, their fingers intertwined in a gesture of affection. Lucy felt her heart beat faster at the thought of her uncle's face when he would see them together. Cole greeted them with a broad smile, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Lucy, Tim, it's so great to see you!" Lucy smiled and Tim gave her a reassuring squeeze. "We wouldn't miss it for the world, Uncle Cole." In the days leading up to the ceremony, they spent cherished moments helping Cole with the preparations. Lucy and Tim worked side by side, their shared responsibility and secret pact bringing them closer together. They laughed together, exchanged stolen glances of affection, a kiss here and there, sat close to each other always, and enjoyed the moments of peace they spent with Cole. On the evening before the wedding, they sat together on the balcony of the beach house, watching the sunset turn the sky into fiery shades of red and orange. Lucy leaned against Tim's warm body. Tim kissed Lucy's hair. Cole looked at them lovingly, his eyes shining with joy and gratitude. "I can't thank you enough for what you're doing," he said softly. "This means the world to me." Lucy felt a tear roll down her cheek. "We're happy to do it, Uncle Cole. You've done so much for me. This is the least we can do." Tim pulled her even closer and planted a kiss on her forehead. He looked Cole straight in the eye and said with a determined voice, "We want you to be happy, Cole. That's what matters most."