Arranged Marriage: Beneath The Rumors

Chapter 64: A Gratitude Kiss

Lisa furrowed a bit before understanding. "You mean Lugard?" Her thoughts flashed back to the rumors that had painted him as an ugly beast. She had believed them, and her father's arranged marriage had left her terrified.

"But who knows, the man behind the rumors was as handsome as a god—extraordinarily handsome, surpassing any celebrity." Lisa's laughter filled the line. "That was a huge surprise, Dad. I never expected that ending."

Mr. Davis chuckled, clearly delighted. "I know you were really scared back then, and you even got angry with me because of it. Are you still mad at me?"

Lisa's tone turned playful. "I'm still mad at you, Dad."

Mr. Davis's warm laughter reassured her. "I'm glad I could surprise you, baby. Now, how is my boy treating you? Is he making you happy?"

Lisa's gaze drifted to the balcony, her eyes widened, Lugard  appeared, relaxing against the railing as he gazed at the dark clouds. His presence seemed to command the space around him.

"Yeah...yeah..." Lisa's words faltered, her throat constricting as Lugard's eyes met hers, his gaze intense, as if waiting for her to talk nonsense about him.

Lugard's piercing gaze held Lisa's, as if sensing her emotions. She felt a shiver run down her spine, her heart racing. Mr. Davis's voice brought her back to reality.

"Lisa, baby, are you there? You seemed to have spaced out," Mr. Davis said, concern creeping into his tone.

Lisa cleared her throat, attempting to compose herself. "Yeah, Dad, I'm here. Sorry about that." She forced a laugh. "Just got distracted by the beautiful view."

Lugard's gaze lingered on hers for a moment before he turned back to the cityscape, his expression unreadable.

"So, tell me more about Lugard," Mr. Davis pressed on. "Is he treating you well? Does he make you feel loved?"

Lisa's thoughts swirled, memories of Lugard's cold attitude, gentle touch, his hurtful words, and his unwavering support flooding her mind. "Yes, Dad, he's...he's amazing," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lugard's ears seemed to perk up at her words, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

Mr. Davis's warm tone filled the line. "I'm glad to hear that, baby. You deserve all the happiness in the world. I'll let you go now. Take care, and I'll talk to you soon."

Lisa smiled, feeling a mix of emotions. "Love you, Dad."

"Love you too, baby," Mr. Davis replied before hanging up.

As Lisa lowered her phone, Lugard turned to her, his eyes searching. ".

Lugard turned and looked at her, his piercing eyes locking onto hers. Lisa stared at his beautiful face, her heart skipping a beat.

"What did you need, Mr. Lu?" Lisa asked, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in her chest.

Lugard stepped closer to her, his tall frame towering over her like a mountain. Lisa swallowed hard, feeling the air thicken between them.

"Mr. Lu, what do you want to do?" Lisa asked nervously, her voice barely above a whisper.

"If I weren't here, what did you want to tell your dad about me?" Lugard asked, his tone calm and teasing, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

Lisa smiled, looking up at him. "I'd say you're a good man, the best," she replied, her voice steady, despite the racing of her heart.

Lugard's gaze held hers, his expression unreadable. The silence between them was palpable, charged with tension.