Mismatched Hearts

Chapter 41

LUCAS

I spent the morning with doing bonding activities with Takumi. It was also a way of distracting him from asking questions about why he hadn't seen Quinn in a while.
She was finally safe but had returned to Italy for a while. I told him that she was busy and she called saying she would see him later.

After lunch, he had settled to play his games while I sat in my office doing some work and catching up with my lawyer on the phone about the plans to adopt Takumi.
A knock came from my door.

"Okay, Thanks for the update. I'll call you later," I said and cut the call.
"Come in."

The door opened and Royanne walked in.

"Butterfly," I said while walking to her and embracing her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around me.

"I was doing a bit of work and let me wrap up and I'll be right with you," I said while walking back to my desk so that I start saving my work before closing the windows and shutting down the laptop.

"So how was your weekend?" I asked. She seemed too quiet.

"It was okay, had a last minute shoot, finished my assignments and then attended a gala with my parents," she replied.

"Oh, I didn't know you attended. I saw your parents there, I just didn't think-,"

"Didn't think I'd be in attendance cause it's not my scenery?"

I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her.
"What is this about?"

"Nothing. It's not like you would have noticed, you had company and I'm sure she kept you occupied,"

"Is this what this is about? Rosetta is someone I've known for years. I thought we talked about trust. But if it makes you feel better, she has a boyfriend."

"It's not just about that. Lucas can I ask a question, why have you never made a move to introduce me to your family?"

She must be high on drugs or something.
"Well for starters, as far as they are concerned, you're dating someone else. And I introduced you to my cousin before this circus started."

She bit her lip and stayed silent for a while. I wondered what made her come here with her claws out ready to attack me.

"Would your family approve of me?" She asked after her stretch of silence.

"I don't know what put all these thoughts in your head but what my family thinks is non of my business. It's me you're dating."

"I've spent my whole life not living up to people's expectations. People are constantly judging me and it's driving me crazy. You say it's you I'm dating.
Well I just broke up with Demetri. Let's say we go public, I'm not going to meet your family's expectations. And don't shit me and say they would accept me whole heartedly."

I knew there was truth to what she was saying. Even as a child I knew they had great expectations from me. I know I had to be the best and better.
But I also knew my parents married for love and that they would want me to marry for love too.
"It's the 21st century. They don't get to dictate who I'm in a relationship with. And I can put my cars on the table that my mother would love you.
If you love what you're doing it shouldn't matter what people think. In all honesty, maybe just the people most dearest to can at least be heard. And you know your parents and brothers are proud of you too."