From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 488

Teddy grinned at Lucas, that easy smile making everything feel light. “So, what do you want to eat?”

Lucas lit up. “What about a buffet?”

“That works. Nexus Square?”

“Yup, let’s hit it.”

Both of them looked hungry enough to eat the whole city. Their mission was simple: stuff themselves and enjoy it.

After demolishing plate after plate at the buffet, neither boy wanted to head back to campus just yet. Instead, they wandered into the mall’s big arcade, losing themselves in the glow of the machines and the sound of laughter. No matter how old they got, places like these always brought out their inner kids.

“Hey, stop moving, let me do it!” came a playful voice across the room.

Teddy glanced over and paused. By the claw machine, he spotted two people he knew. He was just about to head over and say hi when Lucas grabbed his arm, holding him back. Lucas stared, eyes fixed on Laurinda and the guy next to her, who currently had an arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“Who’s that guy?” Lucas asked, voice a little too tense.

Teddy answered without thinking. “That’s my aunt’s boyfriend.”

“Aunt? Boyfriend?” Lucas repeated, as if the words didn’t make sense.

“Yeah, Laurinda’s my aunt. And that dude? He’s her boyfriend.”

Teddy looked at Lucas, noticing the expression on his face had turned strange. He forgot all about saying hello to Laurinda and the guy—Adolphus, right? Instead, he gave Lucas a knowing look.

Lucas couldn’t hide his frustration. He’d warned Kenny not to treat Laurinda so badly, or someday he’d regret it. Looks like that “someday” had arrived.

Suddenly, a cool voice spoke up behind them. “You know it’s illegal to spread lies, right?”

Both Lucas and Teddy froze. Laurinda had come up behind them without a sound.

“Lucas, let me clear this up. I have never agreed to be your brother’s fiancée. My parents never accepted the Ham family’s proposal, not once. The only person who thought this was a good idea was Baily. If your brother wants a wife, he should talk to Baily, not me.”

“And didn’t the real Austin heiress just return home? Tell your brother to marry her. This has nothing to do with me. If you try spreading this around one more time, I’ll have you shipped right back to Stonehaven.”

Laurinda’s warning left no room for argument. She hated the way people always tried to pair her with Kenny, and Lucas really should’ve known better.