Husband With Benefits
Chapter 403: The Truth

Chapter 403: The Truth

As Isabella poured the drinks for everyone, she couldn’t help but exchange a worried glance with Nora and Olivia. It seemed Ian had been right when he’d guessed Lucien’s behaviour in the office. But she’d never have thought that he would be so right.

According to Ian there had probably been trouble in paradise but with Evana’s words, it seemed the ’paradise’ was on the verge of collapse.

Nora’s voice, tinged with caution, broke the heavy silence. "You and Lucy broke up? Why?"

Evana averted her gaze, her voice barely a whisper. "I don’t know. He never gave me a proper reason. It was the classic, ’its me not you’. We don’t have the time, etc. But his words blindsided me. I was so shocked, I couldn’t find any words. I just sat there, frozen and maybe zoned out. He waited for some time then just walked out. We haven’t spoken since."

Olivia probed further; her voice gentle yet precise. "So, you’re suggesting that Lucien initiated the break up between you two?"

With a miserable nod, Evana confirmed their worst fears. " A break apparently. We need time away from each other because we don’t have time. But isn’t that the same as breaking up? I guess, he wants to try dating other women..."

As Evana silently reached for the bottle, continuing to drink with a mix of desperation and resignation, the others exchanged serious glances, each lost in thought over Lucien’s shocking decision. They knew too well how deeply Lucien felt for Evana, making his sudden change of heart both bewildering and concerning.

Nora voiced her confusion first. "I just can’t wrap my head around it. Lucien and Evana seemed unbreakable. Do you think something happened that we don’t know about? Can it really be stress from work and the distance relationship thing?"

Olivia shook her head, "Maybe for someone else. But knowing Lucien, it doesn’t add up. He’s always been all in when it comes to a relationship and especially more so when it comes to Evana. He wouldn’t need a break unless..." As Olivia was about to say something she paused and looked at Evana consideringly.

Between Lucien and Evana, Olivia knew Lucien better. And from she knew of this brother of hers, the only way Lucien would initiate a break was if he felt it was Evana who needed the break.

However, looking at Evana’s miserable face, it seemed improbably. She looked as if someone had killed her favourite fish and then fed them to the cat. If she indeed needed a break, she should be feeling relieved, right?

As she looked up, she caught Nora’s eyes and realized that like her Nora, too seemed to have come to the same conclusion. In that moment, both of them knew that there was something missing in this equation. A variable they were probably unaware of. Something they would have to find out using a different way.

Isabella cocked her head and murmured,"Unless what, Olivia? What could have triggered this? Lucien’s been head over heels for Evana. Did he join a monastery and take a vow of celibacy?"

"I think he found one of those self-help books? ’10 Steps to Independence: Starting with Breaking Your Own Heart’?" Olivia added as she gently took the bottle from Evana’s hands and passed it to Nora. They didn’t need the girl poisoning herself from alcohol.

"Break your own heart? What about my heart? Why is he doing this? I was doing fine, on my own, wasn’t I? He was the one who pushed his way into my heart and now, he is trampling on it! He wants to go sleep with other women, then he shoud go do it. Make a clean break up with me. Giving me that false excuse and then saying that ’we need a break’ is not it."

Nora nodded and patted Evana’s hand as she said," We ought to catch Lucien and question him about this. If he’s really doing something foolish like this to see another girl then he is not worthy of you, Evana."

Soon, the conversation was steered towards plans to get Lucien to tell them what was going on and be honest about it. He wouldn’t be truthful just because they asked so they needed to sneak an attack on him.

As plans were being hatched, Evana’s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and hurt, barely registering the protective fervor of her friends and sister. It wasn’t until Isabella’s voice, tinged with a hint of suspicion, cut through the noise that Evana snapped back to the present.

"Wait a second," Isabella said, pausing as a thought struck her. "Didn’t Lucien come to see you that week? He came back in such a sour mood. Was it because he broke up with you then? That ba*tard! Me and Ian had to stay in the office for three days and nights to handle his workload. We thought we were helping your romance and that idi*t was breaking up with you."

"Wait a minute." Evana stared in horror at Isabella’s words. The room went silent as all eyes turned to Evana. Her confusion was palpable, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece together the timeline. "When did Lucien come to see me? I... I hadn’t seen him in weeks until I came here for the dress fitting. We’d been sending texts before that, sure, but he never came over. What are you talking about, Isabella?"

Isabella’s eyes widened, realization dawning on her. "But that doesn’t make sense. He flew there as soon as Ian offered. And we know he did go to Estania because of the flight plan. Ian checked it later when Lucien returned later immediately. He thought it was odd because Lucien seemed off afterward, more withdrawn than usual. We all assumed he’d been depressed becasue you were busy..."

However, as Isabella continued to talk, Evana had a sinking feeling in her stomach and asked Isabella to confirm the dates. Could it be that he’d been there on that fateful day? She remembered seeing the flowers in the outer office but...

Evana borke down. She finally knew why Lucien wanted to a break.. It was all her fault.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l