"Tada! Surprise!"

Ashley beamed proudly as her gaze darted between Lucian and Primo.

She shook her hands beside her face like pom-poms, her arms spread wide.

Lucian studied the flower arrangement before him, momentarily stunned by the surprise she had prepared.

Clap... clap... clap...

Standing between them, Primo clapped enthusiastically as though he had just finished watching a stage performance.

[This is so pretty!]

Lucian smiled. His eyes softened as he took in the beautiful arrangement, the flowers decorated with several photos of their family.

"It is beautiful," he agreed, nodding.

He turned toward Ashley and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Thank you."

Then he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on top of her head.

Ashley giggled happily. She was satisfied that he liked it.

It wasn’t anything grand.

This was only the beginning of her love-bombing campaign.

*****

While the family of three admired the display, the group across the street narrowed their eyes.

Slowly, Red, Gin, Rum, and Tank turned toward Khan.

"Hmmm?" Betty’s brows twitched.

She followed the strange atmosphere and immediately spotted the group staring daggers at Khan. Her face twitched.

Nolan also turned toward the men who had been spending their days around Lucian.

The moment he saw their expressions, he already understood.

Meanwhile, Khan blinked. "What?"

"Tch." Rum clicked his tongue and leaned against Red, his eyes never leaving Khan. "Red, he’s really trying his best to become Madam’s right-hand man."

"What an opportunist," Red hissed.

He pointed accusingly.

"Hey, Khan. Just because you’ve been assigned to Madam lately and she told me to stay with the Master doesn’t mean she likes you better." He narrowed his eyes. "This is cheating."

Khan: "..."

Betty: "..."

Nolan, meanwhile, let out a long sigh.

Khan had simply offered to help arrange flowers out of goodwill. Yet somehow, these idiots had convinced themselves he was making a political move.

At this point, Nolan wasn’t even sure how their brains worked anymore.

"I genuinely have no idea," he muttered.

His voice was almost drowned out by Red’s continued accusations.

Betty glanced at him and then followed his gaze toward the family taking pictures beside the flowers.

"How do they still not realize she’s already chosen her right and left hands?" Nolan whispered, shaking his head.

He looked back at the group. "The way she split her people already tells the whole story."

Had they spent half as much time analyzing Ashley’s orders as they spent arguing, they wouldn’t be having this discussion.

Betty nodded.

Even she already knew.

Obviously, Ashley had chosen Khan... as her left hand.

And Red? As her right hand.

Why?

Because it was obvious.

Ashley had assigned Red to stay with Lucian.

Not because they needed to exchange bodyguards. There were plenty of other people who could’ve handled that assignment.

She chose Red because she trusted him to prioritize Lucian above everything else.

That alone said enough.

"At this point, Nolan, I can’t tell if they’re pretending to be dumb or if they’re actually idiots," Betty muttered.

The two of them watched as the argument somehow escalated further because of something Khan had said.

Neither wanted any part of it.

Without another word, Betty and Nolan quietly retreated.

If things turned into a brawl, they certainly weren’t getting involved.

*****

That evening, the De Lucas family hosted another dinner.

"Dear." In the middle of the meal, Liza dragged her chair closer to Ashley. "I saw your little surprise for Lucian."

Her eyes sparkled. "Good job."

Ashley immediately blushed.

The idea had actually come from Liza.

According to her, she had once in a while arranged flowers for Tommy, and he had loved them.

Her exact words had been:

"It might sound strange, but men don’t mind receiving flowers once in a while. Trust me. Lucian will love it."

So when Ashley saw the flower vendor earlier, she originally intended to buy Lucian a bouquet.

Somewhere along the way... that plan escalated.

"Anyway..." Liza glanced around the table before leaning closer. "About the other things I told you..."

She whispered into Ashley’s ear.

The more Ashley listened, the redder her face became.

By the time Liza pulled away, Ashley’s cheeks were practically crimson. She puffed her cheeks and squeezed Liza’s arm.

"Auntie," she whispered. "Please don’t say it like that."

Liza snickered behind her hand.

"Don’t worry." Then she winked. "How about we take Primo with us tonight?"

Ashley immediately bit her lower lip.

Her eyes drifted toward Lucian, Primo, and Tommy, who were busy talking among themselves.

Then she looked back at Liza.

Liza simply smiled and wiggled her brows.

"It’s a holiday tomorrow," she reminded her. "Primo doesn’t have school."

Ashley lowered her head and whispered, "But Auntie... Lucian is still undergoing treatment."

"Oh, dear." Liza chuckled again. "Even if they’re dying, they’d still do it."

She winked.

"Trust me. Men are that simple." Then she bumped her shoulder against Ashley’s. "Take him to heaven, dear."

*****

After dinner, Liza casually asked if she and Tommy could take Primo home for the night.

Lucian glanced at Ashley for approval. Since she didn’t object, he agreed.

Primo adored the couple. And Lucian knew the boy would be perfectly safe with them.

After all, Tommy was no ordinary man.

*

*

*

"Bye!"

Ashley waved from outside the house.

Lucian stood beside her, watching the car.

"We’ll keep you updated about Primo," Liza said through the lowered window.

Then she looked directly at Ashley and winked.

"Have fun, dear!"

Ashley maintained her smile, though it now carried a noticeable hint of nervousness.

The car eventually drove away.

Lucian glanced at her, curiosity clear on his face.

"Have fun?" he repeated. "What was Madam Liza talking about?"

"Ah!" Ashley laughed a little too quickly. "It’s... it’s nothing."

She waved both hands. "I mean, she’s just talking about work stuff. Like... have fun with whatever."

"I see." Lucian nodded thoughtfully. Then he gestured toward the house. "Shall we go inside?"

Ashley immediately brightened. "Okay!"

She skipped ahead while Lucian followed behind.

As she walked, however, she occasionally opened and closed her mouth.

Then opened it wider.

Then closed it again.

Almost as if she were testing something.

Behind her, Lucian frowned.

He watched her repeat the strange motion several times.

Does her jaw hurt?

His brows knitted together.

She’s stretching it very wide.