Ayla stared back at him. "I'm not mad at you. Why would I get mad at you? Lucas, did you know? For so long, I've felt like I owed you so much for. everything you've done for me. And it's good that things turned out the way they did. Abitter smile appeared on his lips. Her words implied that she wanted to move on from him and start a new life with Brian. Lucas kept drinking a shot of whiskey one after another. “Lala, do you feel happy when you're with Brian?". If she said that she was happy, would he just give up on her? And if she said that she loved being with Brian, should he just smile. at her and wish her all the best?However, Ayla just chuckled. "Happy, you say? Lucas, don't you know? I used to think that I could someday live a happy and fulfilling life, but ever since that. day two years ago, that happiness was lost. No matter how hard I kept trying to search for this so-called happiness, I could never. find it. I'm not happy at all; not one bit. The smile on her face faded, and was replaced with tears. Lucas put down his glass and embraced her. "Lala, happiness can easily be gained as long as you want to have it. Why can't you just face how you truly feel? Can't you just. follow that voice inside your heart?". It seemed that during these past two years, she never once felt happy. If she hadn't gotten drunk, she never would've told him how she truly felt. "Are you going to start anew with Brian? To find your happiness?". Was she planning to take back what she had lost from Brian? But that man could never give her the happiness she desired! How. could she be so stubborn about this? Ayla drank another glass of wine. "Is it even possible for me to be with him?" That man lacked morality. He was willing to do whatever it took to gain what he desired. If so, what did Brian want from her? Did he want her body? Or her heart? And after he had gotten what he wanted, would he just. hurt her again? Upon seeing that Ayla was so drunk, Lucas helped her out of the bar. "Lala, you're drunk. Let’s go,” he suggested. "I'm not drunk, Lucas. I'm not!" she murmured repeatedly. Was she drunk? If she was, then why did she still feel so heartbroken? And if she was indeed drunk, why was that man still in her. mind? She was so foolish. She had known beforehand that she would just get hurt, and yet she loved him anyway. As he walked her to the side of the road, Lucas said, "Why are you so stubborn, Lala? If you had chosen to leave this place with

me, things would've been different!". He was willing to take her away, but she didn't want 2 go. She would rather stay with Brian and get hurt. How could he feel at ease as he watched he r make her life miserable? The love of his life wanted to be with another man, and all . he could do was wat ch as things unfurl ed before his eyes. "Lucas, some things are in evitable. " Ayla placed her hands on Lucas’ shoulders. Her legs had grown weak because of the liquor, but she was still sober. Glancing back at her, he sa id, "Okay, you need to rest now. Let me drive you home. He then opened t he door of his ca r and let her in. But all of a sudden, Ayla held his hand. “Lucas, I don't want to go back there. Don't take me back to that place. She wanted to be awa y from that apartmen t just for one night. That place only r eminded her of th at heartless man. Luca s si ghed. "You're exhausted, are n't you? I understand. I won't send you back. Instead of the a partment, he drov e her to a hotel. On their way to the ho tel, Ayla fell asleep on the passenger seat. After pulling his ca r over, Lucas decide d not to wake her up. Instead, he gently pic ked her up. Meanwhile, Haley had been waiting in Lucas ’ room. She had been pregnant for three mon ths, but he still felt indifferent towards . h e r. His attitude made her up set, but at least he was n't meeting up with Ayla. Unfortunately, he w ould always go out t o drink every night. Was he really so uncomfortable around her ? She was pregnant with his child! Didn't he feel anything about that? Just as she . was about to leave, she noticed Lucas heading towards the room , carrying a woman in his arms. She recogn ized that i t was Ayla. "Lucas, what are you doing? Didn't you jus t see her not long ago? Why did you bring her here? Are you trying to piss me off on . purpose? You really want me to lose th is baby, don't you?" . Haley scolded Lucas. Without even casting her a glance, he went into the ro om, placing Ayla on the bed. Haley f ollowed him in. Before she could star t the argument again, Lucas pulled her away. "Haley, just go back to sleep

Let's talk about th is in the morning, okay?" . He knew that Ayla was tire d, so he just wanted her t o get a good night's sleep. Reluctantly, Haley chose to go back to her room a nd slammed the door shut. ‘I knew it! That tramp, Ayla, got drunk on purpose because she wants to be with L ucas! Meanwhile, Lucas was sitting on the . edge of the bed, w atching as Ayla dr ifted into slumber. Her eyes had dark circles around them. She probably had n't rested well for a long time. Her life wit h Brian must be horrible. So, why did she keep choosing to be with him? By the time Ayl a woke up, it was already noon. When she turned arou nd, she saw Lucas be side her on the bed. Gradually, she came to her se nses, and remembered that she had gotten drunk last night. Carefully, she p laced the blanke t over his body. But despite how quietly she mo ved, Lucas still woke up. He re ached out to grab Ayla’s hand. "Lala, are you awake? How do you feel? Di d you sleep well last night? She withdrew her hand, and said, "I'm sorry for causing . trouble for you la st night, Lucas. ! d rank way too much. He then got up to look he r in the eye. "Don't drink alone again like you did last ni ght. If you're having a terrible day, give me a call. And if Brian is mistreating you again, . come find me, and I'll help you as best as I can. He didn’t wa nt her to fe el desolate. But other than to take her away from Antawood, he could n't do anything to help her. As a matter of fact, his pres ence around her would only ge t her in trouble. Ayla nodded. "Okay, I will. I'm just really busy with work r ecently, but I'm fine. It was true that she ha d been working long hour s to finish her designs. But if all the accolades she gained only h appened because of Brian's manipulation, wa s there still a point in continuing to work . on her craft? Lucas held he r in his arms. "I know that I've hurt you, Lala, but ca n you still treat me as your friend? You shouldn't bear all these burdens alone. Ayla pressed her cheek agai nst his chest. She had lost th is sense of rel ief for so long. During the years she was with him, wheneve r she was in great pain, she would always press herself close to his body like this. Perhaps this was th e last time she wou ld ever do it again