“WHY did you tell him that I’m staying in your room?” Caroline asked Lucas, brows furrowed.
Lucas arched his brow. “Why? Is he going to kill me?”
Caroline rolled her eyes heavenwards. She was surprised when Lucas told Benjamin that she evacuated their room because she transferred to Lucas’s. And, she doesn’t understand why she didn’t correct what he said. Based on Benjamin’s expressions, he must be baffled.
“Did you see his expression? I thought he was going to punch me in the face,” Lucas said and laughed.
“Benjamin won’t do that,” she said. “What time will Hyacinth arrive?”
“Maybe later. The chopper will pick her up after she meets with clients,” he said and ushered her towards the veranda of her room. “When you called me last night, I was with her. She helped me buy all those art materials that you sent to me.”
Caroline smiled. “I haven’t thanked you for it—”
Lucas waved his hand. “It’s nothing. So it’s for the kids? I thought you’re going to donate to some charity here.”
“It’s for them…”
Caroline looked at her feet absentmindedly. She remembered what Nanay Dolor told her last night when they were washing the dishes, the twins got their art skills from their mother, but because of the accident, they stopped doing it because they reminded them of their mom. Caroline felt the need to support them and help them go back to the things that they loved. That’s why when Antonette told her that they wanted to paint for their grandmother’s birthday, she immediately called for Lucas’s help.
“Hyacinth must be contrary to buying those things. She must be thinking that I’m compulsive again—”
Lucas reached for her hand and squeezed it. “She didn’t. Actually, she was the one that found all those things.”
Caroline knew that Lucas was lying. He’s just saying those things because he doesn’t want her to overthink. But she can’t help it. She’s losing control of her emotions, and it’s freaking her out.
“Don’t you want to transfer to a five-star hotel? How about near the beach? It’s kinda full of palm trees here, blocking the view of Alona beach,” he said suddenly, pulling her out from her thoughts.
“I’m fine here,” she said, inhaling the fresh air. “You know that I’m not fond of luxurious hotels.”
“Right, that’s why you broke up with me,” he said and laughed.
Caroline narrowed her eyes at him. “I can see that you have moved on. You’re now talking about it comfortably.”
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I just learned to accept that you’re no longer belongs to me.” He looked down at the veranda. “If his eyes can throw daggers, I might be dead right now.”
Caroline followed Lucas’s eyes and found Benjamin at the bungalow with his daughters. She was about to smile at him when he looked away. Caroline felt her heart was being torn into pieces.
“That guy looked crazily in love with you,” Lucas commented. “Did you see how concerned his face was when he met you at the foyer? It was as if you’ve left him alone.”
“It’s just when he woke up I wasn’t in the room,” she said in a casual tone.
“He’s afraid to lose you—”
“I don’t think so,” she cut off and shifted her gaze to Lucas. “Do you want to walk around the beach?”
Lucas looked into her eyes. At first, she thought, he’s about to say something foolish, but after a few seconds, he just smiled and reached to tap her head. “I think you need a rest. Go and have a nap; I’ll just stay here at the veranda.”
*
BENJAMIN glanced back at Lucas and Caroline. They seemed to be talking about something private based on their close distance from each other. He can’t believe that Caroline could do this despite their relationship.
‘Relationship?’ Benjamin asked himself. Do they even have a relationship? He shook his head. Perhaps it was just pure lust for Caroline. Or, maybe he was just the one assuming it?
“Dad, look, Antonette made a portrait of Aunt Caroline.” Anastacia showed him her twin’s artwork on an A3 sketchpad. “Aunt Caroline will love this, right?”
Benjamin smiled. He’s still couldn’t believe that her daughters were doing their favorite hobbies again. “I’m sure she’ll love that. Where did you get your reference?” he asked, pointing at Antonette.
Antonette didn’t answer. She snatched the sketchpad from her sister and resumed working on it. “Aunt Caroline is prettier in this angle,” she said, smiling.
Anastacia giggled and peeked at her twin’s work. “Oh, I remember that shot! It was at the Balloon Festival!”
Benjamin stood and looked at Antonette’s work. Anastacia’s right; it was a candid shot of Caroline while watching the Hot Air Balloon lit up in the sky. Benjamin didn’t know that while he was busy watching Caroline’s expression during that day, his daughter, Antonette, was taking pictures of her.
“So you don’t hate her that much during that time?” Anastacia asked and nudged her sister to the shoulder.
Antonette’s hand slid, ruining the art. She shot a glare at Anastacia. “Why don’t you just focus on your painting?”
Anastacia pouted her lips. “Give me an idea of what to paint—”
“Ask Aunt Caroline; she always has the better ideas,” Antonette said, then looked at him. “Dad, where’s Aunt Caroline?”
Benjamin paused. He hesitated to tell his daughters that Caroline was busy with her man. “I’ll find her.”
“I think she’s at the kitchen, helping Nanay Dolor and Aunt Nikki cook the dishes,” Anastacia said. “Can you please call her, dad? Thanks in advance! `Love you!”
Benjamin chuckled. “Do I have a choice?”
He went inside the house but didn’t go to the kitchen. Benjamin knew that Caroline wasn’t there because she was with Lucas. She’s with her billionaire boyfriend. Benjamin clenched his jaw; he never thought that he would feel this way because of her.
“That guy is a billionaire, and me? I’m just a lowly coffee shop owner—and I’m not even a bachelor,” he said and walked towards the basement, where the wine cellar and minibar are located.
***