: The Boyfriend

"You know what, Lucas? You are insane!" Lily yelled, pulling her arm away from him. She did it so forcefully that the necklace around Lucas' neck bounced to reveal that golden tag with her name carved on it.

Instantly, Lily stilled. Her heart skipped a beat while her eyes were glued to the pendant. This was the same necklace and pendant Lucas bought the week before he disappeared.

More questions formed in her head, ‘Why was he wearing this? Did he still care? If he cared, then why did he leave in the first place?’

Lily's eyes could not help but brim with tears as she stared at the pendant. With this discovery, she looked into his eyes and begged, "Please, Lucas. Tell me why you left, and maybe we can set aside all this misunderstanding."

Lucas maintained eye contact. He clenched his jaws and said, "I can't, Lily. I just can't."

“Then -" Lily finally snapped. "I don't want this assignment. Talk to the major about this because there is no way I can stand being in the same room as you, much more, breathe the same air as you!"

She grabbed her duffle bag and threatened, "I'm leaving. Don't you dare say a word about it to Major Patton!"

"Lily," Lucas called, but Lily was already at the door.

The bodyguards watching outside tried to reason with Lily, but Lucas said to his men, "Let her go. You'll only end up hurting yourself. She isn't a simple lion."

"Good that you know!" Lily yelled upon walking in the direction of the lift.

***

"Where are you flying to, Miss?" The ticketing agent at Rose Hills airport asked.

Where does she want to go? Lily did not know. She pursed her lips, wiping the tear that fell down her face. She told the woman before her, "Excuse me, let me make a phone call real quick."

Stepping aside and finding an isolated corner in the airport, Lily cursed, "Fuck, why am I crying? I really hate you, Lucas!"

She took out her phones. She had two: her personal phone and the one meant for the mission. She dialed Jake's number.

"Lily, what a surprise! I thought you were out on a mission?" Jake, her boyfriend, answered after two calls.

"Yes, things have changed, and I need you, Jake. I need to talk to you," Lily said. "You are in Lockwood, right? I'm in Rose Hills. Can I see you for a few hours? I won't disturb your business trip. I will go to be with Aiden after our talk."

She sighed and reiterated, "I want to see you."

"Of course, Babe. Come to see me in Lockwood. I am staying at Blue Intercontinental. Call me when you have arrived and Let's have dinner together. I missed you," Jake said, but Lily felt a lump in her throat and could not say the same words back.

Instead, Lily responded, "Thank you, Jake. I'll see you in about two hours."

The truth was, Lily hoped that seeing Jake would make her stop thinking of Lucas. Thus, she went out of her way to see him.

***

"Ah, there she is!" Jake exclaimed. His gorgeous grey eyes sparkled at the sight of Lily. He hugged her and pecked her lips. "God, I miss you so much, but this life of dating a military woman sure is tough."

"I -" Lily flushed. "I'm sorry you had to bear with that."

"It's alright, Lily. I understand. Come inside. Let's have a wonderful meal together," Jake suggested while grabbing her hand. They went to the main restaurant, and Jake quickly ordered Lily's favorite food.

As they ate, Lily studied Jake. He had dark hair and sharp features. He almost looked like Lucas in the past, except his eyes were gray. Suddenly, Lily dropped her fork. She covered her face with the realization that Jake looked somewhat like the old Lucas.

'Oh, my god,' Lily said to herself. She had probably seen this before and simply lied to herself. ‘Did I date Jake because he looked a bit like Lucas?’

"Babe, is there something bothering you?" Jake asked, interrupting Lily’s thoughts.

"Nothing," Lily quickly recovered and faked a smile. She drank her wine and poured more, gulping down three glasses in a row.

"Woah." Jake laughed. He said, "Are you sure everything is okay, Lily?"

Nodding her head, Lily answered, "Yes. I'm just pressured with work."

Jake was an heir to a known construction company in Braeton, the Bass Power Construction. He was currently the Marketing Director. Lily met him through her brother, Liam.

Liam had introduced Jake to Lily as one of their new contractors. Often, Jake traveled to other cities to make proposals, hoping to get another project for the company. That was why he was in Lockwood.

"Lily, my job here will be extended for another week," Jake revealed. "But I'll see you after that, right? Since your mission is canceled."

With a smile, Lily faintly replied, "Yes, it's fine. Do what you have to do here. Aiden wants me to spend time with him."

She continued to finish her meal, but just as she did, she saw a familiar figure walking towards them. It was her former high school classmate, Alicia Bennet.

Immediately, Lily frowned. She said, "What is Alicia doing here?"

Jake turned in shock, saying, "Alicia? Oh." He shrugged and said, "I don't know."

Alicia Bennet was obsessed with Lily's boyfriend. She flaunted her admiration towards Jake, not bothering to be discreet. She would post it on her social media and tell some of Lily's high school classmates.

This woman had long, straight blonde hair and dressed like a model. She was rather the opposite of Lily.

As expected, Alicia walked over to their table. She smiled and said, "Fancy meeting you here."

"Really? You did not stalk Jake, right?" Lily asked while gazing at her boyfriend.

"So what if I did?" Alicia rolled her eyes. She said, "I at least have the freedom to do that."

Jake sneered at Alicia's words. He appeared to be disgusted by this woman. He said to Lily, "Ignore her, Babe. Eat your food. Let’s not waste our breath on her.”

"The truth is, I'm with my friends. I guess I'll be on my way," Alicia said before joining a table where three other girls were waiting for her.

"Is she bothering you? I could ask my cousin to teach her and her family a lesson," Lily offered to Jake.

Jake merely laughed and said, "This is the first time I have seen her in Lockwood. Don't bother yourself with unimportant people, Lily. Let's just enjoy our dinner."

After their meal, Jake invited Lily to his hotel room. She agreed. Again, she wanted to convince herself that she had moved on with Jake, but she did not last a second when her boyfriend kissed her on the lips.

Lily pulled away and made an excuse, "I - I'm sorry, Jake. I wasn't expecting to stay longer. I booked a flight to Braeton at ten in the evening."

"oh, that's a shame," Jake muttered. He smiled and cupped her face. He said, "Don’t worry. I will always understand you because I love you, Lily. You know that. I will always be patient with you."

He grabbed her hand gently and said, "Let's go and get you a taxi."

***

Earlier that day.

Through a security surveillance video, Lucas watched as Lily left the Headquarters of the Thompson Group of Companies. His eyes were fixed on her slender frame, her small and cute face that had not aged over the years.

Like him, Lily was already in her early thirties, but her face looked so young.

Lucas did not want her to leave, but Lily was a force to reckon with. It wasn’t the time. He needed the right opportunity and he was determined to find it.

He glanced up at his assistant and said, "Ryan. Have someone follow her. Update me on her whereabouts.”

"Yes, Sir," a man, also well-built with blond hair, acknowledged.

Lucas returned to work for the rest of the day. He did not leave his office and wasn't planning to until nighttime.

Ryan entered his office once more to update Lucas, "Sir, Miss Wright went to Lockwood to see her boyfriend, Mister Jake Bass. They had dinner together, and she spent a few minutes in his hotel room."

"Jake?" Out of anger, the pen in Lucas' hand snapped. The veins on his neck protruded, and his jaws were clenched. He was seething as he ordered, "Find out everything you can with this man, Jake Bass. I want all his dirt in twenty-four hours. You got that, Ryan?”

"Yes, sir," Ryan replied.

Ten years ago, he left, but now he has returned. Lucas would stop at nothing to have Lily back in his life.

: Cheated On

"Mommy, are you okay? You have been staring into spaces lately," Aiden asked. Lily was helping her son with his homework. While Aiden wrote his answers in the book, Lily was in a daze.

"Sorry, Buddy. Was thinking of something," Lily said. "Are you done?"

"Almost. I'm so glad your mission got canceled," Aiden revealed.

Lily was unsure if Lucas had canceled the request for military protection, but since Major Sergeant Patton had not called, she assumed nothing had officially been done. She supposed she still had to make that weekly report to the major by the end of the week, even if it was fake.

These past three days, she had been thinking a lot about Lucas. She was furious that he would not tell her what happened to him over the years. She was even more angry that he wanted her back and expected everything to be the same.

When Aiden was finally done answering his homework, the mother and son pair had snacks in the kitchen. In the middle of their meal, Lily received a call.

She picked it up and heard a woman speak on the other line, "Miss Wright. This is Anna from Emerald Residential Tower. Mister Bass had arrived from a business trip and requested you join him for dinner."

The lady was referring to her boyfriend, Jake Bass. Lily was confused because Jake was meant to be on a business trip until next week. Then, if Jake wanted to have dinner with her, why ask the residential building receptionist to call her?

Still, she did not think much about it and answered, "I'll be there. Thank you, Anna."

Lily tried to call Jake, but his phone was off. Thus, she left Aiden in the care of her parents. After getting changed into something comfortable, Lily went to the Emerald Residential Tower.

When she arrived, Anna greeted her warmly and gave her a keycard, saying, "Mister Bass asked that you let yourself in, Miss Wright."

Lily accepted the keycard and took the lift to the tenth floor, where Jake's flat was. As instructed, she let herself in.

She was about to call for Jake from the living room when she heard sensual moans from the second floor of the apartment. Immediately, she frowned.

"Ah, Jake!"

"I love it!"

"More! More!"

The closer Lily walked to the staircase, the louder the moans became. Lily carefully ascended to the second floor and identified where the sounds were coming from. It was from Jake's room, and whoever was inside left the door open.

Clothes were scattered on the floor. Inside, Lily saw her boyfriend, Jake, completely naked and was on top of a woman she knew well. The woman was Alicia Bennet!

Of all the people Jake screwed around with, it just had to be her!

'Well, I guess Alicia got what she wanted.' Lily concluded, recalling how this woman had always wanted to be with Jake.

To Lily's surprise, though, it did not affect her. Shouldn't she be screaming and crying right now? However, she was unfeeling. Why? She probably already knew the answer. She never truly moved on with Jake.

Somehow, Lily was relieved. Aiden was right all along. Jake never deserved to be Aiden's father.

Lily entered the room and coldly said, "I guess this means we are over, Jake!"

Jake scrambled off Alicia. His face turned ghostly white upon seeing Lily. He stuttered, "Fuck, no. Lily, I'm sorry."

"Goodbye, Jake," Lily said before leaving.

***

Lily, wait! Lily! I'm sorry!" Jake called. He chased after Lily as soon as he found her stepping outside the lobby of the residential building. "Stop, please. Lily. I'm sorry."

"I could not hold it. I am a man with needs, and you did not want to do it with me!" Jake complained and managed to grab her wrist. "I gave in to the temptation, and I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again. I love you -"

"You lied about your whereabouts, Jake," Lily pointed out while pulling her hand away. "You said your business trip got extended, but instead, I found you home, in bed with another woman, worst, with Alicia!"

"She had always been so frank about wanting you; she did not even care if you and I were in a relationship! Finally, I understand why," Lily gasped and said, "Because for all I know, you have been doing her for -"

"No, Lily. It hasn't been that long -"

"Oh, god," Lily shook her head. "Forget it, Jake. Just forget about you and me. I can't be with you anymore."

Jake kneeled before her and begged. He repeatedly asked for Lily's forgiveness, but he probably realized that she would not change her mind. He said, "Lily, think about this carefully. You won't find any other man who will love you when you have a baggage -"

"Stop! How dare you say that? Do you want me to kill you right now? Because we both know what I am capable of." Lily knew exactly who Jake was referring to: Aiden. So, was she meant to settle down with Jake just because she was a single mother? How long has Jake considered Aiden as a baggage?

Lily found her car. Before getting in, she said, "I wish you and Alicia the best. You deserve each other. Don't bother me anymore."

She left, driving to the nearby park to think.

At the park, Lily found a bench and sat there, reflecting on the recent events in her life. First, Lucas was back, but someone wanted him dead. Then, Lucas told her he wanted her back after ten long years. Now, she discovered her boyfriend had been cheating on her!

'What had Lucas done in the ten years that he was gone? Did he have a girlfriend in between, or maybe more, and he only realized he loved me just now?' She was asking questions that only Lucas could answer.

"What the hell is going on with my life?" Lily thought before muttering, "But then again, Lily, breaking up with Jake was for the best. Because with Lucas back, you are second-guessing your life's future decisions - oh, my god, I can't believe I just said that."

Lily face slapped herself at the thought of Lucas.

"Lucas. Lucas. Lucas." He was getting into Lily's head more often than he should.

Unexpectedly, her phone rang. She picked it up and heard her mother's voice. Her mother was crying on the other line when she revealed, "Lily, your father was rushed to the hospital. He suddenly fainted. The doctors rushed him to surgery. Aiden is with your Aunt Gaby now."

"Oh, god. I'll be there," Lily said in a panic.

When Lily arrived at the hospital, all her brothers were present, including her uncle. The doctor walked up to them and revealed her father's condition.

: Doctor Thompson?

"The aortic stent graft collapse," Doctor Steven reported to the Wright family. "That caused him to faint. So, earlier, we inserted another stent, and he is under observation."

"I feel that there is a but coming," Lily's oldest brother, Liam, predicted. Behind him, all of Lily's brothers were giving the doctors murderous looks.

The doctor sighed and admitted, "There is an endoleak. Despite the new stent, we still see blood flowing outside the graft. This continues to put pressure on the aneurysm."

Lily’s family gathered outside the recovery room to listen to Doctor Steven. Her mother, her uncle, and all five brothers were naturally there. Lily's father, Kaleb Wright, was still under observation and would be moved to his private room later.

"You said you were the best at this!" Lewis, Lily's other brother, yelled. From there, everyone was nagging the doctor.

"I specialize in aortic repair via stent grafts! Yes, I am the best at this," the doctor claimed.

Last year, Kaleb Wright caught an infection that resulted in an ascending aortic aneurysm. They hired the best doctors in the state for their father’s treatment. The solution offered was a stent graft insertion. They said it was less invasive and safer, but what happened now?

"Stent grafts are still the best options with higher chances of survival after the procedure," Doctor Steven asserted. "Going for an open surgery has its risks and requires a very skillful surgeon.”

"So what happens if this endoleak continues?" Lily questioned.

The doctor paused and weakly answered, "He will need an ascending aortic replacement - an open surgery -"

"So we end up with an open heart surgery, still!" Lewis barked.

"Why did we have to go through the other procedure if an open-heart surgery was the best solution?" Another brother of Lily bitterly asked.

"This is not acceptable!" Another one exclaimed. "Doctor, it seems you are doing a trial and error with our father's condition!"

Lily's brothers were bombarding the doctor with their comments and questions while Lily’s mother kept crying, afraid for Kaleb’s health.

Kyle Wright, Lily's uncle, pointed a finger at the doctor and said, "Let me guess, your name is Doctor Quack."

"No, I swear to you, I did my best," the doctor reasoned. "All doctors in my team offered Mister Wright the best solution for his condition."

"Okay, let's say my father ends up needing that open-heart surgery," Liam frigidly asked, "Who is the best doctor who can perform this? Because we will not accept an unskilled surgeon. He or she has to be the best in heart or thoracic surgery!”

The doctor froze. He looked at the family and remarked, "You did not want to go to the best facility for heart and lung treatment -"

"Do we need to if we get the best doctor to come to us?" Liam shot back. "We can pay the doctor any amount to come to Braeton City! Remember that was how you ended up relocating here, Doctor Steven."

"Well, just so happens the best doctor for thoracic surgery right now is exclusively treating patients at Saint Dominique's Heart and Lung Center, Rose Hills," the doctor revealed.

Lily immediately frowned. The Thompson Group of Companies owned Saint Dominique’s Heart and Lung Center. In the past, Lucas's mother was known to be the best thoracic surgeon.

"But Doctor Shantelle Thompson is no longer performing surgeries. Is she?" Lily asked, referring to Lucas' mother.

"Oh, I am not talking about the famous Doctor Shantelle Thompson. I know she is already retired." The doctor gulped and explained, "Look, I had signed a confidentiality agreement. I'm not supposed to say this, but I trust you won't say anything."

"I'm talking about her son, Lucas Thompson. He earned his license abroad and had operated on five of the most complicated heart surgeries referred to their center over the past three months," the doctor revealed.

"I had already referred two of my patients there," Doctor Steven added. "They say he is the next big thing in thoracic surgery, but he chose to run his father's company more than actively practicing surgery. He only accepts patients requiring complicated procedures and does not take clients outside Saint Dominque's."

"Fuck. Lucas is back?" Lewis indignantly turned to Lily and asked, "Do you know about this?"

"Is Lucas really back, Lily?" Lily's mother also asked in shock. All her brothers, except for Liam, asked the same thing.

Lily helplessly looked at Liam, and seeing her brother wasn't going to spill either, she chose a safer answer and said, "No. This is the first time I have heard of this."

"I'm going to kill him!" Lewis declared.

"I second that!" Kristoff, another brother of Lily, said the same thing.

"Wait!" The doctor called everyone's attention. He suggested, "You know, Doctor Lucas Thompson?"

"Yes!" All four of Lily's brothers said.

"Then." The doctor pursed his lips and suggested, "Perhaps you can kill him after he operates on your father?"

"That's a good point," Lewis said. "but after the surgery, I'm going to do whatever I want with him!"

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

Lily’s brothers were getting rowdy, so she called everyone's attention, "Okay, stop! Before you think about what you want to do, let's say Lucas agrees; remember that our father will still need postoperative care."

Seeing everyone in her family was listening to her, Lily suggested, "I'll talk to Lucas. You all stay here with Mom and Dad."

***

Hours later, Lily was back in Rose Hills, standing before the Thompson Group of Companies Headquarters. She sighed because she had never expected to be back.

Lily did not have to introduce herself. She did not know why or how, but the security guard around the building knew her. She had clearance to go to Lucas's office without any hassle.

When Lily entered Lucas' office, he was already expecting her.

"Lily, what brings you back?" Lucas calmly asked while leaning back in his seat.

"How did you get your medical license?" Lily asked outright.

Lucas frowned. He cleared his throat and replied, "I don't know how you knew that -"

"A doctor from Braeton slipped," Lily explained.

"I see," Lucas casually responded. "He should not have done that, but what does it have to do with your visit?"

Lily gasped profoundly before looking at Lucas with pleading eyes. She revealed, "Dad, he - he underwent an aortic stent graft procedure last year, and earlier today, it collapsed. Apparently, there was an endoleak, and even after the stent was replaced, there was still an endoleak."

"It looked like he will need an operation in the end. We want to ensure that whoever operates on him is the best. Are you the best one out there?" Lily asked.

"I am. I may not have practiced it here in the country, but I have performed many of the same procedures abroad," Lucas confirmed. He got up from his seat and asked, "What kind of condition does Uncle Kaleb have?"

"Ascending aortic aneurysm. Dad had an infection that caused a blood clot, and it traveled to his heart. This happened last year," Lily explained.

"Hmmm." Lucas calmly said while walking towards Lily. He asked, "Do you want me to operate on Uncle Kaleb?"

"Can you promise that you won't make mistakes?" Lily asked.

"I won't make mistakes," Lucas replied.

"Then, can you?" Lily asked. It seemed to her that Lucas was open about it. Asking him wasn't that hard after all.

"I will operate on Uncle Kaleb in exchange for one thing," Lucas suggested.

In a trembling voice, Lily inquired, "What is it?"

Lucas' dark-colored eyes seriously looked straight into her blue orbs and said, "Marry me, tomorrow."

'Wait, what?' Lily could not believe it. Days ago, Lucas said he wanted her back. 'How did it escalate to marriage now?'