Chapter 4 Reclaim What's Mine.

I walked out of the restroom. My eyes went straight to Vivian and Sarah. Vivian's face went white.

"Are you two done gossiping about me?"

Vivian jumped, startled. Her face turned bright red, a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Were you eavesdropping?! How rude of you!"

I just stared at her, not caring about her accusation. "Eavesdropping? I was just enjoying your *fascinating* 'chatter.' Especially about how you stole my lunch and pretended to be me."

Vivian glared, her body tensing. "Shut up! You have no proof! Even if you tell Lucas, he won't believe you! He's my boyfriend! He loves me!"

A cynical smile spread across my lips. I stepped closer to Vivian.

"You're right," I said, now standing right in front of her. I didn't touch her, but my presence was so dominant she took a step back. "I won't say a word."

Vivian looked surprised. I smirked. My hand shot out, gripping Vivian's arm tight. My hold was firm, no messing around. She whimpered softly.

"I won't say a word," I repeated. "But I'll make damn sure Lucas throws you out. Like trash!"

My grip on her arm tightened further, making Vivian wince in pain.

"What are you going to do?" she whispered.

I released my hold, as if her arm no longer meant anything to me. Vivian immediately rubbed her reddened arm, her eyes full of hatred mixed with fear. I left her standing there, trembling. There was nothing left for me to say to either of them.

"You little devil!" Sarah muttered.

I turned and smiled. "Thanks." After that, I turned around and continued walking, descending the stairs to the ground floor. The click of my heels against the marble created a determined rhythm.

Lucas was still in the family room, alone. He looked like he was reading a message on his phone, his face looking annoyed.

I approached him. "All alone, Lucas?" My voice sounded friendly.

Lucas looked up, his expression surprised to see me. He frowned. "Where's Vivian?" he asked, ignoring me.

I smiled faintly, mocking him. "They're chit-chatting upstairs. Don't you wanna hang out and have a drink with me down here while you wait?"

Lucas stared at me. His gaze was still full of irritation. "No need. I'm going to find Vivian." He immediately turned and headed for the stairs, completely dismissing me. He wanted to escape me. But it wouldn't be that easy.

"Oh," I sighed softly, loud enough for him to hear. "It just makes me wonder if Vivian's prepared dinner is so unforgettable that you can't even wait a minute?"

Lucas paused for a moment, but didn't turn around. He just sped up his ascent upstairs. I just scoffed quietly.

I left Dad's mansion not long after, getting a head start on Lucas. My car sped down the deserted road towards my private mansion.

I arrived at a dark intersection, which I knew was the only route Lucas could take to get home. It was a small, somewhat secluded road, not very busy with traffic.

I deliberately parked my car on the side of the road, making it look like it had broken down. I turned on my hazard lights, then sat in the driver's seat, waiting.

Half an hour later, headlights cut through the darkness. It was Lucas. Bullseye.

I sprang into action. As his car approached, I hurried out of mine, standing by the door with a perfectly feigned anxious look. My hand held my phone, as if I was desperately trying to call someone.

Lucas's car slowed, then stopped a few yards ahead of me. His window rolled down. Lucas's face appeared, looking confused.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, Lucas!" I pretended to be surprised, as if I hadn't been expecting him. "My car broke down! I don't know what to do." I put on a scared face, glancing around the dark road. "It's so isolated out here. I'm so scared..."

Lucas sighed, clearly annoyed. "I can call a tow truck."

"No need! My assistant will handle it," I said quickly. "I just don't want to be out here alone. It's so dark. I'm afraid of bad people, Lucas. You know, on a deserted road like this..." I deliberately bowed my head, hugging myself, playing the part of a fragile, terrified woman.

Lucas scanned the surroundings. He was clearly weighing his options, considering leaving me, but his moral compass must have pricked him. He was a gentleman, after all; he wouldn't leave a woman alone on a dark road.

He hesitated, his eyes uncertain. "I need to get home."

"But I can't wait here by myself," my voice dropped to a near whisper. I looked up, meeting his gaze with faked teary eyes. "Please, Lucas. Just take me home first."

Lucas looked like he was in a major bind. He let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Get in."

I smiled thinly to myself. Nailed it.

I quickly scrambled into the passenger seat beside him. The moment I sat down, the familiar, masculine scent of his cologne filled my senses.

Lucas's car drove off again, cutting through the night. I stayed quiet, letting the silence do the talking. Occasionally, I'd glance at Lucas. His face was tense, his jaw tightly clenched. He avoided eye contact with me.

"You don't have to drive me all the way inside the gate," I said softly, breaking the silence. "Just drop me off out front. I can walk from there."

He just mumbled something indistinct, not bothering to respond. I knew he didn't want to be around me for long.

It didn't take long to reach the front of my mansion.

Lucas stopped the car. "We're here," he said flatly.

I nodded, then unbuckled my seatbelt. I made a show of struggling with it, even sighing a little.

Lucas huffed in annoyance. "What now?" he asked.

"I don't know," I said. "Seems like the seatbelt's jammed."

He scoffed again. I watched him get out of the car. Then he walked around. He came to the passenger side. My car door opened.

"You can-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the moment the door opened, I released the seatbelt. I deliberately let my body go limp, feigning dizziness. I swayed to the side, as if about to fall. And Lucas, with his natural reflexes, instantly caught me. I fell right into his arms.

The scent of his cologne grew stronger. My hands crept up to his chest, pretending to look for a grip, but I was doing it on purpose. His heart pounded beneath my palms.

I looked up at him, and smiled. A faint, triumphant smile, full of meaning.

"Nice move, Scarlet!" Lucas hissed, laced with anger. He knew. He knew I was just playing games. He knew this was all an act. "You're devious. You used to be so cruel to me. And now? You're acting cheap like this?"

My hands, which had been resting on his chest, now deliberately stroked the area gently. I could feel the muscles beneath his shirt. "I am," I whispered, teasing. "But... you like it, don't you, Lucas?"

He gasped. His eyes widened for a moment. My touch, that teasing whisper, seemed to startle him.

Lucas's face flushed. He clenched his jaw, then with one rough motion, he pushed me away.