A Perfect Lie Hides Behind My Billionaire Marriage novel Chapter 167

A shiver coursed through Reese's body, warmth spreading to her collarbones, igniting a simmering heat that seemed to engulf her entirely.

With a flushed face and an unsightly expression of discomfort, she struggled. "Mr. Strakovski, please let go of me. You're drunk. Let me take you back to your room to rest."

Lukas restrained Reese, catching a whiff of the delicate fragrance that clung to her. His eyes flickered with a hint of something as if questioning whether he himself was intoxicated.

Oddly, she appeared to have a higher tolerance for his inebriated self than usual.

Lukas's eyes held a shadowy and unreadable expression. He wasn't sure of his own thoughts at this moment, allowing a half-genuine, half-pretend drunk tone to seep into his voice. "Don't move. I'm not drunk. I can still handle more later."

Reese couldn't help but smile wryly. He was definitely drunk. She felt resigned, predicting that Lukas would undoubtedly be grumpy once he sobered up and realized his behavior from that night.

When Reese felt the pressure from Lukas's grip ease a bit, she tried to push him away.

However, Lukas tightened his hold immediately, his voice slightly hoarse and low. "Behave. Stop struggling."

His indulgent voice made her heart turn erratic. She took a deep breath. This man was just drunk. Besides, he had never spoken to her in this manner before. He must have mistaken her for someone else.

Thinking this way, Reese's expression turned slightly unpleasant. She bit her lip, then, using her elbow with all her strength, she forcefully jabbed his chest.

Lukas let out a muffled groan of pain, instinctively reaching to cover his chest. He hadn't expected her to strike so fiercely.

Seizing the moment, Reese pushed him away and dashed back into her room.

Hands in his chest, Lukas's eyes became clear. But he couldn't help feeling helpless. He had brought this upon himself.

He had told Reese not to have any undue thoughts about him, to keep her distance. Yet, here he was, doing precisely the opposite. He didn't even understand his own actions.

But the fact that he was still playing the role of a drunkard made him sigh. He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and sat on the floor. Things would probably get messy if Reese found out he wasn't drunk.

Once Reese returned to her room, she realized she had overreacted. Calming herself down, she opened her door and saw Lukas seated against the wall in the corridor.

She contemplated for a moment but decided not to approach him. Instead, she called the housekeeper to help Lukas back to his room.

When Lukas woke up the next day, he found that Reese had already gone to work. Thinking about the previous night, his gaze darkened, and a rare tinge of remorse appeared on his otherwise composed face.

Reese had arrived at the office early that day. She planned to discuss Magnus's contract with Cole in the morning and figure out a way to cancel the jewelry customization deal.

"Don't be like this, Mr. Xavier. We can talk things out." Elena paled, her voice tinged with fear.

Magnus's patience wore thin, his tone unforgiving. "Elena, let me be straight with you. I have recorded our conversation about you instigating me to go after Reese. If you don't want this to end up in Lukas's hands, you better come to me right away." He was no pushover, not by a long shot.

This revelation bristled Elena, her face contorting into a grimace of displeasure. "How could you do this?"

"What else was I supposed to do? Should I teach you how to do it?" Magnus sneered.

Elena was horrified and furious, but she couldn't afford to enrage Magnus. If he really sent that recording to Lukas, she'd be in big trouble, given Lukas's temper. Her lips quivered as she said, "I'll come. I'll come right now. Just send me the room number."

Magnus heard enough and hung up.

In no time, Elena received the room number, but she was too scared to go. Magnus wasn't just urging her. It felt like he was hurrying her to her own execution. He would probably take it out on her today after the blow he took from Reese last night. However, she couldn't refuse. She had left herself no choice.

After much consideration, Elena decided to reach out to Elias for advice. She dialed his number, her voice sounding weak and uneasy. "Brother, what are you up to?"

Phone in his ears, Elias raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"