Chapter 1035

Lucas sat quietly in his car, his slender fingers lightly pressing the black watch on his wrist. A translucent screen flickered to life, displaying Hazel’s basic profile. His gaze hovered over the “Detailed Inquiry” button. His fingertip inched toward it… then stopped. After a beat, he pulled back. The screen vanished. Leaning against the seat, Lucas removed his gold-rimmed glasses and closed his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose. A faint weariness clung to his elegant features. When he returned home, the house was quiet. In the soft glow of the studio light, Emma sat before her easel, swift and precise strokes adding clean lines to her canvas. Seeing his wife beneath the warm lighting eased something inside Lucas. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind. She turned slightly, her forehead brushing his lips, and he instinctively pressed a kiss there. Then the kiss wandered—downward, lingering, deepening—until Emma melted into his embrace. Lucas effortlessly l