After Cecilia left, Stefan and Keith walked in together.
"Stefan, bro, what brings you guys here?"
Lucinda greeted them with a warm smile.
Neither man had brought their bodyguards; in Pinehurst, Keith always felt most at ease.
He had great faith in his brother-in-law's ability to keep things safe, believing that on his turf, there was no need to worry about any threats.
"Is it unwelcome for your brother to come for a coffee? Or do you think I'm just being a third wheel?"
Keith spoke with a playful grin, not pausing as he picked a spot to sit down, making it clear that even as a third wheel, he was there to stay.
Stefan's gaze was tender as he looked at Lucinda. "Cecilia's not around, right? I thought I'd come over and lend a hand. I'm just loafing around at home anyway." Since tying the knot, his weekends were always spent with Lucinda.
Their friends teased him for abandoning them for his woman.
Stefan, however, stood his ground firmly, declaring that it was Lucinda he'd be with for life, so of course, she took precedence.
That left his friends without a comeback.
"Where's Dad?"
"He's with my dad." Stefan replied.
Lucinda nodded in understanding.
"Need any help with anything?"
might need your help later when it
you want some coffee?"
had a rough night and I'm dragging today," Keith
prepare coffee for
pretty chipper to me, not like someone who had a rough night," she teased as she brewed
his little sister with
that moment, someone
her husband saw who it was, her smile vanished, while Stefan
was
boyfriend before
after moving on to someone else. Lucinda had told his wife about his antics, leading to their divorce. Mrs. Mitchell had even thanked
his status after
seen him in months, and had almost forgotten him completely until he walked in
George was a
made the first move in their relationship. They
help but marvel at how she
George, but he chose betrayal. Even knowing that Stefan had a hand in their breakup, she harbored resentment towards
worried her mother, prompting her to set up blind dates in hopes of healing the wounds George left, unwittingly pushing her into
she looked at George like a
sister and brother-in-law, leaning in to ask Stefan
replying softly, "Lucy's ex, my former
expected Stefan to be there. After hesitating, he stepped forward
looked to Stefan, who smiled back at her reassuringly. She felt a warmth inside; Stefan had trust in her and gave her the freedom to handle her personal matters, even if it pained him. "Just give me a moment," Lucinda said. "You can take a seat and I'll be right there after I finish making the
see Stefan, faltered as if to say something, but ultimately stayed silent and took a seat in the corner, a far cry from his
Mrs. Mitchell,
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