Chapter 5

Lucas paused for a moment when he saw everyone gathered in the living room.

Then his eyes found me, and he gave me a playful grin.

Then his eyes landed on me, and he shot me a cocky grin.

"Look who couldn't resist showing up!"

I just turned away, acting like he wasn't even there.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, looking like he had something else to say.

But before he could, Mia nervously stepped forward and offered my parents a shy little bow.

"Mr. and Mrs. Grant, I was the one who kept asking Lucas to take me out today. If Little Fiona's upset, it's all on me. Please don't be mad at Lucas, alright?"

Dad didn't even spare her a glance, turning straight to Mr. Sterling.

"That's settled. The engagement is off. We're leaving now."

With that, he didn't even wait for a response. He just stood up and walked out.

Dad got up and headed straight for the door, not bothering to wait for their answer.

Mom grabbed my hand and followed right behind him.

Lucas's grin froze on his face.

"What do you mean, the engagement's off?"

But we were already gone.

But I didn't expect what happened next.

Just as the car started up,

Lucas dashed out and threw himself in front of our car, not caring about anything else.

"Fiona! Tell me what's really going on!"

"So you're calling off the engagement just because I didn't go to Summerville University with you?"

Dad's face turned stormy and he was about to get out, but I stopped him.

."Dad, I'll go talk to him," I said.

My parents exchanged a glance but didn't object.

I got out of the car and walked up to Lucas.

"Lucas, do you even remember how many times you've ditched me for Mia?" I asked.

Lucas looked stunned.

I said, "You promised we'd go to the exam hall together before the high school entrance exams, but the next day you just left with Mia. If Aunt Sophie hadn't stepped in, I would've totally missed the exam.

"We said we'd go to Central High together, but you ditched me and went to Riverside High with her instead.

"Now you just changed your college plans without even telling me. I could've gone to Capital City!

"Since Mia came into the picture, have you ever kept a single promise to me?"

Lucas swallowed hard.

"Wasn't it you who told me to be nicer to Mia?" he said.

I was stunned for a second, almost laughing out of anger.

Yeah, back then, Mia had just started getting help from my family, and Lucas used to tease her every single day for being a country bumpkin.

I couldn't stand it, so I told him to stop acting like he was better than her and just be a little nicer.

Now he's making it sound like it's all my fault?

I kept my voice cold.

"Now that the engagement's off, you and Mia can go ahead and live your life however you want together. I'm done being the third wheel in your relationship," I said.

Lucas paused, then suddenly leaned in, a teasing smile on his lips.

"Seriously? That's all it takes for you to walk away?" he said, half-joking.