Chapter 29 Almost Kisses & Public Meltdowns
The village woke up calm.
Too calm.
Which meant disaster was scheduled.
Arielle stepped outside with her morning tea, hoping for five minutes of peace.
She got zero.
Because Lucian was already there.
Leaning against the wooden railing.
Like he owned oxygen.
She froze.
Why is he everywhere. Does he teleport. Is he sponsored by drama.
“Good morning,” he said smoothly.
Her eye twitched.
“Is it?”
Behind a nearby tree—
Four grown men crouched like untrained spies.
Rhett: “Why are we hiding behind landscaping?”
Zayden: “Because father is unpredictable.”
Emrys: “I brought snacks.”
Darian: “…We are adults.”
They did not leave.
Lucian stepped closer.
Not touching.
Just…
closer.
“I didn’t sleep.”
Arielle blinked.
“…That sounds personal.”
“I kept thinking about what you said.”
“That this show is stress?”
“That I have to earn another chance.”
Silence.
He was looking at her like she was something fragile and priceless and terrifying all at once.
She swallowed.
Why is he using that voice. That voice should be illegal.
“I was arrogant,” he said quietly.
“And jealous.”
She stared.
“Of who?”
“Anyone who made you smile without me.”
OH.
Behind the tree:
Rhett: “Did he just admit jealousy?”
Zayden typing: “Recording for future leverage.”
Emrys whispering: “I’m uncomfortable. ”
Darian: “Shut up.”
Across the courtyard, Lu Wei had noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Man had first-love radar.
He walked straight over.
No hesitation.
No fear.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked lightly.
Lucian didn’t move.
“You often do.”
OOP.
Arielle internally screamed.
Why is this a testosterone conference.
Lu Wei turned to her instead.
“Can we talk? Alone?”
Lucian’s jaw tightened.
The sons nearly jumped the railing.
Arielle sighed.
“Five minutes.”
Lucian didn’t like that.
He definitely didn’t like that.
Lu Wei led her toward the lakeside dock.
Camera crew hiding behind bushes like paparazzi ninjas.
Lin Yue watching from the balcony.
Yes.
Watching.
Trying not to care.
Failing.
Lu Wei stopped walking.
“You look tired,” he said softly.
“I am.”
“Because of him?”
“…Because of everything.”
He stepped closer.
Not aggressive.
Just close enough that her breath hitched.
“You don’t have to go back to something that hurt you.
”
Her heart did that stupid flutter thing.
Oh no. Why is this romantic. I did not approve this script.
“You always protected your feelings,” he continued.
“But you never protected yourself.”
Silence.
Wind moved her hair.
He reached out.
Tucked a strand behind her ear.
That was the moment.
The moment.
The tension.
The soft inhale.
The eye contact.
He leaned in—
NOT aggressively.
Not forcefully.
Slowly.
Like asking without words.
And Arielle—
Did not move.
Not away.
Not forward.
Just—
Frozen.
Confused.
Flustered.
And then—
“HEY.”
Rhett’s voice cracked through the air like thunder.
All four sons appeared.
Running.
Like Avengers with parental trauma.
Lu Wei stepped back immediately.
Hands up.
“I wasn’t—”
“You were leaning,” Zayden said coldly.
Emrys pointed accusingly.
“That was face proximity.”
Darian glared.
“Too much face proximity.”
Arielle covered her face.
I will never recover from this humiliation.
But wait.
We are not done.
Because Lucian saw it.
From across the lake.
The lean.
The almost.
The pause.
He walked over.
Slow.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
“Is there a problem?” he asked calmly.
Calm = danger.
Rhett crossed his arms.
“Yes.”
Lucian ignored him.
Looked at Lu Wei.
“Stay away from my wife.”
Dead silence.
Arielle blinked.
“…Ex-wife.”
Lucian didn’t break eye contact.
“We're still married”
Collective gasp.
Lin Yue almost dropped her phone.
Lu Wei laughed softly.
“You don’t get to claim her after pushing her away.”
Lucian stepped closer.
“And you don’t get to return and pretend you never lost.”
Oh this is GOOD.
The air felt electric.
The sons were READY.
Elise whispered to Clara, “Should we… get water?”
Clara: “No. Let it unfold.”
Serena sipping tea: “This is better than television.”
Fiona: “It is television.”
“STOP.”
Everyone froze.
She looked between them.
“You.”
Points at Lucian.
“Do not territorial-growl at people.”
Points at Lu Wei.
“You do not lean dramatically like a romance novel.”
Points at her sons.
“And you four will STOP forming a protection cult.”
Emrys whispered, “It’s not a cult…
”
Zayden: “It’s structured defense.”
She glared.
They shut up.
Lucian exhaled sharply.
Lu Wei studied her.
And then—
Lucian said quietly,
“Did you want him to kiss you?”
WHAT.
WHAT.
The entire village went silent.
Arielle’s brain blue-screened.
Why is he like this.
She opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
“I wanted five minutes of peace.”
The sons burst out laughing.
Even Lu Wei smiled.
Lucian actually almost smiled too.
Tension cracked.
But not gone.
Never gone.
Back on the balcony, Lin Yue whispered to herself:
“I hate this.”
Not because of Lu Wei.
Not because of Lucian.
But because—
She realized something.
When Lu Wei leaned in?
Her chest hurt.
When Lucian said “my wife”?
Her heart skipped.
When Arielle looked overwhelmed?
She wanted to protect her.
Oh.
Oh no.
This is worse than jealousy.
This is feelings.
Lucian walked away stiffly.
Lu Wei watched Arielle like he wasn’t done.
The sons formed a dramatic semicircle around her.
“Are you okay?” x4
She stared at them.
“I am forty years old.”
Pause.
“…And I almost got kissed on national television.”
Rhett coughed.
Zayden: “Clipped and trending.”
Emrys: “Hashtag DockDrama.”
Darian sighed.
“This family needs therapy.”
Correct.
OKAY BUT THIS CHAPTER???
? Almost kiss ? Sons interrupting like chaotic security guards ? Lucian saying “my wife” with full chest ? Lu Wei not backing down ? Arielle wanting PEACE ? Lin Yue realizing she is emotionally compromised
COMMENT: Who was the most unhinged today?
VOTE: Who should make the first REAL move?
Lucian (redemption arc)
Lu Wei (first love revival)
Lin Yue (unexpected emotional confession)
Arielle choosing chaos
FOLLOW ME because next chapter:
Lucian confronts Lu Wei privately. One son overhears something. Lin Yue almost confesses. And someone might actually kiss her next time.
We are escalating.