Chapter 42 The "First Love" vs. The "Last Hope"
?The Maldivian night was humid, and the air in the "Traditional Shack" was thick with the scent of burnt fish and Lucian’s wounded pride.
?While Lucian was busy trying to convince Sir Butts-A-Lot that the sofa was not a buffet, a shadow appeared at the window.
It was Lu Wei, wearing a white linen shirt unbuttoned halfway to his navel, his hair artfully tousled by the sea breeze.
?"Arielle," he whispered, his voice like velvet over gravel.
"Come to the beach. Just for five minutes.
For the sake of the girl who once shared a headphone with me in a rainy library.
"
?Arielle looked at her five sleeping children, then at Lucian, who was currently snoring while the goat chewed on his earlobe.
She stood up. "Five minutes, Lu Wei. And button your shirt. You’ll catch a cold or a lawsuit. "
?They walked to the edge of the water. The production crew, sensing a "Love Triangle Peak," had quietly positioned three drones with night-vision cameras overhead.
?"Arielle," Lu Wei said, turning to her with eyes full of practiced longing. "Lucian is a businessman. He looks at you like a merger. But I... I look at you like a masterpiece. Leave this circus. Come with me to Italy. We’ll live in a villa, drink wine, and I’ll never make you audit a single spreadsheet.
"
?"Lu Wei," Arielle said, her voice flat.
"In Italy, who would manage your schedule?
Who would handle your PR scandals? Who would make sure you don't accidentally buy a fake Picasso from a street vendor?
"
?Lu Wei faltered. "Well... you would.
But it would be romantic management!
"
?"That’s called a job, Lu Wei. And I’ve already retired from being a personal assistant to man-children.
"
?Suddenly, a loud THUD sounded from the bushes.
?Lucian tumbled out, covered in sand and still wearing his pink-painted fingernails.
"STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE, YOU OVERACTING SALAD! "
?"Your wife?" Lu Wei scoffed, striking a heroic pose.
"You forgot her for a decade! You forgot your own daughter! You’re a 'Product Recall' in a designer suit!
"
?"At least I’m not a 'Straight-to-DVD' extra!
" Lucian roared, lunging forward.
?The two men began a "fight" that was less like a boxing match and more like two wet cats trying to slap each other.
Lucian tried to tackle Lu Wei, but he tripped over a piece of driftwood.
Lu Wei tried to throw a "cinematic punch," but he was so worried about his face that he missed by three feet and hit a palm tree instead.
?"MY HAND!" Lu Wei shrieked. "MY MONEY-MAKER!
"
?"MY KNEE!" Lucian groaned, clutching his leg.
"I THINK I DISLOCATED MY BILLIONAIRE STATUS!
"
?Arielle stood there, arms crossed, watching the two most "desired" men in the country rolling around in the sand like toddlers fighting over a shovel.
?"Is this it?" Arielle asked the drones overhead.
"Is this the 'climax' the viewers wanted? Because I’m bored. I’m going back to sleep. "
?"Wait!"
?AJ (Mochi) appeared from behind a sand dune, holding her tablet and a megaphone she had borrowed from the Director.
?"Cease fire!" AJ’s voice boomed through the megaphone.
?The two men froze.
?"I’ve run the numbers," AJ said, walking toward them with the authority of a Supreme Court judge.
"Lu Wei, your 'Romance Index' is high, but your 'Financial Stability' is tied to your box office performance, which is currently declining due to your recent 'Crying in a Bush' scandal.
Lucian, your 'Loyalty Index' is rising, but your 'Intelligence Quotient' regarding Grandmother’s schemes is still a 2 out of 10.
"
?She looked at Arielle. "Mother, my recommendation is that we liquidate both of them and move to the 'Princess' timeline Zayden was talking about.
These models are obsolete."
?Arielle laughed, a sharp, clear sound. "I think you’re right, AJ."
?Arielle walked over to the two men. She helped Lucian up first, then Lu Wei.
?"Lu Wei," she said, her voice kind but firm. "Go back to your movies. Be a hero on screen, because you’re not built for the reality of my life. I’ll always remember the boy in the library, but that boy is gone.
"
?Lu Wei looked at her, his "actor" mask finally slipping.
He nodded sadly, wiped the sand from his face, and walked away into the darkness, probably to call his agent.
?Then she turned to Lucian.
?"And you," she said, looking into his eyes. "You’ve done well this week. You survived the goat. You defended me against the board. You even let AJ paint your nails. You’ve earned the '1% Chance'.
"
?Lucian’s eyes lit up. "1%? That’s practically a majority share in my heart!
"
?"Don't get cocky," Arielle smirked.
"But before I... 'go' anywhere... I want to make sure you can handle the boys.
All five of them."
?She pulled out a golden envelope.
"This is my Final Will and Testament for the Cross-Vance Corporation.
In three days, when this show ends, it will open.
It contains the keys to the future. Don't lose it, Lucian. It’s the only map you have left. "
?As Arielle walked back to the shack, the jade pendant in her pocket didn't just glow—it sparked. The heat was becoming unbearable.
?She looked at the sky. The stars seemed to be shifting, forming the shape of an Imperial Palace.
?3 chapters left, Arielle thought. 3 days to say goodbye.
?She looked at her five sons, who were all watching her from the porch. They knew. Zayden’s face was pale.
Rhett’s jaw was set. They could feel the "Modern World" thinning around their mother.
?"Mom?" Emrys whispered. "Are you going to become a legend?
"
?"I already am, Emrys," Arielle said, hugging him. "But soon, I’m going to be a Princess. And I’m going to make sure no one ever calls a woman 'barren' ever again. "
?LU WEI HAS BEEN DEFEATED! ????
The "First Love" is officially out of the race, leaving Lucian with a 1% chance and a very angry goat! ??
?In this chapter:
?The "Sand-Slap" Fight: Two men, zero coordination. ?????
?AJ's Megaphone: The voice of reason has arrived! ????
?The Final Will: What is in the golden envelope?! ????
?The Countdown: 3 chapters left until the "Imperial" transition! ????
?3 CHAPTERS UNTIL THE END! ?????
The next chapter will be the "Grand Banquet" where Arielle makes her final move against the board and the Dowager Empress!
?? VOTE if you think Lucian deserves more than a 1% chance!
? COMMENT "GOODBYE LU WEI" to send off our favorite drama-queen!
? FOLLOW me for Chapter 43—the "Face-Slapping" Finale begins!