Chapter 191: I’m Still Not Ready Yet
Since there was no way around it now, Luca could only hope they didn’t run into Naomi. Otherwise, the carefully balanced mess he called his love life might sink right there and then.
Ever since he introduced Naomi to Vivienne and saw how naturally they got along, he’d planned to introduce everyone else to one another...
...Eventually.
He just hadn’t found the right moment.
Even Naomi and Vivienne meeting had happened because of circumstances beyond his control, not because he’d planned it.
And Arabella had only stopped being furious with him a few hours ago. Even if he wanted the women to meet someday, today was the last day he wanted that to happen.
The two of them walked past the elegant fountain, its streams glistening beneath the afternoon sun. Manicured gardens stretched along the stone pathway, flowers swaying gently in the breeze as they drew closer to Building 6, where Naomi lived.
With every step forward, the knot in Luca’s stomach tightened. His heartbeat grew heavier, and the uneasy feeling that everything was about to spiral out of control refused to leave him.
"Luca!"
A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind, making him jump.
He spun around and immediately recognized Daniel Mercer, one of his old college classmates, who now worked as a sales manager at Golden Water Bay.
Leo’s face lit up the moment he saw him.
Lately, he’d been helping Luca rent out and sell several properties, earning commissions far beyond what he’d made before. His wallet had grown noticeably thicker, and life at home had improved dramatically.
Last night, his wife had even rewarded him with a rare night of uninterrupted affection after her "special time" had finally ended.
Grinning, Daniel walked over.
"You came looking for me aga—"
"Yeah!" Luca cut him off so quickly it almost sounded unnatural. "I actually wanted to talk to you. When you rent out my properties, help screen the tenants carefully. I don’t want anyone with bad intentions moving in."
While speaking, he subtly shot Daniel a meaningful look.
Salespeople survived by reading expressions.
Daniel immediately caught on.
His gaze drifted toward Arabella, who stood quietly beside Luca. Their fingers were still intertwined.
He paused for half a second before everything clicked.
’So that’s what’s going on...’
A wave of admiration washed over him.
He had assumed the beautiful woman was just a friend or relative. Instead, she was another girlfriend.
Daniel already knew about Naomi.
With Luca’s looks alone, attracting women wasn’t surprising.
But winning over beauties on this level...
One was already difficult enough.
Yet this guy had two.
Maybe even more.
’Being handsome is one thing. Being rich on top of that... beautiful women practically line up themselves.’
After exchanging a few more words, they said their goodbyes.
Under Daniel’s admiring gaze, Luca and Arabella continued toward Building 7.
Only then did Luca secretly let out a sigh of relief.
’Thank goodness.’
They hadn’t bumped into Naomi.
Otherwise...
’That would’ve been less of a coincidence and more of a natural disaster.’
"You bought a place here too?"
From what she’d overheard during the conversation, Arabella could easily tell he owned property in Golden Water Bay as well.
Luca nodded casually.
"I had some spare money before, so I bought a few apartments."
Arabella simply nodded.
To her, there was nothing surprising about it.
Someone with Luca’s financial resources buying property here was perfectly normal.
She herself owned several homes, including a seaside villa and a rooftop garden residence.
A few moments later, the elevator stopped on the twenty-second floor.
The moment Luca stepped inside, he noticed the apartment’s warm country-style decor.
It wasn’t overly luxurious, but it felt inviting.
Sunlight poured through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of the river outside.
The entire home radiated peace.
When Arabella led him into her studio, he stopped in his tracks.
Every wall displayed paintings she’d created herself.
Beside them stood cabinets filled with trophies, certificates, and awards she’d earned over the years.
Still holding Luca’s hand, she guided him to a massive frame nearly two meters tall.
A white cloth covered whatever was inside.
"Go ahead," she said softly.
"Lift it."
Although her expression remained calm as always, her heart was anything but.
She had no idea how Luca would react.
With curiosity bubbling inside him, Luca grabbed one corner of the cloth and slowly pulled.
Then, with one swift motion, he lifted it away.
The enormous painting was revealed.
He froze.
The artwork depicted a man and woman sharing a passionate kiss beneath a dazzling night skyline by the river.
The man’s eyes brimmed with tenderness as he held the woman close.
The woman had her eyes gently closed, happiness evident on her beautiful face.
The two figures...
...were unmistakably him and Arabella.
"I told you before," she murmured softly, her fingertip lightly brushing against the second button of his shirt.
"When we met again..."
She slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met.
Almost instantly, she looked away again.
It was the first time she’d avoided his gaze.
"What is it?" Luca asked gently.
The last time she’d claimed to be shy, her face had remained completely expressionless.
But now...
She couldn’t even hold eye contact.
For the first time, the aloof girl before him looked like someone experiencing her first love.
His heartbeat quickened.
"...Nothing."
She quietly tried to pull her hand away.
Instead, Luca tightened his grip and pressed her hand gently against his chest.
She struggled for only a moment before giving up.
"Do you... like it?" she asked quietly.
"I love it."
A faint light appeared in her eyes.
"I’m glad..."
She drew a slow breath.
Then, gathering every ounce of courage she had, she tilted her face upward and gently closed her eyes.
Luca stared at her for a brief moment.
His gaze drifted to those soft pink lips he’d wanted to kiss for so long.
His throat bobbed.
His breathing gradually grew heavier.
Slowly...
...he leaned closer.
His lips first brushed her forehead.
Then her eyelids.
The bridge of her nose.
Finally...
...they settled on her lips.
"Mmm..."
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn’t pull away.
Instead, both hands quietly gripped the fabric beneath Luca’s arms.
As their breathing intertwined, the gentle kiss slowly deepened.
Luca carefully parted her lips, finding the softness of her tongue before kissing her with growing passion.
It was Arabella’s first kiss.
Her movements were clumsy and uncertain.
Still, she never tried to stop him.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and silently allowed him to guide her.
A faint, breathy hum escaped through her nose.
That tiny sound alone sent warmth racing through Luca’s body.
His heartbeat became impossible to control.
Instinctively, his hand began wandering upward.
Before it could go any further...
Arabella caught it.
Holding his hand firmly, she looked straight into his eyes.
"Not yet."
Luca immediately regained his senses.
He coughed awkwardly.
"I... got carried away. Sorry."
She shook her head.
"No."
Instead of blaming him, she calmly explained,
"After we made that promise... I looked it up online."
Luca blinked.
"You... researched kissing?"
She nodded matter-of-factly.
"It said boys sometimes lose control of their hands when they kiss."
"So... it isn’t entirely your fault."
Luca was completely speechless.
He hadn’t expected her to take their promise so seriously.
Not only had she painted the two of them kissing...
She had even researched everything that might happen during one.
He looked at her with a complicated expression.
’How can someone be this sincere...?’
"So... when can we..."
"Maybe next time."
She answered honestly.
"I’m still not ready."
"I..."
"Enough."
She gently interrupted him before he could continue.
"Give me a little time."
"If we keep talking about it..."
She paused, her voice becoming even softer.
"...I’ll be too embarrassed to face you."
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling across the studio.
The golden rays rested gently against her flawless cheek.
For the first time since meeting her...
Luca clearly saw it.
A delicate blush had spread across her fair face.
Soft and beautiful.
Like peach blossoms blooming in spring.
It was so breathtaking that he couldn’t look away.