Chapter 375: Wanting to Pull Her into His Arms
In the evening, after spending the entire day keeping watch at the hospital, Wren Sutton was persuaded by her family to return to the hotel to rest. Lucia Lancaster went with her.
Just a few minutes after the two entered the room, there was a knock at the door.
Lucia Lancaster got up to open it.
Caleb Caldwell stood at the door holding two bulging bags. A thin sheen of sweat beaded on his forehead; he had clearly rushed over right after buying everything.
Lucia reached out to help take them, but he adamantly refused. "They’re pretty heavy. You won’t be able to carry them."
Lucia huffed. "You’re underestimating me."
Caleb smiled dotingly, sidestepped into the room, and placed the bags on the table. He expertly opened the food containers, and the aroma of food instantly filled the air.
"I ordered some millet congee and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, along with some light pastries. This other bag is full of snacks."
"Wren, Lucia, you two eat while it’s hot. I’m heading to the hospital. I’ll be keeping watch with Julian tonight, so call me if you need anything."
"Get some rest right after you eat. You must be exhausted after a full day at the hospital."
Wren Sutton smiled and thanked him. "Thank you for going through the trouble of bringing us food."
"It’s no trouble at all. We’re all family here." Caleb had always thought of Wren as an older sister, and it went without saying how he felt about Lucia.
Lucia hadn’t expected Caleb to buy snacks in addition to dinner. Moreover, they were all her usual favorites; he hadn’t missed the mark on a single one.
"There are so many snacks. How am I supposed to finish all this in one night?"
Caleb cleared his throat. "You can share them with Wren."
Realizing her mistake, Lucia gave an embarrassed laugh and quickly changed the subject. "Have you eaten?"
A faint smile in her eyes, Wren Sutton gave the two some space. "I’m going to the restroom."
Seeing Wren leave, Caleb immediately walked over to Lucia’s side.
"If I said I haven’t eaten, would you let me stay and eat with you?"
Lucia turned her head away, suppressing a smile. "Nope."
"So heartless." Caleb feigned a hurt expression.
"You bought enough food for two. How are three people supposed to eat this? It wouldn’t be enough," Lucia said righteously.
Her adorable display made Caleb laugh. "I’m just kidding. How could I bear to fight you for food?"
Lucia’s heart softened. "So... have you actually eaten dinner or not?"
This time, she was genuinely concerned about him.
Caleb walked up behind Lucia, stopping a short distance away. His gaze fell, heavy and intent, on her fair neck.
’I want so badly to reach out and pull her into my arms,’ he thought, ’but I’m afraid of pushing too hard and scaring her.’
He could only restrain himself, reaching out with a feather-light touch to brush a speck of dust from her shoulder.
"Don’t worry, I’ve already eaten."
Feeling the warmth of Caleb’s fingertips, Lucia instinctively straightened her back. The hand holding her spoon froze, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
She had always thought of Caleb as her best friend, and it wasn’t as if they hadn’t had casual, uninhibited physical contact before.
But just now, his gentle touch had stirred a subtle feeling within her, something she had never experienced before.
Caleb suddenly noticed that Lucia’s ears had turned red.
He was both shocked and thrilled.
But before he could say anything, Lucia began "herding" him toward the door.
"Lucia, what are you doing? I still have something I want to tell you."
Lucia deliberately kept a straight face, saying nothing to hide her inner turmoil.
Just as they reached the door, Caleb grabbed her hand and leaned in closer. His warm breath brushed against her ear, carrying his unique scent.
"Lucia, what are you so shy about?"
Lucia stubbornly refused to admit it. "I’m not shy! Stop talking nonsense."
"But I clearly saw your ears turn red."
"You saw wrong."
"We’re so close. How could I possibly have seen it wrong?"
"Caleb!" Lucia, flustered and angry, snapped, "If you keep making jokes like this, I’m going to ignore you from now on."
Caleb immediately surrendered. "No, no, no, Your Highness! I was wrong. Please don’t be mad, and definitely don’t ignore me."
Lucia glared at him with wide eyes, her anger already half-dissipated.
Caleb didn’t tease her anymore. He gave her a deep look, the affection and patience in his eyes nearly overflowing.
"I’m leaving. Go eat now. Call me if you need anything. I’ll be at the hospital."
Lucia looked up and met the man’s profound gaze. Her own reflection was clearly mirrored within his eyes.
Her heart went THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, and a wave of heat washed over her face.
"..."
She quickly turned her face away and gave a dismissive wave, trying to hide the turbulence in her heart.
"I know, I know! What could possibly happen? Goodbye!"
Caleb saw her feigned indifference and knew the time wasn’t right, so he didn’t press her further.
"See you tomorrow. Good night."
The door clicked softly shut, and quiet returned to the room.
Lucia leaned against the door and let out a long sigh, raising a hand to touch her burning cheeks and ears.
’What’s wrong with me today? Blushing, ears turning red!’
’Could it be... I’m starting to have feelings for Caleb? Like, romantic feelings? All because of a couple bags of food!’
’But Caleb has bought me tons of food before. How come I never felt my heart flutter back then? In fact, I used to deliberately complain that he bought too little or got the wrong things...’
Lucia touched her chest, feeling her racing heart. Her thoughts were a mess. It was a long while before she slowly shuffled back to the table.
Just then, Wren Sutton came out of the restroom.
As they ate, she could tell at a glance that something was off with Lucia.
Normally, Lucia was lively and cheerful, talkative and animated. But right now, she was silent, her gaze lowered, her lips pressed together, and her mind clearly elsewhere.
Wren took the initiative and asked with concern, "Lucia, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Lucia snapped back to reality and looked up at Wren, hesitating for a moment.
In her heart, Wren had always been like a real sister to her, someone she was willing to confide in.
"Wren, my thoughts are all jumbled up. I don’t know how to explain it." Her voice was tinged with confusion and bewilderment.
Wren leaned forward and asked gently, "Is it about Caleb?"
Her thoughts exposed, Lucia pressed her lips together and nodded.
"I’ve always just seen him as my best friend. For so many years, we’ve hung out, fooled around... I never thought of him in any other way. I got used to our casual, carefree dynamic."
Lucia spoke while gently tracing the rim of her porcelain bowl.
"But just now, when Caleb was talking to me and touched my shoulder, I suddenly got all flustered. My ears got hot, and my heart started beating really fast."
As she said this, she furrowed her brow slightly, her face a mask of confusion.
"I’ve never been like this before. He’s always taken care of me and bought me things, and I always thought it was completely normal. Why today, did I suddenly get... a little shy?"
"Does this mean I’m starting to have feelings for him? Like, romantic feelings?"
"I’m not sure, and I don’t know what to do, so the more I think about it, the more conflicted I feel."
Looking at the confused and helpless Lucia before her, a gentle smile appeared in Wren’s eyes. She reached out and softly patted the back of Lucia’s hand.
"Silly girl, there’s nothing to be conflicted about."
She comforted Lucia in a soft, gentle voice.
"When it comes to feelings, there are never any fixed answers, and they can’t be planned out."
"It’s true that you used to see Caleb as a friend, and it’s also true that you’re feeling a new kind of flutter in your heart now."
"Don’t force yourself to figure it all out right away, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and definitely don’t rush to define these feelings."
Wren’s gaze was sincere and warm, treating Lucia like her own little sister.
"Just follow your heart. Whatever you’re feeling, go with that feeling."
"If you feel flustered, let yourself calm down slowly. If you feel like you care, accept it openly. You don’t need to deliberately avoid it or force yourself to make a decision."
"Whether you continue as good friends or become a couple, you have to follow your heart. Don’t make things hard on yourself, and most importantly, don’t let yourself get hurt."
Wren’s words were like a warm current, slowly soothing the anxiety and confusion in Lucia’s heart.
Lucia looked up at Wren, the confusion in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a sense of relief.
’She’s right,’ Lucia thought. ’Why rush to get tangled up in it and jump to conclusions? I should just go with my feelings.’
"I understand now, Wren."
A smile touched Lucia’s lips, and her whole demeanor lightened considerably.
"After hearing you say that, my thoughts don’t feel so jumbled anymore."
"That’s the spirit." Wren smiled, pleased. "Now, hurry up and eat. Millet congee isn’t good when it gets cold, and it’s bad for your stomach."
"Okay."
Lucia picked up her spoon and began to eat her congee and vegetables with gusto, reverting to her old self. She quietly buried that sudden flutter of emotion deep in her heart.
After they finished eating, the two sat in silence for a while.
Wren gazed out the window at the deep night, her thoughts drifting to Adrian Lancaster in the intensive care unit. Her expression grew soft, yet resolute.
"Lucia, I want to make a trip back to the old family home."