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"Lana!!!!!"

Aubrey's screams might make people think there's been a terrible accident in the old house. Barnabas, close his ears.

While Lana was grateful, because only she could hear that voice.

Aubrey hit him immediately, as soon as Lana opened the door, ignoring Lana's body, which within ten seconds began to shiver.

"Aubrey, you're gonna make him sick"

Barnabas pulled Aubrey's hand and made her move away from Lana.

"What happened to you? Why don't you go home?  I've imagined the worst"

Lana smiled faintly, how assuming Aubrey was not too wrong. Something very bad has happened to him.

"I'm back in America to take care of something, Aubrey. Sorry, the notice was very sudden. I couldn't say goodbye, because I had to leave that day"

Lana felt no need to burden Aubrey with the actual story, it would only make her hysterical. Aubrey finally nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm glad you're okay, Lana" said Aubrey, stroking Lana's head softly.

Lana smiled, she then dragged Luke's suitcase, and leaned him next to the sofa.

The suitcase is another miracle for Lana, as it contains new clothes. Maybe not very new, but certainly not used clothes.

The suitcase contained the clothes he wore at Merian.

Lana had refused to take him home, but Luke gave her a more or less meaningful look 'You think that pile of clothes would be useful to me?'

So Lana brought all the clothes home, there was no way she could give them to Darla. Their sizes are very different. Darla may not be fat, but her body is very full compared to Lana's board-thin body.

And again Lana can't imagine Darla willing to wear someone else's clothes. She's Luke's sister-in-law, and his savings account is likely to have four zeros more than Lana's.

Darla is Luke's sister-in-law, Lana repeats that fact in her heart.

Darla has been revealing this since they first met, but somehow Lana easily forgot about it.

He remembered it when Luke had dropped him off at Joan's house.

Luke took that step, because his visit to Joan's place would not invite suspicion.

At first, Lana wants to go down at the foot of the hill, but Luke forbids her. The reason will cause wild gossip if Lana is seen coming out of Luke's car.

Lana also did not want to be the subject of cheap gossip of the villagers, but in her heart she wondered, why does Luke care so much about gossip? Most of the reasons for his actions were to avoid gossip.

And the answer just popped into Lana's mind. Darla Luke's sister-in-law.

Luke is a married man!

Of course he cares about the gossip that will appear if they look alone.

Luke takes her out of Merian through the VVIP's private door, once again to prevent anyone from seeing Lana with him.

Something new grows in Lana's heart.

A mixture of unpleasantness and guilt. Lana removed the unpleasantness from her mind, as it was unimportant, and focused on her guilt.

Guilty of having taken so much of Luke's time while at Merian.

Luke accompanied him to breakfast and even dinner. Lana never thought about this more deeply. He simply accepted Luke's invitation. Should he refuse that invitation?

Lana imagines how Luke's wife feels at the time.

Wait up!! It's not my fault!! Lana cried out inwardly.

It was Luke's responsibility, he had absolutely no intention of receiving Luke's invitation at the time. Lana accepts Luke's good deed because she says Lana helped her business, that's all.

You start thinking unnecessary things!! Forget the man, he is not and will never be a part of your world! Lana sat down while clenching her hands and exhaling a long breath.

They would never meet again, and it was the best course for him.

"You look troubled Lana"

Aubrey approached Lana who never sat down after putting her suitcase, she just stood up while daydreaming.

"Oh sorry, I'm just thinking about work" elak Lana.

"Did Meier fire you?" barnabas asked with a heavy voice.

"No, I resigned. It's not fair if I keep on being there, when I'm gone all of a sudden for two weeks"

Lana lied again.

"Hm... It's okay, I don't like you working there, Lana. They hired you too hard. You always come home at night and look very tired. With this you can find another lighter job now"

Aubrey said with a bright face.

"Joan offered me a job at his place, and I agreed"

"That's good, Joan is a good woman. He's a little too excited sometimes. But good" Aubrey clapped her hands to hear it.

Lana agreed. That also makes it new until home when the sun has set.

Luke escorts her to Joan's place before lunch, but Joan does not let go before nightfall. Luke was there until the afternoon.

Joan certainly didn't miss the opportunity, to offer Lana a job.

Lana just met some of Joan's guests. They come from all kinds of nationalities. Joan and Erich rely on a mobile phone translator to communicate with their guests.

They almost pleaded with Lana while explaining how troublesome it was.

Lana also had time to help one of the Russian tourists who had a little trouble, because the French language is not too perfect. Joan cheers with joy when she finally finds out that Lana not only speaks three languages, but six.

Even Luke did not escape to praise him.

The incident further cemented Joan's intention to have Lana work for her. Finally, unable to stand Joan's request, Lana accepts.

The work is not too heavy, because the task is only to translate and also take care of some bookkeeping. A job that needs brains, not muscles like Melina.

Lana's going to work tomorrow.

Lana's passion for starting something new, a little tainted with anxiety. He was of course afraid of what would happen if it got too close to Joan and Erich.

Lana rubbed her arms hard, expelling those bad thoughts.

He is determined to work as usual, work diligently and well, without having to be friendly. Lana had to remember this often, because Joan's kindness was so hard to ignore.

With the new rush, Lana also hopes, unpleasant because Luke's wife will be erased by itself.

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Luke twisted the cigarette packaging in his hand restlessly, he was struggling to combat his desire to ignite one of them.

His feet were swaying restlessly.

Luke is not a heavy smoker, as he never touched her under normal circumstances.

But his brain was matted, and as usual, he was taking nicotine injections. He promised not to touch her again.

Lana's frightened face as she smelled the scent of tobacco, leaving Luke determined not to smoke anymore, but her brain continued to demand nicotine rations.

Luke clenched his palm to strengthen his resolve. His brain does not need nicotine to work!!

"Are you a masochist? If you want to stop, throw it away. Why are you holding it?"

Neff grabbed the pack of cigarettes, then squeezed them, and slipped the trash into his pants pocket.

"I must be able to resist temptation, so I hold onto it. If I throw it away, I might pick it up one day"

Neff chuckled softly at Luke's words. Very typical of Luke, he always lived out his intentions in earnest.

"It's only been a week, and you're like someone who's been having a panic attack. You fell deeper than I thought"

Neff looked at Luke with a meaningful smile.

"What do you mean?! You showed up all of a sudden and diagnosed me with another mental illness? I'm just at war with my body's desire to smoke nicotine"

Luke rubbed his hands on his feet to stop moving.

"She.ha.ha. You you? Nicotine addiction? C'mon Lukas!"

Neff no longer just chuckles. He laughed until his tears came. Exasperated to see that, Luke throws the pillow next to him right into Neff's face.

"You're denying reality, Luke. Be aware!"

Neff dodged, and the pillow flew smoothly, then landed on the surface of the pool.

Luke was sitting by the pool. He had already re-occupied his room, after for two weeks evacuating to another room in the exclusive block.

"You've never had trouble breaking your urge to smoke before Luke. What makes this time different?"

Neff finally decided to stop teasing Luke.

"I hate it when you ask me something I don't know the answer to" Luke grumbled.

"Your brain's not nervous about picking up nicotine"

Neff gave a free answer that made Lukas frown.

"If you've been addicted to nicotine all this time, you'll smoke more often. Not just when you're nervous. I thought you were the one who used nicotine"

Luke's mindset is a bit rare, even for Neff who often deals with the complexity of human reason.

Lukas has a steel determination if he has set his intentions. Luke smokes while he is feeling restless, just because he needs something to distract his mind. That's all!

"I'm going to change my question, what makes you not want to smoke anymore, until you desperately torture yourself like this?"

Luke turned to the mountains, "I just want to live healthier"

A very real lie, because Lana's face is currently dancing in her eyes. He just didn't want Neff to conclude anything was wrong.

"You think I'm stupid? I'm not asking because I don't know, the answer is rubbish!"

Neff immediately swerved disliking.

"Because of the answer I gave, it will make you draw the wrong conclusion! I can't be a-"

Luke cuts his own words with various curses.

"Why are you so afraid to admit it?"

Luke stubbornly denied again, "There is nothing I need to fear, because you are wrong! I can't--"

"can't? You said you couldn't?! What's holding you back? You can do whatever you want"

Neff lost his temper and started yelling.

"Don't keep being stupid!! Whatever happened to you before, doesn't make you lose the right to love anyone. You just have to get out of that hole"

Luke slowly put his hand on the table. His hands and feet no longer trembled uneasily. As Neff predicted, he wasn't charging nicotine. Luke is just being fidgety.

And Neff can understand, Luke's past events, can cause anyone to be overwhelmed with anxiety, but this is the time for Luke to move on, and leave his past behind.

Luke lowered his head, and buried his face with his hands.

"I'm scared, Neff. I made them go away" whispered Luke.

Neff took a deep breath and leaned her body against the chair. It's like facing Luke in his depression. He should have stopped blaming himself.

"You've heard this a million times, but I'll say it again. Everything that happened wasn't your fault. It was an accident mixed with a stupid decision" Neff said.

"When Lana was here, I could see Luke as he used to be. The figure of Luke I thought I'd never see again. You look cheerful and friendly, and better, because your stupidity is gone a little, as you get older"

Neff smiled obliquely looking at Luke.

Luke chuckled softly, "I never knew to be cheerful and friendly"

"Of course it ever was. Why do you think all the girls at school are sticking to you? You're too friendly to be a playboy, because you serve them all"

"It has been too long to close your heart. Move, you need it"

Neff was calmer, seeing that Lukas was no longer trying to escape.

"Can I? Can I be happy?" The smile that had appeared on Luke's face, was swept back by fret and fear.

"And why not? Why can't you feel happiness again? I'm not telling you to forget what happened to them, I just want you to be happy. They will continue to be a part of your life, but not for you to cry. Use those memories as a life lesson, not an excuse not to live"

Luke again drowned in daydreaming, but this time with a calmer posture.

His feet no longer moved, and his eyes now looked towards the Eiger mountains, trying to enjoy the view.

"Am I capable of that? Can I love someone again?" ask her once again, after being silent for a few minutes

Neff, who grew tired of the repeated questions, widened his eyes. He thought Luke's silence would mean he no longer hesitated.

It's not the first time they've discussed all this.

Neff had long told Luke to move on, but their conversation never ended either.

Lana's presence brings new hope to Luke. Neff won't let this opportunity slip away.

"It's been a week since Lana came home, you can't live quietly. Almost all your work is messed up, you have trouble sleeping too. And you obviously need nicotine. If that doesn't mean you're in love with her, I'll cut off my right hand right now" Neff said.

"Where do you know all that?" asked Luke in surprise. This is the first time he has met Neff, after he told her to return Lana.

"Darla, he's tired of having to improve your work. And again he says you look terrible with thick dark circles under your eyes. And I have to admit, he's right, your eyes are red like zombies"

Luke rubbed his painful eyes. Last night he closed his eyes for less than two hours. And of course he also knows that his job has been very bad lately.

Darla gets tired of reprimanding. He can only curse whenever he finds Luke's fault.

"It's been a long time since I've approached anyone. And frankly, I have absolutely no idea how to get close to Lana. He has no interest in faces or money" Lukas said, squirming his body.

Neff clapped his hands hard, "Ah... That's part of his charm. Just this time I met a girl who is immune to your face. Lana's my idol for this"

"Do you really support me or not?" ask Lukas, annoyed.

"Of course, but I can't help you with this. My psychological science proved to be of little use in approaching women"

Neff raised his hand in surrender. She is still single at the age of 30, not the right person to be asked for advice.

To be honest, Lukas had absolutely no reason to meet Lana. The case is done.

The lawyer he hired without Lana's knowledge, clears the case easily. The lawyer lightly countered Petra's accusation of Lana teasing her first.

Petra had absolutely no chance to dodge.

Petra, who fails to defend herself on that grounds, ends up making a nonsensical statement, saying that Lana is a witch who unleashes a strange, blue-colored creature that renders her unable to breathe.

What a ridiculous statement!  Was he trying to convince the jury in court that he was crazy when he attacked Lana?

Whatever it was, Luke was relieved Petra was finally found guilty.

Unfortunately Luke could not use this excuse to meet Lana, Neff had reported the results of the trial to Lana a few days ago.

Luke must find another reason to get close to Lana, without inviting her suspicion.

Lana's peculiar nature makes Luke confident that he will fly away once he smells what Luke's intentions are.

Luke has to make sure Lana can't run before he catches her.