Chapter 154 - I Am Already Home

"About Quentin... I mean, Julian.

Devon turned her head to the driver's seat while he drove back home. Lewis glanced at her momentarily with his brows raising.

"What about him?" he inquired, squeezing her hand that was holding hers while they travel.

"What kind of brother is he to you?" she adjusted herself so she could focus on staring at him. 

"Hmm. How should I put it?" he muttered while he pondered about his relationship with Julian. "Not bad?"

"Not bad?"

"Julian is the brother I could rely on some important legal matters in the company since he is a lawyer."

A frown resurfaced on her face, as that wasn't what she was asking. She sighed and pressed her lips, making him glance at her once again.

"Julian and I aren't close, or I think I am very close with my other brothers. Our relationship is more formal and I can only count the times we talked about something that is not about work," Lewis explained while staring at the road. "He is someone I can rely on many things and one of the very few people I can trust. Of course, he is important to me, just like how Dion is."

Devon pursed her lips and nodded in understanding. 

"I'm sorry," she murmured as her eyes flickered with bitterness. "This must be very hard on you."

"It is, Dev." Lewis didn't deny it while squeezing her hand. "It is very hard as I had to choose between my brother and my fiance."

"Lu, I can deal with him."

Lewis shook his head with a closed-lip. "He is my brother, Dev. Isn't it just right if I deal with him myself?"

She raised her head and immediately caught his gaze. He offered her a weak smile before setting his attention back on the road.

"You are important to me, and so is Julian. The last thing I want is you killing each other." A shallow sigh slipped past his lips as leaned his head back comfortably. "You're not in that world anymore, Dev. There is someone who wants to protect you now whose neck will not certainly meet the guillotine."

"But there were other ways, effective ways, to stand in front of death's door in a blink of an eye."

"You mean a gun?" His brow raised as his voice grew suspiciously.

"Yes." Devon nodded, as a matter of fact. "This world is far scarier than my world. A bullet travels much faster than an arrow and just it is just as lethal."

"First it was sex education, now guns. My fiance, you never fail to surprise me!" Lewis cocked his head in her direction and cast her a knowing look.

"Well, I search what I see from the television."

Lewis let out a low chuckle while she bit her lower lip to suppress her grin. After talking things out earlier and the surprise proposal, they were in a much better mood.

"Lu," she called after a moment of silence and spoke when he hummed. "Don't hurt Julian."

His brows raised as he glanced at her once again. Devon took a deep breath before resting the side of her head against the leather seat.

"I admit Quentin scares me and just the thought of what he could possibly do sends a sense of dread to my spine. However, he is your brother. Julian is someone who grew up with you and had been a strong support to you." Devon took a pause as she gazed at him lovingly. 

"Hurting him is more like hurting yourself. I don't want that, Lu." Devon continued, holding his hand closer to her cheek. "More than the harm we can inflict upon each other, you will be the one who will be more devastated. I won't forgive Quentin, and I'm certain he will not let me off this time around."

Devon took another deep breath and smiled. "Still, if you are going to choose between us, choose him."

This time, Lewis frowned as he decreased his speed before pulling over completely. He turned and faced her, displeased at her last remarks.

"You want me to choose Julian over you?" he asked to confirm if he heard her right.

She nodded, closed-lipped. "I am not trying to be a hero or whatever you deem it. I simply want you to consider choosing him before automatically siding with me."

"Why would you say that? Is it because he is my brother?"

"No. It's because you are his brother." Devon corrected, making his brow crease together. She stared into his eyes for a moment, reaching to cup his cheek. 

"Now that I have a clear mind, I thought about the situation once again. Since Julian grew up with you and it seemed he was in this world before I did, there is this a part of me that thinks he may have changed." She explained after careful consideration, with no prejudice against Julian. 

The life in the palace had always been a constant battlefield, especially for the crown prince. Quentin wasn't a bad brother, initially. He had only changed over the years and Devon wouldn't understand that because she was locked up in the tower. 

She wanted to think and believe that now they were in a different world with a different identity. Quentin, now in Julian, had changed to being good. Although he had threatened her, she wanted to think it was only his initial reaction to her betrayal. That it was just like how her body first reacted at first. 

"Since you said you want to handle it, please judge the situation with what you deem is appropriate." Devon let out an exhale while keeping her mind and heart open. "I trust you and I'm sorry you have to go through this."

Lewis stared at her and could not help but lean forward for a kiss. "You are so precious."

"No, you are." her lips curled up into a sweet smile as she giggled. "We should hurry home, my love."

"But I am already home." 

"Lu."

"I speak no jest, Your Majesty." Lewis cast her a knowing look while she chuckled and slapped his chest. 

"This will be illegal parking if we stay here for too long." Devon rolled her eyes while shaking her head.

His brows furrowed as he sized her up in disbelief. "Goodness, my empress. You also read those kinds of things?"

"What do you mean, those kinds of things? It's common knowledge, isn't it?"

"Is it?" 

"Do you get away with minor offenses?" she blurted out, upon noticing the misplaced innocence in his eyes. "Oh... Assistant Wang." 

Devon nodded in understanding upon recalling that Lewis was always with Derek. After Bella's story about Derek bribing people, it was easy to put the pieces together.

"No. Assistant Wang wouldn't spoil me like that. It's just that we rarely stop until we reach our destination." Lewis explained, thinking that Derek should thank him for saving his neck.

"Ohh... I apologize for assuming."

"Don't be, my dear." Lewis drew away as he prepared to drive once again.

Devon studied his side profile and smiled. "You just cover up for Assistant Wang, did you?"

"My dear, about the thing you said about being a baby..."

"Lu, don't change the subject."

"I am not. I just thought that Grandpa will be delighted if you call him now and tell him I made you happy." 

Devon let out a sigh, which was followed by a helpless chuckle. "Grandpa will be enraged if he knows you are using him to cover up your cover-up."

She still grabbed her phone to relay the news to the old man. Marshall was just like what Lewis predicted; he was overjoyed to receive a call from his angel hours after they left. While they continued to drive back home, Devon used this time to relay the news to Marshall, who was initially shocked, but then replaced by excitement before annoyance at not inviting him along.

They mostly spent the ride back home while Devon was talking to Marshall until her phone reached a low battery. Lewis would constantly cast her a look or simply drop his comments, as Marshall's voice was too loud.

It was clear to say that Lewis would handle the matter between Julian and Devon. In that case, Devon could focus on her studies and side jobs as an extra.

Once they reached home, they didn't hitch outside the car as Lewis cocked his head to her. Devon pressed her lips together and looked back at him.

"What?" she asked, raising her brows. "Don't you want to go inside?"

"Let's stay here for a while," he said as he slid his hands to her and guided it to his lips. Lewis showered the back of her hand with kisses, lots of kisses.

His action made her giggle. "The song is nice, don't you think?" 

Devon jerked her chin towards the radio as they listened to the song. She extended her arm and volumed up a little.

"Always stay beside me, my love.

Don't let go of my hand.

Don't leave and never deceive this love

Just trust me and depend on me forever…"

To her surprise, he fluttered his eyelashes slowly as his eyes glinted menacingly. 

"Come here," he whispered, and before she could react, he had always pulled her and his lips smashed into hers.