Chapter 74 - How Can You Trip On Your Own?

[ From Assistant Wang :

Young master, Mister De Luca, seemed to have attended the same university as Miss Lin for a short time after Miss Lin stayed abroad. We're still digging it up since it concerns Mister Quentin's private matters.]

Derek's message, along with the background information, kept repeating in Lewis' head. Quentin De Luca and Devon Lin… this world was strangely vast and small at the same time, Lewis thought. No wonder they had to do an extreme investigation to uncover this fact, as the De Luca was like the Qin's. They protect their private lives as it could be used against them.

Lewis snapped back to reality when Devon spoke beside him. "My friend, you're drinking too much." He turned his head to his side. Devon was blinking cluelessly on the other side of the couch in the living area.

"I can handle my liquor well, don't worry." He reassured with a smile.

Devon frowned before she jumped to his side, closing the gap between them. She raised her hand, taking him by surprise when she placed her palm on his forehead.

"Your face is all red. How can I not worry?" she complained, pouting.

His back stiffened as his eyes stared at her eyes full of wonder and worry. She asked him, "I haven't asked you about your day. Did something bad happen?" but her words just drifted past his ears, still staring at her.

"My friend?" Devon called, tilting her head to the side. "Are you in trouble?

Lewis let out a shallow breath. "Yes." He nodded as he held her wrist that was on his forehead and guided it down. "But I'll be fine," he added, staring at her hand as he slipped his fingers in between the gaps of hers.

Devon worriedly stared at him as it seemed he really had a lot of things to think about. 'Did he have a terrible work environment?' she wondered internally, as just one day of work seemed to drain him.

"Do you want to rest?" she asked and watched him slowly raise his gaze.

"But there's another drama you want to watch."

She shook her head, squeezing his hand as she stood up. "My friends can understand if I fail to support them tonight. Come." Devon slowly gazed down as she tugged his hand, cocking her head towards the bed.

'If only you know how dark my thoughts are right now, will you still ask me to sleep?' he asked internally, just staring at her in silence. 'I'm not as kind as you think I am…'

"Let's —" Devon attempted to pull him but shrieked when Lewis suddenly pulled her back instead. Thanks to her quick reflexes, Devon managed to land safely with her hands on either side of him, her knee on his side, while her other foot was fixed on the floor.

Her breath hitched as her face started burning up upon realizing their faces were only a palm's length away. But he seemed unfazed by their position and closeness. 

"You should be careful," he muttered. His back against the seat, holding her hip still. "How can you trip on your own?" he bats his eyes languidly.

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish as her throat dried up. "I, I didn't…" she didn't trip, and both of them were aware that she really didn't! Lewis pulled her, catching her off guard and now it seemed she just threw herself at him! But he had the audacity to act and feign innocence!

"Yes, I pulled you." He nodded, admitting what he had done.

"My friend. I…" Devon tried to push herself away, but failed as he held her hips still. She frowned as she set her eyes on him. The expression in his eyes was… nonchalant. It was as if he didn't care anymore.

"My friend, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice muffled.

"I don't know," Lewis answered indifferently. "I'm losing my mind, I guess." He shrugged, as he knew he had lost his mind briefly, but not like he regretted it. It was not like he wanted to force himself on her, he just wanted to test how far he was allowed to go over the line.

"Is work really that terrible place?" 

He nodded. "It's exhausting and draining."

Devon remained silent as she pursed her lips in a thin line. "Then, what should I do to make you feel better?" she wondered, thinking of ways to help him despite how her heart race inhaling his breath mixed with the scent of wine.

"Aren't you bothered by how close we are?" Instead of answering, Lewis shot back a question, as it seemed her reaction was not of that disgust or fear. It was worry, but he didn't dare misunderstand as her intention were purely out of goodwill for their friendship.

"Why would I?" Devon cocked her head to the side. "We had slept together, eat and watch together, and even embraced each other. So…" she trailed off when he suddenly uttered.

"So, if I did something like kissing, will you feel bothered?" 

For a moment, Devon couldn't reply. 'Of course, you tell him that's a different case!' Her mind shouted. 'Kissing is only for lovers! Don't let him steal your first kiss in this life just because you're friends!'

"Why are you being like this?" She averted her gaze, biting her inner lip as she couldn't understand him, nor she could comprehend the lack of resistance against him.

It was clear that she wasn't prepared to be touched by others; hanging out with Dion proved that point. But with Lewis, Devon felt everything was fine. In fact, she found comfort in his touches. Still, there were things she was not prepared to do with him, afraid these were just fleeting moments and ruin their bond once the matters of the heart got involved.

"I told you, I don't know. I might have lost my mind for, that's all." Lewis let another deep breath as he let her go. "But just so you know, I actually thought of kissing you.. Be careful around me next time."