Did Eleanor misunderstand everything?

“No, I—” Lucas began, trying to explain.

But Eleanor cut him off before he could finish.

“Come inside, Lucas,” she said warmly, guiding them into the building.

They passed a few of Eleanor’s old friends along the way.

Laughing, Eleanor announced, “This is my granddaughter’s boyfriend. Isn’t he handsome?”

Isabella and Lucas exchanged a helpless look.

There was both amusement and slight distress in their silent communication.

“I’m sorry,” Isabella whispered to Lucas, her voice filled with embarrassment. “I told my grandmother a few days ago that I would bring my boyfriend to visit…”

Surprisingly, Lucas handled it better than she expected.

“It’s fine,” he murmured gently. “Let her enjoy the misunderstanding for now. Besides, you’ve…” He didn’t finish, but Isabella understood.

Lucas sighed softly, his voice full of concern. “If you ever need help, just tell me.”

Isabella used to be the life of their social circle.

Her eyes always sparkled with a bright, infectious energy whenever he saw her.

But after the Scott family’s downfall, she gradually disappeared from their gatherings.

Eventually, Isabella’s life took another unexpected turn when she became Ethan’s wife.

“Isabella, I can finally rest easy now,” Eleanor murmured, motioning for Isabella to sit down.

Emotion flickered in her gaze.

Eleanor’s apartment was cozy and modest, with two bedrooms and a spacious living room.

Lucas, tall as he was, didn’t feel cramped at all.

“Cherish each other and live well,” Eleanor said, holding both their hands as she continued chatting.

Isabella wanted to explain everything.

But seeing her grandmother so happy for the first time since her mother passed away, she decided to stay silent.

Later, in Lucas’s car, Isabella felt awkward.

“I hope you don’t mind—my grandmother loves to talk. Thank you for today. Seeing her this happy means a lot to me,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude and relief.

Lucas chuckled lightly. “Yeah, your grandmother is quite a character. I’ve heard stories about the strict ‘Iron Lady’ teacher from elementary school, though I never met her.”

Their conversation flowed naturally until they reached Isabella’s apartment building.

As a gentleman, Lucas walked her to the entrance.

Just as she was about to thank him and go upstairs, she misstepped.

A sharp pain shot through her ankle, bringing tears to her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Lucas asked with clear concern, quickly stepping forward to support her.

He was ready to help her upstairs.

But before they could move, a fist suddenly swung through the air.

It cut through the night with shocking abruptness.

“Are you fucking insane, Ethan?” Lucas’s voice was sharp with disbelief.

Without thinking, he threw a punch back, driven by sudden anger.

Ethan sidestepped with quick reflexes.

His eyes narrowed into slits as he fixed a piercing gaze on Lucas. “Why are you with Isabella?”

“Well…” Lucas began hesitantly.

But before he could form an explanation, Isabella cut him off.