Chapter 432 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Because I think you have been carrying an unnecessary burden for years. I bet you haven’t had a good argument with Celsie since after that incident, have you?” Desmond asked, and Sonia frowned.

“There is nothing to fight about. We love each other, and we understand each other.”

“I know you love each other, but I also know you are not as completely open with her as you would love to be. Don’t you want to visit your mother’s graveside? Don’t you miss your mother? When last did you talk to Celsie about your mother or family? Have you even mourned your mother’s death?” Desmond asked, and this time Sonia broke into a sob.

Desmond stood from his seat and went to sit beside her as he gathered her close, “Stop being lonely in the midst of people who deeply care about you, and stop being a stranger when you are with family. Celsie and her family love you, and I know they don’t blame you for what happened, so stop blaming yourself,” Desmond murmured as he patted her back while she wept.

Lucas laughed as he and Miley walked out of the Cinema while she complained about the movie they had just finished seeing.

“It was crazy, seriously. I think Elena should have ended up with Trevor, not Con.”

“Why? Because Trevor is cuter?” Lucas asked curiously.

“Well, there is that. He’s more my spec than Con is,” Miley said, flashing him a grin.

“Or maybe you just feel sorry for Trevor because he’s not as rich as Con,” Lucas said, and Miley frowned as they both stopped by her car.

“You think so? You don’t think Con was too cunning with his corny lines?” She asked, and Lucas chuckled at her deliberate wordplay.

“I think it was an interesting movie, and Sonia won’t appreciate you referring to Bryan that way,” Lucas said, since Bryan had played the roll of Con in the movie, and Miley rolled her eyes.

“Do you know I forgot for a moment that you personally know Bryan Delgado?” She asked, and Lucas smiled.

“I won’t exactly say I know him personally yet. We really didn’t talk much when we met,” Lucas said, and Miley nodded as she unlocked the car.

“It has been a nice day. Thanks for getting my mind off my problems,” Lucas said with serious eyes as he watched her because he had actually not thought of anything serious all day, thanks to her.

“I’m better for you than the alcohol, am I not?” She asked playfully as she opened the driver’s door.

“Yes, you are. I have to leave you now,” Lucas said, and the smile left her face.

“Where are you going from here? Home? Why don’t you get in, so I drop you off?” Miley offered as she got into the car, feeling reluctant to let Lucas go despite the fact that he had spent most of the day with her.

“As long as you don’t try to convince me to stay an extra hour with you,” Lucas said with a knowing smile, and Miley grinned at him unashamed.

“You were supposed to be my drinking buddy and be my audience while I wallow in self-pity. I haven’t even had any drink yet,” she reminded him as she glanced at her wristwatch. It was almost 7 PM already. Still too early for her to go to bed.

“You shouldn’t drink either or wallow in self-pity. Instead, it would be best if you went home to your family so that they can comfort you and you can do the same,” Lucas said, and she eyed him with mild annoyance.

“I already told you why I can’t do that yet,” she said as she distractedly tossed her hair back with lazy feminine grace.

“Because you don’t want them to force you into receiving treatments, and you want to go home with a man and tell them you want to get married and live happily ever after with him before you die, am I right?” Lucas asked, summarizing everything he had learned from her thus far.

“Why are you making it sound like you think it’s a stupid idea?” Miley asked, and Lucas scoffed.

“Because I think it is ridiculous.”

“But you didn’t say so earlier when I first said it,” Miley pointed out.

“Only because I thought you were kidding the first time about the marriage and having a child,” Lucas said incredulously.

When she had mentioned that one of the things on her bucket list was getting married and having a child before her death, he had dismissed it with a laugh and had brought up another conversation. But in the course of the day, she had mentioned it a couple of times again and was beginning to realize that she actually meant it.

“Why will I be kidding about something as important as that?” Miley asked, slightly pissed that he wasn’t taking her seriously.

“For starters, it takes an average of nine months to carry a pregnancy, and you already stated more than once that you have less than six months. When are you going to find the man? When are you going to get married and then get pregnant? Do you plan on having the child within five months? I know this is important to you, but it is not realistic. I’m sorry,” Lucas said reasonably as he watched her.

“And you think I haven’t thought of all that already?” Miley asked with a slight frown, wondering if he thought she was an airhead.

“You have?” Lucas asked curiously.

“Of course. I’m sure I would be able to find someone decent to love me and marry me at the right price. I will make the man give me his sperm, and then with my eggs, we could get a surrogate. Even if I die, she can have my baby, and my parents will raise the kid,” Miley said with a proud smile, and Lucas looked at her sadly.

“You want to pay someone to love you?”

She shrugged, “I’m sure none of those guys who claimed to love me in the past would be keen on being with me now if they find out I’m dying. Besides, I would only attract golddiggers anyway. So it’s best I choose a man of my choice and pay him. That way, I can get all the love and attention I want before I die.”

“What about you? Don’t you want to fall in love? Do you think you would be satisfied with just having anyone in your life? Especially when you know you are paying them to love you?” Lucas asked curiously.

“No offense, but you were in love too. How did it work out for you? Love is beautiful and all, but I don’t have the luxury of time to fall in love. I just want to be happy and…” The rest of her words trailed off when her vision suddenly blurred, and she winced when pain shot through her head.

“Are you with your med?” Lucas asked in concern when she raised both hands to her temple, and he quickly picked up her handbag and handed it to her so she would take the pills.

“I think so,” she said in a very small voice as she reached for the prescription bottle she usually left in her handbag, but it was empty.

“Oh, no! Oh, God! Not now!” She cried as she poured out all the content of her bag as though she would miraculously find a pill inside.

“You don’t have any stashed somewhere in your car?” Lucas asked with a frown, and she shook her head slowly as tears dropped from her eyes.

“I don’t,” she cried.

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