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Chapter 72
At last, the weekend came when Lucas, the son of Messina and Zed, returned home.
All members of the Rezzeta Family organization dressed in suits to welcome Lucas.
“Boss, aren’t you coming out?”
Zed knocked on the door for what must have been the umpteenth time.
“Just a moment! I only need to pick my shoes.”
“You’re not going to meet your lover. You’re meeting your son, so keep it appropriate.”
Sensing the irritation in Zed’s voice, Messina finally slipped on her shoes and came out of the room quickly.
“What, are you jealous of my son now?”
“I’m not.”
“Not, huh? You should be the one to take it easy.”
Messina playfully pinched Zed’s cheek and walked with him.
Just as they reached the entrance, the carriage carrying Lucas arrived.
“My son!”
Before Lucas could even step down, Messina rushed forward and threw her arms around him.
“Mother.”
But Lucas calmly took her arms off him.
“I told you before—please refrain from such behavior in front of people.”
“Still as lacking in affection as ever, I see.”
“Is there really a need for that?”
“Even your way of speaking is just like your father’s.”
At that, Zed protested with a wronged expression.
“Messina, you always say he gets all the bad traits from me.”
“Because it’s true.”
Lucas shook his head at his parents’ childish bickering.
“Please, both of you, stop. I don’t take after either of you.”
“That arrogance? Definitely from Messina.”
“What did you just say? Do you want to die?”
Unfortunately, it seemed their quarrel would take a while to end, so Lucas let another subordinate guide him into the mansion.
By the time Lucas finished his shower and sat at the dining table to take his first bite, Messina and Zed also came in.
“You ended the fight sooner than expected.”
At their son’s sharp remark, the two looked embarrassed and hurried to sit down.
“Sorry, son. It’s been a while since you came home, and we showed you something unpleasant.”
Lucas simply nodded lightly, as if to say it was fine, and continued eating.
“Oh, right, son. There’s something I wanted to ask…”
Messina, watching her son’s expression, cautiously opened her mouth.
“I recently received a letter from Lady Star.”
Hearing that, Lucas chuckled under his breath.
“So, she really did send it.”
“What’s the meaning of that smile?”
Zed asked urgently.
“Are you really friends with Johan?”
“It just happened that way.”
The couple was dumbstruck.
“Of all people, why did you become friends with him?”
“Why not? There’s no reason we shouldn’t. We have a lot in common.”
Lucas even chuckled as if amused by his own words.
“Anyway, I’m going over to Johan’s house tomorrow, right? I’ve been really looking forward to it.”
Since their son was looking forward to it, there was no way they could refuse.
‘Or maybe…’
Messina thought again—it wasn’t a bad idea to visit Killian’s house before the assassination, to observe things firsthand.
It would be killing two birds with one stone, and so a triumphant smile appeared on her lips.
The Star mansion was busy preparing for guests.
“Uncle!”
Johan burst into Killian’s study without knocking.
“What sort of rude behavior is this?”
“Do you think this is the time to worry about that?”
Johan marched up to Killian, fuming.
“Lucas and his parents are coming tomorrow! How are you going to take responsibility for this?”
“What?”
Killian shot up from his chair.
“Nobody told me about this.”
He hadn’t thought Messina would actually accept Emily’s invitation.
While the two of them were flustered and at a loss, Alvin entered.
“Your Excellency, as you’ve just heard from Johan, the Rezzeta Family will be visiting tomorrow.”
Killian replied with a hollow expression.
“Alvin, thanks for letting me know so quickly.”
“If you had spent more time talking with Madam, you would have known sooner.”
Now that he thought of it, ever since returning from the academy, he hadn’t really had time with Emily. Not on purpose—he had just been truly busy.
“I trust you won’t claim to be too busy to attend tomorrow as well.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”
There was no way he would leave Messina, that crazy woman, alone with Emily, his innocent and delicate wife.
“Uncle.”
Johan tugged at Killian’s sleeve.
“Then you’ll take responsibility for Lucas.”
Since it was practically Killian’s fault things had come to this, he reluctantly agreed.
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
“It’s simple.”
Johan grabbed a notepad and pen from Killian’s desk and began scribbling.
“First, if Lucas talks to me, you have to change the subject.”
His expression was dead serious as he wrote.
“And if he tries to approach me, you have to pick him up and set him somewhere else.”
“I’d rather not.”
Killian couldn’t even imagine himself carrying a child.
“Even if you don’t want to, you must.”
“…Fine.”
Johan continued to lay out rules for Killian’s behavior.
“There’s something most important.”
Numbering the last line, Johan looked Killian straight in the eyes.
“You have to stop Lucas from getting close to Emily.”
Just the thought made him so jealous he couldn’t stand it. Muttering under his breath, Johan snapped the penholder in two.
“Of course.”
Killian agreed—whatever ties with the Rezzeta Family existed would end tomorrow.
Both men’s eyes burned with determination.
The next morning came, and the Star family members dressed to the nines to greet the Rezzeta Family.
Their impeccable appearance was purely meant to overwhelm the Rezzetas.
Except for Emily, everyone in the Star family knew there was no way Johan and Lucas were truly friends, but no one mentioned it.
They all hoped this family gathering would be a chance for Killian and Emily, who had grown distant, to reconnect.
Thus, Alvin, Ivan, Cezanne, Chili, and Roxy—the original “bridge team” between Killian and Emily—gathered once more.
“Cezanne, keep an eye on them at all times and report back to us.”
“Yes, Sir Alvin.”
“Chili and Roxy, make sure no one disturbs them when they’re together.”
“Leave it to us.”
Their determination was greater than when they went to fight rival gangs.
“What about me?”
Ivan, who hadn’t received any orders, asked.
“You…”
Alvin frowned deeply, annoyed at wasting time figuring out what job to give him.
When Alvin stayed silent too long, Ivan shrugged.
“As a love expert, I’d suggest—”
“When did you become a love expert?”
Alvin looked at him incredulously.
“You think I spent the past few months single like you? I was busy building up a solid dating record.”
“Ah, very impressive.”
Though Ivan was muscle-brained and simple, he was warm-hearted—and good-looking, which made him popular. Alvin never understood why, but Ivan’s endless dating history was undeniable.
“So, what’s this plan of yours?”
“A jealousy tactic.”
“What?”
The atmosphere instantly froze.
“Isn’t it brilliant?”
“It’s so ridiculous I’m speechless,” Roxy muttered with a straight face, but Ivan looked confident.
“Men often don’t realize their feelings when a woman is by their side, but once she drifts away, they do.”
“So who are you planning to use for this jealousy ploy?”
“Since the boss might kill me if I use anyone from the Star family, I’ll have to pick someone from the Rezzeta family.”
“Ivan.”
Chili’s fist trembled as she called his name.
“Did you forget the Crown Prince incident?”
Everyone flinched at her words.
“Ah… that.”
“Do you know how much Madam suffered because of that? Do you?!”
Roxy silently patted Chili’s shoulder, remembering how much she had tormented herself back then for mishandling letters.
“Ivan, just go clean horse dung or something.”
Alvin quickly dismissed him before Chili could explode.
The Rezzeta Family’s carriage arrived at the Star mansion.
Since the two families rarely interacted, the staff were all on edge.
“Johan, you came to greet me?”
Lucas waved as he stepped down from the carriage.
“…Yeah.”
Johan made it very obvious that he wasn’t here of his own free will.
“Welcome, Lucas,” Emily greeted warmly.
That was the real reason Johan had come out—to protect Emily from the Rezzetas.
Which also meant…
“Well, well, Killian. What’s this? You actually came out to greet me too?”
Yes, Killian was there as well.
“Just eat quietly and leave.”
Killian’s cold words made Emily give him a disapproving look.
“…And stay for dessert too.”
As Killian quickly backpedaled, Messina exchanged a meaningful glance with Zed.
“Looks like Killian’s weakness is Emily, huh?”
