A Perfect Lie Hides Behind My Billionaire Marriage (reese and hudson)

A shiver coursed through Reese's body, warmth spreading to her collarbones, igniting a simmering heat that

seemed to engulf her entirely.

With a flushed face and an unsightly expression of discomfort, she struggled. "Mr. Strakovski, please let go of

me. You're drunk. Lettake you back to your room to rest."

Lukas restrained Reese, catching a whiff of the delicate fragrance that clung to her. His eyes flickered with a hint

of something as if questioning whether he himself was intoxicated.

Oddly, she appeared to have a higher tolerance for his inebriated self than usual.

Lukas's eyes held a shadowy and unreadable expression. He wasn't sure of his own thoughts at this moment,

allowing a half-genuine, half-pretend drunk tone to seep into his voice. "Don't move. I'm not drunk. I can still

handle more later."

Reese couldn't help but smile wryly. He was definitely drunk. She felt resigned, predicting that Lukas would

undoubtedly be grumpy once he sobered up and realized his behavior from that night.

When Reese felt the pressure from Lukas's grip ease a bit, she tried to push him away.

However, Lukas tightened his hold immediately, his voice slightly hoarse and low. "Behave. Stop struggling."

His indulgent voice made her heart turn erratic. She took a deep breath. This man was just drunk. Besides, he

had never spoken to her in this manner before. He must have mistaken her for someone else.

Thinking this way, Reese's expression turned slightly unpleasant. She bit her lip, then, using her elbow with all

her strength, she forcefully jabbed his chest.

Lukas let out a muffled groan of pain, instinctively reaching to cover his chest. He hadn't expected her to strike

so fiercely.

Seizing the moment, Reese pushed him away and dashed back into her room.

Hands in his chest, Lukas's eyes becclear. But he couldn't help feeling helpless. He had brought this upon

himself.

He had told Reese not to have any undue thoughts about him, to keep her distance. Yet, here he was, doing

precisely the opposite. He didn't even understand his own actions.

But the fact that he was still playing the role of a drunkard made him sigh. He leaned against the wall, closed his

eyes, and sat on the floor. Things would probably get messy if Reese found out he wasn't drunk.

Once Reese returned to her room, she realized she had overreacted. Calming herself down, she opened her door

and saw Lukas seated against the wall in the corridor.

She contemplated for a moment but decided not to approach him. Instead, she called the housekeeper to help

Lukas back to his room.

When Lukas woke up the next day, he found that Reese had already gone to work. Thinking about the previous

night, his gaze darkened, and a rare tinge of remorse appeared on his otherwise composed face.

Reese had arrived at the office early that day. She planned to discuss Magnus's contract with Cole in the morning

and figure out a way to cancel the jewelry customization deal.

However, Cole had other commitments the entire day and was absent from the office. Reese had no choice but

to start working on her tasks.

At the stime, Elena received a call from Magnus.

"Elena, how dare you fucking lie to me?" Magnus's voice was filled with anger. Elena's heart skipped a beat.

"What are you talking about? When did | lie to you?" "You said Reese is Lukas's woman, but why the hell did

James cafterlast night? Aside from messing up my plans, he accusedof messing with his woman.

Do you dare say you didn't deceive me?"

Still reeling from last night's loss, Magnus was furious.

The news floored Elena. Her eyebrows furrowed, not expecting James to support Reese suddenly. "Mr. Xavier, |

really didn't deceive you. If you don't believe me, ask around the circle. Everyone knows that Lukas stood up for

Reese in the Rhodes family matter. As for James, what does it matter if Reese flirted with one or two men? How

can you blme for that?"

Magnus was in no mood to be fooled. His voice was dripping with impatience. "I don't care about Reese's

situation. You get your ass over to Rivers Health Medical Center right now. I'm in the hospital because of you!"

His current state prevented him from going after James or Lukas. He could only take out his frustration on Elena.

His tone took Elena aback. "If you're sick, you should rest properly, but..." Magnus couldn't miss the undertones

in Elena's words. It was clear she had no desire to come. His frustration flared up in an instant. "So, you're not

willing to come? Well, then I'll have someone bring you here," he said with an attitude reminiscent of a small-

town bully.

"Don't be like this, Mr. Xavier. We can talk things out." Elena paled, her voice tinged with fear.

Magnus's patience wore thin, his tone unforgiving. "Elena, letbe straight with you. | have recorded our

conversation about you instigatingto go after Reese. If you don't want this to end up in Lukas's hands, you

better ctoright away." He was no pushover, not by a long shot.

This revelation bristled Elena, her face contorting into a grimace of displeasure. "How could you do this?"

"What else was | supposed to do? Should | teach you how to do it?" Magnus sneered.

Elena was horrified and furious, but she couldn't afford to enrage Magnus. If he really sent that recording to

Lukas, she'd be in big trouble, given Lukas's temper. Her lips quivered as she said, "I'll come. I'll cright now.

Just sendthe room number."

Magnus heard enough and hung up.

In no time, Elena received the room number, but she was too scared to go. Magnus wasn't just urging her. It felt

like he was hurrying her to her own execution. He would probably take it out on her today after the blow he took

from Reese last night. However, she couldn't refuse. She had left herself no choice. After much consideration,

Elena decided to reach out to Elias for advice. She dialed his number, her voice sounding weak and uneasy.

"Brother, what are you up to?"

Phone in his ears, Elias raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"