ch 41-45

*Chapter 41: We're Rich Now*

“Please focus on the camera!”

“Mr. Kelly, keep looking straight ahead!”

In the Buck Tower's library studio, a cover photo shoot was in progress.

Both Luca and Kate had makeup on.

Luca's hair was slicked back in a British aristocratic style, and his left cheek was dusted with a layer of foundation, making his already pale face even more ghostly. His sharp features were even more defined, and paired with his crimson lips, he looked like a vampire.

Opposite him, Kate had a more natural makeup look. She represented a human girl, with fair skin, rosy cheeks, and an elegant demeanor.

A red apple was suspended between them, giving the scene a playful, almost wedding prank-like vibe.

Both of them were kissing the apple, their eyes locked, breaths audible.

It was the first time Luca had looked at Kate so closely. Staring into her eyes, he inexplicably felt a little nervous.

Kate remained calm, displaying a high level of professionalism.

"Hold that pose for five seconds!" the photographer called out, beginning a countdown.

“Five, four, three, two, one…”

Click~

The photographer captured the perfect moment, snapping several shots in rapid succession.

“Perfect!”

The photos turned out excellent.

Hannah took a look and was very pleased. Both of them were already extremely attractive, and with makeup, they looked even more stunning. Their side profiles resembled a work of art.

“Kate, Luca, come take a look.”

“It looks great!”

Kate smiled and then glanced at Luca. “You seemed nervous just now, huh?”

Luca smirked, “Well, you’re a supermodel. Of course I’d be nervous working with you for the first time.”

“Haha, rookie!”

After the shoot, the two were invited to visit the Mason family.

The Mason residence was in a Long Island wealthy neighborhood, in an old but charming mansion.

The villa faced Long Island Bay, offering a stunning view.

Luca wanted to take a boat out for a ride on the water. Kate, with a slight smile, ignored him, so he went alone. However, after a short trip, he returned.

The sea breeze? Too cold!

During the visit, Luca also met the publisher’s chairman, an elderly man named Schwartz.

Old Schwartz couldn’t stop patting Luca’s shoulder, praising him as a good young man, though a bit too forcefully.

By the end of dinner, Luca’s right shoulder was swollen from all the pats.

“Hahaha~”

On the way back in the car, Kate noticed Luca tugging at his shirt to check the condition of his shoulder and burst out laughing.

Luca shook his head and leaned back in his seat, recalling the evening.

At the dinner, Felix had mentioned the online bookstore Amazon.

He planned to initially sell Twilight through online stores to test the waters. If successful, future publications would also be listed online, gradually reducing physical bookstores and saving costs.

This move was quite forward-thinking, but it met strong opposition from Old Schwartz.

Schwartz didn’t believe in the bookstore + internet model.

He argued that selling books in a physical store was still the mainstream, and without a physical store, a publisher would just be a shell. Abandoning physical stores, he said, would be surrendering to online bookstores.

He angrily called Felix an idiot, refusing to support the plan.

Felix didn’t argue. Instead, he asked for opinions from others, including Luca.

Since it concerned his interests, Luca didn’t hold back. He directly stated that the internet was the future and that the internet could connect buyers and sellers, creating a 24/7 marketplace.

He used eBay, America’s largest e-commerce company, as an example, predicting that in the future, people wouldn’t just buy books online, but everything—daily necessities, cars, houses, planes, even organs and body parts. The logistics industry would develop to the point where it could deliver to every household, just as easily as getting milk delivered daily.

He got so into it that he left everyone stunned.

Even Felix, who had originally proposed the idea, was taken aback. He was only talking about selling books but hadn’t imagined Luca would think so far ahead.

Felix was thrilled to have Luca’s support.

But Old Schwartz wasn’t pleased. Although he praised Luca for his vision and boldness with a smile, he kept slapping his shoulder, making Luca wince.

Luca wasn’t thinking about the old man’s heavy hand now, though. Instead, he was thinking about Amazon.

In 2000, the global dot-com bubble had burst, causing a massive drop in the stock prices of internet companies like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Oracle. Their market values were cut in half and were only slowly recovering.

At this time, the stock prices of internet companies were very cheap—like Amazon.

Earlier, Luca had asked Felix about Amazon’s stock price. It had only recovered to $42 a share.

In four years, Amazon’s stock would rise to $130 per share, and 19 years later, it would hit over $1,800, increasing more than 50 times since 2003.

He remembered these figures clearly because he’d learned them while following the news about Bezos’ divorce.

He recalled how the news reported that MacKenzie took 4% of Amazon’s shares in the divorce, worth $62.3 billion. Incredible.

If he could just get 1% of Amazon’s shares, he’d be set for life.

“Hey, Luca, you’re drooling!”

Suddenly, Kate’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Luca wiped the corner of his mouth—nothing there!

Seeing his reaction, Kate laughed even harder, almost driving the car into a ditch.

“Luca, you were chatting quite a bit with Schwartz’s granddaughter earlier. Is there something going on?”

“Stop guessing.”

Luca shook his head. “My sister is the most beautiful woman in the world, and my girlfriend is the hottest supermodel. Other women are like clouds in the sky or weeds by the road. How could I be interested?”

“Hmph, saying all that sweet stuff—what do you want?”

Kate raised an eyebrow, giving him a knowing look.

Luca smiled faintly. “Actually, I do need to ask something. Kate, how much money do you have right now?”

“Umm… around a little over a million.”

“Only that much?”

“Only?”

Kate shot him a dissatisfied look. “Is over a million considered little?”

“It’s not small, but the papers said you earned $5.5 million last year. How come you only have a little over a million?”

“Are you stupid? The $5.5 million is just on paper. Don’t I have to split it with the company? Pay taxes? And don’t forget the apartment—$3.8 million. We just finished paying off the mortgage, remember?”

Luca rubbed his head, realizing she was right.

Kate might be a supermodel, but she still had to split earnings with her agency. Plus, taxes for foreigners in the U.S. were high—anywhere from 20% to 35%. After all the deductions, and paying off the mortgage, saving over a million was actually pretty impressive.

“Sorry, Kate. I forgot about the mortgage. You’ve worked hard all these years.”

Kate shook her head, wiping the corner of her eye with a smile. “So, why did you ask about my money?”

Luca thought for a moment. “What I was saying earlier wasn’t random. I’ve been reading economic magazines recently, and a lot of them are showing data that the internet stock market is recovering. From the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000 until now, stocks from big companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon have clearly been on the rise.”

He used Amazon’s stock price as an example. In 1999, Amazon’s stock was $100 per share. By 2001, it had dropped to $10, then climbed back up to over $30 last year. This year, it had fluctuated between $30 and $60, but the overall trend was upward.

“You’re thinking of buying stocks?”

Kate asked softly.

“Yes, I believe in the future of the internet. Holding internet stocks long-term is beneficial, more so than leaving money in the bank.”

“Hmm~”

Kate frowned, thinking it over. “My financial advisor suggested buying government bonds to reduce taxes. Can buying stocks do that?”

“No.”

Luca thought about it.

Kate only had a little over a million, and buying stocks wouldn’t yield high returns right now. He didn’t know much about other investments, so stock trading could wait until he earned more money himself.

“Kate, your financial advisor’s suggestion is good. With the U.S. and other countries preparing for war in Iraq, buying war bonds could bring short-term profits. Internet stocks, on the other hand, require a long-term investment, and returns won’t come as quickly.”

“Hmm~”

Kate pondered. “I’ll keep some money for daily expenses, buy some war bonds, and invest a portion in Amazon stock. What do you think?”

Luca smiled gently. “Kate, how about you manage my money too?”

With the money from selling his script and his first advertising deal, he had about $200,000.

“Alright, little rich guy!”

Kate smiled and then remembered something.

“Luca, you said you’d buy Lima a gift once you made money. I already bought it for you. When are you going to give it to her?”

“Tomorrow!”

He’d been so busy recently that he hadn’t had time to go out with Lima.

“Okay, just remember to seize the opportunity and make a good impression this time, got it?”

Kate winked, a mischievous smile on her lips.

“Got it!”

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 42: A Dangerous Gift*

The next day, the weather was beautiful.

Bright sunlight flooded the streets and alleys of New York. Many people were out taking advantage of the warm day to stroll and shop. The parks and streets were bustling with lively crowds.

Around noon, Luca, dressed in a wool suit and holding a bouquet of Diana red roses, arrived at Lima’s apartment.

Lima lived in downtown Manhattan, about a 30-minute drive from 76th Street.

The housing prices in this area were slightly cheaper than on the East Side. Kate had also rented an apartment here for several months before.

In 2001, when Kate made her first million, she took advantage of the fluctuating New York housing market and bought a luxury high-rise on 76th Street in the wealthy district using installment payments.

Now, with housing prices up 20%, many people praised Kate for her bold decision.

Lima and Kate had started their careers around the same time, and their net worths were about the same. However, Lima didn’t spend a fortune on a luxury home after making her money.

Her family lived in a remote village in Salvador, Brazil. With seven or eight family members needing her support, she couldn’t be as carefree as Kate, whose only relative was a good-for-nothing brother.

Lima had only bought a small apartment on the West Side, though it was still worth seven or eight hundred thousand dollars.

*Ding dong ding dong~*

Luca rang the doorbell twice.

He waited for a while but there was no response.

“Lima!”

Luca knocked on the door. He had called her the day before to tell her he’d be coming over at noon to play video games, so she should have been home.

He pulled out his phone, just about to call her.

Click. The door opened.

“Ahh~ Luca, you’re here!”

Lima yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.

She had just woken up, no makeup, her hair a mess. She lazily rubbed her head, making her hair even messier, far from the supermodel look.

But Luca didn’t mind. After spending some time together, he’d gotten used to this side of Lima—carefree and sometimes a bit oblivious.

“Lima, these are for you!”

Luca handed her the roses.

Lima blinked her blue-gray eyes. “Didn’t we agree to just hang out like before? Why did you buy roses?”

“The flower shop downstairs had a big sale, so I grabbed some.”

“Haha, liar!”

Lima hugged the flowers and kissed him on the cheek.

Inside the living room, Lima handed the roses back to him.

“Put these in a vase for me. I’m going to nap a bit more.”

With that, she flopped back onto the sofa. Her beige silk nightgown slid up her thigh, revealing a bit of cleavage, but she didn’t seem to care at all. She placed an arm over her forehead and let out a contented sigh.

Luca sighed softly, feeling a bit of sympathy.

New York’s Fall/Winter Fashion Week was approaching, and both Lima and Kate had been extremely busy, spending each day either on the runway or rehearsing.

Lima had spent most of the previous day rehearsing in the white tent at Bryant Park. It had been cold and tiring, not easy at all.

Luca took off his jacket, grabbed some scissors, and trimmed the rose stems, placing them in a vase.

The room was a bit of a mess, with food bags, cosmetics, and clothes scattered all around.

Luca smiled helplessly. The last time he was here, it had been the same. He had helped clean up for half the day, and now, just a few days later, it was back to chaos.

“What a lazy woman!” he muttered.

He rolled up his sleeves and started tidying up again. He also found a blanket and covered Lima with it.

“Luca, come sit down!” Lima called, half-opening her eyes and waving him over.

“I need to clean up the room.”

“Come sit!”

Lima pouted.

Luca wiped his hands and sat on the sofa.

Lima shifted her body lazily, resting her head on his lap. She hugged his waist in a comfortable position, murmuring, “It’s so nice having you here.”

Luca smiled gently and patted her shoulder rhythmically—once, twice, three times.

The room was quiet. A gentle breeze fluttered the curtains, and sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the vase of vibrant red roses, which bloomed passionately, filling the air with their fragrance.

Before long, Luca drifted off to sleep too.

*Ding ling ling~*

It was unclear how much time had passed when the sound of a phone ringing woke him up.

Luca slowly opened his eyes and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“Kate, what’s up? The gift? Uh… I haven’t given it to her yet. Lima’s still napping. Okay, I’ll give it to her.”

“Mmm~”

Lima stirred from her sleep, the phone’s ring having woken her. She turned over and smiled at Luca. “What gift?”

Luca kissed her on the forehead and smiled. “I told you yesterday that I made some money and got you a special gift. I picked it out just for you.”

“Where’s the gift?” Lima asked, blinking with interest.

“It’s in my jacket pocket. You’ll have to get up so I can get it.”

Luca was about to stand when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Lima quickly sat up, looking at him with concern.

“It’s nothing. I just sat for too long, and my muscles got stiff.”

Luca shook his head. It wasn’t his spine that hurt, just a muscle cramp from poor circulation.

“You should lie down on the sofa and rest. I forgot your back hasn’t fully healed,” Lima said, a little guilty as she helped him.

“Lima, I’m fine. It’s just a muscle pull. Totally normal.”

“You shouldn’t take it lightly. You lie down, and I’ll get the gift myself.”

“Alright.”

Luca lay down on the sofa. “It’s in the left pocket, a rectangular box.”

“Got it!”

Lima took his jacket and pulled out a one-foot-long gift box.

The pink box had no labels or pictures on it.

“Luca, what’s this?” Lima asked, curious.

“Emmm~”

Actually, Luca had no idea. Kate had said she spent a lot of time picking out this gift, and it was meant to be a surprise for Lima. Luca wasn’t supposed to know in advance.

“Go ahead and open it. I’m sure you’ll love it,” he said, trusting Kate’s taste.

“Alright.”

Lima sliced open the box with scissors. When she saw the gift inside, she paused, then smirked and asked, “Did you personally buy this for me?”

“Yeah, of course!”

Luca wasn’t foolish enough to admit that Kate had picked it out. That would seem too insincere. He leaned on the sofa and asked, “Do you like it?”

Lima fluttered her long lashes and smiled. “I like it a lot!”

“As long as you like it.”

Luca breathed a sigh of relief. Kate really knew her stuff when it came to buying gifts.

“Do you want me to put it on and show you?” Lima asked playfully, holding the box.

“Put it on?”

Luca was confused. Was it clothing? Could such a small box hold clothes? Or had Lima mixed up the words?

“Wait here!”

Lima smiled mischievously and sashayed into the bathroom.

Luca raised an eyebrow and took out his phone.

“Kate, what exactly did you buy?”

“Haha, didn’t Lima open it?”

“She did. She went to take a shower without saying a word.”

“Really? Haha~ Luca, your moment has come. Don’t disappoint me!”

Beep beep.

Kate hung up.

Luca stared at his phone, speechless. What “moment” was Kate talking about?

After a while, the bathroom door opened.

Amid the steam, a curvaceous woman, her long wet hair hanging down, sashayed out, her hips swaying seductively.

Luca froze, eyes wide in disbelief. The lyrics to a song echoed in his mind: Dangerous, dangerous, the girl is so dangerous…

“Well? How do I look?” Lima licked her plump lips and asked in a sultry voice.

Pfft.

Before Luca could answer, two streams of blood spurted from his nose.

Kate, is this the gift you prepared?

Could you be any crueler to your little brother?

Hiss~

My back hurts!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 43: Watch Your Back

“Hahaha~”

That afternoon, on 23rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, inside the office of Nina Syster, an agent at IMG Models, bursts of hearty laughter filled the room.

Behind the desk, Nina held her forehead in slight resignation. They had agreed she would play the role of the "Ice Queen." So why was she laughing so loudly?

“Kate, compose yourself!”

“Haha~”

Kate put down her phone with a mischievous grin. “Nina, a few days ago Luca made a bit of cash and asked me to help him pick out a gift for Lima. Guess what I got?”

Nina tapped her forehead. “Probably not something ordinary.”

Kate smiled slyly. “I got her a really trendy and fun lingerie set.”

Nina was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing.

After working with Kate for over two years, Nina knew her well. Kate could be as fiery as she was cold, as wild as she was elegant, but she was definitely no goody-two-shoes. This was very much like her.

“Oh, Kate, you can’t do that! What if Lima gets upset?”

“She won’t.”

Kate confidently smiled. “Luca is an idiot—an increasingly bigger idiot, too. Lima knows him well enough to realize he wouldn’t send that kind of gift. She won’t be mad; in fact, she might even wear it for him. So really, I’m giving my foolish brother a surprise.”

Nina shook her head, laughing. “Kate, you’re such a good sister!”

“Of course!” Kate said with a proud smile.

Knock, knock!

Just then, there was a knock at the office door.

“Nina, Miss Miranda Kerr is here,” said the assistant, Debra, at the door.

“Let her in!”

“Got it.”

Once the assistant left, Kate crossed her long legs and smiled slightly. “Finally. I’m curious to see what she looks like since Luca thinks she has supermodel potential.”

“Not bad. Luca has a good eye,” Nina replied with a light smile.

The last time Luca recommended Miranda to Ed, he carefully reviewed her portfolio and found that her appearance was indeed promising. Even if she didn’t become a supermodel, she had a good chance of becoming a top-tier model.

Signing a model like her was sure to be profitable.

However, Ed had set his sights on the entertainment industry, focusing on Hollywood and leaving little time to mentor newcomers. So, he referred her to Nina.

After looking over Miranda's profile, Nina was impressed and called her in to check out the agency.

Soon, Debra returned, leading a young girl dressed in a long white down jacket into the office.

The girl looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, with a tall figure, a round face, large round eyes, a small round mouth, and dimples that appeared when she smiled, making her look sweet and charming.

Kate pursed her lips slightly. A simple, sweet, and delicate girl like this easily triggered men’s protective instincts. Was this why her idiot brother kept bringing her up?

“Good afternoon, Ms. Syster. Good afternoon, Miss Kelly,” Miranda said sweetly, her voice clear and pleasant, making it easy to like her.

“Good afternoon, Miranda. Have you had a chance to tour IMG? How do you feel about it?” Nina invited her to sit down and asked kindly.

“It’s wonderful, Ms. Syster. I’ve heard about IMG even back in Australia. It’s the biggest and best modeling agency in the world, home to many supermodels like Naomi, Laetitia, Gisele, and of course, Miss Kelly.” Miranda glanced at Kate and smiled politely.

Kate raised an eyebrow. Smart girl. Why bring up that b**ch Gisele in front of me?

Nina smiled gently. “Miranda, would you like to join IMG and become one of our professional models?”

“I would love to!” Miranda responded immediately, then blushed and lowered her head. “Yes, Ms. Syster, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will do my best.”

“Good. From now on, we’ll be colleagues. You can call me Nina.”

“Nina!” Miranda called sweetly.

Nina pointed to Kate. “Miranda, this is Kate. You should know her.”

“Miss Kelly, hello! You’re my idol. I watch your runway videos to practice my walk.”

Miranda said excitedly.

Kate smiled modestly. “Miranda, do you know Luca?”

“Yes, Miss Kelly. Luca and I are friends!”

Miranda confirmed confidently.

“What do you think of him?” Kate asked, staring directly into her eyes, smiling slightly.

Miranda tilted her head, thinking cutely for a moment. “Luca is great. He’s handsome and cool, sometimes funny. I’ve seen the reports of him saving someone. He’s also very brave and strong. He’s like Superman—a hero in my eyes!”

“Really?”

Does that idiot really have so many good traits? Kate raised her eyebrows and laughed. “Luca’s so great. Do you like him?”

“Ah~”

Miranda lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red.

“Ahem~”

Nina shot Kate a glance. They were talking business. No need for this nonsense.

Kate shrugged. The girl was adorable, and she just wanted to tease her a bit.

“Miranda, go with Debra and take a look at our new model contract. If everything looks good, bring your lawyer tomorrow to sign it.”

“Okay, Ms. Syster!”

Miranda stood up, politely said goodbye, and happily followed Debra out.

Once the room was quiet again, Nina turned to Kate. “What do you think of her?”

Kate shrugged. “Not bad. She’s got some smarts, not as innocent as she looks. A girl like her is a good fit for the fashion world.”

Nina nodded with a smile. “If she were genuinely innocent, I wouldn’t want to sign her. The fashion industry isn’t for the naive.”

“Who says? I’m very innocent,” Kate said seriously.

“Oh, please!”

Nina rolled her eyes, refusing to entertain her.

Kate laughed. “But my foolish brother still treats her like a helpless bunny. He’s the real bunny here.”

“Come on, your brother’s no bunny.”

Nina couldn’t forget the look in Luca’s eyes that day—sharp, confident, and a bit domineering. He was no bunny.

Kate smirked. He’s close enough. Otherwise, how could he let this little white flower slip by?

“Oh, I almost forgot something.”

“What is it?” Nina asked curiously.

Kate grinned mischievously. “I gave Luca such a big surprise. I wonder if he’ll seize the opportunity to get with Lima.”

Nina shook her head, laughing. “If Luca and Lima really did end up in bed, they’re probably there now. Why would you call?”

“I just want to remind him to watch his back. Haha~”

Nina could only laugh helplessly. What a troublesome pair of siblings!

Beep beep~

“Hey, Luca, what are you guys doing... in bed? Wow, Luca, you’ve finally grown up!”

*Chapter 44: Shall We Move In Together?*

"What are you doing in bed?"

Afternoon sunlight slanted in, filtering through a busy window. In Lima's bedroom, Luca lay on the bed, smiling at his phone. "Of course, I'm playing a game!"

"Idiot!"

A loud shout came from the phone.

Beep beep~

The call ended.

Luca shrugged his shoulders. His back was still hurting. What else was he supposed to do if not play games?

"Lima, hurry up! The game is starting!"

Lima was lying beside him, holding a game controller, and nudged him with her long legs.

"I'm coming!"

Luca put down his phone, picked up the other controller, and the two began playing Call of Duty 1, the first-person shooter game series released by Blizzard this year. It's considered one of the earliest and most classic shooting games globally, which paved the way for games like CS, CrossFire, and Red Alert.

The first installment was called Call of Duty: United Offensive. The game was set during World War II, where players could take on the roles of soldiers from the U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union. Completing more than ten missions would let players pass the game. In it, you could drive cars, boats, and even pilot fighter jets—a really cool game.

"Luca, be careful of the dogs. You've died here three times already."

Lima gently reminded him.

"Don't worry, I'll make it through this time."

This level was the "Battle of Stalingrad." Their squad was tasked with a special mission: to infiltrate a German ammunition depot and destroy the target.

To reach the depot, they had to pass through the Vokhovsk forest, where many Germans lay in ambush.

"Fuck~ Why are there so many dogs here?"

As Luca was shooting and retreating, a pack of German Shepherds suddenly rushed out of the nearby woods. He shot while running, yelling, "Lima, help me!"

Lima glanced at him helplessly. "Stop struggling, you're already dead."

Just as she said that, Luca's character got overwhelmed. He managed to shoot two dogs but was knocked down by the others, and one bit into his character’s neck.

"Fuck~ fuck~"

Frustrated, Luca slapped the bed. "Lima, it’s not my fault. Those German Shepherds are just too strong!"

"Really?"

Lima fluttered her long eyelashes, wielding a knife as she approached the dogs. With quick, precise movements, she took down the entire pack.

"⊙ o ⊙"

Luca was dumbfounded. "Lima, are you cheating or something?"

Lima rolled her eyes at him. "Why were you running from the dogs?"

"If I didn’t run, they’d surround me!"

"What’s the gun in your hand for? Just aim and shoot. They don’t have bulletproof vests."

"Ugh..."

Luca gave up, tossing aside the controller and lying on the bed. "I’m just no good at this. My fingers are too clumsy for these games."

Lima smiled slightly. "It's not that you're clumsy. You type really fast on a computer. It's just that you get too nervous and forget to aim. You always get too into the character, and when you see dogs, you just want to run, hahaha~"

Luca shrugged. He used to play more strategy games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Total War, and Age of Wonders, but he was never great at shooters.

"Luca, we’re passing this level. Let’s keep going!"

Lima bumped his shoulder.

"I’m done. I actually prefer watching you play."

Luca snuggled up to her, lying beside her on the bed.

"Alright then!"

Lima tilted her head, lifting her chin.

Luca gave her a light kiss. "Lima, are you hungry? I can make us something to eat."

"Sure!"

Luca got out of bed and left the room.

Lima watched his back as he walked away, a broad smile on her lips.

Sizzle~

In the kitchen, Chef Luca was in action.

This time, he didn’t opt for Chinese cuisine but was making steak instead.

He had tried making Chinese dishes before—like fish-flavored pork, twice-cooked pork, and braised pig trotters—but Kate thought they were just okay.

Even Luca himself felt they were average. Although he used his old cooking methods, his taste buds had changed. His sensitivity to flavors like sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty had shifted. Eating the same Chinese dishes no longer gave him the same experience, something he found hard to adjust to.

Today, he decided to make a lemon steak.

Brazil is known for its strong cattle industry, and their long-standing culinary tradition of grilling and frying beef meant Brazilians love eating it in all forms.

Luca, now a Brazilian, had also developed a love for beef. Though beef was expensive in his home country, in the U.S., it's much cheaper. The good cuts of beef Kate often bought, like Wagyu, only cost around thirty dollars a pound.

He took out a piece of beef and cut it into one-centimeter-thick steaks, seasoning them with salt, lemon, pepper, sugar, and red wine to marinate for a while.

In a skillet, he melted a little butter—Wagyu had plenty of fat, so it didn’t need much oil.

Sizzle~

He placed the steak in the pan, searing it on high heat for about a minute. After adding a few slices of lemon to the pan, he flipped the steak over, searing both sides, and then briefly seared the edges. Adding a splash of water to the pan, the steam further cooked the steak on low heat.

This was a method he had learned from food videos and had often cooked for Kate.

Kate always refused, saying she needed to watch her figure, but she would eventually give in and eat one piece, then another, filled with guilt. This meant she had to exercise for an extra hour every day.

Every time, Kate would complain about him but still couldn’t resist.

Lima was similar, needing to maintain her figure, but she preferred to keep her curves. So she could eat a bit of beef daily.

With the steak done, the pasta on the side was also ready. The pasta was simple: wide noodles with tomato sauce, chili, cheese, ham, and fruit pieces, resembling lasagna but with a more complex flavor—sweet, salty, spicy, and tangy—a true Brazilian dish.

"Wow~ smells amazing!"

Lima pushed open the kitchen door, lured in by the aroma as Luca sliced the steak on the cutting board.

"Hold on, almost done!"

He still needed to make a fruit salad. Lima couldn’t eat too much meat.

"Okay."

Seeing how skilled he was, Lima asked curiously, "Luca, do you often cook at home?"

"Not really. You know Kate has always had a dream of becoming a chef, so she never gives up the kitchen."

Lima chuckled softly and leaned against him, watching him slice the steak, squeeze lemon juice, and chop the fruit.

"Luca, why don’t we move in together?"

Suddenly, she said quietly.

"What?"

Chop chop chop~ Luca’s knife stopped mid-cut.

Lima wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind, pressing her cheek against his back. "Having you around makes me feel happy and warm. It makes this place feel like a real home and not just a temporary space. Luca, move in, and let’s live together."

Luca paused, then put down the knife and turned to embrace her. "Lima, I’m sorry, but I can’t move in right now."

"Why not?"

Lima frowned. "Is it because of Kate?"

Luca nodded. "If I move in here, Kate will be alone."

"But I’m your girlfriend."

Lima complained, feeling upset.

"Yes, you are, Lima, but Kate is the only family I have in this world."

Luca sighed deeply. "When I was injured, she took care of me. When I was disabled, she stayed by my side, never abandoning me, even when I was a burden. Without Kate, there wouldn’t be the Luca you know today. Without her perseverance, I might’ve died on the streets. Lima, do you understand how much she means to me?"

Lima was silent. She knew it was true—without Kate, Luca wouldn’t have become the charming man he was now. Should she be grateful to Kate?

She let out a light hum. "Fine, don’t move in then. I only asked because you can cook and clean. Otherwise, why would I want you here? A guy who can’t even play games and gets nosebleeds all the time."

Luca laughed, hugging her tightly. "Lima, don’t be mad. I’ll come over every week to play games with you, cook, and clean. How does that sound?"

"Hmph, it’s your duty! You’re my boyfriend, after all... Wait, something’s burning."

Lima sniffed the air.

"Oh no! The pasta!"

"Haha, with cooking skills like that, you need more practice!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 45: The Second Nosebleed*

In the evening, Third Avenue was bustling with traffic. Under the glow of the sunset, the never-ending flow of vehicles looked like a fast-moving artery, connecting the north and south of New York, from the Bronx to central Manhattan.

This artery was linked to hundreds of smaller veins, and 76th Street in the northeast was just one of them.

As the sun set, Luca drove his black Ford along 76th Street like a rebellious red blood cell struggling to break free from a vein, heading toward the 76th Street apartment garage.

Inside the underground garage, a red Ferrari sat quietly beside his car.

Seeing Kate’s beloved Ferrari, Luca shook his head helplessly. Kate had been a major disappointment today. They had agreed to pick a gift that wasn’t awkward, but Kate chose something... too embarrassing. He had practically bled from the awkwardness! She let him down, not only hurting his trust but also endangering his nose's health. One way or another, he had to let her know how big of a mistake she’d made today.

“Come on, Luca, you can do this! Don’t chicken out!”

Luca pounded his chest in front of Kate's Ferrari, making a thumping sound.

“Mommy, is that man an idiot?”

“Yes, Mark, hurry! The idiot’s coming after us!”

“Ahhh! Mommy, wait for me!”

Luca’s face darkened as he turned around, spotting a young blonde woman hurrying into the elevator, dragging along a small child, no older than three or four.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the mischievous little boy stuck out his tongue at Luca.

“Bleh!”

Luca turned his head sharply, trying to shake off the three black lines of embarrassment forming on his forehead.

"Fuck, how embarrassing!" Luca muttered as he gloomily headed back to his apartment.

“Kate! Kate, where are you?!”

He shouted loudly. Today, he had to stand his ground—nothing could stop him.

“I’m here!”

A voice echoed from the gym.

“Kate, you went too far today!”

Luca stormed into the gym angrily.

Kate was in tight workout clothes, practicing yoga in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Her hands were pressed into the mat, and her long legs were raised high, working on her core and glutes.

Kate had an impressive physique: tall and toned, with well-defined abs. Her long arms supported her body steadily, and her toes pointed upward like spears, making her look strong and powerful.

Luca hesitated for a moment. They were family, after all. Maybe he should let this go?

No! Kate had crossed a line today, and he had to reclaim his dignity—at least two nosebleeds’ worth of it.

“Kate, how could you do that?”

For some reason, his voice softened a little, his tone becoming less harsh.

Kate exhaled slowly, keeping her hands in place as she swung her legs over her head in a graceful circle, landing her feet on the ground, forming a bridge pose.

Impressive!

Luca almost applauded but caught himself, folding his arms instead. That felt safer.

No, not safer—cooler!

“Luca, what did you just say I did?”

Kate straightened up, using a towel to wipe the light sweat from her neck and chest. Her piercing gaze locked onto him.

Luca panicked internally, his folded arms starting to loosen, but his male pride kicked in, so he crossed them again.

With a slightly awkward voice, he said, “Lima and I haven’t reached that stage yet. Giving her that kind of lingerie was inappropriate.”

“Really?”

Kate took a step toward him, her gaze sharpening.

“Does Lima not like it?”

“She does!”

Luca swallowed nervously.

“Did Lima not look sexy in it?”

Kate took another step forward, now only three meters away.

“She did!”

Luca took a half step back involuntarily, his arms beginning to drop. But his pride made him step forward again, awkwardly flailing his arms, unsure if he should cross them again.

“Do you not want to be with her?”

Kate closed the distance, standing just a meter away, her cold face inches from his.

“I do!”

Luca nodded.

“If you do, then why haven’t you made a move on her?”

Kate stepped even closer, standing face-to-face with him, a dangerous look in her icy blue eyes.

“I—”

Before Luca could finish, the world spun. Somehow, he ended up flat on the ground, staring at the pattern on the carpet for three seconds before realizing what had happened.

He tried to get up, but pain shot through his elbow as he moved.

“Don’t move!”

Kate sat down on his back, and Luca realized he’d been caught. She had pinned his arms and sat on him.

Damn it, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! He’d forgotten Kate was trained in it.

“Kate, what are you doing?”

Unable to move without pain, Luca gave up and lay still.

“Hmph!”

Kate easily kept him down with one hand, freeing her other hand to tap his head.

“Idiot! Tell me, why didn’t you take the chance today? Why didn’t you make a move on Lima?”

Luca, lying there, couldn’t help but laugh. Was this something you could be forced into?

“Kate, Lima and I just aren’t at that point yet.”

“Liar!”

Kate smacked his head again. “You used to sleep with a girl after, at most, three dates. It’s been almost a month with Lima! What are you waiting for?”

Luca wasn’t sure. These things depended on the mood, and today’s mood was good—until his nose started bleeding. Lima had nearly laughed herself silly, and after that, the moment was gone.

Smack!

Kate hit his head again, frustrated. “Idiot! I spent days coming up with this plan, and you blew it! Then you just played video games with Lima? I can’t believe you!”

She kept hitting his head, scolding him all the while.

“Ahhh! Kate, my back! My old injury—please, let me up!”

Luca switched to playing the sympathy card.

Smack!

Before he could say more, Kate hit him again.

“Shut up! I’m not even touching your back!”

T﹏T

Luca felt like crying.

His male dignity was in tatters, scattered on the floor, and he wasn’t sure if he’d ever pick it back up.

“Luca, tell me, when are you going to make a move on Lima? I want a nephew soon!”

A nephew?

Luca half-laughed, half-cried. “Kate, it’s not that I don’t want to. But when I saw Lima in that lingerie... I—well... I suddenly started having a nosebleed.”

“A nosebleed?”

Kate bit her lip, barely suppressing her laughter.

“Yes, a huge nosebleed. You can ask Lima if you don’t believe me.”

Luca’s face flushed with embarrassment.

He’d never have admitted it if it weren’t for the circumstances.

“Well, fine. I’ll let you off this time. But next time, can you please just make it happen with Lima?”

Kate shifted slightly on his back, waiting for his answer.

Luca lay still, not responding.

“Tell me!”

Kate smacked his head again. “Tell me you can do it!”

Luca sighed softly. “Kate, Lima asked me to move in with her today.”

Kate froze, suddenly letting go of him and standing up slowly.

“You should move in. It’s a good idea.”

She walked toward the door, towel in hand.

“But I didn’t agree,” Luca said, standing in front of her. “I told Lima that you’re the only family I have in this world. Without you, I have no home. Wherever you are is my home, Kate. I’m never leaving you.”

Kate looked into his eyes, blinking. Her long, thick eyelashes held a single tear, shimmering like a diamond in the light.

Luca reached out to wipe it away.

“Hmph!”

Kate glared at him. “You jerk! I’ve taken care of you for so many years, and you expect me to keep doing it for life? Do I owe you?”

Luca smiled and sat down on the floor, wrapping his arms around her leg. “I don’t care. I’m sticking with you for life. You’re my sister. You have to take care of me.”

“You!”

Kate raised her fist in mock anger, then turned away, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

“Let go of me!”

Kate kicked her leg.

“No, you’re my sister, you have to take care of me!”

Luca clung tightly to her leg, shamelessly whining.

Kate held her forehead, really wanting to kick him down the stairs.

“Fine, fine, I’ll take care of you!”

“Haha, great, I love you, Kate!”

Luca jumped up and hugged her, securing his position as a freeloader.

“Idiot, let go of me. You smell like grease. Were you cooking at Lima’s place?”

Kate wrinkled her nose, looking disgusted.

“Yes,” Luca let go of her shoulders.

“Hmph!”

Kate threw a towel at his face. “Go take a shower! The downstairs bathroom is broken; go upstairs to shower!”

“Alright!”

Luca kissed her on the cheek and strode out of the gym.

Kate watched him leave, raising an eyebrow, and followed him out.

She crossed her arms and stood in the living room, looking up toward the second floor.

“Ahhh~”

Less than two minutes later, a loud scream came from upstairs.

“Yes!”

Kate pumped her fist and jumped in place with excitement.

Thump, thump, thump!

Someone was coming downstairs.

Kate quickly sat on the sofa, crossed her long legs, and picked up a fashion magazine.

“Kate, why is Miranda in the house?”

Luca asked, looking frustrated.

“She’s here to sign a contract. Oh my God, why is your nose bleeding?”

Kate lazily looked up and saw blood pouring from his nostrils.

Luca hadn’t noticed until he wiped his nose and realized it was bleeding again. “Ugh, did I drink too much tiger bone wine?”

“Kate, did you know Miranda was taking a bath in the bathroom upstairs?”

He asked, clearly annoyed.

“Of course not, I’ve been working out. How would I know what Miranda’s doing?”

Kate pursed her lips and said seriously.

“Really? I’m going to check if the downstairs bathroom is really broken.”

“Don’t bother, Luca. You’re bleeding. Stop the bleeding first!”

Kate pushed him back onto the sofa and handed him some tissues to stop the bleeding.

Luca lay lifelessly on the sofa. With a sister like this, his life force would be drained eventually.

P.S. Thanks to the reader “TodayFeelingNervous” for the tip, much appreciated~

(End of chapter)