Unexpected Second Chance at Love

The day soon turned dark as those residing in Imperial prepared to have dinner with their family and friends after a long day. And like the rest of the people, Lu Tian and Yue Ling arrive at Peony Villa, where the Lu family house stands under the sky.

Lu Tian's black Maserati Levante Trofeo enters the tightly secured gate of Peony Villa and slows to a stop in front of the neo-eclectic house with a limestone exterior. He had just turned the car engine off when the loud creaking of a door being pulled open could be heard from a short distance.

Both Yue Ling and Lu Tian turn to look in the direction of the sound, and like two peas in a pod, their eyebrows arch at the same time.

The couple could see Madam Lu making her way toward their car with an umbrella. Her pace was so fast that she had managed to open the passenger door in a blink of an eye.

"Ah Ling! You're here."

She ignores the presence of her son and takes hold of Yue Ling's hand.

"Come inside. It's pouring rain. What if you catch a cold?"

Yue Ling opened her mouth to respond but couldn't find her voice. She had somehow turned into a fish on dry land trying to grasp for air.

However, before she could utter a sound, she was already helped out of the car.

Left with no other choice, she obliges and follows the woman.

As she is led away by Madam Lu, she doesn't forget to glance over her shoulder at Lu Tian. She didn't say anything, but one could see how apologetic she was toward him.

She felt guilty for taking his mother's attention that should have been directed towards him.

Left alone in the car, Lu Tian was speechless by what he had witnessed. He slightly shook his head as he heaved a long sigh and exited the vehicle. He made sure to close the passenger door before walking towards the house.

As he enters his family house, he greets his father with a slight nod and then glances at his younger brother.

He raised an eyebrow, making Lu Han grin, and walked toward him.

"That's a look I happened to miss a lot."

Lu Han held his grin and put his hands in his pocket. He had been away due to work and finally returned to Imperial a few hours ago.

He was supposed to head home but seeing how he hadn't seen his family in a long time, he decided to stop by. Unbeknownst to him, he was informed of the dinner his parents had prepared for his brother and future sister-in-law.

Of course, his mother tried to make him leave, but he begged her to let him stay. How can he turn down a home-cooked meal?

Unaware of his younger brother's struggles, Lu Tian pays him no attention and looks around the room.

"Oh, if you're wondering where your wife went, mother took her to the other room. I heard something about flowers?"

Lu Han was quick to read his brother, and his grin widened. He wanted to say more but was suddenly cut off by his father.

"Tian, follow me to my study."

Old Lu said no more and walked away with his hands held behind his back. His calm demeanor did not affect Lu Tian, but rather Lu Han.

The young man leans towards his older brother and shivers like a cold breeze has blown through him.

"Good luck, bro. He must have something serious to talk about."

Lu Tian's expression remained emotionless. He stares at his father's departing figure and then glances at his younger brother before following.

"At least I'm still the important child."

"…"

Lu Han was flabbergasted by the man. His mouth opened and closed as if he had so much to say, but it was as if someone had pressed the mute button on him.

People often say that the youngest child is the most spoiled and gets all the attention, but it was hard for him to believe that.

His mother and father indeed lectured him and Lu Tian equally, but he has noticed that his older brother mostly gets away with everything.

Especially now that Lu Tian is finally settling down. Let's not forget his wife is also someone their mother adores more than them.

After what felt like an entire day had gone by, he scoffs a sarcastic laugh. However, by the time he could do this, Lu Tian and his father had already disappeared from his view.

He sighs with a shaking head and walks away from the living room.

"I suppose I should start looking for a wife too."

He mutters the words but pauses in his tracks. He repeats the words in his head, but this time in a question, then chuckles at how ridiculous he sounded.

"Not happening. I should enjoy my precious time before I even think of settling down."

While Lu Han makes his way to find something to do inside Old Lu's study room, the middle-aged man takes a seat behind his desk. As he did this, Lu Tian entered the room.

"Sit down. I need to discuss something important with you."

Lu Tian nods his head once and closes the door. After doing so, he walks over to sit in the chair across from his father.

"What is it?"

Hearing his question, Old Lu remained calm. Others might see Lu Tian's behavior as someone who had no respect for his parents, but he knew his son better than anyone.

He lets out a long sigh and leans back in his chair.

"It's about your wedding."

The space between Lu Tian's eyebrows creased into three tight lines. He stares at his father and tries to read the man.

"What do you mean?"

Old Lu couldn't help but sigh again. However, his right arm raises this time, and he massages his temples.

"Tian, I honestly think your wedding might not go through as we planned."

Lu Tian's expression turned dark as his entire being emitted a cold aura. He could not believe what he was hearing, and of all people to say this to him, it was none other than his father.

"What are you trying to say?"

From what he hears, it seems his father is trying to tell him not to marry Yue Ling.

Of course, he will never agree to it.

He loves his wife and will never abandon her. They've been through so much in the time they met. To think his father would do this to them.

His hands curled into tight fists as his dark eyes darkened ten shades darker. He looks his father straight in the eyes and parts his lips.

"Are you telling me to call off the wedding?"

"Yes…"

Old Lu answered without thinking as he looked around the room. He is confused as to why the temperature in the room suddenly dropped.

He subconsciously looks at his son, and it is only then did the realization hit him. He abruptly sat up in his seat and frowned at his son.

"Wait... What are you talking about?"

He stares at Lu Tian, and seeing the murderous expression on his son's face, he knows what has happened. He sighs who knows how many times, and shakes his head.

"Son, no one is calling off the wedding, and I will never allow such a thing to happen in my entire life. Only a fool would do such a thing, especially when it involves someone as great as Ah Ling."

Even he is still surprised that the sweet and beautiful Han Yue Ling will be his daughter-in-law. Let alone her getting married to his aloof son.

Of course, he cannot say this aloud for fear of hurting his son's feelings.

He pinches the space between his eyebrows and closes his eyes to compose himself.

"When I said your wedding might not go through as planned, I was referring to your mother."

Lu Tian listened without interrupting his father; the more he heard, the more he felt himself calming down. Only God knows what he would have done if his father had told him to call off the wedding.

Fortunately, that was not the case here.

However, he frowns upon hearing this discussion was about his mother.

Old Lu didn't need to hear a response from his son and understood the silence. He lowers his hand, pinching the space between his brows, and looks up at his son.

"Tian, you have to stop your mother."

He frantically leans forward and begs with pleading eyes at his son.

"She's getting out of control. If you don't stop her, who knows how your wedding will turn out."

His arms raised like he was punching the air.

"Do you know how many florists she has hired and fired in one day? Don't even get me started on the catering. I've seen so many chefs cry in such a short period that I pity them so much. Not only that, she's even thinking of changing the location, and this is already the twentieth time!"

He poured his frustration out without pause, and when he finished, he choked a sob without tears.

"Son, if you don't stop your mother, who knows when you will be able to wed Ah Ling."

Lu Tian was rendered speechless by his father's sudden outburst. It was a side of his father he had never seen before.

To think that his father, who was usually calm and allowed his mother to do whatever she wanted, was expressing his concerns.

He sighed and stood up from his seat. He doesn't leave the room but walks around the desk to put a hand on his father's shoulder.

"I'll handle it."

Hearing these words, Old Lu felt relieved. His shoulders tremble, and he nods, knowing he can depend on Lu Tian.

All he wanted was to see his sons get married and have children. Why is his wife making things so complicated?

At the same time, in another part of the Lu family home, Yue Ling sat in a lounge chair while looking at wedding venue brochures with Madam Lu. However, if one were to take a closer look, one would be able to see a complex expression on the retired model's face.

"Ah Ling, what about this one? Yang Yang called me this morning and said this is the best location to have a wedding."

Oblivious to Yue Ling's expression, Madam Lu picks up another brochure and giggles like a teenage girl discussing her future wedding venues with her best friend.

"Or do you like this one more? I heard this one has the best view of Imperial in the background. Oh, there's also this one too. I like it, but when I called them, the guest list only had a limit of 200 people."

Yue Ling looked down at the brochure, but she seemed deep in thought. She slowly looks away and stares at the blank space in front of her.

Her only thought was, 'how did it get like this?'