Page 36 of The Art of Loving You

The quiet hum of the kitchen filled the space until the clock reminded me I needed to go. “Lopez is expecting me at nine,” I said, pushing back my chair.

Ella rinsed her mug, turning with a knowing look. “I’m glad your attorney could see you so soon.”

“Yeah. There’s a lot to figure out—the gallery, everything.”

She stepped closer, resting a hand on my arm. “You’ll find a way, Lucas. You always do.”

Her belief in me hit deep. I swallowed hard. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

As I reached the door, I hesitated, glancing down at my casual outfit. “I’ve got a suit in the car. I’ll change before I head over.”

She crossed her arms, smirking. “What exactly did you manage to fit in your car?”

“Only the essentials—clothes, shoes, and the art.”

She laughed, warm and easy, and I leaned in to kiss her. “I’ll stop by the museum at lunch,” I murmured against her lips.

“I’ll be there,” she promised. “We can eat in the café.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I quickly changed into a suit and stepped outside into the bright sunlight. As I adjusted my cuffs, I glanced back and saw Ella watching me, her coffee mug in hand, a small, approving grin onher lips. Knowing she was in my corner made the weight on my shoulders feel a little lighter.

I had barely pulled onto the main road when my phone buzzed. Gabrielle’s name flashed on the screen. I sighed but answered, sensing this wasn’t just a casual check-in.

“Gabrielle, what’s going on?”

“Lucas,” she said quickly, her voice tight with worry. “I’m sorry to bother you, but can you come by the gallery? It’s the security system. It’s time to reset the codes, but I don’t have the authority.”

I gripped the wheel tighter. “You can’t get my father to do it?”

“That’s just it,” she said, her voice dropping. “I’ve been calling him all morning, and he’s not answering. The news said they were questioning him, but… what if they arrested him? What do I do?”

Her words hit me hard. The possibility of Dad being arrested wasn’t just looming—it was real. And Gabrielle was caught in the middle.

“I’ll find out more once I speak to my attorney,” I assured her.

“Okay,” she said hesitantly. “But what about the codes? Can you help?”

I hesitated. “Gabrielle, I don’t think I can. He cut me out of the trust. My access might already be revoked.”

She was silent for a moment before speaking again. “I’m not sure you’ve really been cut out. At least, not yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“A few days ago, I overheard Alistair talking to his attorney,” she admitted. “He was pushing to remove you from the trust, but the attorney told him to hold off. Said it would raise too many questions if he did it without cause.”

Of course, my father would try to erase me from the business on a whim. And naturally, he wouldn’t admit his real reason—because I wasn’t on board with the family’s secrets.

“Are you sure?” I asked, jaw tightening.

“Yes,” Gabrielle said firmly. “The attorney wasn’t convinced it was a good move.”

“That doesn’t mean he didn’t do it anyway,” I muttered, though her words gave me a sliver of hope. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll check with my own lawyer.”

“Okay,” she said. “But Lucas, if they do arrest him, I’m not sure I can keep the gallery running on my own.”

“You won’t have to,” I said firmly. “If it comes to that, we’ll figure something out.”

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