Chapter Forty Five

Emma's hand descended to the plate, gently placing the fork on the table as her gaze met Lucas's unexpected and unnerving presence. His expression was inscrutable, a veiled display of emotions she couldn't decipher as his eyes shifted from her to Mr. Maddox.

A palpable tension permeated the air, thickening with each passing moment. Emma's heart raced as she witnessed the silent exchange of stares between Mr. Maddox and Lucas. There was something in the way they gazed at each other, a mixture of familiarity and animosity, that felt out of place and unexpected.

The features of Mr. Maddox hardened, his jaw tensing into a firm line as he regarded Lucas with a steely gaze.

Guilt gnawed at her insides as she saw the hurt in Lucas's eyes, a silent accusation that made her shrink back in her chair with remorse. But as she contemplated the exchange of looks between him and Mr. Maddox, a new question arose: Did Lucas have a prior acquaintance with Mr. Maddox?

Lucas immediately turned and depart