Luca nodded. She did not expect the old master to sign up for a class for the kids.
"There's no need to trouble Uncle Zander. I'll send you there. Wait a minute. I'm going to get the car keys." Luca turned around
and headed to the living room to get the keys.
Although it was difficult to drive on a snowy day, she had been driving often lately. That was why she was confident to take up
the job.
Lanie and Rainie nodded. They stood still while waiting for Luca.
Tommy was the only one pouting his mouth and following behind Luca. "Ms. Luca, I don't want to go to class. Can I stay?"
"Why?" Luca picked up the car keys and looked at him with confusion. Were they not the ones who chose which classes they
would be attending?
Tommy's dark pupils were filled with a grievance as he said, "I didn't want to go to that class. But Greatgrandpa said I'm too
naughty and need to train my character so I could be calmer. That's why he chose the calligraphy class for me."
Luca nodded to tell Tommy that she understood.
Tommy held onto Luca's thigh. He continued to play the victim when he noticed that Luca did not say anything. "Ms. Luca,
calligraphy class is boring. It's all about picking up a pen and writing. The teacher is an old man with a beard. What a bore!
You're not working today. Why don't I stay home and keep you company?"
Luca looked at the child who was trying hard to negotiate with her just because he did not want to go to class. She did not know
whether to laugh or cry. Although she felt great having the kids by her side, she had to let the kids attend their classes.
It was the old master's decision, after all. He did it for the children's own good.
"Tommy, you're not a little boy anymore. Great-grandpa arranged this for you for a reason. Be good. Let me send you to class."
Luca held Tommy's hand and walked out of the door.
Lanie and Rainie, who had been standing at the door waiting for Luca, exchanged glances with each other and smiled.
Their younger brother was trying to skip class, but unfortunately, their mother did not let him get away with it.
Their mother would not pity them if it was for their own good. She would insist they do it.
Tommy realized that Luca insisted on sending him to class. He had no choice but to strike a pose and look as though he was
negotiating in a meeting. “Ms. Luca, I can go to the class, but you have to promise me that you'll pick me up when my class
ends!"
Tommy did not want to attend the class. Not only was the class boring, but most importantly, he wanted to keep Luca's company.
"Sure. No problem. But you must behave yourself when you're in class. Listen to your teacher and practice your calligraphy,"
Luca asked for something in exchange.
"Then I have one more condition." Although Tommy was still young, he got his negotiation skills from Luke. He refused to lose
out on anything.
"Say it." Luca waved her hands at Lanie and Rainie, asking them to follow her to the parking lot.
"I'd like to eat your home-cooked meals!" said Tommy. It had been a few days since he last ate Luca's home-cooked food, and
he was craving it.
"That shouldn't be a problem as long as you listen to me," said Luca. Tommy would surely cause trouble for the calligraphy
teacher during class. She heard Tommy say that the teacher was an experienced calligraphist, but it would certainly be difficult
for the teacher to handle kids like him.
Hence, Luca promised Tommy that she would fulfill his wishes when he was negotiating with her. It was to make him behave
himself too.
Rainie, who was standing beside her, smiled and said, "Ms. Luca, don't worry. Tommy loves your home- cooked meals. He's
going to behave himself."
Tommy waved his chubby little hands querulously and said, "Rainie, don't you like it too?"
"I do," Rainie admitted. Their mother's home-cooked meals were the best. The delicious food from other countries or the dishes
a five-starred restaurant made were incomparable to their mother's home- cooked meals.
"So, you're riding on my coattails, huh?" Tommy was flattered. If it were not for him who negotiated with Luca, Lanie and Rainie
would not have had the chance to eat their mother's home-cooked meals either.
"You'll have to behave yourself and not have your teacher complain about you." Rainie adjusted Tommy's cap for him.
"I'm going to be the most well-behaved student in class this time," said Tommy. He would not give his calligraphy teacher a
chance to complain about him.
Luca did not know if she should laugh or cry when she heard that. She opened the door of the backseat and said, "Come on, get
in the car or you'll be late for class."
The three kids climbed into the car.
Luca drove the car and sent the kids to their classes. After Luca dropped them off at the entrance, she watched them enter the
building before turning around and leaving.
Luca got back into the car. When she was about to drive back to the villa, Nina called.
"Luca, I heard that you're back in the city!" Nina exclaimed the moment the call was answered.
"Yes. I've already been here for a few days." The way Nina sounded reminded Luca of people who were in high spirits when
something good happened to them. Nina was having a good time now.
She did not sound as upset as she was before. It seemed like she made the right choice by choosing Percy.
At least Percy was able to give her a happy life, so she was not as gloomy as she used to be.
“How could you not look for me when you're back here?" Nina could not help but complain. Although Nina had only known Luca
not long ago, she was unexpectedly fond of her. Besides, Luca had been a great help to her. Nina could not help but want to
grow closer with her.
"I'm sorry. I've been busy..." Luca replied helplessly. She had been busy with the research after she came back. Moreover, she
did not even have the time to send the gifts she had prepared for Nina and Sue. Luca remembered that she would not be going
to the office today, so she might as well just ask Nina out. "Nina, why don't we hang out?"
"Sure. I have something for you. Where would you like to meet?" Nina was thinking of meeting her today when she called her.
She wanted to give Luca her engagement gift.
Although Luca did not attend Nina and Percy's engagement ceremony, Nina still wanted to give Luca the gift.
"Shall we meet at the hospital? I'd like to check on Tyrone's condition," said Luca. She had been planning to do so, but she never
had the time.
Luca wanted to find out whether the dry needling technique that she taught Dr. Wood was working on Tyrone and check if there
was a need to amend the treatment plan.
Nina thought of meeting Luca at a cafe or where she was staying. She did not expect Luca to suggest they meet at the hospital.
Furthermore, it had to do with Tyrone.
Nina could feel that Luca cared for her and was trying her best to help her.
"Alright. I'll see you at the hospital," said Nina.
"It might take half an hour for me to get there. I'm going back to the villa to get some stuff." Luca told Nina to take her time and
that there was no need to rush to the hospital.
"Got it. I'll wait for you.'' Nina hung up the call after that.
Luca drove back to the villa and brought Nina's gift along with her. She pondered for a moment and thought she should just bring
Sue's gift too. She was thinking of asking Sue out if she had the time later.
Luca made her way down to the first floor while carrying a few gift bags. She said to Aunt Neile, who was cleaning up the house,
"Aunt Neile, I'm going out to meet my friends. And I'm probably not coming back for lunch."
"Okay, Ms. Craw," Aunt Neile nodded and replied.