"Oh, I see now."
Lucas suddenly understood. He took off his jacket, removed his sunglasses, and then adjusted his freshly washed short hair using the car's rear-view mirror, making his appearance look more ordinary. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Victoria. "How about now?"
"Not bad."
"Alright, let's go." Lucas said as he opened the car door and grabbed four nutritional supplements from inside.
"Why are you bringing stuff?"
Victoria was planning to take him to the supermarket to buy a fruit basket, but it seemed he was already prepared.
"A boyfriend meeting his future mother-in-law without bringing anything? What does that look like?" Lucas raised an eyebrow at her and smiled.
"Fine. I'll transfer the money to you later."
"No big deal."
They walked into Haven Brook Hospital together. On the way, Lucas asked about Victoria's parents and took the opportunity to inquire about Victoria's birth date.
He claimed it was to avoid making any mistakes in front of her mom, but in reality, he just wanted to know more about her.
Even though everyone thought Victoria was somewhat unattractive, Lucas found her to be genuine, straightforward, and not the least bit fawning towards him. She was, indeed, a unique presence.
When they reached the 21st floor of the inpatient department, Victoria led Lucas into the hospital room.
"Mom, I've brought you some food."
Lucas followed Victoria into the room. Upon seeing Giselle, he immediately shed his usual playful demeanor and offered a polite smile. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Lucas, Victoria's boyfriend. I just got back from a business trip and came to see you. Please don't be upset that it took me so long."
Giselle looked at Lucas, noting his white shirt, suit pants, short black hair, and handsome, clean-cut features. He seemed like a very neat and capable young man.
"Oh, you didn't have to bring anything. Just come in and sit down," Giselle said, pointing to the sofa and inviting Lucas to sit down. She then sat next to him. "Your name is Lucas, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Lucas replied.
Normally, Lucas had a carefree and rebellious air about him, often lounging on sofas with his legs crossed and arms draped over the backrest, exuding an air of nonchalance. But in front of Giselle, he sat upright, his usual roguish expression replaced with one of respect and seriousness.
"You're quite a handsome young man with a good demeanor. How did you end up with my daughter? Are you sure you're not just a hired boyfriend she brought home?" Giselle asked, her motherly instincts immediately sensing something was off.
Victoria's heart skipped a beat, and she began to worry that Lucas might mess up their facade.
"Ma'am, I don't appreciate that implication. I, Lucas, have never judged anyone by their looks. Victoria may not be a beauty queen, but she has a kind heart, and I truly like her," Lucas said earnestly.
"Really?" Giselle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," Lucas affirmed.
"Then have you two thought about when you'll get married?"
Giselle's question came out of nowhere, leaving Victoria unsure if her mother was genuinely worried about her getting married or if she was trying to catch Lucas off guard to test his sincerity.
"Oh, Mom, how could you ask Lucas such a question the first time you meet him?" Victoria was at a loss for words.
"Shut up, I'm talking to him, not you," Giselle snapped.
Lucas glanced at Victoria, his hands unconsciously rubbing together, feeling a slight twinge of nervousness. It had been years since he felt this way.
He offered a polite smile. "Auntie, marriage is something that Victoria and I need to discuss. It's not something to rush."
"Alright, cut the act," Giselle said, patting Lucas on the shoulder. "I can tell my daughter isn't a match for you with her 'plain' looks."
The young man in front of her was strikingly handsome. Though dressed simply, he exuded an aura that suggested he was anything but ordinary.
"Mom..." Victoria was on the verge of tears, shocked that her mother had seen through the facade so quickly.
"Fine," Lucas shrugged helplessly and sighed. "Since Auntie has figured it out, I won't pretend anymore."
He stood up and walked toward Victoria. Just as Victoria was about to scold him, he suddenly stopped in front of her and spoke:
"Since Auntie is here today, I might as well confess again. Victoria, I've liked you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend? I may not seem reliable, but I'll prove with my actions that I'm someone you can depend on."
Victoria's eyes widened in shock, completely stunned by the sudden turn of events.
What on earth was Lucas up to? Just as she stood there dumbfounded, Lucas gave her a quick wink, signaling her with his eyes.
It dawned on her—this guy was putting on a show!
"Uh? I... I..."
Victoria quickly caught on and played along. "I just asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, Lucas. Don't do this. We're really not a good match."
"Whether we're a good match or not, we can only know after spending time together. I'm not someone who judges by appearances, Victoria. In front of your mom today, I hope you'll give me a chance."
"Forget it, we can only be friends. I'm not good enough for you."
Lucas suddenly grabbed her hand, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a small square box from his suit pocket.
"Beautiful faces are a dime a dozen; I've seen enough of them. But you're different. You may not be the prettiest, but you're kind-hearted, hardworking, and ambitious. Victoria, will you be my girlfriend?"
His sudden gesture, paired with the box containing a delicate necklace with a four-leaf clover pendant, was stunning.
Every word he spoke seemed heartfelt, and his eyes were so sincere.
If it weren't for the wink he gave her earlier, Victoria might have believed Lucas was genuinely confessing his love. His acting skills were on par with those of popular stars.
"Wow, a handsome guy is confessing his love!"
"He's so good-looking, and he likes such an ordinary girl. It must be true love."
"I'm so jealous! I want a boyfriend like that too."
Because the hospital room door was left open, a few nurses who had just finished their meal happened to witness the scene. They stopped in their tracks, even pulling out their phones to record the video.
These nurses were quite familiar with Victoria, as they saw her every day.
"Victoria, say yes!"
"He's so good to you, just say yes already."
"Exactly, you don't want to miss this chance."
The nurses watching were jumping up and down with excitement, looking even more thrilled than Victoria herself.
Giselle, who was sitting on the sofa, watched the scene unfold with a knowing smile. "Victoria, I can see that Lucas is truly sincere about you. Maybe you should give him a chance?"
Despite Lucas's willingness to overlook Victoria's 'plain' appearance, Giselle thought he seemed like a decent guy. Maybe they should give it a try.
"Mom, I..."
Victoria finally understood. Her mother was truly worried that she would never find a boyfriend with her plain looks and was eager to push her into dating.
Victoria sighed and glanced helplessly at Lucas. "How about... we just give it a try?"