← Twins in Her Womb Sir President, Please be Gentle

Ch. 2931..2940

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2931-After all these years in the Crawford family, Susan had become quite skilled at wearing such a mask. She added, "Didn't something unpleasant happen today? I thought I'd come back to keep you company."

Old Master Crawford could not be bothered to expose her. Her hurried return clearly indicated that she had learned about Luke's return from someone's lips.

Otherwise, it would not have been such a coincidence.

"What's there to chat about? Let's eat first." The old master's tone was not good. He initially planned to discuss the company's development with Luke again but did not expect her to return. Her arrival had interrupted their conversation.

Old Master Crawford hated being disturbed by unrelated people and matters when he was in a business discussion—unless it was an extremely urgent matter.

Otherwise, no matter who disrupted him, the result would be the same.

Susan opened her mouth, but Mr. Griffin's voice sounded. "Old Master Crawford, Madam, Master Luke, dinner is ready."

Susan's face immediately darkened, annoyed that her words were interrupted before she could speak. She glared at Mr. Griffin.

Mr. Griffin had long grown accustomed to Susan's habit of giving him stern looks. He kept his smile on his face, unaffected by her warning gaze.

"Let's have dinner first," said Old Master Crawford, understanding that Susan did not have a proper reason for her return.

Luke remained silent and followed Old Master Crawford to the dining room.

Susan watched the two of them as they walked away. She stopped Mr. Griffin. "There's something I'd like to ask."

Mr. Griffin halted and watched the two of them for several seconds from behind before turning to Susan. His head was slightly lowered. "Madam, how can I help you?"

"Were the old master and Luke in the study just now?" asked Susan. Even though she had already inquired with the maid, she wanted to confirm with the butler.

Mr. Griffin nodded. "Yes, Old Master Crawford and Master Luke were in the study discussing matters."

"What did they talk about?" Susan blurted out without thinking.

Mr. Griffin smiled apologetically and reminded Susan, “Old Master Crawford always closes the door when he's talking to someone.”

Susan knew it perfectly well, but her impatience to find out what Old Master Crawford and Luke had talked about compelled her to ask a question the butler could not possibly answer.

She paused for a moment, then asked, "Did you hear Old Master Crawford scolding anyone?"

Although the study had excellent sound insulation, if Old Master Crawford was scolding someone, Mr. Griffin, who was standing outside, would certainly have heard it.

Susan had read the gossip news about Luke. Hence, she wanted to add fuel to the fire in the hope that Old Master Crawford would be thoroughly disappointed in him.

That was why she rushed back to the manor as soon as she found out Luke had returned.

Mr. Griffin shook his head. "I didn't hear any loud noises from inside the study."

In other words, Old Master Crawford did not scold Luke.

Susan furrowed her brows in suspicion. "Really? Don't try to fool me. Even though I've moved out, I'm still the lady of the Crawford family. I still oversee you!"

Mr. Griffin felt helpless as he listened to her threats. He could not help but think that even though she had moved out, she still wanted to hold onto the things in Crawford Manor.

"Madam, I was standing outside the study. I really didn't hear any loud noises inside," replied Mr. Griffin helplessly.

Susan had no choice but to give up.

"Hmph, such rumors are being spread, yet Old Master doesn't care. He's really..."

She did not finish the sentence as she was about to say the old master was showing favoritism. Although Mr. Griffin would not tattle on her on Old Master Crawford, she did not want to take that risk either.

"Madam, let's have dinner first," Mr. Griffin, aware of her thoughts, advised her in a hushed tone.

Susan let out a cold snort and walked toward the dining room.

Old Master Crawford and Luke were already seated at the dining table, while the cook was serving the dishes one by one.

Old Master Crawford expressed his displeasure for Susan's late arrival. "If you don't want to eat, then don't sit down. You showed up late for dinner. Do you need an invitation from everyone in this house to get you to come?"

Susan knew the old master was unhappy that she came in late. Crawford Manor had many rules, especially for someone in her position as a daughter-in-law...

She explained, "Father, I had a brief chat with Mr. Griffin, which made me come in late. Besides, all the dishes haven't even been served yet."

Ignoring her explanation, Old Master Crawford picked up his cup and took a sip of warm water to cleanse his palate. "What's there to talk about? If it's about me, wouldn't it be better to ask me?" Susan's face darkened. Old Master Crawford seemed to know everything.

However, there was a saying that went, 'It would be wise to keep cards close to one's chest.'

Yet, Old Master Crawford seemed determined to expose all her thoughts, making her lose face in front of Luke.

Old Master Crawford could both grant and take away dignity from everyone in Crawford Manor. His words held significant authority in this house. Susan was well aware of this, but she also felt a sense of resistance.

She thought that Old Master Crawford was the one who showed her least respect here.

The cook brought all the dishes to the table and said, "Old Master Crawford, Madam, Master Luke, all the dishes are ready. Please enjoy your meal."

Susan waited for Old Master Crawford to pick up his cutlery before doing the same. She dug in.

During dinner, she remained silent, fearing that anything she said might displease Old Master Crawford.

At the same time, Old Master Crawford and Luke remained silent as they finished their meal. The dining table was relatively quiet.

After the meal, Mr. Griffin brought a cup of tea that aided in digestion to Old Master Crawford.

Susan cast a glance at Luke's cold expression, then at Old Master Crawford. Her eyes darted around as she contemplated her words for a while. She said slowly, "Luke, I saw the news today."

Luke's expression remained calm as water. He did not seem particularly surprised by her sudden remark and merely responded noncommittally, "Okay."

Susan saw his calm reaction. It was as though he was not the subject of the gossip news. She could not help but turn to look at Old Master Crawford.

Then, she continued speaking in the manner of an elder, "Now that your mother isn't here, as your other mother, there are some things I must address. I understand that since Bianca has been abroad for so long, you must need a woman to accompany and take care of you.

"But, as the CEO of T Corporation, shouldn't you consider the company's image in your actions?

"Father entrusted the company to you so that you would manage it diligently, not so that it would be tarnished by a woman. The way the news is being reported is quite embarrassing. How do you intend to handle it?"

Luke lifted his head and glanced at her. Then, he turned to look at Old Master Crawford. "Grandpa, I shall head back first."

"Off you go. It's late. Be careful on the road," replied Old Master Crawford, seemingly ignoring Susan's words.

Susan was exasperated by the reactions of the two of them. "Father, I know you dote on Luke, but can't you take this gossip news seriously? Otherwise, it's the Crawford family that'll get into trouble!"

Before either of them could respond, she continued, "Being unfaithful to their wives seems to be in the genes of the men in the Crawford family. Look at what happened to Zach. He's a prime example. Father, you really need to keep an eye on Luke!"

Mentioning Zachary's name made Old Master Crawford's face turn gloomy.

Zachary's unfaithfulness had played a role in his demise.

Even so, Susan had no right to say something like that. Old Master Crawford's eyes were filled with anger as he glared at her. "That's enough. Mind your own business."

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2932-Susan pretended to be aggrieved as she bit her lip. "Father, Luke's affair has already started to affect the Crawford family. I can't just stand by and watch. Besides, he hasn't even divorced Bianca...

"Bianca has a volatile personality. If this matter goes international, she might decide to return to the country. Our family hasn't had peace for even two days. We must handle this matter properly. And also, the Norman family..."

Susan met the increasingly gloomy gaze of Old Master Crawford and paused for a moment. Then, she said, "I'm doing all of this for the sake of the Crawford family."

"Mother, what do you think I should do?" As Luke watched Susan pretending to be anxious, he wore a cold and indifferent expression on his face.

"Well..." Susan hesitated, not expecting Luke to actually ask for her opinion. She pretended to ponder for a moment before continuing, "No matter what, there's still the Norman family supporting Bianca. You should apologize to the Norman family.

"You must understand their influence. If they get upset, they'll put financial pressure on T Corporation. So, you must apologize sincerely and hold a press conference..."

"That's enough," Old Master Crawford interrupted, refusing to hear Susan's insincere suggestions. He knew well that Susan was the type that liked to ignite chaos. She just wanted Luke to let the situation worsen.

Susan's mouth opened but then closed awkwardly.

Old Master Crawford's support for Luke was irksome to her.

It reminded her when Louis was not married yet. He was a bit playful but never got into any trouble. Even so, Old Master Crawford scolded him anyway.

He even brought her into it as his mother.

Now that Luke's affair was exposed by the media, instead of scolding him, Old Master Crawford was displeased with her after she just said a few words.

Susan wanted to say that Old Master Crawford was showing favoritism, but she knew better than to voice that thought. It would only lead to another scolding.

"I'm only thinking about what's best for Luke. We all know what that woman, Luca, is like. But things are different now. Not only do we know about the affair, but the press knows about it too. We need to take this matter seriously," Susan emphasized her good intentions.

Luke slightly nodded. His eyes showed impatience. "I'll handle this matter."

Susan looked at the two men in front of her.

The old master appeared angry, and that anger seemed to be directed at her. Meanwhile, the young man wore a cold, indifferent expression as if the situation was not a big deal at all.

She stamped her foot in frustration. "Forget it, Luke. You can think of me as a meddling mother. I can't control the foolish things young people do. Even if your mother were to come back, she wouldn't be able to either."

Susan did not give Luke a chance to reply and turned to Old Master Crawford. "Father, I'll go back now. Thea is waiting for me at home."

"Since you know Thea is waiting for you at home, don't come to Crawford Manor if there's nothing urgent. It's not good to leave the child at home alone. The doctor also said that as a grandmother, you should spend more time with the child," said Old Master Crawford. He lifted his eyelids, but he was not looking at her.

He could not be bothered with his daughter-in-law, who seemed to thrive on chaos.

Louis had hired a child psychologist to conduct a psychological assessment on Thea.

The expert had pointed out some issues with the child's psychology and recommended that her parents and elders should lovingly accompany and care for the child. Otherwise, she would become increasingly withdrawn.

Old Master Crawford was aware of this matter as well.

Susan hesitated for a moment, unable to express her thoughts. In the end, she left the topic concerning Luke where it was. "I'll go upstairs to get something before heading back."

Then, she turned around and headed upstairs.

Luke noticed that it was getting late. He still had work to do when he got back. Hence, he said to Old Master Crawford, "Grandpa, I'll go back now."

"Okay. You need to resolve this matter as soon as possible," replied Old Master Crawford. He knew that Luke had already sought help from the Norman family and Wanda to force Luca to admit her true identity.

However, there were still clarifications to be made to the public.

"Yes. I should be able to resolve it by tomorrow," said Luke. Jason and Gale were already working on it. The news about him and Luca would be removed from the headlines by tomorrow.

"Also, we need to fade this memory from the public's mind as soon as possible," reminded Old Master Crawford.

Even if they clarified the situation, if the public continued to discuss it, it would not be good for the Crawford family and T Corporation.

"I have another juicy piece of gossip ready," said Luke. To fade the memory from the public's mind, they needed to expose a piece of even more sensational news. novelbin

Did Karen not want him to be famous?

In that case, he would provide her with another piece of news. This matter would only affect Karen but not the Mallory family. Therefore, it would not impact his relationship with Percy.

If Karen's news was not scandalous enough, he still had several celebrity scandals in his hands that had not been exposed yet.

These news were not collected by him but by a newspaper company under T Corporation.

The only reason he had not released them was that the involved celebrities were quite high-profile, and they had endorsement deals with a company under the Mallory family. That was why he had temporarily held off on publishing those stories.

Old Master Crawford knew that Luke would handle things well, so he nodded and waved his hand. He indicated that Luke could go home.

After Luke left Crawford Manor, he noticed a black sedan was following him while he was driving on the road.

Luke realized that their tracking skills were not very sophisticated, so he knew the people following him were not highly skilled. As a result, he did not immediately try to shake the car off but let it follow him.

The black sedan continued to tail him until it stopped near the entrance of his residential area.

Luke parked his car in a temporary parking spot, got out of the car, and approached the sedan.

The two people inside the black sedan were flustered when they saw Luke walking toward them.

The reporter in the driver's seat, who was holding a DSLR camera, asked, "Did he notice us?"

"He's been trained. It's normal for him to notice us," replied the reporter in the passenger seat. As they watched Luke coming closer, he asked. "Should we drive away now?"

"It's too late..." The reporter in the passenger seat watched as Luke approached them from a distance. He eventually came to a halt just outside the driver's side of the door.

Luke knocked on the car window, signaling them to roll it down.

"Well, we're dead. But he won't actually harm us." The reporter in the driver's seat bit the bullet and lowered the window. "Mr. Crawford, it's late. Is there anything we can do for you?"

Despite the friendly demeanor of the reporter, Luke did not show any hint of a smile. He glanced at the camera in the reporter's hands and asked, "Why are you following me at such a late hour? Which newspaper company are you from?"

The reporter in the passenger seat only realized now that he was still holding the camera. He could not help but feel regret. He should have hidden it so that Luke would not see it.

Incidents where celebrities smashed reporters' cameras happened almost every other day. He was worried that his camera might end up in pieces.

He had not even gotten any juicy exclusives.

The two reporters exchanged glances with each other.

Was it still possible to drive away at this point?

"Which one?" Luke's tone was calm, but his presence was imposing.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2933-The two reporters in the car could feel a shiver run down their spines as an eerie chill swept over them.

The reporter in the passenger seat could not resist the pressure and blurted out, "We're from Green Apple Daily."

Luke narrowed his eyes. Green Apple Daily?

They had practically delivered themselves to him. There was no need for him to go looking for them now.

That worked out nicely...

"So, was the article about me first released by your company?" asked Luke straightforwardly, casually resting his hand on the car window. There was no way the reporters had the guts to roll up the window now.

"Yes..." admitted the reporter in the passenger seat, unable to withstand the pressure.

The driver shot him a glare. The news was published by several news media companies simultaneously.

How could he admit to it?

Was he a fool?

This was not the time to admit it. He should have pushed the blame onto their competitors, no?

The reporter in the passenger seat met the driver's gaze and realized he had made a mistake by admitting it. He quickly turned to Luke. "Actually, many news agencies published it simultaneously. It's not just our company."

"Did you write the article?" Luke ignored the explanation and questioned the two of them. novelbin

Typically, news media companies operated this way. The reporters who reported on a story would follow up on related developments.

The reporter in the driver's seat nodded, looking like he was about to face his doom. "Yes, we wrote it. Everything we wrote was based on information from insiders, and it's all well-founded. We won't falsely accuse anyone."

"We won't reveal the identity of our sources either!" added the reporter in the passenger seat.

Even though they were afraid, they had professional integrity.

Luke frowned.

This made the two reporters hold their breath even more.

"I'm not interested in the person who gave you the information," replied Luke, not wanting to coax anything more from the reporters regarding that matter. That information was something that could easily be traced. "I just want you to relay a message to your source."

"W-What?" The reporter in the driver's seat stammered.

"Tell her to pay attention to tomorrow's news." Luke stood up straight right after he said that.

Just as the two reporters were about to let out a sigh of relief, they heard Luke saying, "Stop following me. Even if you follow me a thousand times, you won't get what you want with false reports. Don't waste your time."

The two reporters watched as Luke returned to his car and drove into the residential area. They still looked dazed, trying to process what Luke had just said.

Was he denying the rumors about him and Luca?

Also, did he mean there would be major news tomorrow?

"Does he mean that there'll be big news tomorrow?" mumbled the reporter in the passenger seat. He was a photographer, and it was the driver who handled the writing.

He asked what Luke meant.

The reporter in the driver's seat was also puzzled. "How would I know?"

"Well, if there's big news, maybe we shouldn't sleep tonight. We might even get a secondhand report..." The reporter in the passenger seat's eyes lit up. They needed more news to fatten up their bonuses.

"I don't think that's it. I suspect he wants to deny the rumors about Luca. So, maybe a news company will issue a clarification statement tomorrow," speculated the reporter in the driver's seat. It should be like that.

After all, when celebrities faced rumors, they either openly admitted to their romantic relationships or immediately issued statements denying them.

"Perhaps..." The reporter in the passenger seat speculated further, saying, "But if he issues a statement tomorrow, won't it be too late? To be honest, big shots like Luke Crawford have top-notch PR teams in his company. Why didn't he deny it or clarify things today? The more I think about it, the less likely it seems."

He actually thought there might be some other breaking news.

The reporter in the driver's seat started the car and said helplessly, "No matter what it is, we didn't get anything today. Let's try it again tomorrow."

"Should we convey that message to our source?"

"We'll have to return to the office to check the email..." The reporters had gained nothing. Hence, they reluctantly went back to their news media company.

Night fell, and after receiving an email from Green Apple Daily, Myra immediately forwarded it to Karen.

[Madam Mallory, what is Luke up to?] Myra felt anxious, wondering if Luke already knew that they had leaked information to the reporters.

If that was the case, they were in big trouble...

[Did the reporters reveal your identity?] Karen glanced at the email, remaining calm.

[No, I registered a new email. They have no idea about my identity.] Myra was not that foolish to expose her identity to the reporters. That was why she registered a new email when she provided the information to the reporters of Green Apple Daily.

[Then what are you afraid of?]

Karen took a sip of her skin-rejuvenating fruit juice and typed slowly: [The reporters don't know your identity, so they won't expose you. Stay calm. I think Luke was just trying to scare the reporters after he saw them following him. It's just a show of strength. This kind of tactic is often used in the business world. Don't worry.]

Myra felt more at ease after reading Karen's message.

She realized that if she was truly frightened and panicked, she would be falling into Luke's trap.

After a while, Karen replied again: [Don't lose your composure. We've handled this matter well. Luke won't find out. Even if he blames someone, it'll be those news media companies, not you or me.]

[You're right.] Myra smiled, feeling better. [Let's wait and see what news Luke plans to release tomorrow.]

[I don't believe it. Besides issuing a clarification, all he can do is sue the news company. But if he really does that, no matter how much he clarifies, no one will believe him. Discussions will continue unabated.

[When things are about to die down, we'll stir up the public's curiosity again. This time, I want his life to be in turmoil!]

Karen quickly typed out the messages and sent them to their group of three.

They all had a common enemy to deal with. Thus, they were especially united at this moment.

Margaret, who had been quiet, also agreed: [Madam Mallory is right. If Luke Crawford can't admit his mistakes, he's not much of a man. Now, it's our job to teach him a lesson on behalf of his wife. Men who cheat on their wives can't be forgiven, and women who become mistresses should be condemned by everyone.]

Karen's words had a calming effect, and with the support of the Mallory family, Myra and Margaret were confident that they could really teach Luke and Luca a lesson.

In the end, Myra jokingly wrote: [Mrs. Jackman is right. In my opinion, we're doing a good deed. Even that dim-witted wife of Luke's should be thanking us!]

They did not know much about Luke's wife, especially after she was kidnapped and brought back. Luke had kept her well-protected.

The little they knew came from what Karen had told them.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2934-Karen said that Luke's wife had become a madwoman after suffering inhumane torture and being raped consecutively.

Luke had never disclosed this to the public, so none of them knew.

Thanks to Karen, they got to hear this shocking revelation.

Margaret added: [Right. That woman is so stupid that she doesn't even know she's being cheated on.]

Karen could not help but curl her lips upon reading their conversation. These two women were so easily manipulated. With just a little gossip, they would let their guard down so much that they would even take a bullet for her.

On the other hand...

Luca knew that Luke was having dinner with Old Master Crawford at the manor after he messaged her, so she and the children had dinner without him.

After dinner, the children sat in the living room, watching cartoons.

Luca was also in the living room watching cartoons with the kids, waiting for Luke to come back.

Old Master Crawford must have found out about the reports. She wondered if he would lash out at Luke.

The old master was not in great health, so if his anger caused him health problems.

Luca worriedly knitted her eyebrows together.

She did not want others to get hurt because of her relationship with Luke.

However, she still hurt Queenie.

The thought of that deepened Luca's frown. She could not even go to the hospital because of the scandal.

Although she was innocent, she was too guilty to face Wanda.

After all, she had deceived every single person about her identity.

Rainie was sensible enough to notice that Luca was frowning, so she went up to her and asked, “Ms. Luca, what's wrong?"

Then, Luca came back to her senses. She shook her head and said to her smilingly, "Nothing." Rainie was aware of the news, so she actually knew why Luca was frowning.

However, she did not understand. All her mother had to do was tell people her true identity, and then no one would criticize her parents anymore. However, Luca just remained silent and kept her chin up.

Rainie did not understand why she was doing this, so all she could do was whisper beside her, “Ms.

Luca, I'm sure Daddy will take care of everything. It'll be fine."

"Yes, I have faith in him." Luca smiled and patted Rainie's head. When her palm touched the child's soft hair, Luca's heart ached.

Before leaving, she wanted to hear her children call her 'Mommy' instead of 'Ms. Luca'...

Suddenly, Luca's eyes were filled with tears, and she was at a loss.

Then, there were footsteps coming from outside.

Rainie was sharp-eared, so she said, "Ms. Luca, Daddy's home."

Luca turned to look in the direction of the entrance, and after a while, Luke walked in.

"I see that everyone's watching cartoons," he smiled at Luca before saying to the children.

"Yes, Daddy. We've finished our homework and previewed all our assigned tasks. You said that we could watch cartoons as long as we finished all our work," Tommy turned to tell him.

The cartoon was about to start, so he did not immediately run to Luke.

"Have you finished checking your homework?" Luke asked again. He did not explain what happened at the manor.

"Ms. Luca finished checking everything, but she said that you'd be back early tonight. She left it for you to sign instead," said Tommy as he handed his father a few of his workbooks.

Then, Luke sat on an armchair.

Lanie and Rainie also handed their homework to Luke. "Daddy, sign it, please."

Since the children said that Luca had already checked it, Luke just signed his name in the designated area.

After signing, the children kept their own workbooks in their school bags so that they could just pick up their bags when leaving for school tomorrow.

Then, Luke said to Luca, "I'll go upstairs to take care of some work stuff."

"Alright." Luca nodded. He seemed calm, and she did not notice anything unusual about him. He did not mention anything about what happened at the manor, and she did not ask either.

After Luke went upstairs, the cartoon started playing, so the children's eyes were once again glued to the screen.

Luca could not help but sigh inwardly. Life was so much happier and worry-free as a kid. The kids were happy to just finish the cartoon.

Her gaze fell upon Lanie.

He was the child that resembled Luke the most.

Although he was much more mature than other kids his age, he still took his cartoons seriously.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"Who would be at the door this late?" Aunt Neile had already gone home, so Luca had to answer the door.

Luca was stunned to see Susan standing at the door through the doorbell camera.

It had been some time since Susan moved into the mansion next door with Louis. Since then, Luca would always greet Louis with a smile if she ran into him on the way out.

However, if she ran into Yuri or Susan, she would pretend not to see them because they did the same whenever she greeted them with a smile in the past.

Luca was not a people pleaser, so she would not go out of her way to say hello if they did not wish to acknowledge her.

Hence, even though they basically lived together, the two families did not interact the way Old Master Crawford would expect them to.

Besides, everyone was busy, especially the two brothers—Luke and Louis.

They were busy with their own jobs, so they did not have the time to visit each other.

It was the first time Susan ever came over.

Usually, Luca would have opened the door without a second thought. However, she had a feeling that Susan might have an ulterior motive for visiting on the day her scandal with Luke broke out.

“Ms. Luca, who is it?" Lanie asked curiously when he saw her standing quietly in front of the monitor without opening the door.

He did not expect anyone to ring the doorbell at this time either.

If Aunt Neile had come back after leaving something, she would have just opened the door instead of ringing the doorbell.

"It's your Grandma Susan..." Luca came back to her senses after her mind drifted away. She was trying to think of why Susan would ring their doorbell.

Lanie frowned and wondered why their grandma would come over all of a sudden.

Although he called her 'Grandma', Lanie knew that Susan saw him and his siblings as a thorn in her flesh. However, their father and great-grandpa protected them from her.

Without that protection, he and his siblings would have been badly bullied.

Thus, they would usually avoid Susan, lest they bump into her and give her a chance to lecture them.

"What is Grandma doing here at this hour?" Rainie frowned upon hearing their conversation.

She disliked Susan too because she did not sincerely love them.

Then, the doorbell rang again.novelbin

Luca looked at Susan's impatient face, wanting to pretend that no one was home. However, that would not work. Thus, she had no choice but to open the door and let her in.

"Oh, Grandma is here. I don't want to watch cartoons anymore.." Tommy muttered when he saw Luca open the door.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2936-Luca's gaze slightly lowered, and suddenly she remembered the words Susan said to her while she was drunk at the time Luke brought her back to Crawford Manor.

She thought they were heartfelt, but in reality, they were quite awkward.

Now, here she was in yet another awkward situation. Even though Susan had changed her tone, Luca could not help but recall the past and found it as awkward as before.

Susan noticed that Luca did not say anything. She thought her words had struck a chord. Therefore, she changed her approach, putting on the expression of a wise elder. She said with sincerity, "You're beautiful, talented, and young. What kind of man can't you find?"

Luca blinked her eyes. Was she actually complimenting her?

If Susan was truly complimenting her, it was as likely as seeing pigs fly.

Luca lifted her head and put on a pitiful expression on her face. She did not understand why Luke had not come down yet. Since she let Susan in, it was up to her to resolve this issue now. "Madam Crawford, you're absolutely right. I know I'm exceptional, but I've realized that with someone as outstanding as me, I must find a man better than me. That's why I decided to be with Luke."

Susan was rendered speechless for a moment. What nonsense was she talking about?

After praising her a couple of times for being outstanding, did she actually consider herself an outstanding person? Did she have no shame?

Suppressing her urge to mock, Susan continued persuading, "There are plenty of good men in the world. I heard you're from Russia. Aren't there many successful businessmen in Russia?

"You can easily leave Luke and become someone's legitimate wife instead of a mistress. Besides, Luke truly loves Bianca. Perhaps his lapse in judgment is due to his loneliness while Bianca is away. When Bianca returns, you... Sigh."

Luca sat up straight while listening to her, pretending to hesitate for a moment. However, her tone carried a sense of determination.

"But the more I'm with Luke, the more I sink into it. Madam Crawford, I truly love him. I can stand behind him for a lifetime, even if I'm not acknowledged or known. It doesn't matter as long as I'm by his side, because I love him." Luca intentionally said these to provoke Susan.

However, what she said was the truth as well.

She loved Luke Crawford.

She would love him for the rest of her life.

No matter what she went through, nothing could change her feelings.

As Susan watched Luca confess her love for Luke passionately, she could not help but feel annoyed.

She had come here to create a rift between Luca and Luke today.

The way things were headed, it was like she was doing them a favor!

Susan stopped putting on a show and became blunt. "You shameless mistress. Love? Do you even understand love? Are you worthy of it? You're only after Luke's money, aren't you? I won't allow you to be together with Luke!"

"Mother, what right do you have to disapprove of me being with Luca?" Luke's voice echoed from upstairs.

He had not even arrived yet, but his voice had already reached them.

Luca turned around to glance at the staircase corner where Luke was.

It turned out he had been eavesdropping on her conversation with Susan behind the stairs!

Luca recalled the affectionate words she had just spoken and could not help but blush. She had never said something like that back when she was just Bianca.

Surprisingly, the honest words she had told Susan to provoke her had all been overheard.

Luca felt embarrassed...

Susan saw Luke make his way down the stairs and raised an eyebrow.

She assumed he was working late at T Corporation...

After all, when she left Crawford Manor, she had asked if Luke had returned home.

Old Master Crawford told her that Luke had gone to work.

Work? Should he not be at the company? Why was he working here?

Susan glanced at the wall clock. It was not too late yet. According to Luke's working habits, he would not be back before midnight!

"Luke, you're here." Susan changed the subject and softened her tone.

"Yes, I was upstairs handling some work," replied Luke without mentioning that he had overheard their conversation. He went down the stairs and took a seat next to Luca.

As soon as he sat down, his large hand gently held Luca's delicate hand.

Luca was startled for a moment, but then she held his strong hand in return.

As Susan watched their hands entwined like they were deliberately showing off, she felt disgusted. She did not expect that her carefully crafted words would fail to achieve her intended outcome. Luke had also heard everything.

Moreover, Luca's insincere confession might actually make Luke fall deeper for her.

She must have known that Luke was listening from behind the stairs. That was why she said that!

Susan secretly cursed Luca in her heart. Then, she straightened her posture, adopting the demeanor of an elder. "Luke, you've been too careless about this matter. Even though I knew about your relationship with Luca, the situation is different now.

"With everything out in the open, I don't want the Crawford family's reputation to be tarnished. I don't want others to say that all the men in the Crawford family are the same.

"That's why I've come to talk to Luca. I hope you understand that this is my sincere concern as your mother." “Mother, I refuse to accept it." Luke's gaze darkened. He treated everyone the same, except when it came to Luca and the kids. That was when his tender side came out.

"You..." Susan had already expected him to say something like that. She knew her plan had failed. Now that Luke had come downstairs, there was no way she could continue trying to create divisions.

She had no choice but to shake her head helplessly and say, "Never mind. You've never really treated me as your mother anyway. Since you refuse to accept what I said, just pretend I never came. I might as well have thrown my efforts down the drain."

Luca frowned. What was she saying?

Efforts?

In vain?

These words did not sound well-intentioned, and it was likely that even Tommy would not fall for them.

Luca pondered for a moment and thought it was wrong to get Tommy involved in this. The child could not wait to run and hide from Susan when he saw her.

After all, the child often met Susan when he was at Crawford Manor.

When Susan was at Crawford Manor, she was not pleasant to anyone. The kids did not like her, and some were even afraid of her. That was perfectly normal. novelbin

"Mother, save it for Louis and Thea," replied Luke, repeating the words he said to her when they were at Crawford Manor. "I'll take responsibility for my choices, and I have the capability to handle this matter. You don't have to worry about it."

Susan took a deep breath to maintain her composure. She did not want to let him get under her skin.

"Fine. You can pretend I never came today. But, Ms. Craw, what I said was the truth. And Luke, Bianca has some influential supporters on her side. If you insist on choosing Luca, be prepared for potential challenges from the Norman family.

"When have businessmen ever defeated politicians? I'm saying all this because I care about your wellbeing. Choosing Bianca will make your path smoother. But if you choose Luca..."

Susan cast a disdainful glance at Luca, brimming with contempt. "Apart from acquiring a few formulas, what else can the company gain? Anyone can develop those formulas. What can she bring to the table? You're part of the Crawford family. You should learn how to make the right choices."a

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2937-"My choices have always been rational. As for the Norman family and other matters, I'm confident I can handle them well. Regarding the company and my personal matters, you don't need to worry about them," said Luke as he rose to his feet.

He did not explicitly ask her to leave, but every sentence he uttered hinted at her departure.

"Hmph, you don't know what's good for you." Susan gave a cold snort and left.

"Madam Crawford, my maid has finished her shift. Could you please help close the door when you leave?" Luca could not help but say.

When her mind was in turmoil, Susan showed up in front of her.

By not completely shutting her down, it was already a kind gesture for the Crawford family's sake.

Besides, considering her current personality, if the other person was not a member of Luke's family, she might have just walked away without wasting half a minute on their nonsense.

Susan cast a malicious glance back. She watched both of them stand up, shoulder to shoulder.

In terms of height and appearance, they were a good match.

However, what did it matter?

Luke had Bianca. It seemed like Luca's fate had already been written. She was destined to become a weeping loser.

Susan's figure disappeared in the foyer, and Luca's smile slowly faded as she turned to look at Luke. "Did you hear everything?"

"Yes." Luke nodded.

"Why were you hiding behind the stairs?" Luca could not help but wonder as she walked into the kitchen. She had been chatting with Susan for quite some time, and she was thirsty.

"She initially came looking for you. If I hadn't hidden behind the stairs, she wouldn't have had the chance to finish her speech. She'd come bother you again tomorrow. It's better to give her a chance to say everything at once," replied Luke as he followed her into the kitchen.

He knew what Susan was up to, but no matter how foolish she might be, she would not betray the interests of the Crawford family. Therefore, he did not intend to pay her any attention.

However, he did not expect her to have the audacity to come looking for Luca after what happened at Crawford Manor.

Trying to persuade Luca to leave? Luca's real identity was Bianca, and Susan's speech would have no effect on her.

Lovers and mistresses...

It was simply ignorant and laughable.

"You do have a point." Luca admitted as she poured a glass of warm water for him and handed it over. After he took it from her, she poured herself a glass as well.

Luke furrowed his brows and took a sip of the water she handed him. "I heard everything."

"I know..." Luca knew what he meant.

He was talking about her confession of love for him in front of Susan.

Luca thought about it. It was indeed embarrassing, but at least it was only heard by the parties involved and not their kids.

Otherwise, she could not imagine the expressions on their faces when they heard her confessing.

Even though the three kids were still young, both Lanie and Rainie understood these so-called matters of the heart. After all, she had done her research. Kids their age, like Lanie and Rainie, were already starting to lose interest in studying and beginning to explore their unique personalities.

Some kids their age had even started dating.

"Is what you said true?" Even though he knew Luca's confession was heartfelt, she only said those words in front of Susan. He wanted her to confirm it in front of him.

"Yes, it is.” Luca slightly lowered her gaze and wore a smile on her face.

Luke felt like his heart was about to be melted by her gentle smile.

Luca had been back for a while, but she had never confessed so sincerely and bashfully before.

While the two of them had exchanged many endearing words in bed back then, those moments could not quite measure up to the current setting.

Luke felt that the current situation moved him even more.

Luca loved him.

Luca was mesmerized by the starry look in Luke's eyes. After a moment, she felt her mouth go dry and remembered that she was thirsty. She took another sip of water.

Only then did she ask, "Earlier, you told Madam Mallory that you could resolve this issue?"

"Yes, the news has been spreading for a day, and it's time to address it." Luke finished his glass of water and gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"What's your plan?" asked Luca.

"I'll clarify the situation and counter with even juicier news." Luke did not hide anything from her. There was nothing to hide.

Luca nodded. It was a general strategy. Luke then added, "But by doing this, you might have to put up with a bit of inconvenience. I don't want that for you."

Luca shook her head and replied, “It's okay.”

Luca understood what he meant by that. Even if Luke's PR team distanced her from the situation, there would always be some nasty people who would say she was deliberately trying to cozy up to Luke. It was why this kind of murky gossip news surfaced.

They would say that this was all part of her calculated schemes and such.

"In fact, I didn't want to resort to this method. I didn't want you to get hurt. It's just that the Norman family..." Luke saw the chance and deliberately chose this time to bring it up.

Luca's heart skipped a beat, and she stared at him anxiously, her eyes filled with concern.

She wanted to know what happened to the Norman family.

Luke did not make her wait too long. He continued, "The situation with the Norman family has turned into a mess because of us. My mother-in-law's blood pressure hasn't gone down since then."

"How could this happen? I saw her earlier in the day when she came back from her check-up, and she seemed fine..." replied Luca. She was familiar with the symptoms of hypertension. When she saw Queenie during the day, it was clear that her blood pressure had been stabilized with medication.

"Yes. She was perfectly fine this morning, but the news coverage escalated the situation further. Plus, they received news about Leia from the detention center. Mother couldn't handle it, and her blood pressure shot up again.

"Johann said they gave her prompt medical care, but the stress really got to her. Her blood pressure remains elevated," explained Luke.

Luca listened with a heavy heart. Prolonged high blood pressure could cause severe damage to various organs, especially the heart and lungs...

Typically, high blood pressure could be controlled using different medications to lower it. However, there were instances where, due to psychological stress and other factors, the blood pressure remained high no matter how much medication was taken.

Moreover, overdosing on hypertension medications was not advisable.

If long-acting drugs were not effective at controlling blood pressure, doctors might switch to shorter- acting medications.

If the blood pressure did not come down, doctors would be cautious about administering medication indiscriminately. There was a risk that excessive medication could flip high blood pressure to low blood pressure, which would be a clumsy solution and harmful to the body.

Luca could not help but feel unsettled when she heard that Queenie's blood pressure remained high.

"For now, I have no choice but to put you through some trouble. I need to use these methods to suppress the news coverage. I also hope my mother-in-law can believe that I've been framed, that there's no truth to these allegations.

"But by doing this, you'll not only face criticism from the people, but you also won't be able to go to Norman Residence..." Luke explained, seizing the opportunity to push Luca into a corner.

When she had no way out, it would be the right time for her to come clean.

Luke did not want to be so ruthless, but reuniting with his family was a top priority. He needed to gather more information about the Island of Despair and rescue Luca.

"It's okay. Really," Luca reassured him, shaking her head repeatedly.

It was okay for her to be criticized by the people...

Not being able to go to Norman Residence did not matter to her either. She could secretly pay Queenie and Jack a visit.

As long as Queenie got better, that was what mattered most.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2938-Luke saw the tears in her eyes. He knew she was worried about Queenie.

He secretly let out a sigh. She was so worried about Queenie, but she still refused to reveal the truth. What did the Island of Despair have on her to make her guard this secret?

"I'll do my best to minimize the harm from the outside world," Luke reassured her. He wanted to shout to the world that Luca was his beloved wife, but the threat of the Island of Despair loomed, preventing him from doing so.

"I believe you, but the most important thing is to comfort Mrs. Norman's emotions. I don't want her to have any problems because of this," replied Luca, continuing showing her concern for Queenie in front of him.

"Okay." Luke leaned forward and looked into her teary eyes. He wanted to pull her into his arms.

Before he could do so, a tender voice suddenly interrupted their moment.

"Daddy, Ms. Luca, I want some water," Tommy's voice came from the kitchen door.

Luke's hand froze in the air as he turned to look at his younger son, who was walking toward them with short little legs.

Luca glanced at the child and nodded. She poured a glass of warm water for him.

Tommy was thirsty. He gulped down the water and asked, "Has Grandma Susan left?"

"Yes, she's gone," answered Luca as she patted the child's head. "Do you want some more?"

"No. Thank you, Ms. Luca." Tommy handed her the empty cup.

"Did you finish watching your cartoons?" asked Luke in a slightly displeased tone as he looked at his son, who was smiling and taking pleasure in Luca's gentle touch.

Judging from the child's personality, if he had not finished watching his cartoons, he would not have moved from his spot even if he was thirsty. He could endure until the end of the show. He was a true animation enthusiast.

"Yes, I've finished watching!" Tommy nodded and held Luca's hand, asking with concern, "Ms. Luca, Grandma Susan didn't bully you, did she?"

"No. Thanks for your concern, Tommy." Luca pinched her younger son's cheek and added, "Besides, I can protect you guys. Most people can't mess with me."

"Even if someone bullies her, she has me. No one can bully her," Luke chimed in grumpily.

He should not have brought Tommy back. He had just returned, and he was already causing trouble...

If Luke had been able to embrace Luca just now and comfort her in a gentle tone, perhaps he could have lifted her spirits a bit. Then, he could have applied a stronger remedy...

However, all of his plans had been ruined by Tommy.

Tommy, who had unwittingly disrupted Luke's plans, nodded in agreement. "Yes, if anyone bullies Ms. Luca, Daddy and Lanie will protect her!"

Luca smiled gently. Realizing that it was getting late, she urged him, "Alright, it's getting late. Go upstairs, wash up, and rest early. I'll come to check on you later. If any of you haven't got in bed, you'll lose ten minutes of cartoon time tomorrow!"

Tommy's chubby face turned serious. The cartoon he was watching had reached an exciting part. He could not afford to miss ten minutes. Otherwise, he would miss a lot of the exciting plot!

"I'm going to wash up now, and I'll also make sure Lanie and Rainie do the same," said Tommy. Then, he made his way up the stairs.

"You always know how to deal with mischievous kids," remarked Luke as he watched the child leave from behind. He could not help but let out a sigh.

Earlier today, when he went back to Crawford Manor, Mr. Griffin mentioned that the kids were reluctant to go to bed every night.

It was only when Old Master Crawford urged them to sleep that they listened to him and went to bed.

Especially Tommy, who insisted on reading a bit more before sleeping.

Luke had been wondering why the kids behaved like this at Crawford Manor when they did not exhibit such behavior at home.

It seemed that with him and Luca taking care of them at home, the kids were much more obedient— even the mischievous Tommy.

The role of a mother was crucial in a child's upbringing.

“Kids are pretty easy to deal with,” said Luca. Tommy was her child. She could figure out what the kids needed and where they were most sensitive when she spent time with them.

Plus, their kids were not exactly the mischievous types. If she had a good chat with them and laid out the reasons, they would listen to her just fine.

Luke nodded in agreement, acknowledging that their kids were indeed outstanding.

"It's getting late. Let's go upstairs," suggested Luca, remembering that she had documents to handle.

"Sure." Luke nodded and held her hand as they made their way up the stairs.

As Luca watched their hands intertwine tightly over this brief distance and how tightly Luke was holding her, she found herself not wanting to let go.

When they reached the second floor's living room, they found that the cartoon had already ended. The kids were no longer sitting on the sofa watching TV. Instead, they had returned to their respective bedrooms to wash up and prepare to go to bed.

Luke was pleased to see that the kids were behaving as he had hoped, going to their rooms to sleep after washing up. He nodded with satisfaction and said to Luca, "I'll go handle work first."

"Alright." Luca nodded and returned to the master bedroom. She intended to wash up first and check on the children to ensure they had gone to bed.

Luke entered the bedroom and resumed the work that was interrupted earlier by Susan.

Meanwhile, Luca, after washing up, went out of the bedroom and opened the doors to the kid's rooms one by one to see if they were in bed.

Lanie and Tommy were already in bed. When Luca opened Rainie's bedroom door, she expected to find the most obedient one already asleep. However, to her surprise, Rainie was sitting at her desk with a table lamp on, holding a tablet in her hands.

"Rainie, why aren't you asleep yet?" Luca asked with concern when she saw the child was still sitting in front of the desk.

Rainie looked up. Her eyes were filled with worry. “Ms. Luca.”

"Yes?" Luca approached her and asked, "What's wrong? What are you looking at?"

Rainie handed her the tablet.

Luca glanced at the content on the tablet, which happened to show the rumors about her and Luke... novelbin

Luca slightly furrowed her brows. She had not been hiding the fact that she shared a bedroom with Luke in front of the children these days.

The kids had not said anything about it. They did not show any signs of rejection either.

Luca thought they had accepted it.

However, she was worried that Rainie might be feeling uncomfortable when she saw her expression.

Luca gently stroked Rainie's head and said, "I'm sorry..."

"Ms. Luca, you haven't done anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?" Rainie looked up at her. Her eyes were welled up with tears.

"Huh?" Luca was a bit puzzled by her words.

"Ms. Luca, you haven't done anything wrong at all. You and Daddy are doing just fine, so why did those reporters dig into your privacy? I hate those reporters!" said Rainie. Her tears trickled down like gentle raindrops.

Her delicate brows furrowed just like Luca's, indicating her disgust toward the reporters.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2939-Luca was puzzled. She had initially thought that Rainie was feeling down because of her involvement with Luke.

Little did she know that the child was upset because of the reporters exposing her relationship with Luke.

"Rainie?" Luca still could not quite understand.

Rainie looked at her with teary eyes and said, "Ms. Luca, I'm afraid you'll leave us because of this."

“How could I..." Luca's heart softened, and her eyes welled up with tears. She realized that the child was worried about her leaving and being separated because of the news.

"Ms. Luca, you won't leave, right? No matter what those reporters say, you won't leave, will you?" Rainie wanted to seek an answer from Luca.

"Don't worry. I won't leave," Luca reassured her and held her in her arms. Girls' minds were often more delicate than boys'. She understood that Rainie was afraid of her leaving because of the news.

However, they were all precious to her. How could she ever leave them?

"Okay. As long as you stay, Ms. Luca," replied Rainie as she emerged from Luca's embrace. She closed the webpage on her tablet and placed it on the table.

She was relieved when she knew Luca would not leave.

"It's getting late. Let's go to bed," said Luca as she took a tissue from the table and gently wiped Rainie's face.

Rainie stared at her with her big, sparkling eyes. Luca felt like her heart was melting. "Don't worry. From now on, I'll be here every day."

Luca secretly added another word in her heart, 'Hopefully.'

The internet was abuzz with this matter. Luca wondered what Abel's reaction would be if he saw it.

Perhaps he was planning a scheme to deal with Luke.

Luca refused to become a tool against Luke, but Nyla was still in Abel's hands. Therefore, she had no choice but to be a weapon against Luke.

After putting Rainie to sleep, Luca returned to the master bedroom. She glanced at the opposite door that was left ajar, where she could hear intermittent conversations.

Was Luke in a video conference or on the phone?

Luca was not sure since he intentionally kept his voice low, and she could not make out what he was saying.

He was busy, and she did not want to disturb him. So, she went back to the master bedroom, leaned against the bed, and thought for a moment before opening a drawer to take out some melatonin.

She had given all the sleep aids to Vivian and Tina. Her sleep quality had improved with Luke by her side. Hence, she no longer needed those medications. That was why she did not continue making them.

However, she bought a bottle of melatonin from the pharmacy just in case.

Surprisingly, it came in handy today.

After swallowing a melatonin tablet, Luca left a nightlight on for Luke. Then, she covered herself with a blanket and closed her eyes.

After Luke finished his work and checked the time, he figured that Luca was already asleep. To avoid disturbing her, he washed up in the adjacent bathroom before returning to the bedroom.

No matter how late it was, as long as Luca was sleeping here, he would come over.

As Luke looked at the warm glow of the nightlight, his eyes softened. Just a while ago, he was dealing with the newspaper company's editor and making decisions.

The editor had reservations about his actions, but Luke had made up his mind and was known for his decisive approach. The editor had no choice but to follow through.

Now, he had shed his stern demeanor. An air of tenderness enveloped him.

What could make him gentle was none other than their children, and her, of course.

She was the woman he loved the most.

Luke sat on the edge of the bed. After he turned off the nightlight, he lay down with one arm around Luca.

Luca felt the warmth. In her slumber, she leaned against his chest.

"Go to sleep. Good night." Luke gently planted a kiss on her cheek.

Even though Luca was asleep, she magically responded to Luke's words, "Mmm, good night."

Luke held her tighter. Many things could be settled by tomorrow. The outside world would not be abuzz with intense discussions about their relationship anymore.

As long as they managed to quell the public chatter from the outside, all that remained was to see how the people she cared about the most performed.

If they put on a good show, they would be one big happy family again soon.

The following day, Luca opened her eyes, and her instinct led her to glance to the side.

The empty spot on the bed next to her was no longer warm. It seemed that Luke had already gotten up. She recalled what Luke had said yesterday, that he would suppress their rumors today.

Moreover, he would be using a clarification alongside other gossip news.

Luca could not help but be curious about what kind of news Luke would use to quell their rumors.

Rather than rushing to get out of bed, she reached for her phone on the bedside table. Before she could even unlock the screen, a knock sounded on the door.

Rainie's voice came from outside. "Ms. Luca, are you awake?" novelbin

"Yes, I'm up." Luca's voice barely left her lips before Rainie entered the room.

The young girl was already dressed in her school uniform. She had also combed her hair neatly. She looked energetic as she stared at Luca. When she saw that Luca had not gotten up yet, she asked hesitantly, "Did I wake you up, Ms. Luca?"

"No. I woke up a while ago. I was just lingering in bed." Luca noticed her daughter's guilt and decided to forgo checking the news for now. She sat up and said, "I'm going to freshen up now."

"Okay!" Rainie smiled and nodded.

Luca then remembered that she had something to ask and looked at Rainie. "Rainie, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No, nothing at all. Ms. Luca, I'm going downstairs for breakfast!" replied Rainie. Then, she left the bedroom. She did not tell Luca that she had come so early to knock on her door because she was worried that Luca might leave while they were all asleep.

Last night, she had a bad dream and woke up wanting to find Luca.

However, she woke up too early. She thought that they were all still asleep, so she waited until just now to knock on the door.

She only felt at ease when she saw Luca was still here.

Luca watched Rainie leave, then turned around and closed the door behind her.

She shook her head and smiled. The little girl was worried that she might sneak away in the middle of the night, so she came to check on her early in the morning.

Luca was even more determined not to leave when she saw Rainie behaving like that.

The kids genuinely liked her, even though they did not know she was their mother.

However, if someday she had to follow Abel's instructions and leave them, they would undoubtedly be heartbroken.

Even she herself could not bear the thought of it...

After quickly freshening up, Luca changed into her professional attire and opened the bedroom door while preparing to leave. At the same time, the door of the opposite bedroom swung open. Luke stood behind it, looking at her.

"Why are you up so early?" asked Luca when she met his deep, dark eyes.

"There's quite a bit to handle. Do you want to come in and check the news?" asked Luke. Two hours ago, T Corporation's PR department had already released a clarification statement.

Following that, various news media companies under their umbrella shared this clarification across social media platforms.

Meanwhile, several reporters had been working together to mock those photos of Luca and Luke's supposed affair. Their reports were accompanied with explanations.

Just ten minutes ago, a report about Karen, who was affiliated with T Corporation, was published.

Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 2940-Luca was puzzled. She had initially thought that Rainie was feeling down because of her involvement with Luke.