Chapter 245: A Forbidden Crush!

Arabella Windsor’s birthday was only a few days away.

As promised, Luca finally boarded his private jet bound for Capital City.

This time, he wasn’t traveling alone.

Rachel and Trish had insisted on coming with him.

Cecelia remained in San Fierro, resting comfortably at the villa and focusing on her pregnancy. Vivienne stayed behind to oversee the company’s daily operations, while Sophie buried herself in books as she prepared for her postgraduate entrance examinations. Amelia threw herself into work after her recent promotion, hoping the busy schedule would help her sort through the thoughts weighing on her mind. Meanwhile, Naomi returned home to spend some quality time with her mother, Elena Monroe.

The spacious cabin was unusually lively.

Trish lounged comfortably across one of the leather sofas, lazily munching on potato chips as she admired the luxurious interior for what felt like the hundredth time.

She sighed dramatically.

"Bro... flying on a private jet is seriously amazing."

She turned toward him with sparkling eyes.

"Can you buy me one someday?"

Luca didn’t even bother looking up from the tablet in his hand.

"You should go to sleep."

He replied calmly.

"You can own anything you want in your dreams."

"Hmph."

Trish puffed out her cheeks.

"My sports car hasn’t even arrived yet, and honestly, it doesn’t seem that exciting anymore."

She waved the potato chip in her hand as though making a profound observation.

"A helicopter would be much cooler."

She grinned foolishly.

"Can you imagine me landing one at San Fierro University’s sports field? Every student would be staring at me. I’d instantly become the most beautiful girl on campus."

The more she imagined it, the happier she became.

By the end, she was practically giggling to herself.

Luca looked at her helplessly.

His sister was becoming increasingly hopeless.

She hadn’t even received the sports car she’d been begging for, and she was already bored of the idea.

’At least drive it for a while before changing your dream.’

A few moments later, Trish leaned forward again.

"Bro."

"Hm?"

"When we land, are we going straight to Arabella’s place?"

Luca shook his head.

"We’ll head home first."

He smiled.

"Her birthday is still a few days away, so there’s no rush."

"Besides, now that we’re in Capital City, it would be strange not to visit our own place first."

He had been curious about Franco de Santa Estate ever since the system rewarded it to him.

More importantly...

Several of his newly acquired businesses were also located in Capital City.

Since he was already here, it made sense to inspect everything personally.

"After we settle in," he continued, "we’ll visit Capital City Gaming Center."

The moment she heard those words, Rachel quietly looked up.

That gaming club was one of the main reasons she had agreed to come along.

Its professional esports team happened to be her favorite.

Although she knew perfectly well that her own gaming skills were nowhere near the professional level...

Simply meeting the players she admired would already make the trip worthwhile.

And since the club was Luca’s...

There was even a chance she might get to play a practice match against them.

Even if she lost miserably...

It would still be an unforgettable experience.

Thinking about it, Rachel couldn’t help stealing another glance at Luca.

The more she learned about him...

The more unbelievable he seemed.

She already knew he owned numerous companies spanning several industries.

Who would’ve guessed he even owned a professional esports organization?

It just so happened to be her favorite one.

’Luca really is incredible...’

"Hehe."

Trish suddenly leaned over.

"Isn’t my brother handsome?"

Rachel immediately snapped out of her thoughts.

"Mmm..."

She answered softly without thinking.

Almost instantly, she realized what she’d admitted.

A blush spread across her delicate face, reaching all the way to her ears.

Truthfully...

It wasn’t strange for her to develop feelings for someone like Luca.

He was handsome, capable, and had helped her family time and time again.

Any young girl would find it difficult not to admire someone like him.

But admiration was all it could ever be.

She buried those feelings deep inside her heart.

After all...

He was Sophie’s boyfriend.

If anyone ever discovered that she had fallen for her own future brother-in-law...

She couldn’t even imagine how awkward everything would become.

Still...

Feelings were difficult to hide forever.

Without realizing it, her expressions and tone always became noticeably gentler whenever Luca was around.

And unfortunately...

Someone had noticed.

Trish.

Neither of them had ever discussed it openly.

Yet Rachel knew.

Her best friend had already figured everything out.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t tease her every chance she got.

"Haha!"

Trish couldn’t help laughing as she noticed Rachel’s bright red ears.

"Rachel, your ears are completely red!"

She reached over and mischievously pinched her cheeks.

"They’re so warm!"

To Trish...

This whole situation was surprisingly entertaining.

Two sisters had somehow ended up falling for the same man.

Her own brother.

She still remembered the day Rachel nervously asked whether Luca had other women.

Back then, Trish had panicked.

She tried denying it for several minutes before Rachel quietly produced photos of Luca standing beside Arabella.

Cornered, she had no choice but to admit everything.

At first, Trish thought disaster was inevitable.

She was convinced Rachel would immediately tell Diana.

Instead...

Rachel quietly pretended nothing had happened.

Only recently had Trish finally understood why.

Every time Rachel looked at Luca...

The expression in her eyes was completely different.

Once she figured it out, everything suddenly made sense.

Rachel liked her brother too.

Since she already knew...

How could she possibly stand by and do nothing?

Rachel was beautiful, kind, and gentle.

If someone else married her away in the future...

Wouldn’t that be a huge loss for the Hale family?

Besides...

She resembled Sophie by nearly seventy percent, yet each sister possessed her own unique charm.

A mischievous idea slowly formed inside Trish’s mind.

She leaned close.

"Rachel."

"Hm?"

"What if..."

She lowered her voice dramatically.

"I help you pursue my brother?"

Rachel froze.

Her beautiful eyes widened.

She had expected Trish to know.

She hadn’t expected her to say it so bluntly.

More importantly...

Didn’t Trish realize what kind of relationship she had with Luca?

He was practically her brother-in-law.

That thought alone...

Was dangerously exciting.

’No!’

’What am I thinking?!’

Just as she was about to refuse...

Luca suddenly walked over and sat beside them.

"What are you two whispering about?"

He smiled suspiciously.

"Were you saying bad things about your brother again?"

He hadn’t heard everything.

But he had caught the beginning of Trish’s sentence.

"I was just telling Rachel I’d help..."

"We were talking about how to help you pursue Arabella!"

Rachel hurriedly interrupted.

Her eyes widened as she desperately glared at Trish.

If that girl continued talking...

Who knew what outrageous nonsense she’d blurt out next?

Luca laughed.

He reached over and ruffled both girls’ hair.

"Pursue her?"

He smiled.

"Arabella and I already like each other."

"There’s nothing to pursue."

After giving each of them another affectionate pat on the head, he stood up and walked toward the private lounge.

Without another word, he lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes.

Although he had long noticed Rachel’s unusual behavior...

He chose not to make too much of it.

Only after he disappeared into the lounge did Rachel finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

If he had patted her head a few more times...

She was certain her face would’ve become hot enough to start steaming.

Even making eye contact with him for too long was enough to make her blush.

How was she supposed to survive something as intimate as that?

For the remainder of the flight, Rachel barely spoke another word.

She quietly focused on her phone, occasionally nibbling at the snacks on the table.

Several hours later, the private jet landed smoothly at Capital City Airport.

A luxury convoy was already waiting outside.

Luca had arranged everything in advance.

Their destination...

Franco de Santa Estate.

When the convoy finally stopped outside the massive gates, Trish slowly climbed out of the car.

Then she froze.

"...Brother."

She pointed blankly at the enormous estate before her.

"This..."

"Is this really your house?"

Calling it a house felt ridiculous.

It looked more like a royal palace.

Towering gates.

Elegant fountains.

Meticulously maintained gardens stretching as far as the eye could see.

Even more shocking...

A distinguished elderly gentleman stood waiting at the entrance.

Behind him stood two neat rows of servants dressed in immaculate uniforms.

Every one of them bowed simultaneously.

"Welcome home, Master."

Not only were Trish and Rachel stunned...

Even Luca blinked in surprise.

He knew the system had rewarded him with an estate.

He just hadn’t expected it to come fully staffed.

’The system even prepared servants?’

Everything had clearly been arranged in advance.