The mistake she made five years ago, she would absolutely not allow herself to make again.
He had given her no reason to trust him, perhaps there had briefly been one, but he had choked it with his own hands.
He no longer had the right to barge back into her life.
For a long time, the two of them confronted each other, neither willing to back down.
Lucas Griffin took strides with his long legs, walking towards Amanda Jenkins.
"Lucas Griffin! If you come any closer, I'll jump!"
Her attitude was resolute, not wanting to have any contact with him again, to be thoroughly, completely clear of him.
She and he had no connection, not in the slightest!
"That joke doesn't suit you," Lucas Griffin was very clear that a woman with eyes full of toughness and stubbornness would never have the thought of taking her own life. Especially not a smart woman who knew how to endure.
Although Lucas didn't know what conviction was supporting her strength.
"Lucas Griffin... I... I'm really going to jump!" Amanda Jenkins clung to the bridge rail, making a motion as if she were about to climb over.
Lucas suddenly dashed forward, not to pull Amanda back but to brace his hand on the bridge rail and, with agile form, he jumped to stand atop the rail.
At this moment, Amanda had just managed with difficulty to get one foot on top of the rail.
She was surprised, her eyes widening at the sight of Lucas Griffin with his feet on the rail.
The night wind lifted his black coat, the stars twinkling above his head, as he spread his arms like an eagle soaring through the night sky.
Blinking in confusion, Amanda asked, "What... What are you doing?"
Looking at the rolling river below, Lucas suddenly felt much more at ease.
He took a deep breath and said, "You jump, I jump!"
"..." Amanda was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but let out a snort, her anger and determination fading away without her noticing.
Lucas glanced at her, and she quickly bit her lip, cleared her throat, and returned to an expression of cold indifference.
For someone as aloof as Lucas Griffin to utter such a phrase, and to say it with such a serious, earnest expression to boot.
To Amanda, it seemed utterly laughable.
Did he think he was in "Titanic"?
"What are you standing there for?" Lucas looked at Amanda, raising an eyebrow, "Weren't you going to jump in the river?"
But Amanda was silent then.
"I'll go down first; that way, I can catch you when you jump."
No sooner had he spoken than Lucas made as if to jump down, his right foot already lifted off the rail.
"Lucas Griffin!" A shock went through Amanda's heart, and she quickly withdrew her foot that was on the rail, rushing over to grab the hem of Lucas' pants, yelling, "What are you doing? Have you gone mad?!"
Lucas looked down at her, a triumphant smile in his eyes.
The smile in his eyes was pure, not at all like the unapproachable Lucas Griffin of usual days.
She remembered reading a phrase in a book once: no matter what kind of man, in the presence of the woman he loves, will reveal a childlike side.
Amanda quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought from her mind.
How could Lucas Griffin possibly truly love her?
How could a man like him truly love anyone?
In his eyes, wasn't it only about power and status?
But when he smiled like that, he really did resemble someone so much...
Amanda sighed.
Alright, he'd won.
"Wasn't it you who said you wanted to jump in the river?" Lucas teased, "Scared?"
Amanda quickly shook her head, saying irritably, "Not jumping, not jumping—just come down!"
If Lucas Griffin had really jumped tonight and something happened to him, not even ten lives of Amanda Jenkins would suffice to compensate the Griffin Family.
"So, do you want me to take you home?" Lucas Griffin slightly lifted his chin, his face full of pride.
"..." Amanda Jenkins bit her lip.
Lucas Griffin stared at the river, shifting his feet; his serious demeanor didn't seem like a joke.
Amanda Jenkins was so frightened that she quickly clasped his legs, "Alright, alright, you take me home."
"Are you sure?"
Amanda Jenkins felt extremely annoyed inside, yet she still nodded her head, "Mhm."
Only then did Lucas Griffin let up, jumping down from the railing, and looking at Amanda Jenkins with an expression that was still not satisfied, "So you like this kind of play, it's quite interesting."
It seemed that dealing with this woman required unconventional means.
"Lucas Griffin, you're really a lunatic, a scoundrel!" Amanda Jenkins said with resentment, gritting her teeth.
"Thank you for the compliment." Lucas Griffin smiled with a gentlemanly grace, walked to the passenger side, and opened the car door, "Get in."
Amanda Jenkins glared at him and obediently got into the car.
Once inside the car, neither of them spoke, and Amanda Jenkins kept watching the scenery outside the window.
It was now two o'clock in the morning, and the bustling Brocade City had fallen asleep.
Amanda Jenkins saw her own reflection on the car window and pursed her lips slightly.
Just now... his lips had only lightly touched hers, but it seemed her lips still retained his taste and warmth.
She glanced sideways and saw Lucas Griffin's profile reflected on the car window.
What kind of man was he, truly?
In public, he was clearly so proud, so composed and restrained.
She had also heard rumors about Young Master Griffin, they all said he was a ruthless, cold, and heartless businessman.
But what she saw tonight was a domineering and unruly Lucas Griffin who also had the nature of a child.
If it were a contest of stubbornness, he seemed to be on par with her.
Indeed, she didn't understand him.
To her, he was a stranger.
At least, she only found out yesterday that his name was Lucas Griffin.
...
The Jenkins Family lived in a villa community.
Lucas Griffin's car entered the community, stopping outside the Jenkins Family's home.
The community was very quiet at that time; Amanda Jenkins looked up and saw that all the lights in her house were off, exuding peacefulness, while the roses on the fence swayed in the night.
No matter how much trouble she got into, it seemed to have nothing to do with this home, as if only the flowers and plants that she meticulously tended were waiting for her.
Amanda Jenkins sighed inwardly, feeling despondent. But wasn't she already accustomed to this treatment?
She turned her head and saw Lucas Griffin about to get out of the car, so she quickly said, "I can go in by myself."
Amanda Jenkins laughed weakly, "They're all asleep; no one will care about me."
What seemed like a casual remark, when heard by Lucas Griffin, hurt him deeply.
He frowned as he looked at her small face; the corners of her lips carried a faint smile, but her eyes hid a loneliness that pained his heart.
As if in this world, she was all alone.
Had she always lived like this over the years?
Regret welled up in Lucas Griffin's heart, hating himself for not finding her sooner. His lips moved slightly, as he was about to say something.
Suddenly, Amanda Jenkins turned her head to look at him, as if making up her mind; the defeated look in her eyes was swept away, replaced by a gaze full of detachment, "Mr. Griffin, thank you for helping me at the police station tonight. I was a bit emotionally unstable earlier, and I'm really sorry. But... let this be the end of it."