In the evening, Third Avenue was bustling with traffic. Under the glow of the sunset, the never-ending flow of vehicles looked like a fast-moving artery, connecting the north and south of New York, from the Bronx to central Manhattan.
This artery was linked to hundreds of smaller veins, and 76th Street in the northeast was just one of them.
As the sun set, Luca drove his black Ford along 76th Street like a rebellious red blood cell struggling to break free from a vein, heading toward the 76th Street apartment garage.
Inside the underground garage, a red Ferrari sat quietly beside his car.
Seeing Kate's beloved Ferrari, Luca shook his head helplessly. Kate had been a major disappointment today. They had agreed to pick a gift that wasn't awkward, but Kate chose something... too embarrassing. He had practically bled from the awkwardness! She let him down, not only hurting his trust but also endangering his nose's health. One way or another, he had to let her know how big of a mistake she'd made today.
"Come on, Luca, you can do this! Don't chicken out!"
Luca pounded his chest in front of Kate's Ferrari, making a thumping sound.
"Mommy, is that man an idiot?"
"Yes, Mark, hurry! The idiot's coming after us!"
"Ahhh! Mommy, wait for me!"
Luca's face darkened as he turned around, spotting a young blonde woman hurrying into the elevator, dragging along a small child, no older than three or four.
As the elevator doors slowly closed, the mischievous little boy stuck out his tongue at Luca.
"Bleh!"
Luca turned his head sharply, trying to shake off the three black lines of embarrassment forming on his forehead.
"Fuck, how embarrassing!" Luca muttered as he gloomily headed back to his apartment.
"Kate! Kate, where are you?!"
He shouted loudly. Today, he had to stand his ground—nothing could stop him.
"I'm here!"
A voice echoed from the gym.
"Kate, you went too far today!"
Luca stormed into the gym angrily.
Kate was in tight workout clothes, practicing yoga in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Her hands were pressed into the mat, and her long legs were raised high, working on her core and glutes.
Kate had an impressive physique: tall and toned, with well-defined abs. Her long arms supported her body steadily, and her toes pointed upward like spears, making her look strong and powerful.
Luca hesitated for a moment. They were family, after all. Maybe he should let this go?
No! Kate had crossed a line today, and he had to reclaim his dignity—at least two nosebleeds' worth of it.
"Kate, how could you do that?"
For some reason, his voice softened a little, his tone becoming less harsh.
Kate exhaled slowly, keeping her hands in place as she swung her legs over her head in a graceful circle, landing her feet on the ground, forming a bridge pose.
Impressive!
Luca almost applauded but caught himself, folding his arms instead. That felt safer.
No, not safer—cooler!
"Luca, what did you just say I did?"
Kate straightened up, using a towel to wipe the light sweat from her neck and chest. Her piercing gaze locked onto him.
Luca panicked internally, his folded arms starting to loosen, but his male pride kicked in, so he crossed them again.
With a slightly awkward voice, he said, "Lima and I haven't reached that stage yet. Giving her *that* kind of lingerie was inappropriate."
"Really?"
Kate took a step toward him, her gaze sharpening.
"Does Lima not like it?"
"She does!"
Luca swallowed nervously.
"Did Lima not look sexy in it?"
Kate took another step forward, now only three meters away.
"She did!"
Luca took a half step back involuntarily, his arms beginning to drop. But his pride made him step forward again, awkwardly flailing his arms, unsure if he should cross them again.
"Do you not want to be with her?"
Kate closed the distance, standing just a meter away, her cold face inches from his.
"I do!"
Luca nodded.
"If you do, then why haven't you made a move on her?"
Kate stepped even closer, standing face-to-face with him, a dangerous look in her icy blue eyes.
"I—"
Before Luca could finish, the world spun. Somehow, he ended up flat on the ground, staring at the pattern on the carpet for three seconds before realizing what had happened.
He tried to get up, but pain shot through his elbow as he moved.
"Don't move!"
Kate sat down on his back, and Luca realized he'd been caught. She had pinned his arms and sat on him.
Damn it, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! He'd forgotten Kate was trained in it.
"Kate, what are you doing?"
Unable to move without pain, Luca gave up and lay still.
"Hmph!"
Kate easily kept him down with one hand, freeing her other hand to tap his head.
"Idiot! Tell me, why didn't you take the chance today? Why didn't you make a move on Lima?"
Luca, lying there, couldn't help but laugh. Was this something you could be forced into?
"Kate, Lima and I just aren't at that point yet."
"Liar!"
Kate smacked his head again. "You used to sleep with a girl after, at most, three dates. It's been almost a month with Lima! What are you waiting for?"
Luca wasn't sure. These things depended on the mood, and today's mood was good—until his nose started bleeding. Lima had nearly laughed herself silly, and after that, the moment was gone.
Smack!
Kate hit his head again, frustrated. "Idiot! I spent days coming up with this plan, and you blew it! Then you just played video games with Lima? I can't believe you!"
She kept hitting his head, scolding him all the while.
"Ahhh! Kate, my back! My old injury—please, let me up!"
Luca switched to playing the sympathy card.
Smack!
Before he could say more, Kate hit him again.
"Shut up! I'm not even touching your back!"
T﹏T
Luca felt like crying.
His male dignity was in tatters, scattered on the floor, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever pick it back up.
"Luca, tell me, when are you going to make a move on Lima? I want a nephew soon!"
A nephew?
Luca half-laughed, half-cried. "Kate, it's not that I don't want to. But when I saw Lima in that lingerie... I—well... I suddenly started having a nosebleed."
"A nosebleed?"
Kate bit her lip, barely suppressing her laughter.
"Yes, a huge nosebleed. You can ask Lima if you don't believe me."
Luca's face flushed with embarrassment.
He'd never have admitted it if it weren't for the circumstances.
"Well, fine. I'll let you off this time. But next time, can you please just make it happen with Lima?"
Kate shifted slightly on his back, waiting for his answer.
Luca lay still, not responding.
"Tell me!"
Kate smacked his head again. "Tell me you can do it!"
Luca sighed softly. "Kate, Lima asked me to move in with her today."
Kate froze, suddenly letting go of him and standing up slowly.
"You should move in. It's a good idea."
She walked toward the door, towel in hand.
"But I didn't agree," Luca said, standing in front of her. "I told Lima that you're the only family I have in this world. Without you, I have no home. Wherever you are is my home, Kate. I'm never leaving you."
Kate looked into his eyes, blinking. Her long, thick eyelashes held a single tear, shimmering like a diamond in the light.
Luca reached out to wipe it away.
"Hmph!"
Kate glared at him. "You jerk! I've taken care of you for so many years, and you expect me to keep doing it for life? Do I owe you?"
Luca smiled and sat down on the floor, wrapping his arms around her leg. "I don't care. I'm sticking with you for life. You're my sister. You have to take care of me."
"You!"
Kate raised her fist in mock anger, then turned away, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
"Let go of me!"
Kate kicked her leg.
"No, you're my sister, you have to take care of me!"
Luca clung tightly to her leg, shamelessly whining.
Kate held her forehead, really wanting to kick him down the stairs.
"Fine, fine, I'll take care of you!"
"Haha, great, I love you, Kate!"
Luca jumped up and hugged her, securing his position as a freeloader.
"Idiot, let go of me. You smell like grease. Were you cooking at Lima's place?"
Kate wrinkled her nose, looking disgusted.
"Yes," Luca let go of her shoulders.
"Hmph!"
Kate threw a towel at his face. "Go take a shower! The downstairs bathroom is broken; go upstairs to shower!"
"Alright!"
Luca kissed her on the cheek and strode out of the gym.
Kate watched him leave, raising an eyebrow, and followed him out.
She crossed her arms and stood in the living room, looking up toward the second floor.
"Ahhh~"
Less than two minutes later, a loud scream came from upstairs.
"Yes!"
Kate pumped her fist and jumped in place with excitement.
Thump, thump, thump!
Someone was coming downstairs.
Kate quickly sat on the sofa, crossed her long legs, and picked up a fashion magazine.
"Kate, why is Miranda in the house?"
Luca asked, looking frustrated.
"She's here to sign a contract. Oh my God, why is your nose bleeding?"
Kate lazily looked up and saw blood pouring from his nostrils.
Luca hadn't noticed until he wiped his nose and realized it was bleeding again. "Ugh, did I drink too much tiger bone wine?"
"Kate, did you know Miranda was taking a bath in the bathroom upstairs?"
He asked, clearly annoyed.
"Of course not, I've been working out. How would I know what Miranda's doing?"
Kate pursed her lips and said seriously.
"Really? I'm going to check if the downstairs bathroom is really broken."
"Don't bother, Luca. You're bleeding. Stop the bleeding first!"
Kate pushed him back onto the sofa and handed him some tissues to stop the bleeding.
Luca lay lifelessly on the sofa. With a sister like this, his life force would be drained eventually.
P.S. Thanks to the reader "TodayFeelingNervous" for the tip, much appreciated~
(End of chapter)