~ Lucian’s POV

As we ate, a few brave patrons approached our table to greet me. They were respectful and cautious, clearly not wanting to intrude. I exchanged polite words, but my focus remained on Bella. She was the reason I was here, and I wasn’t about to let anything ruin this moment.

After a while, the restaurant quieted down, and Clara joined us for a few minutes, pulling up a chair.

“Lucian,” she began, her tone more serious now. “Thank you for looking after Bella. She’s been through so much, and seeing her happy like this—it means the world to me.”

I met her gaze, the sincerity in her...