Chapter 311: Six months.


    Lucas felt like his ears were ringing as he processed his father''s words. He knew that he would eventually have to go. All his brothers went, even Jason who was not doing anything rted to business had to do it.


    In both their cases they did an intensive course that theypleted in a year, of course, they had to give up the holidays they got in between terms and Jason was on a hiatus when it was his turn.


    He had tried to resist their father with the argument that he already did his degree and it wasn''t necessary for him to get a master''s degree as he wouldn''t use that degree when he is singing or acting. Their father did not budge, and their mother acted like she did not know what was going on.


    Jason thought he just had to convince their father until his manager didn''t show up to take him to his schedules the following day. He then found out that James had halted all his activities and he could only resume once he finished his studies.


    James had defended him when his father had called him to talk about Jason, but he waster convinced and was even more brutal than Noah. It seemed like it was now Lucas'' turn and as his father had said; it was better to do it now rather thanter.


    He also figured if his father was mentioning this to him now, it meant that he had already made arrangements for him, or was in the process of doing so.


    "When?" Lucas asked, and Noah raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. He was expecting some resistance, so he was caught off-guard when Lucas easily epted the order.


    "You''ll start in the next academic year. You still have time," Noah said with a happy smile.


    "Wouldn''t I need at least two years of working experience?" Lucas asked, hoping to buy himself some time even though he knew that his efforts were futile.


    "You do, and you''ve been working for five. So don''t worry about it," Noah said, referring to the fact that Lucas had worked since he was in high school. Lucas became quiet and Noah looked at him as if he was reading his mind.


    "Are you worried about Jen?" Noah asked, hitting the mark instantly.


    "Mmh," Lucas responded, focusing his gaze on his father.


    "You want to take her with you?" Noah asked and Lucas nodded, making Noahugh.


    "I don''t think that will be easy. Unless you can convince her to transfer to Plette," Noah suggested. But he knew that the chances of her transferring were very slim, much less Lucas.


    "Does it have to be Plette?" Lucas asked and Noah raised his eyebrow with an expression that said that he was daring him to say something stupid. Lucas swallowed the words he was about to say when he noticed his father''s expression. His whole family had studied at that university, if it wasn''t because of the inconvenience of studying abroad he would have gone there for his undergraduate as well. So he knew that there was no room for negotiation regarding this matter.


    "You have another six months, so you both have time to decide on your arrangements. You can also do what your brothers did if you are so anxious about Jen," Noah suggested and picked up a stack of papers on his desk, which was a clear dismissal.


    He did not think he could live without Jen even for a week, much less the year it would take him toplete an intensive course at the university. It would be fine if he convinces Jen to go with him, but it would be too far from her family, and since she was the breadwinner, she would not feelfortable being so far away from her family.


    Lucas stood up from the office chair and said goodbye to his father before leaving the office. His demeanour was gloomy from the moment the office door closed behind him. He was not aware of his surroundings on the whole trip back to his office.


    David could tell something was wrong from the moment Lucas passed through the office door, but he said nothing in front of Michael, who was preupied with the mountain of work he had in front of him.


    *


    On the other side, Jen was unaware of the dilemma Lucas was experiencing and was just having a good time hanging out with her friends. They had found a caf close to Rachel''s new headquarters, and the five girls met to catch up.


    "So, when are you going to be leaving?" Nancy asked Jen after they finished talking about the superficial things.


    "In about two weeks, if things go as nned," Jen said as she took a sip of her tea.


    "I''m so jealous, I thought I''d catch a break, but some designers are having shows for their winter collections, so I''ll be busy because of my diligent manager," Laura said as she drank her hot water.


    Nancy had looked at her funny when she ordered hot water, but Laura couldn''t drink tea or coffee without sugar, so she might as well just have hot water since it was cold and she wanted to warm herself up.


    She was managing herself so strictly since she had a photoshootter that day, and she nned on looking her best.


    "Are you taking him to meet your family?" Rachel asked curiously. She knew of Jen''s circumstances and if it was just the two of them travelling for a holiday, they might as well have gone somewhere with warmer temperatures rather than go to City K which was probably colder that City X.


    "No, he is just apanying me. I missed my siblings, that''s why I''m going back," Jen answered as she cradled the cup of tea in her hands to warm her fingers.


    "Is that so?" Leanna asked, her voice rich with sarcasm making the girlsugh.


    "It''s true though," Jen defended with a smile on her face.


    "Can you at least look serious as you say that?" Laura asked with a pout. She was slightly jealous as she wouldn''t have the chance to show James off since she was the only existing member of her family.


    "Look at her brag," Leanna said andughed with the other girls.


    "When did I brag?" Jen asked with a wide smile still hanging on her lips. All her friends saw that she was happy, so they were also happy that Jen was satisfied in her rtionship with Lucas. It was then that Nancy started talking about how six months ago Jen didn''t want to take Lucas seriously because he was younger than she was.


    "Can you not bring that up?" Jen said as the girls continued to discuss her with amused expressions.


    "Now she has moved in with him and taking him to her hometown to introduce him to her family," Laura said. Jen opened and closed her mouth from speechlessness. She could not refute it since Lucas would meet Alex and Jake, but why did Laura have to make it sound like they were about to make a lifetimemitment to each other?


    "Ah, she isn''t denying it this time," Rachel pointed out and Jen''s face turned pink making her friends tease her even more.


    "Okay! Enough about me, what have you guys been up to?" Jen said after she had had enough. The girls let things go after they determined that they had teased Jen enough. They then changed the topic to Rachel, who was now living alone and had a houseguest that was not a guest.


    Laura had caught her when she and Brian were fooling around in the living room. Laura had gone into her house easily since she knew the passcode and hadn''t known she was home as she had stopped by to pick up the rest of her things.


    She had changed her passcode from that day and got teased whenever she met Laura. Even Brian did not spare her because she had been so embarrassed that day to the point that she could not talk even if she had tried.


    Jen could finally rest easy now that the target of the teasing had been changed. She had fun with the girls all afternoon,pletely unaware of what was waiting for her.


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