**Chapter 158: Luca Is Not a Good Dad**

At dusk, the setting sun painted Manhattan's neighborhoods a fiery red, unbearable to look at. Luca, the extra actor, slouched his shoulders and slowly walked back to 76th Street, driven by the sunset's blade.

"Why are you back so late?" 

Mrs. Kate Kelly crossed her arms, raising her sharp eyebrows in slight anger.

Luca shrugged with annoyance. "I didn't even want to go out in the first place! You made me, and now you're blaming me for coming back late?"

Seeing his pout, Kate couldn't help but smile.

Ever since returning from Charleston, Luca had become lazy. He lounged at home every day, unmotivated and unwilling to do anything. It was quite frustrating.

So, she dragged him out for a morning run before dawn and insisted he go out again after breakfast. But he didn't return until sunset.

"What were you up to? Why do you look so out of it?"

Kate handed him a glass of juice.

"Was an extra in a film," Luca smiled slightly.

"An extra?"

Kate was a bit surprised.

"Yeah!" 

Luca shrugged and explained his day on set. He even waved two bills proudly. "Look, this is my pay."

"Wow, not bad!" 

Kate smiled faintly but suddenly wrinkled her nose. "Did you smoke?"

"No!" 

Luca quickly shook his head.

"Really?"

Kate reached into his pockets but only found his wallet and car keys.

"Kate, I swear, I didn't smoke."

Luca looked sincere. Smoking? That stuff's deadly. No way he'd carry cigarettes around.

"Is that so?" 

Kate lifted his left hand and sniffed it.

Luca's face paled. "That's not..."

"No more excuses! Hand it over!"

Kate calmly extended her hand.

"Kate~ I barely have any pocket money left. Can't I just keep this?" 

The money hadn't even warmed his hands yet; parting with it was tough.

"Nope!" 

Kate swiftly snatched the bills, chuckling softly. "We made a deal: for every time I catch you, $300 gets deducted from your monthly allowance. This is $200, so you still owe me $100. I'll take it from next month's allowance."

"Kate~ you can't do this."

Luca drooped his head, secretly smug. The pay was actually $500; he'd stashed the other $300 in the car. There's always a way around rules!

"Forget the money. You reek. Go take a shower!" 

Kate pushed his face away and kicked him into the bathroom.

"Alright, alright~ I'm going, I'm going!"

"Kate, what are you up to?" 

Freshly showered, Luca walked into the studio in a tank top and shorts.

Kate was bustling around the studio, writing and drawing at the workbench, measuring something on a model. It looked like she was designing clothes.

"Done showering? Come be my model."

"Model?" 

Luca took a bite of an apple. "You switching careers to be a designer?"

"I *am* a designer, thank you very much!" 

Kate grabbed a tape measure and walked over, measuring his waist as she explained, "Polo Apparel is hosting a casual wear design competition. Lima and I are teaming up to design a casual T-shirt."

"Arms out!"

"Alright!"

Luca stood straight, arms outstretched, chest puffed as Kate measured his arm length, shoulder width, and chest.

Kate looked extremely focused while working. With her hair tied in a ponytail and lips tightly pursed, her long eyelashes didn't blink. Her deep blue eyes were filled with contemplation.

Her face was naturally cold, and her expression stern, giving off a severe and icy vibe. Even Luca was a bit intimidated in her presence.

However, being so close, Luca noticed something that made him tilt his head.

"What's wrong?" 

Kate asked, confused.

Luca, biting his apple, shook his head.

"Say it!" 

Kate snatched his apple and took a bite herself.

Luca glanced at her outfit—white tank top, puffy striped shorts, long, fair legs, and a hint of toned abs peeking through. Nothing was out of place, except...

He cleared his throat.

Kate looked down at her chest and grinned slyly, though she quickly composed herself.

"Is it that strange not to wear a bra?" 

She asked, deadpan.

Luca shook his head, shutting his eyes as if he hadn't noticed anything.

Kate smirked, jotted down a few measurements, and continued measuring.

Neither spoke after that, but the room filled with a pleasant scent.

"I only dress like this at home. It's more comfortable." 

Kate, now measuring his chest from behind, said softly.

"Is that so?"

Luca sighed in relief. "I thought it was part of some feminist movement."

"You've heard about that?"

"Yeah, I even know that, thanks to that movement, sexual harassment and assault cases in the U.S. went up by 10%. Traffic accidents related to it have increased too." 

Luca chuckled.

"Don't you support that movement?"

"I do!" 

Luca shrugged, smirking. "It's a perk for us guys. Why wouldn't I support it? Ow~ Kate, why are you pulling my ear?"

"Perk? Do you enjoy staring at women's chests?" 

Kate, crossing her arms, was visibly upset.

"No, no, I was talking about other guys! I'm a celebrity—how could I ever sneak a look?"

Kate shot him a glare, shoved the apple back into his mouth, and resumed sketching.

Luca grinned, finished the apple, and grabbed a book, lying nearby to read.

Both fell into a quiet routine, only the sound of pages turning and Kate's thoughtful movements breaking the silence. Her subtle scent filled the air.

Later, as the neon lights of Manhattan shimmered outside, Luca and Kate sat on their couch, glasses of Bordeaux wine in hand, admiring the sleepless city.

"I helped Jenna rent an apartment in Brooklyn. Check on her sometime, maybe get her a few things. She's always too frugal." 

Kate leaned against his shoulder, speaking softly.

Luca nodded slightly. "That's good. She was too restrained living here. Now she can live freely."

"Exactly. And Emily is asking for the next book already. The publisher wants it soon."

"Already? The first book came out less than six months ago."

"They didn't expect it to sell so well. Now that the series is popular, they want to plan the second book carefully, with a global release, tons of promotions. It won't hit shelves until around Christmas."

"Got it." 

Luca scratched his head. "I'll submit the manuscript next month. I've been busy filming, so it still needs polishing."

Though he had already finished it, he planned to start writing the third one soon. Better hurry before he forgot everything!

"Okay!"

Kate sipped her wine, then looked up. "Luca, how about releasing the second book under your name?"

"Are you tired?"

Luca gazed into her eyes. "You don't need to do world tours for signings. Novels aren't fast food; they can spread slowly through word of mouth. We can just collect royalties."

Kate shook her head, cupping his face. "Twilight is your work. I want to return it to you."

Luca smiled softly. "Writers often call their work their 'baby.' If I'm Twilight's dad, then you're her aunt."

Kate burst into laughter, spraying him with wine.

Luca wiped his face and continued, "I'm a terrible dad. I'm leaving her in your care, Auntie. Unless, of course, you refuse. Then we'll just toss her on the streets and let her fend for herself. Poor, unwanted thing."

"You idiot! You're not a bad dad—you're a bad mom! You birthed Twilight and abandoned her. What a jerk!"

Kate tugged his ears playfully.

"Yes, I'm a jerk, but you're her kind, beautiful, and compassionate aunt. You'll take care of her, right?"

"Sure, I'll take care of her. But your allowance gets cut in half."

"Why? I only get $3,000 a month, and I already lose money for staying in bed, skipping exercise, and smoking! What's next, a broken bone?"

Luca was ready to cry.

Kate snuggled into his shoulder, patting his chest gently. "Honey, since I'm raising your baby, shouldn't you chip in for formula?"

"Formula?"

Luca was in full despair.

The night deepened. In the warm, cozy room, Luca and Kate chatted quietly on the couch until they drifted off to sleep, with Luca snoring softly.

"You're such a pig," Kate murmured, waking up just long enough to pinch his nose.

"Luca, do you think I should get a boyfriend?"

"Mm-hmm!" 

Luca brushed her hand away and continued snoring.

"You agree?" 

Kate stared at him for a moment.

"Alright, no answer means yes." 

She smiled, pulled up the blanket, closed her eyes, then reopened them to kiss his cheek.

"Goodnight, dear."

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