At noon, Naomi Monroe finally emerged from the bedroom after hearing Luca Hale call her name. She had been lingering inside for a while, reluctant to leave the comfort of her room.

The moment she stepped into the dining area, she froze.

A steaming pot of pork rib and radish soup sat in the middle of the table, surrounded by several freshly prepared dishes. The rich aroma of slow-cooked bone broth drifted through the apartment, filling every corner with a comforting warmth.

Naomi blinked in surprise.

Earlier that morning, when Luca had said he was heading out to buy groceries and cook lunch, she’d assumed he meant picking up ready-made food or something that only needed reheating.

She hadn’t expected this.

Everything on the table had clearly been cooked from scratch.

She looked from the food to Luca, disbelief written all over her face.

"You... actually cooked all this?"

Luca smiled as he walked over and gently took her hand.

"What? Is it really that surprising?"

"A little?"

She looked at the spread again.

"I honestly thought you were buying takeout."

Luca laughed.

"So that’s the level of confidence you have in me?"

Naomi rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"I mean... you’re the chairman of a huge company."

She glanced at the dishes once more.

"I didn’t think you’d know your way around a kitchen."

The delicious aroma reached her again, making her swallow unconsciously.

Luca noticed the tiny movement and couldn’t help smiling.

Instead of teasing her further, he guided her to the chair beside him before ladling a generous bowl of soup and placing it in front of her.

"What are you standing there for?"

He pushed the bowl toward her.

"Eat before it gets cold."

Then he raised an eyebrow with a playful smile.

"Or do you want me to feed you?"

"No way."

Naomi puffed out her cheeks.

"I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself."

She picked up a piece of tender pork with her chopsticks and took a bite.

The meat practically melted in her mouth.

The rich flavor of the slow-cooked ribs blended perfectly with the sweetness of the radishes, while the broth was light without being bland, warming her from the inside out.

Her beautiful eyes widened.

"This is..."

She quickly took another spoonful.

"It’s delicious!"

She looked at Luca in complete disbelief.

"How can you cook this well?"

Luca chuckled.

"I’m taking that as a compliment."

"You should."

Naomi nodded repeatedly as she continued eating.

"This is honestly better than a lot of restaurants."

Seeing how much she enjoyed the meal, Luca felt quietly satisfied.

He reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

The movement revealed her delicate profile, highlighting the graceful curve of her nose and the soft blush lingering on her fair cheeks.

Naomi felt his fingertips brush lightly against her skin.

A pleasant warmth spread through her chest.

Instead of moving away, she leaned into the touch almost instinctively, the corners of her lips lifting into a contented smile.

The atmosphere during lunch remained relaxed.

They chatted about ordinary things between bites, occasionally laughing at each other’s jokes. It wasn’t anything extraordinary.

Yet somehow, it felt wonderfully peaceful.

...

After lunch, the two settled onto the sofa.

Naomi naturally curled up beside Luca, resting comfortably against him while absentmindedly played with his fingers.

Her familiar fragrance lingered in the air, making the quiet afternoon feel even more comfortable.

Luca wrapped an arm around her waist, enjoying the peaceful moment.

A while later, Naomi suddenly noticed the subtle change in his posture.

Realizing why, her cheeks instantly turned pink.

She quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the television.

Luca coughed awkwardly.

"Ahem..."

He rubbed the back of his neck before laughing helplessly.

"Force majeure."

Naomi bit her lower lip, trying not to smile.

Instead of teasing him, she slowly wrapped an arm around his neck and leaned close enough for him to feel her warm breath against his ear.

"Luca..."

"Hm?"

"My mom bought me a few outfits the other day."

She hesitated for a moment before whispering softly,

"...Would you like me to wear one for you tonight?"

Boom.

Her quiet words landed like a bolt of lightning.

Luca stared at her for a second.

His composure nearly disappeared on the spot.

He cleared his throat.

"...I’d like that."

Naomi couldn’t help laughing when she saw his unusually serious expression.

"You answered awfully fast."

"I didn’t want you to think I’d missed the question."

Her laughter filled the apartment.

...

Over the next few days, Luca stayed at Naomi’s penthouse.

He didn’t have any pressing business there.

He simply enjoyed spending time with her.

Every evening after Naomi finished her livestream, he would help massage her shoulders and back, easing the stiffness that came from sitting in front of a camera for hours.

Those quiet routines gradually became part of their daily life.

One afternoon, the two of them went for a leisurely walk through a nearby square.

As they strolled side by side, the roar of a powerful engine suddenly echoed down the street.

A bright red Ferrari 599 flashed past, disappearing almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Luca watched it for a moment.

’That’s the second Ferrari I’ve seen around San Fierro.’

The first belonged to Arabella Windsor, who drove a white Ferrari 488.

Although San Fierro wasn’t an especially large city, it was clearly home to its fair share of wealthy enthusiasts. Between Austin Silva’s collection of luxury cars and the growing number of high-end vehicles on the road, the city’s affluent side was becoming increasingly apparent.

Just then, Luca’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen before smiling.

"Hey, Austin. What’s up?"

"Bro Luca..."

Austin sounded strangely hesitant.

"Hehe..."

Luca frowned.

"If you’ve got something to say, just say it."

He laughed.

"Why are you acting so shy? You’re a grown man."

The moment those words left his mouth, Naomi slowly turned to look at him.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

One slender finger quietly found its way to his waist.

Luca immediately sensed danger.

He gave an awkward laugh before mouthing silently,

"Babe... I was joking."

The single word instantly softened Naomi’s expression.

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and the corners of her lips lifted as she withdrew her hand.

Before Austin could continue, another voice suddenly came through the phone.

"Oh, move over. I’ll ask."

Gavin Ross had clearly snatched the phone away.

"Bro Luca, it’s Gavin."

"We wanted to borrow your Koenigsegg for a little while."

"Is that okay?"

Luca blinked.

"That’s it?"

He couldn’t help laughing.

"I thought something serious had happened."

"When do you need it?"

The group on the other end fell silent.

None of them had expected Luca to agree so quickly.

The Koenigsegg One:1 was worth well over ten million dollars, yet he’d agreed without asking for a deposit, setting any conditions, or even hesitating.

They’d originally planned to offer him rental money.

Instead, he’d simply handed them the keys.

"Bro Luca, thank you!"

Austin said excitedly.

Dominic Jose and Ayden Young could be heard celebrating in the background.

A moment later, Austin spoke again.

"There’s a race at East Mountain Pass tomorrow."

"You want to come watch?"

Luca shook his head.

"I’ll pass."

"But come by my place tomorrow morning."

"I’m staying at The Elvis Muskov Villa Complex."

"Villa Number Seven."

There was another brief silence.

Then Austin laughed in disbelief.

"Bro Luca..."

"You actually bought a place in The Elvis Muskov Villa Complex?"

His voice was filled with genuine amazement.

Austin came from a wealthy family himself, but even he knew buying a villa there required an enormous amount of readily available cash. Owning a Koenigsegg was one thing.

Owning a mansion in one of San Fierro’s most exclusive neighborhoods as well...

That was a completely different level.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before ending the call.

Naomi looked up at Luca.

"So..."

She smiled softly.

"Are you going home tonight?"

She’d heard him mention The Elvis Muskov Villa and immediately guessed he wouldn’t be staying at Golden Water Bay.

Luca gently lifted her chin with one finger.

"I am."

A smile spread across his face.

"But your gorgeousness is coming with me."