Two hours later, Calista sat in the car, eyes gleaming as she stared at the little red booklet in her hands.

Who would've thought she'd hit jackpot just by sleeping over-boom, she's now Lucas's stepmom.

Now let's see what Felicity and her crew have to say about this.

"Where to next? Should I drop you at your place or mine?"

Lancelot threw her a teasing look, lips curved in a casual smile. His long fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel as he joked with her.

Calista finally pulled her gaze off the marriage certificate and replied, "You're my husband now, obviously I'm going home with you. Gotta start working on that couple chemistry, right?"

He'd only offered to take her to his place thinking she'd turn him down. She didn't seem like the type to move in that fast.

But she went straight for the "building chemistry" card.

Lancelot's eyes glinted with mischief.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're sure you want to come home with me? We may have the paperwork, but we haven't had the wedding yet."

Sure, the certificate made them legally married, but in the eyes of others, the wedding was what counted.

"We'll have the wedding the same day as your son's," she answered, her tone matter-of-fact. "We've got the certificate, so legally I'm your wife. Is it weird to go home with my husband? I mean, yeah, we got a little up close and personal last night, but we're still not all that familiar, don't you think?"

Her ears flushed red as she tried to sound serious, though her neck was stiff with embarrassment.

Lancelot's dark eyes shimmered with quiet amusement. He chuckled, "Alright then, as you wish."

Living together, huh? This might actually get interesting.

*****

"Holy crap, Cal, you're actually amazing! I can't believe you pulled it off-I'm so impressed!"

On the way to pick up her stuff, Calista had asked Lancelot to drive her home. She messaged Lumi, told her they'd registered the marriage, and even dropped a pic of the marriage certificate.

Lumi was beyond excited when she saw the photo, cheering Calista on like a total fangirl.

Calista raised an eyebrow, grinning. "I can practically picture Lucas and Felicity's faces right now."

Lucas had dumped her for Felicity, and that girl had no shame snatching her sister's guy. Calista had no intention of letting them off easy.

"You gonna wave that marriage certificate right in their faces?"

Lumi sounded like she could barely contain her excitement.

Calista shook her head. "We may have signed the papers, but I can't be sure Lucas's dad is on my side yet. I want him to be so into me, spoiling me like crazy. Then, making Lucas and Felicity eat dirt will be a piece of cake. I'm planning to have our wedding the same day as theirs-really blindside them. Can you imagine the look on their faces when I marry his father instead of crying in a corner?"

So what? Lucas and Felicity get to flaunt their love? She'd take it ten steps further-show them what real couple goals look like.

"Damn, that's spicy! I love it. Let 'em bask in their fake happiness for now..."

The two girls schemed away over Ins, messaging back and forth like giddy partners in crime.

Meanwhile, Lancelot was quietly listening to Calista's wild plans, his eyes gleaming like he was highly entertained.

His long fingers tapped the steering wheel again, that usually cold and sharp face softening into a knowing smirk.

This woman... she's starting to remind him of someone.

Half an hour later, Calista arrived at the Monroe residence. She asked Lancelot to wait for her at the intersection.

Lancelot leaned over and asked casually, "Should I go say hi to your parents?"

The words "your parents" struck a nerve. Calista cleared her throat awkwardly. "Not right now. They still don't know we're married. And you know... your son just got engaged to Felicity yesterday. We've gotta take it slow, alright?"

His son? Lancelot smirked, corners of his lips lifting.

"Sure. Whatever makes you happy."

Seeing that dangerously attractive smile on his face, Calista's heart skipped a beat.

What a devil.

The man's gotta be in his forties, pushing fifty, and yet he still looked downright irresistible, totally lacking that usual older-man vibe.

"You just stay here. I'll be quick."

Without giving him a chance to respond, Calista dashed off toward the front gate.

Lancelot chuckled softly as he watched her disappearing figure.

Just then, his phone rang. He swiped to answer. The voice of his trusted aide, Jack, came through.

"Boss Bennett, where've you gone? I've been trying to find you forever. Aren't you coming back to the estate tonight? The family set up a whole welcome dinner."

It had been years since Lancelot returned to Crownvale, and now he suddenly ghosted everyone the moment he got back.

Jack was clearly frustrated.

"Tell my brother I won't be joining them tonight. He doesn't need to bother."

Lancelot's voice was cool, and he ended the call right after, not giving Jack any room to question him.

Staring at the call-ended screen, Jack could only sigh and head off to break the news.

*****

Meanwhile, Calista pushed open the door and stepped into the living room, only to see her parents, Lucas, and Felicity all sitting together, laughing and chatting like one big happy family.

Lucas was holding Felicity's hand, his expression full of tenderness. The sight stung.

But then she reminded herself-legally speaking, she was now Lucas's stepmother. That thought did make her feel slightly better.

"Hey sis, you're back!" Felicity spotted Calista first and greeted her with a smile.

Calista barely kept the disgust off her face.

How had she never noticed how fake this woman was?

"Calista, your sister greeted you, and you can't even smile at her? What's with the attitude?"

She headed straight for the stairs without even glancing at Felicity.

Seeing her cold reaction, Wade Monroe and Vivienne Howard's smiles vanished.

"Why should I talk to her?" Calista turned back, eyes dark. "She stole my fiancé, and you still expect me to play the loving sister?"

"Calista, I know I messed up. Please don't be mad. We're sisters, right? If you really love Lucas, I'm willing to step aside."

"Felicity, you're the only one I love. After meeting you, I realized what I had with Calista wasn't love at all."

Felicity's soft, pitiful tone made Lucas's heart ache. He pulled her into his arms, his voice gentle as he comforted her.

"Lucas, I don't want to hurt her."

"This isn't hurting anyone. I never loved Calista. Even if we had gotten married, we wouldn't have been happy. Besides, you're my fiancée now."

Lucas spoke while looking tenderly at Felicity.

That got Felicity blushing as she leaned against him like she found her safe place.

Seriously, the two of them couldn't be more determined to gross Calista out.

Wade and Vivienne, their parents, showered Felicity with nothing but affection. But when their eyes fell on Calista, they instantly turned stern.

"You heard what Lucas said, right, Calista? He doesn't love you. Stop trying to mess things up. I've already arranged another engagement for you. The Jennings family's son grew up with you, and he likes you a lot. You two are a better match. I talked it over with Mr. Jennings, and we'll hold your engagement ceremony a few days later... same day as Felicity and Lucas's wedding..."

Calista lowered her head and gave a cold laugh, her beautiful face tinged with quiet mockery.

"Calista, we're doing this for your own good. Marrying into the Jennings family-"

"I'm already married. So maybe stop worrying about my love life."

She cut her mom off, those sharp dark eyes of hers filled with sarcasm.

Everyone froze. Felicity and Lucas especially looked stunned.

"Calista, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? When did you get married?" Vivienne snapped, convinced Calista was going off the deep end because of heartbreak.

"I'm not joking, and I'm definitely not crazy. Here's the marriage certificate. We haven't done a wedding yet, but I'm thinking of doing it on the same day as theirs. Shouldn't be a problem, right?"

She pulled out their marriage license.

Everyone went dead silent.

"Calista, marriage isn't something you can play around with-" Lucas burst out, staring at the red booklet in her hand, furious.

Calista paid him zero attention. She slipped the certificate back into her bag, threw a cold glance at Wade and Vivienne, didn't even spare Lucas or Felicity a look, and walked off without another word.

"It's my fault... She must've married someone random just to spite me," Felicity said, watching Calista disappear upstairs, a flicker of triumph and coldness in her gaze.

Wow. She really went and got hitched just like that?

Felicity was sure Calista's husband must be some nobody off the street.

Pathetic move.

"It's not your fault, don't blame yourself," Lucas said, patting her shoulder while his eyes darkened, drifting upstairs where Calista had gone.

Fifteen minutes later, Calista heard a knock and opened the door to see Lucas standing there.

The moment she saw him, her face instantly turned cold.

"What do you want, Mr. Bennett?"

"Calista, you really got married?" Lucas stared at her with a look that was hard to read, his eyes filled with concern.

"Didn't you already see the marriage certificate?"

"How could you just marry some random guy like that? Don't you value yourself?"

"Who told you I just picked someone at random? Let me tell you, my husband? Better looking than you, in better shape than you, and way more accomplished. Compared to him, you're nothing. When the time comes, make sure to kneel and serve us tea, okay?"

"Calista, I know you hate me for getting engaged to Felicity, but I didn't have a choice. I was set up, she and I... things happened. My dad found out, and I was basically forced into it. But the person I love has always been you."

So Lancelot only made Lucas marry Felicity to make him take responsibility?

"Just give me time. Once I secure my spot as the next in line at the Bennett Group, we can be together for real, out in the open. What do you think?"

Lucas saw a flicker in Calista's eyes and reached out toward her.

But Calista was completely disgusted by his words.

Looking at his face, so fake it made her skin crawl, she seriously questioned her past taste in men. What had she even been thinking, falling for a jerk like this?

Honestly, she doubted there was anyone in the world more pathetic than Lucas.

"You want to keep two women like you're some kind of ancient king? Who do you think you are?"

"Ugh!"

Her face darkened as she lifted her leg and kicked him-hard. Lucas doubled over in pain, cold sweat breaking out across his face.

Without saying another word or sparing him a glance, Calista sneered and slammed the door shut.

She took a deep breath, pulled herself back together, packed up her suitcase fast, and headed downstairs.

As soon as Felicity saw Calista coming down with her luggage, she pasted on a concerned look. "Sis, where are you going with all that?"

"I'm married now," Calista said flatly. "From now on, I'll be living with my husband, all the way until the wedding."

"This is outrageous. Calista, how could you throw your life away like this and ignore-"

"See you at the wedding."Calista didn't bother responding to her dad Wade's furious yelling. With a sarcastic smile, she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked straight to the front door.

"This... this ungrateful daughter, she's completely out of line!" Wade was so mad he nearly stomped his foot in rage.

Felicity quickly stepped up to soothe him, saying all the right things to calm him down. Once she'd handled that, she put on a worried act and chased after Calista.

By the time she caught up, Calista was already standing next to Lancelot's car. She waved him over like she was calling over hired help, nodding toward her luggage for him to carry.

Lancelot didn't say a word, just pressed his lips together and got out to move her bags without complaint.

When Felicity showed up and saw Lancelot's face, she actually gasped a little. She'd always thought Lucas was good-looking, but with Lancelot standing there, she instantly realized what "out of your league" really meant.

Once Lancelot finished loading the bags, Calista dusted off her hands and glanced back-only to spot Felicity standing nearby, practically drooling over Lancelot. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Felicity hadn't seen Lucas's father before, and honestly, neither had most people. He was rarely seen outside due to poor health, and no one in Crownvale had a photo of him.

After all, he wasn't even the head of the family. That title belonged to Lucas's uncle-known only as Boss Bennett. Mysterious, low-profile, and completely elusive.

"What?" Calista crossed her arms, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thinking of stealing another guy?"

Felicity bit her lip, putting on that usual damsel-in-distress look. "Sis, I know you've misunderstood me a lot. I... never meant to..."

"Yeah, yeah, every time you open your mouth it makes me want to puke." Calista cut her off coldly. "Your weird drama with Lucas? Keep it. I've moved on, and I'm over all of you."

With that, she pulled open the car door, got in, and motioned for Lancelot to drive off.

Lancelot glanced her way-she was clearly in a mood-but said nothing and just started the engine.

Felicity stood frozen as the car disappeared down the road, face dark with resentment. Her hands clenched tightly into fists. She'd already taken Lucas. Soon, the whole Monroe family would be hers too. So what was Calista even showing off for?

That guy must be some kind of pretty-boy escort, right? No way Calista could land someone like that unless she paid him.

Felicity smirked at the thought, suddenly feeling a whole lot better.