Chapter 94
Lucas's voice wasn't loud—weakened as it was, it even carried a slight rasp—but it struck like a sledgehammer, shattering Damian's last psychological defense.
The little guy's shoulders began to shake uncontrollably.
He bit his lip hard, refusing to make a sound, refusing to turn around. His final act of stubbornness was not letting his dad see him cry.
The office fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
David stood to the side, looking between the genius on the bed who'd just outsmarted a seven-year-old and the small figure about to crumble, his feelings a tangled mess.
Your real dad's right here and you still tried to keep up the act? Now look what happened.
But seeing Damian look so pitiful, he couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him.
Lucas's gaze never left that small back.
He didn't press further.
The answer was already obvious.
The first time he'd seen "Damian" at the Sharp Estate, that child had been calm, composed, even carrying a kind of detachment beyond his years. He would politely call him "Father" but never show affection.
But later, everything changed. That child would secretly observe him, would blush at a single word from him, would clumsily try to please him, would show childish, dependent expressions.
From that moment on, they'd already switched.
The one who'd pretended to have amnesia and stayed by his side wasn't Damian at all—it was the child Juliana had brought back. Matthew.
Her Matty.
Lucas wanted to laugh, but his throat tickled and he couldn't help coughing softly.
That sound broke the frozen atmosphere in the room.
Damian whipped around as if startled awake, his eyes red-rimmed, tear tracks still visible on his face.
"Are you... are you okay?"
Lucas looked at him. Those eyes that were usually covered in frost now seemed like melting spring water, carrying a gentle warmth Damian had never seen before.
He reached out his hand.
"Come here."
Damian froze.
He stared at that outstretched hand with its distinct knuckles, unsure what to do.
Lucas waited patiently.
David, standing off to the side, was completely stunned.
He watched Lucas's expression transform from frozen tundra to thawing ice to full-on spring bloom...
Had he... come to terms with it?
After a long hesitation, Damian shuffled over and placed his small hand in that large one.
Lucas's hand was warm, dry and strong, completely enveloping his small one.
"Damian."
"...Mm." The little guy kept his head down, responding with a muffled sound.
"From now on, no more switching identities with Matty." Lucas said.
Damian's head shot up.
Lucas's gaze was unprecedentedly serious. "He's the younger brother. You're the older one. From now on, you protect him."
Damian's eyes gradually lit up.
Dad knew.
He knew everything!
He'd recognized that he was Damian, knew that Matty was Matthew, and knew they were brothers!
Did that mean he wasn't mad at him anymore? And he wasn't mad at Mom either?
"Then... where's Matty now? Grandma took him away. Is he in danger?" Damian asked urgently.
Lucas paused, turning to look at David.
David's expression turned serious. "Yeah... Matty, or Matthew, was taken by Mrs. Sharp."
"I've already sent people to investigate. But the Sharp Estate is heavily guarded. My guys can't get in."
Lucas's brow furrowed.
He knew his mother's methods all too well. The fact that Juliana hadn't appeared all day probably meant his mother had her tied up somehow.
He picked up his phone to call Ashley, but just as his finger touched the screen, he stopped.
No.
If he called now, Ashley would realize he knew the truth and would only use Matthew as an even more important bargaining chip.
This situation couldn't be handled head-on.
"Lucas, don't panic." David saw his intention and quickly advised, "Her methods are ruthless, but he's still her grandson. She won't actually hurt him. She just wants to use the kid as leverage to force Juliana to leave you."
Lucas's expression darkened dangerously.
Force Juliana to leave?
He'd finally found her, finally discovered he had two sons, and his mother wanted to tear them apart?
Not happening.
"Don't alert Mom yet. She hasn't contacted me in a while, and I'm worried..."
Lucas's concern spiked. "Worried about what?"
"I'm worried she'll go after Juliana."
David figured that with Ashley's personality, once she confirmed she held all the cards, she'd immediately confront Juliana and force her to comply.
"Send people to find her now!"
The moment Lucas spoke, David didn't dare delay. He turned and quickly left.
Only father and son remained in the hospital room.
Lucas looked at the little guy beside him and reached out his other hand, gently and somewhat clumsily ruffling Damian's hair.
"Don't be scared."
His voice was soft but carried a power that could soothe anyone's heart.
"Dad's here. I'll bring Mom and your brother back."
He reached up and pulled the IV needle from his hand in one swift motion, not even flinching.
"Dad!" Damian jumped in alarm.
"I'm fine." Lucas threw back the covers and got out of bed. His body was still weak from the medication, but he stood firmly. "We're going home."
He couldn't stay here any longer.
Juliana and his other son were both in danger. He had to act immediately.
He pulled his backup suit from the closet and began changing. The movement pulled at his abdominal wound, making him grunt softly as fresh sweat beaded on his forehead.
Damian immediately ran over and, mimicking how Juliana usually helped, stood on his tiptoes trying to help pull up his pants.
"I've got it."
Lucas looked at this miniature version of himself, warmth flooding his chest.
He bent down, letting his son help straighten his clothes, then reached out and ruffled his hair.
"Let's go."
Father and son, one tall and one small, walked out of the hospital room hand in hand.
David had already arranged for a car waiting at the hospital entrance.
Inside the car, Damian sat pressed close to Lucas.
He snuck glances up at Lucas's stern profile.
Dad's complexion was still pale and his lips had no color, but there was something reassuring in those eyes.
"Dad," Damian said quietly, "why did Grandma take Matty?"
Lucas's jawline tightened instantly.
"Because she doesn't like your mom." He gave the simplest answer possible. "But it's okay. Dad will handle it."
Damian nodded hard. "Dad's the best!"
He thought for a moment, then added, "Mom's really amazing too! She can do lots and lots of different surgeries and saved so many people! Uncle Paul says Mom's the best doctor in the whole world!"
Lucas listened, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smile.
Yes, his Juliana had always been that brilliant.