Chapter 142 Knowing the Truth
She knew this was a bit unfair to the kid, but to protect Leo, she had no choice.
After dropping off Leo, Olivia went back to the studio, but she couldn't focus on work at all.
She didn't know what Luca would do next, so she could only deal with whatever came her way.
Around noon, Leo called her.
"Mom! Uncle LO says he's treating me and Dylan to lunch! At the restaurant near the school. Dylan wants to play with me!"
Olivia's heart tightened, but she pretended to be calm: "Okay, sweetie, go with them first. Mom will come find you after I'm done. Remember to be good and don't run off."
She hung up, grabbed her bag right away, and drove to the restaurant near the school.
She wanted to see what trick Luca was up to.
The restaurant wasn't too crowded. Olivia spotted the table in the corner as soon as she walked in.
Luca was sitting there, serving food to Leo and Dylan, his movements gentle and natural.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto them, making them look like a happy family.
Olivia's heart hurt like it was pricked by needles—a mix of anger and bitterness.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked over.
Hearing footsteps, Luca looked up. Seeing it was her, his smile froze, eyes full of shock.
Leo saw Mom and waved excitedly. "Mom! You're here?"
Olivia didn't look at Leo. She stared straight at Luca, her tone icy. "Thank you, sir, for taking care of my son."
She pulled out her wallet from her bag, took out a stack of cash, and put it on the table. "This is for today's meal, and the money you tipped Leo before. Here's all of it back."
Luca's face darkened instantly, eyes full of displeasure. "Olivia, what do you mean? I take care of Leo not for money."
"Then what?" Olivia sneered. "For something else? We're poor, but we don't need anyone's charity."
She pretended not to know him on purpose, just to see how he'd handle it.
Leo and Dylan were scared by the sudden tension and sat quietly, not daring to speak.
Dylan tugged at Luca's sleeve and whispered, "Uncle..."
Luca patted Dylan's head, his tone softening a bit: "You guys eat first. Uncle needs to talk to this lady."
He stood up and said to Olivia, "Come outside with me."
Olivia hesitated but followed him out of the restaurant.
There was a small garden outside the restaurant. Luca stopped in a quiet spot.
"Olivia, what exactly do you want?" His tone held suppressed anger.
"I want you to stay away from my son." Olivia stared back without backing down. "Luca, don't think I don't know who you are."
"LO, Luca Olivia. You sure know how to pick names."
Luca was stunned for a moment, then got it. He smirked: "So you finally figured it out. I thought it'd take you longer."
"When did you find out Leo is your son?" Olivia's voice trembled—not from fear, but anger. "Investing in my studio, getting close to Leo—it was all planned, right?"
"So what?" Luca looked at her, eyes complicated. "Leo's my son, too. I have the right to take care of him."
"Son?" Olivia sneered, raising her voice sharply, eyes full of resistance and wariness. "Luca, don't flatter yourself! Leo has nothing to do with you. Stop acting like you care!"
Luca stared at her, eyes cold, tone firm and unyielding: "Nothing to do? Look at his eyes, his features—they're just like mine when I was a kid! Who else could have those genes? You think I'm blind?"
Olivia panicked inside, looked away instinctively, but stayed tough: "So what if he looks like you? Lots of people look alike in the world! Leo is my child alone. He has nothing to do with you. Don't even think about claiming him!"
"My child alone?" Luca sneered, eyes surging with suppressed rage. "Olivia, how long did you think you could hide it? Five years ago, you didn't disappear with Jason—you were pregnant with him, right? You deliberately pissed me off to get me to sign the divorce papers because you were afraid I'd find out about the kid, right?"
That hit Olivia's sore spot. She glared at him, eyes turning red instantly, voice trembling slightly: "So what? Back then, if you hadn't dragged out the divorce and had Windy hanging around all unclear, would I have had to force you like that? I just didn't want my child to have anything to do with an irresponsible guy like you!"
"Irresponsible?" Luca's voice suddenly rose, chest heaving. "If I'd known you were pregnant, would I have let you go? Would I have let you suffer alone? You never told me! You didn't even give me a chance to explain!"
"Tell you? How could I?" Olivia's emotions exploded, tears falling uncontrollably. "After telling you, would you choose me and the kid, or keep indulging Windy? Back then, for that so-called life-saving favor, you ignored her provocations and my grievances. Why should I trust you? I'd rather raise Leo alone than let him live in your indifference and half-heartedness!"
Luca saw her crying, his heart aching like needles. His tone softened, with a plea: "That's all in the past. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have sided with Windy or ignored your feelings. But Leo is innocent. He needs a dad, and I want to make it up to you two. Give me a chance, okay?"
"A chance?" Olivia wiped her tears, eyes firm again, even cold. "You didn't cherish it five years ago. It's too late now. I'll say it again: Leo has nothing to do with you. Don't approach him anymore, don't deceive him as LO! He doesn't need a dad who suddenly shows up. He has me, that's enough!"
"Enough?" Luca looked at her, eyes full of unwillingness and heartache. "You can't deprive him of a father's love just because of your prejudice!"
"It's not prejudice, it's fact!" Olivia stepped back, creating distance, tone resolute. "You hurt me back then, and you could hurt Leo now! I won't let my son go through the pain of abandonment again!"
"I won't abandon him! Never!" Luca stepped forward to grab her hand, but she dodged sharply.
"Don't touch me!" Olivia looked at him warily, like a stranger. "Luca, we're long over. And between you and Leo, it never even started."
"Never started?" Luca's voice held despair. "He's my son. That's blood, a bond in our bones. You can't break it! I'll tell him the truth. I'll make him acknowledge me as his dad, whether you agree or not!"