Chapter 214: We're All Behind You

Tara's POV

Those words were both for the reporters and a direct challenge to whoever had orchestrated all this.

Watching Luke maneuver me through the crowd of reporters, my expression wavered between annoyance and softness. He displayed an authoritative demeanor I hadn't seen in a long time. Only then did I realize that recently he had been overly cautious around me, suppressing his naturally dominant nature.

Luke brought me to the Carter family mansion rather than Lakeside Park. I immediately understood his intention—with Gloria present at the mansion, it would be difficult for me to leave; whereas at Lakeside Park, he would have no way to stop me if I decided to leave.

I saw through his strategy but remained silent. Arguing was pointless—he was terribly stubborn now, completely ignoring whatever I said.

Gloria's face lit up with approval when she saw us arrive: "Luke, Tara, you're back!"

Gloria excitedly called the housekeeper: "Kate, tell the kitchen to prepare more of Tara's favorite dishes. She certainly hasn't eaten well these past few days and needs proper nourishment!"

After instructing the housekeeper, she turned to Luke: "Take Tara upstairs to rest. She surely hasn't rested well these past days. First a bath, then a good sleep. When the meal is ready, I'll have someone call you both."

Having remained silent until now, I finally spoke: "Gloria, please don't trouble yourself. I'm not tired. I'll skip dinner too. I have matters to attend to and must leave now."

Gloria's smile instantly froze: "Tara, you're not..."

"I was brought here by force," I said bluntly, avoiding Luke's gaze. "I have no intention of reconciling with Luke. Please don't misunderstand."

Luke's expression immediately darkened. I continued: "I won't be with him again. Not now, not ever."

I bowed slightly to Gloria in apology: "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I should go."

As I turned to leave, Gloria's voice stopped me: "You think I don't understand what's in your heart? When Luke refused to be with you to avoid implicating you, you were angry. Now you're doing the exact same thing—pushing us away to protect us."

I looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to be so perceptive. "I don't want to bring trouble to the Carter family."

Gloria took my hand, her grip surprisingly strong: "Foolish child. We're family. When danger comes, we face it together. Even if Luke's legs don't work, the responsibility to protect you still rests on his shoulders. Remember, you are never alone."

My gaze softened, though still filled with concern: "Gloria, you're not young anymore. If something happened to you because of me—"

"Who can guarantee a peaceful old age?" she interrupted, smiling gently. "Life is full of uncertainties for everyone, young or old. All we can do is cherish every moment we have together."

Seeing my continued hesitation, Gloria raised her chin slightly: "If you don't listen to me, I'll be very upset."

The genuine affection behind her threat brought tears to my eyes: "Meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life."

Gloria gently wiped away the tears that had fallen on my cheek: "Go upstairs and take a bath. I've had everything prepared."

I looked at her in surprise. Clearly, Luke had called her while bringing me here. Gloria had been excited from the moment she received the call and had arranged everything. Her love for Tara was sincere and profound.

With no more reasons to refuse, I followed her instructions and went upstairs. When she saw that Luke hadn't moved, Gloria gave him a meaningful look: "Aren't you tired? Don't you need to rest?"

Luke immediately understood and followed me into the elevator. Both Lakeside Park and this place had elevators installed to accommodate his wheelchair.

---

Entering what was once our bedroom, I immediately turned and confronted Luke: "Luke, you can't gamble Gloria and Lucy's future just to satisfy your own desires. Please talk to Gloria. I truly don't want to implicate any of you."

Luke wheeled himself deeper into the room, his expression still resolute: "I know what you're doing, Tara. You're trying to push me away again, just as you've been doing since our divorce."

"This isn't about pushing you away," I insisted, struggling to keep my voice steady. "This is about protecting the people I care about."

"The people you care about," Luke repeated, with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "So you admit you still care."

I closed my eyes for a moment, frustrated by his selective interpretation: "That's not the point, Luke. This mastermind has already proven they're willing to do anything to destroy me. They've framed me for murder, exposed my identity as Red Falcon, and now engineered an escape charge against me. Do you think they'll show mercy to people associated with me?"

Luke wheeled closer to me, his dark eyes unwavering: "Then let them try."

I shook my head, incredulous at his arrogance: "Have you forgotten that the Carter family isn't just you? There's your grandmother and Lucy too."

"You think I don't know that?" Luke replied calmly. "On the contrary, Gloria and Lucy are more worried about you than I am. If I did nothing, they would be truly disappointed."

I studied his resolute face carefully. This was a side of Luke I had rarely seen lately—the strong, confident Luke Carter. Always carefully weighing options, decisive in action, never backing down. He had been this way since the day I met him.

"You can't always make decisions for others," I said, my voice softening slightly but still firm. "Gloria and Lucy should have the right to choose whether to take this risk themselves."

Luke looked directly into my eyes: "Just like you've been making choices for me? Deciding what's best for me?"

His words left me speechless. In a way, he was right. I had been making decisions for him, believing that staying away from me was the safest choice for him.

"It's different," I finally said, though even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

"How is it different?" he pressed, his voice calm yet powerful. "Tara, you're afraid of hurting those you love. I understand that feeling, more than you might imagine. But you can't refuse to let people love you because you're afraid."

I looked away, moving toward the window. The twilight light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in a golden glow. This room was filled with memories—happy ones, painful ones, and all the emotions in between.

"I can't lose any more people, Luke," I finally admitted, my voice almost a whisper. "Especially not you."

He watched me silently, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. "Then let me help you," he finally said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Let's face this challenge together."

"Your legs put you at a disadvantage, making you an easy target," I said bluntly, my tone harsher than I intended.

Luke's expression didn't change, but I noticed a flash of emotion in his eyes—not hurt, but stronger determination.

"My condition is temporary," he said calmly, "but even if it weren't, do you think I would choose personal safety over standing by your side? What kind of person would that make me?"

"A rational one," I answered.

Luke suddenly laughed, the sound warm in the quiet room: "Tara, when have I ever been rational when it comes to you?"

The question left me momentarily speechless. Indeed, Luke had never been entirely rational in matters concerning us, always willing to challenge the board, business partners, and even his own judgment to protect our relationship.

"Then you should start being rational now," I said, walking toward the door. "I appreciate Gloria's kindness, but I must leave."

"You're not going anywhere," Luke said firmly. "At least not tonight."

I raised an eyebrow: "Are you planning to stop me by force? With those arms of yours?"

Despite my taunt, I knew that since the poisoning, his upper body strength had actually increased considerably. His rehabilitation program had focused heavily on strengthening his arms and torso to compensate for his legs. The soft sweater he wore couldn't hide the broad shoulders and solid muscles formed after months of intensive physical therapy.

"If necessary," he answered calmly, "though I hope it won't come to that."

"Luke," I softened my tone, "be reasonable. Your involvement makes you a target."

"My non-involvement makes my conscience a target," he countered. "I've been cautious for too long, thinking it was best for us. I was wrong."

His frank admission surprised me. Luke wasn't someone who easily admitted mistakes.

"Besides," he added with a hint of his old confidence, "have you considered that the mastermind might already view me as a target? Whether past or present, just being associated with you is enough to make me a target."

I hadn't considered this point. It was a reasonable argument. Even if I left now, anyone investigating me would quickly discover Luke's importance in my life. If harm were to come, it might already be unavoidable.

"All the more reason to maintain distance," I argued, though with less conviction. "Don't make yourself a more obvious target. You still have Grandma Gloria and Lucy."