Chapter 236 236

Chapter 236 236


Lucas went completely still.

The question hung in the air.

“So you admit you’re still involved with her?”

For once, he didn’t have an immediate answer.

His jaw tightened.

He looked past the sea of microphones, his eyes briefly finding the camera lenses pointed directly at him.

Then he went quiet.

Patricia looked at him.

“Lucas…”

He swallowed, saying nothing.

That silence was enough to make the reporters erupt again.

“Mr. Brooks, is that a yes?”

“Are you cheating on your wife?”

“Does Olivia know about Blair?”

“Is Mave your son?”

“Did you abandon them five years ago?”

Lucas’s expression darkened.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the Brooks security team finally pushed through the crowd.

“Back up!”

“Give him some space!”

“Move!”

Two guards immediately positioned themselves in front of Lucas while another opened a path toward the waiting car.

The reporters continued shouting, cameras flashing wildly.

“Mr. Brooks!”

“Lucas!”

“Just one comment!”

“Is Blair your mistress?”

Patricia tightened her grip around his arm.

“Don’t say anything,” she whispered.

Lucas glanced at her.

Then he looked back toward the reporters one last time.

His eyes were cold.

But he still said nothing.

The guards finally forced the crowd several steps back, creating enough space for Lucas and Patricia to move.

“Get him inside,” one of the guards ordered.

Lucas slowly climbed into the car.

Before the door closed, one last question reached him.

“Mr. Brooks! If Blair isn’t your mistress, then what is she?”

Lucas paused.

His eyes lowered.

Then the door shut.

The car pulled away.

Inside, Patricia stared at her son.

Lucas leaned his head back against the seat, his face exhausted.

Neither of them spoke.

But his silence had already said far too much.

By the time they reached Brooks Manor, the entire house felt unnaturally still.

Lucas stepped carefully out of the car, keeping one hand pressed against his bandaged side to take the edge off the ache. He had barely crossed the foyer when a sharp, familiar voice broke through the quiet.

“Look at you.”

Lucas froze, his head snapping toward the drawing room.

An elderly woman stood near the archway, her handbag still draped over her arm, her face caught right in the middle of total relief and pure irritation.

“Grandma?”

Granny Brooks narrowed her eyes at him. “You absolute idiot of a boy.”

A small, genuine smile tugged at Lucas’s lips. She must have caught the first flight out the minute she heard he’d been shot.

He walked over to her slowly. “It’s been a while.”

“Way too long.”

He opened his arms, and she pulled him into a careful, tight embrace—before pulling back just far enough to smack him lightly on the shoulder.

“Ow.”

“That was nothing.”

“Grandma, I just got shot.”

“And somehow you’re still standing there backtalking me.”

Lucas let out a quiet laugh.

Patricia watched the two of them from a few paces away. She knew that sharp, look on her mother’s face, and she knew the defensive tilt of her son’s shoulders even better. Whatever was weighing on Lucas, he was only going to spill it to one person.

Patricia picked up her purse. “I’m going to leave you two alone.”

Granny glanced back at her. “Good. Go get some rest.”

With a faint smile, Patricia headed up the stairs. Lucas watched until her footsteps faded down the hall before turning back to his grandmother.

Granny gave him a slow, thorough look-over. “You look dreadful.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He chuckled softly, then carefully lowered himself onto the leather sofa. Granny sat right beside him. After a beat, Lucas leaned over and rested his head directly in her lap, just like he’d done a thousand times when he was a boy.

Granny’s sharp expression melted instantly. Her fingers slid softly through his hair.

“There he is,” she whispered.

Lucas closed his eyes, sinking into the quiet. “I missed this.”

“I know, sweetheart.” She kept up a steady, soothing rhythm. “You used to do this every single time you got yourself into trouble.”

“I didn't get into that much trouble.”

Granny raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to list the items? We can start with the Italian vase.”

Lucas opened one eye. “Which one?”

“The ridiculously expensive one your mother brought home from Florence.”

“Oh. Right.”

“And the antique lamp.”

“That was an accident.”

“And the television remote you shoved directly into the fireplace.”

“I was six!”

“You were nine.”

Lucas laughed softly under his breath. “You remember everything.”

“I remember everything about you.”

Her touch remained gentle, but the faint smile on Lucas’s face slowly faded. He stared blankly at the far wall.

“Grandma?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything you want.”

Lucas hesitated, his chest tightening. “What if…” He trailed off, the words catching in his dry throat.

Granny didn't rush him. She just kept stroking his hair.

“What if someone loves someone,” he began again, his voice dropping low, “but they’re terrified to say it out loud?”

Her hand paused for a fraction of a second before resuming its pace. “Why would they be terrified?”

Lucas swallowed hard. “Because maybe they waited too long.”

She looked down at the side of his face. “Too long for what?”

“To say it.”

Silence stretched across the room, broken only by the quiet tick of the hallway clock.

“What if they think the person already knows?” Lucas added softly.

Granny offered a tender, sad smile. “Knowing someone loves you isn’t the same thing as hearing them actually say the words, Lucas.”

He went completely quiet, his knuckles tightening against his stomach. “And what if saying it out loud just makes everything worse?”

“Then at least they’ll know they were brave enough to stand in the truth.”

Lucas stared into space. “What if she doesn't feel the same way?”

Granny’s thumb lightly brushed near his temple. “Then it’s going to hurt like hell.”

He let out a long, ragged breath.

“But you’ll survive it,” she added softly.

Lucas swallowed the knot in his throat.

Granny looked down at him with eyes that had seen right through him for twenty-odd years. “Who is she, Lucas?”

Lucas immediately sat up a fraction, looking up at her. “Nobody.”

Granny let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, please.”

“I’m serious.”

“You have never come dragging your feet to me with a question like that for a 'nobody.'”

He looked away, a small, helpless smile tugging at his lips despite himself. “Maybe I just wanted your advice.”

“Of course you did,” she said, her fingers combing back through his hair as he rested his head back down. “And for what it’s worth… if you love her, don't sit around waiting forever.”