Chapter 192 Will You Love Him Forever?
"He's already gone far away, how much longer are you going to keep watching?"
Lucas grabbed my chin in dissatisfaction, applying a bit of pressure to make me turn and look at him.
"Jonas will be my friend for life," I said.
"Got it, stop mentioning him. When I'm in front of you, you can only look at me." Lucas's tone was domineering as he buried his head in the crook of my neck. I somehow felt he was acting cute, like a clingy giant dog.
I couldn't help but pat his head. "Don't be so petty."
"Don't you know me by now? I am a petty person!" Lucas pulled me back, re-entering the main building of the entertainment complex. Behind a decorative wall in his office was a hidden passage. We left through the secret passage and met up with Demetrius and Hestia in an underground safe house.
"Mr. Valeri!" The two bowed respectfully to greet Lucas. Lucas didn't respond. They turned to me with the same respectful attitude. "Mrs. Valeri!"
Only then did Lucas nod at them. "You did well."
Demetrius and Hestia couldn't help but smile. Demetrius was more reserved, while Hestia smiled brightly.
Bayle, who had been captured earlier, along with people from the Valeri family and the Gambino family, were all here.
When Tessa saw Lucas, she panicked instantly. "Lucas? What are you doing here!"
"Weren't you in another city?"
"Damn it! Those bastards swore they had Lucas trapped. If we hadn't thought Lucas couldn't come back, why would we have targeted Isabella?"
"Lucas! Let us go!"
"Lucas, this vicious woman Isabella tricked us and tortured us. We're your relatives! Punish her!"
A group of people chattered away, competing to speak. Lucas raised his gun, and they immediately shut up.
Lucas looked at the person who complained. "Punish who, you said?"
The person shook their head vigorously, almost creating an afterimage. "I didn't say anything!"
"Really?" Lucas sneered. "Did I hear wrong?"
"I said, punish me!" The person was about to cry.
Lucas was satisfied and gave them a beating. Gunshots, the sound of bones breaking, and screams rang out one after another. The others silently lowered their heads. Those with less courage broke down, too afraid of Lucas's brutality to even cry out loud.
Lucas casually tossed away the empty magazine. At that moment, Demetrius brought in another batch of captured assassins.
"Mr. Valeri, we have some old acquaintances here."
—They were all enemies who had crossed paths with Lucas multiple times.
"Lucas? What are you doing here!" These people were just as shocked as the Valeri family members.
From the way they instinctively looked at Tessa and how Tessa avoided eye contact, it was clear there was collusion between them!
"I left Starstream City just to mislead you. Since the day before yesterday, only my body double has been in the neighboring city—you thought you were the hunters, but you were just prey being played with in my palm." Lucas mocked them mercilessly.
Those people were both shocked and angry, their evasive eyes hiding fear. "Since we've fallen into your hands, kill us if you want. Make it quick!"
"Want a quick death? I prefer to torture you." Lucas sneered, then looked at Tessa, disappointment surfacing in his eyes. "Aunt Tessa, I once thought that in that family, besides Grandpa, you were the only one who genuinely cared about me."
Tessa lowered her head, refusing to meet his eyes. "If sincerity can't bring benefits, no one will give their sincerity."
"That's you." I gripped Lucas's hand tightly, offering silent comfort, my sharp gaze fixed on Tessa. "Not everyone thinks like you."
Tessa looked at me, her lips curling in mockery. "How long can you truly care for Lucas? Can you guarantee you'll love him forever and never change your heart?"
Lucas suddenly gripped my hand hard, as if he wanted to crush me.
I cried out softly in pain. Lucas quickly loosened his grip. I had never seen such a panicked expression on his face, as if I would turn into bubbles he could never catch in the next moment.
Tessa laughed softly. "Lucas, remember what your grandfather said? The men of the Valeri family will never receive true love! This isn't a curse, it's your fate! You don't deserve it!"
"Don't listen to her nonsense." I covered Lucas's ears and signaled Hestia to gag Tessa. I wanted to tell Lucas that as long as he loved me for a day, I would love him for a day, and as long as he didn't change his heart, neither would I.
But Lucas said somewhat urgently, "Don't say anything!"
He was actually afraid, not wanting to hear any answer.
Lucas lowered his hands. I opened my mouth, and his kiss suddenly fell, fierce yet very gentle.
Our lips touched carefully. I could feel Lucas's emotions—he was treating me like a fragile item that could easily be lost.
An hour later, good news came from Jonas's side. My body double had successfully been shot and lost a lot of blood. Cole and Adrian were escorting my double to find Roger.
Lucas pretended he had just returned from the neighboring city and rushed to Platinum Haven Hotel. After one night, news of my critical injury spread wider and wider.
Rex couldn't hold back at all.
Around ten in the morning, Rex impatiently demanded a board meeting be called.
I sat in an empty conference room, watching every shareholder's movements through surveillance cameras.
Rex sat in the first position on the right side of the long table, his eyes frequently drifting to the empty chairman's seat, his face showing undisguised satisfaction.
After everyone arrived, James deliberately came a bit late. Rex was already impatient. "Where's Isabella? Isn't she coming?"
Vincent slammed his hand heavily on the table. "Rex, you know Isabella is injured. Don't go too far!"
Rex made excuses. "I'm just concerned about her."
James stood between the two empty chairs, expressionless. "Ms. Sorelli cannot attend due to personal reasons for now."
Rex interrupted him. "James, skip the nonsense. Is the news about Isabella's serious injury true? Is she still alive?"
James didn't answer him and continued, "Mr. Sorelli has returned. Today's meeting will be chaired by Mr. Sorelli."
Everyone was stunned. Rex's eyes shifted as he looked toward the door. The dark brown wooden door was pushed open from outside, and Gale walked in.
Rex frowned, then quickly relaxed. Gale's sudden return indirectly confirmed the seriousness of the situation.
"Rex, are you really hoping for Isabella to die?" Gale asked coldly.
"You misunderstand!" Rex quickly waved his hands. "I'm genuinely worried about Isabella's health. I swear to God!"
Gale ignored his word games, sat in the chairman's seat, and scanned each shareholder at the table one by one. His sharp gaze finally locked on Rex. "What's the purpose of this meeting?"
"You haven't been in Starstream City recently, so you don't know—because of Isabella's decision-making mistakes, the hotel has been closed for over ten days!" Rex complained to Gale, then said with feigned difficulty, "I made a bet with Isabella. She needed to resolve this matter within ten days, but today is already the tenth day. According to our agreement, Isabella lost."
Gale wore a black suit, his right hand resting on his abdomen slowly turning the ring on his left index finger. "She lost, and then what?"
Rex couldn't hide his satisfaction. "Isabella must give up her decision-making power and hand over management authority!"