Chapter 91: Major Reversal, Lucas Denies Marriage News
I feel this is ridiculous.
I was with Lucas all last night. What could reporters possibly have photographed?
Since Holden could strip Lucas of his inheritance rights in the Valeri family and make him Grace's heir, what's with this loving act now?
Thinking of Grace, I suddenly understand Holden's intention a bit better.
He wants to break me down, but simple physical intimidation isn't enough - he also wants to crush me mentally.
The scene of wolves tearing apart a rabbit didn't scare me.
Just for Grace's sake, maybe it wouldn't be worth all this effort, but my actions last night not only trampled on the Gambino family's dignity but also provoked other mafia families that have been entrenched in Dawnharbor for years.
Isabella is too arrogant and must be taught a lesson - that's probably what they're thinking.
On the screen, Colin's appearance caused a stir at the press conference.
His expression was stiff, barely looking at Amelia, even though she was the main character of this press conference.
Last night's incident hasn't completely blown over yet. Colin probably can't look at Amelia without remembering last night's fright and humiliation.
The Gambino family now has a bunch of people waiting to settle scores with Amelia, but if Amelia is going to marry into the Valeri family, they can't offend her!
Colin felt very frustrated, sitting alone to one side, not talking to Amelia, struggling even to force out a decent smile.
At this moment, the venue stirred again as a familiar figure suddenly appeared on camera.
- Lucas, wearing a simple black suit with a stern expression, strode over to Amelia and sat down beside her.
I frowned, an inexplicable irritation rising in my heart.
Could it be that his memory of last night is fuzzy, and he really thinks he slept with Amelia?
I immediately dismissed my wild speculation. Even if Lucas's mind wasn't clear, Alfred knew what happened yesterday.
So why would Lucas appear at this press conference?
Is he really going to marry Amelia?
I still maintained a calm expression, but my hands gripping my skirt tightened.
Marcus couldn't hold it in anymore. He slammed the table and pointed at the screen, cursing, "Lucas, that bastard!"
Marcus couldn't bring himself to say more harsh words - not out of consideration for Holden, but because he was afraid of hurting me.
Holden leaned back in his chair, watching mine and Marcus's reactions with interest, showing a victor's relaxed smile.
He didn't care at all who Lucas liked or who he wanted to marry. What he enjoyed was having his need for control satisfied. Even though Lucas had been stripped of his inheritance rights, as long as Lucas was obedient enough, he was still willing to give Lucas a chance to inherit.
On screen, Amelia linked her arm through Lucas's, smiling happily at the camera.
She smiled too brightly, making it seem fake instead.
Reporters began asking about them entering and leaving the hotel together yesterday. Amelia admitted this and took the opportunity to announce her engagement to Lucas.
Every segment, every person's words carried an unnatural air of deliberate arrangement, yet Holden found it very entertaining. "You seemed to be at that hotel last night, too, but so what? Powerful authority can easily cover up facts and rewrite history."
"Frustrated?" he asked. "But do you have the ability to stop it?"
Marcus glared at Holden angrily, then nudged my arm with his elbow. "Bella, call Lucas now!"
"It's useless," I said calmly.
A phone call wouldn't solve anything.
Just then, Brian called, saying he'd seen the press conference livestream and asking if I knew about this.
"I know, I'm watching the livestream too."
Brian asked hesitantly, "What are you going to do? I'm about twenty minutes away from the press conference venue. I can head over right now!"
"No need, Brian. Aren't you supposed to meet with the law firm partners? Don't let this small matter delay you." I declined Brian's offer. The person I need to confront now isn't at the press conference, but right in front of me.
Brian was silent for a second, said "Got it," then hung up.
Right after, Gale called too, and I repeated almost the same conversation.
After putting down my phone, Holden said, "Alright, time to focus on enjoying the press conference. Don't let irrelevant calls disturb us anymore."
He gave a look, and a man reached out toward Marcus and me, taking our phones.
Amelia began reading her engagement vows. I stared at the screen, feeling uneasy.
I'd known all along that Lucas liked Amelia. Even though he'd been pestering me this whole time, the deep impression from the past three years couldn't be changed in just a few months.
So, compared to their engagement news, I'm more concerned right now about whether Marcus and I can leave this place safely.
Marcus stared hard at Lucas's face on the screen, as if trying to kill Lucas with his eyes.
Lucas's expression remained stern, showing no happiness or joy whatsoever. He didn't look at all like the male lead in an engagement announcement, but rather as the audience below owed him money.
After Amelia finished reading her vows, Lucas still said nothing. Amelia looked at Lucas affectionately, the hand linked through his arm shaking slightly as she said very quietly, "Say something!"
Though Amelia tried hard to keep her voice down, she had a microphone clipped to her collar, so everyone heard her anxious prompting, completely different from her deliberately soft voice.
Even Marcus couldn't help but laugh. "She's still so stupid!"
Amelia was embarrassed for two seconds, then explained to the reporters, "Lucas's throat is a bit uncomfortable; he can't speak today."
She was about to end the press conference when Lucas raised the arm she was holding and shook it off.
"Haven't you had enough of this act - publicly announcing our relationship and engagement on your own, forcing me to be with you?" Lucas asked coldly.
The reporters looked at each other.
Holden frowned slightly with displeasure.
Amelia's expression froze. "I... I wanted to give you a surprise."
With the hired killer incident going nowhere and Santos dead, Amelia was relieved to have escaped disaster. She thought that with Holden and Grace's support, she could smoothly become Lucas's wife. She never expected Lucas to expose her in public!
"Lucas, stop being difficult." Amelia acted helpless and coquettish. Lucas suddenly embraced her - though "embrace" isn't quite accurate. He reached out both hands around Amelia's neck. Their posture was intimate, and a surge of anger rose in my heart.
But the next second, Lucas withdrew his hands, standing up with a necklace he'd removed from Amelia's neck. "This isn't yours."
Lucas looked toward the camera. For an instant, I locked eyes with him on screen, actually having the illusion of facing him directly!
"The true owner of this necklace," Lucas paused, looking back at Amelia, "is not you. You're just a thief who stole someone else's identity and deceived me for years!"
The crowd erupted.
The live comments were all question marks.
But Lucas had no intention of explaining to anyone.
"I, Lucas, hereby clarify the false rumors about Amelia and me entering and leaving the hotel together yesterday! The engagement news is also fake. I will not marry Amelia!"