Chapter 105
The car was quiet on the way home.
Juliana stared out at the passing night scenery, but the image of Bianca kneeling outside the hospital kept flashing through her mind.
That desperation—it left a tightness in her chest.
The car pulled into the villa and came to a stop. Juliana unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Lucas.
"Bianca... something was really off with her today." Juliana said. "What did you do to the Hale family?"
Lucas turned off the engine. The streetlight outside filtered through the window, casting shadows across his sharp features.
"She was begging me not to sue her parents." Juliana continued. "She said if the lawsuit goes through, the Hale family is finished."
Lucas didn't answer right away. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned slightly toward her.
"She's not wrong," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.
Juliana looked at him, waiting.
"The Hale Group's core projects—I've had people working on them for a while now." Lucas spoke calmly, like he was discussing the weather. "Before you and the boys even came back, we'd already started infiltrating. The car accident was just the trigger."
Juliana's heart skipped a beat.
"If the lawsuit continues, the Hale family will be buried in debt. Insolvency, bankruptcy—it's only a matter of time."
"But bankruptcy is just the financial collapse. The real issue is that the Hale family has relied on the Sharp family for years. They've made countless enemies among the powerful. When the Sharp family publicly files a lawsuit against them, what does that signal?"
Juliana said quietly, "Payback time. People with grudges will settle scores, and those who owe favors will collect. But the Hale family only has enemies, no allies."
Lucas looked at her and smiled faintly.
A moment later, he gently pulled her into his arms.
"This is one of the few things I can actually do for you," he said, his voice rough.
"I didn't protect you. I let you suffer all these years." His voice was soft. "I left you alone, raising Matty by yourself. That's on me."
All those years raising Matty on her own, all the misunderstandings and pain—in this moment, with his long-overdue apology, it felt like she'd finally found an outlet for it all.
She closed her eyes. Her lashes were damp.
"Let's go inside," she said.
……
The moment they stepped through the door, they heard footsteps behind them. Both turned at the same time.
It was Joshua. He wore a casual gray suit and carried an elegantly wrapped gift box, his usual warm smile in place.
"Josh, what are you doing here?" Juliana was surprised.
Joshua didn't wait for her to finish. He strode right over, his gaze landing squarely on Lucas.
"What, not welcome?" Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Brought gifts for Matty and Dami."
Juliana took the box, half-amused, half-exasperated.
"Sit." Lucas didn't seem the least bit bothered by Joshua's unannounced arrival.
Joshua didn't hesitate. He walked straight to the couch and sat down, his eyes moving between Juliana and Lucas.
"Now that you two have gotten things out in the open, I'm not going to beat around the bush either. Juliana is the Lynd family's precious daughter. She's never been wronged growing up—never even heard a harsh word."
"And now, because of you, she's suffered for years. Lucas, I came here today to make something very clear."
"If you ever make her cry again, if you let her get hurt even a little bit, I won't let it slide." He paused, his tone turning colder. "Don't think just because the Sharp family is big and powerful, you can do whatever you want. The Lynd family isn't a pushover either."
Juliana stood nearby, warmth spreading through her chest as she listened to Joshua's words.
Lucas met Joshua's gaze head-on, unflinching.
"I'll remember what you said," Lucas replied steadily. "And I promise you—I won't let Juliana get hurt again."
Joshua studied him. Lucas's eyes were sincere. Finally, Joshua gave a satisfied nod.
"Smart man." Joshua smirked. "Now that we've got that settled, I'm starving. You're feeding me dinner, right?"
Juliana laughed.
"Of course." Lucas's mouth quirked slightly as he called for the housekeeper to prepare dinner. "Matty and Dami are home too. They haven't seen you in a while."
Joshua's face lit up.
With Joshua's arrival, the atmosphere in the living room relaxed considerably.
……
Joshua sat upright on the couch, facing Lucas directly.
The outside world saw Lucas as cold and domineering, but that earnest promise he'd just made showed a different side.
"Where are the kids?" Joshua asked.
"Matty and Dami are upstairs playing. They'll come down soon." Juliana smiled at Lucas. "Lucas, keep my cousin company for a bit. I'll whip up something simple for dinner."
Lucas nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before turning to Joshua. "How long are you planning to stay in New Seashire this time?"
Joshua took a slow sip of tea, deflecting the question. "What, worried I'll overstay my welcome? I'm Juliana's family. Mr. Sharp, surely you can afford to feed me one meal?"
"Naturally." Lucas's tone was measured. "Since you're here, stay a few days. Juliana could use her family around."
Joshua caught the sincerity in Lucas's words—he genuinely wanted Juliana to stay, and he understood her longing for family.
Before long, Matty and Dami came running downstairs.
Both boys lit up when they saw Joshua.
"Uncle Joshua!" Matty's face broke into a huge grin.
Dami walked over too. "Hi, Uncle Joshua."
Joshua scooped up Matty and ruffled his hair, then gestured for Dami to come closer.
He handed out the gifts he'd brought. The boys were thrilled and immediately wanted to tear into them.
"Dinner first," Juliana called from the kitchen. "You can play after."
During dinner, Joshua told stories that had both kids giggling nonstop.
Juliana smiled—a real smile, one she hadn't worn in a long time.
Lucas chimed in occasionally with a comment or two.
Joshua noticed that around Juliana, Lucas was less severe, more patient and gentle than he was with outsiders.
After dinner, Juliana walked Joshua out.
The neighborhood streetlights stretched their shadows long across the pavement.
"Josh, thank you for today," Juliana said.
Joshua smiled and gave her head a light pat. "Don't be silly. You're my cousin. Having your back is what I'm supposed to do. Lucas... he seems pretty decent to you."
Juliana looked up at him.
"Still," Joshua dropped his hand and tucked both into his pockets, "you need to keep your guard up. These wealthy families are complicated. Lucas is calculating. Don't let yourself get in over your head again."