Chapter 113
Lucas's eyebrow twitched. He glanced at Juliana and switched to video call.
On the screen, the butler was frantically hovering around Ashley.
Lucas watched, completely unmoved. He spoke coldly into the camera. "I was just about to discuss with Juliana—we're thinking of changing Damian and Matthew's last name. Since Mom's not feeling well right now, I guess we'll wait until she wakes up to finalize the paperwork."
The moment those words left his mouth, Ashley—who'd been supposedly unconscious—suddenly opened her eyes. She propped herself up on the couch and started screaming at the phone. "Lucas! You ungrateful son! You wouldn't dare! You're going to let my grandsons take the Wells name? Has that woman completely brainwashed you?!"
The butler stood nearby, shock written all over his face.
Lucas looked at her expressionlessly. "Well, since you're awake, I'm relieved. We've still got a few days left on our honeymoon. Juliana and I plan to enjoy every minute of it."
With that, he hung up.
Juliana watched Lucas's little performance, stunned at first, then she couldn't help but laugh.
"You're terrible..."
Lucas smiled too, taking her hand. "With her, you've gotta hit where it hurts most."
They shared a knowing look, the unpleasantness Ashley had caused already fading.
……
Night fell over Rome. The city lit up with thousands of lights.
They returned to the hotel, the atmosphere growing warm and intimate.
Juliana came out of the shower wrapped in a towel, water still dripping from the ends of her hair.
Lucas sat on the edge of the bed. He looked up, his gaze landing on her—intense and burning.
Juliana's cheeks flushed. She walked to the vanity and picked up the hairdryer.
Lucas came over and took the hairdryer from her hand, gently drying her hair for her.
When her hair was dry, he set down the dryer and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
He kissed the side of her neck, then lifted her and carried her to the bed.
Juliana looked up at him, her eyes shimmering.
Just as things were heating up, loud, urgent knocking shattered the moment.
The sound was insistent, almost frantic.
Lucas froze, annoyance flickering across his face.
Juliana snapped back to reality too, looking toward the door in confusion.
"Who is it?" Lucas muttered. He got up, carefully tucking Juliana under the covers before walking to the door and peering through the peephole.
Outside, two small figures were standing on their tiptoes, trying to peek through the crack.
Lucas sighed silently and opened the door.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"What are you two doing here?" Lucas scooped Matthew up and kissed his forehead.
Matthew nestled into Lucas's arms. "We couldn't sleep. We wanted to sleep with Mommy and Daddy."
Damian stepped forward and tugged on Lucas's shirt, looking up at him. "Are you guys doing something fun without us?"
Lucas chuckled. "What's going on in that little head of yours? Mommy and I were just talking about where to take you tomorrow."
"Really?" Matthew's eyes lit up.
"Of course." Lucas glanced over at Juliana, who was wrapped in the covers, smiling at them.
"But if you want to have fun tomorrow, you need to go back and get a good night's sleep first. Otherwise you won't have any energy to enjoy it."
Damian looked reluctant, but Matthew tugged at him. "Daddy's right. We should go sleep now so we can have more fun tomorrow."
"How about this—tomorrow I'll take you guys to try a really special gelato. You can't get it anywhere else."
The two boys perked up immediately. They looked at each other, excitement written all over their faces.
"Okay! We're going to bed right now!" Matthew grabbed Damian's hand and they ran back to the adjoining room.
Lucas watched them disappear, then gently closed the door.
He turned around. Juliana had sat up in bed, wrapped in a robe, smiling.
"You're good at managing kids."
Lucas walked back to the bed and pulled her into his arms again.
"Different tactics for dealing with my mother versus dealing with my sons," he murmured.
Juliana leaned against him. She tilted her chin up and kissed his lips.
Lucas returned her kiss, feeling a sense of peace and contentment he'd never known before.
……
The Sharp Estate.
Ashley paced anxiously in the living room.
"Butler! Butler!" she called out sharply.
The butler hurried over and stood respectfully to the side.
"Where's David? Why hasn't he shown up yet?" Ashley demanded, irritation clear in her voice.
The butler answered carefully. "Mrs. Sharp, ever since you gave the order, we've been trying to reach Mr. White. But his phone's been disconnected. The properties under his name have been neglected. At the company, he hasn't shown his face in ages. We sent people to his usual apartment—empty."
"Are you telling me he disappeared?" She bit out each word.
The butler said quietly, "It's like... he vanished into thin air. All the work he was handling—he just abandoned everything."
"Abandoned?" Ashley laughed coldly, though there was a hint of panic in her voice. "What gives him the right to abandon anything? Everything he has, I gave him! Go! Use every connection we have and find him!"
She pointed at the butler, her face ashen. "I don't care what you have to do. By the end of today, I want answers! Find him and bring him to me immediately!"
The butler quickly agreed and hurried off.
Ashley collapsed onto the couch, her hands clenched tight.
David—the most capable, most obedient "son"—how could he just disappear? He knew too many Sharp family secrets. He'd handled too many things that couldn't see the light of day.
She had a sinking feeling that David's disappearance this time wasn't just lying low.
She needed David. Desperately.
……
Hospital room.
David sat on the edge of the bed. He opened his email. Message after message from Ashley—frantic at first, then commanding, and finally almost pleading. He blocked them all.
All those old contacts, all those numbers tied to the Sharp family—he deleted every single one.