Chapter 125
The study was dead silent.
Total awkward moment.
The little guy's efforts were like tossing a pebble into a deep pond—not even a ripple.
Lucas walked over and waved his hand, signaling the two boys to leave.
He stood behind Juliana, his gaze falling on those yellowed pages.
One glance and his pupils contracted sharply.
Company ledgers.
He crouched down and gently took Juliana's hand from where it rested on her knee.
"When did you get this?"
It took Juliana a long time to react. She slowly turned her head and looked at Lucas.
"They were innocent," she said. "My parents—it wasn't bad business decisions, wasn't tax evasion... they were murdered."
Those last words were practically squeezed through her teeth, each one dripping with venom.
Lucas wrapped her cold hand in his. "I know."
"I want revenge." Juliana buried her face against his chest, her voice muffled. "Lucas, whoever did this—I don't care who they are—I'm going to make them pay."
That bone-deep hatred made Lucas's chest tighten. He knew comforting words wouldn't help. What she needed right now wasn't sympathy—it was a target, a weapon she could hold in her hands.
He was silent for a moment, then finally made his decision.
"Juliana, there's something I need to tell you."
He cupped her face, making her look at him. "I found out that seven years ago, before your family's company went under, Logan... he privately visited your parents multiple times."
Logan.
That name hit like a thunderclap, exploding in Juliana's mind.
She froze completely.
The floodgates of memory burst open. She remembered.
Back then, after Logan found out she was the Wells family heiress, he'd told her over and over how badly he wanted to meet her parents, to get their approval, to prove to everyone he was worthy of her.
At the time she'd been blinded by love, thinking he truly cared about her, that's why he was so eager.
Now, looking back, that wasn't eagerness—it was impatience.
Impatience to drag her and her entire family into the trap he'd already set.
And she... she was the one who'd opened the door and let the wolf in.
That realization hit harder than the ledger had.
"It was me..." Juliana's lips began trembling, all color draining from them. "I killed them..."
"It wasn't you!" Lucas cut her off, his voice brooking no argument. "You're a victim too. The one who deserves to die is Logan."
Watching Juliana on the verge of collapse, his heart ached. He knew he had to give her an outlet, something to help her get back on her feet.
"Listen to me," he wiped away the tears sliding down her cheeks, his gaze steady and strong. "Logan wasn't the only one involved back then. I've already tracked down your parents' company's former VP. He changed his name and is living somewhere very secluded now."
Juliana's head snapped up. In those unfocused eyes, a spark finally reignited.
Lucas looked at her and said clearly, word by word, "I'll take you to find him."
……
Dinner was somber.
Both kids were perceptive. Juliana ate very little, just mechanically moving food to her mouth.
Damian pushed rice around his bowl, sneaking glances at Lucas, then at Juliana. He set down his utensils, cleared his throat, trying to break the heavy silence.
"Mommy, in art class today, the teacher had us draw 'my family.'"
Juliana barely reacted, just a quiet "Mm."
Damian pressed on undeterred. "I drew you, and Dad, and my brother. All four of us standing in front of a big house with the sun in the sky." He paused, looking a bit proud. "Annie in my class drew her parents divorced—her dad holding some lady's hand, her mom with some guy. The teacher said mine was the best, had the most family feeling."
Matthew took his time finishing his last spoonful of soup, then added, "The sun Dami drew has a nose, eyes, and it's smiling."
Damian protested, "The sun totally smiles!"
Matthew looked at him seriously. "When it smiles, does it make a rooster sound or a hen sound?"
Damian was stumped. He scrunched up his little brow, thinking hard, then finally blurted out, "The sun's a boy, so obviously it crows like a rooster!"
Matthew nodded and concluded, "So dawn happens because the sun crows, not the rooster."
A soft laugh escaped from Juliana's lips. Though it was fleeting, the frozen atmosphere at the table immediately thawed.
Right. She still had them.
She couldn't fall apart. For these two kids, for her wronged parents, she had to stand up and drag every single one of those people straight to hell.
She picked up her utensils, placed a piece of pork rib in Damian's bowl, then ladled half a bowl of soup for Matthew. Her voice returned to its usual warmth. "Eat more. You've got school tomorrow."
The two boys exchanged glances and both relaxed.
Mission accomplished.
……
After dinner, Juliana settled the kids down for bed and went out to the balcony alone.
She pulled out her phone and dialed. The phone rang three times before someone picked up.
"Hello?" Logan's voice carried a hint of alcohol, lazy and loose.
Juliana didn't say anything.
The person on the other end seemed to move to a quieter place—the background noise faded. "Juliana? What made you think of calling me?"
"Logan."
Juliana only said his name. Instant silence on the other end.
After a few seconds, Logan's light laughter came through, sticky with amusement. "What? Calling me this late—you miss me?"
"That necklace you gave me way back—you know where it is?" Juliana deflected.
Logan paused, then his smile deepened. "Oh? Our little love token—you kept it? Guess that means you still have feelings for—"
"I threw it in the trash ages ago." Juliana cut him off, her voice completely flat. "I'm calling to tell you something. I don't like owing people."
"You gave my family total destruction. That 'gift'—I'm going to return it with interest."