Chapter 132
Lucas's people moved to intervene, but he stopped them with a look.
Logan's face turned red from being choked, but he was still smiling. He raised his hand—not to fight back, but to pat Juliana's hand gently, like soothing a hissing cat.
"Don't get so worked up." His words came out in gasps. "I admit... back then, I did want to use the Wells family... help your dad connect with some European contacts, then... swallow the Wells family whole."
"But what a shame..." He watched Juliana's pupils contract violently with rage and shock. "My plan was only halfway through when your parents... died."
"The plan fell apart just like that. Isn't that a shame?"
Juliana's mind went blank.
Her nails dug into his skin, the pressure so intense her own knuckles ached.
Logan's face was flushed, his breathing labored, but those fox-like eyes held no fear—instead they glittered with a sick, excited light.
He loved watching her lose control over him.
Just as Juliana's reason was about to be completely consumed by rage, an arm like an iron clamp wrapped around her waist and pulled her away from Logan with irresistible force.
"Juliana."
Lucas's voice was like an anchor, crashing into her chaotic thoughts.
Her back pressed against his solid chest. Her body, trembling with fury, gradually began to calm.
Logan leaned against the wall, bent over and coughing violently. It took him a while to recover.
He straightened up and adjusted his disheveled collar.
His tongue pressed against his cheek—the picture of a reckless bastard.
"Lucas, why so tense? I'm just here to catch up with Juliana."
Lucas's dark gaze fell on Logan. "You jumped out here voluntarily, taking credit for what happened seven years ago. You're using this half-truth from the past to cover up something else, aren't you?"
Logan's smile froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected Lucas to react so quickly, so directly.
He thought Lucas would explode with rage, demand answers—not cut straight through his disguise like this.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Logan spread his hands.
"Don't know?" Lucas let out a cold laugh. "Kidnapping, extracting information about the past, then silencing witnesses while taking us out too. Kill three birds with one stone—nice plan. Too bad your people were useless."
He took a step forward. "You went through all this trouble just to ask 'who did Juliana's parents meet before they died?' Logan, are you naive or am I?"
Logan's expression finally darkened.
In front of Lucas, all his disguises were like tissue paper—completely transparent.
"I admit I'm no saint." Logan looked at him, his eyes sinister. "But what about you, Lucas? Are you clean? Do you dare tell her how you survived that car accident seven years ago?"
After saying that, he stopped looking at Lucas and turned his gaze to Juliana, who was protected behind him. That look was complicated—filled with resentment, stubbornness, and a barely detectable, insane possessiveness.
He said nothing more, turned around, walked down the stairs, and disappeared into the night.
He came arrogantly and left even more brazenly.
……
Juliana's body was still trembling slightly. Logan's final look and that loaded statement were like two venomous snakes burrowing into her heart.
How did Lucas survive?
Was there something else about that accident?
"Boss?" The lead bodyguard stepped forward, asking for instructions on what to do with the rescued VP.
"Take him somewhere safe. Get every detail out of him." Lucas quickly gave orders, then removed his suit jacket and draped it over Juliana's shoulders, wrapping her completely. "We're going home."
……
Meanwhile.
Back home, at the hospital.
David leaned against the cold wall, irritably tugging at his tie. The red "surgery in progress" light above the operating room had been on for almost three hours.
His mind was in chaos.
Chloe's condition had deteriorated too quickly. He'd been completely unprepared.
The doctor said this surgery carried high risks and told him to prepare himself mentally.
He pulled out his cigarette pack, wanting to smoke, then remembered he was in a hospital. He could only grip the pack in his hand, rubbing it over and over.
In the darkness, he seemed to see Chloe again, lying in the hospital bed with her pale face, smiling at him.
She'd said, "David, will we always be together?"
How had he answered?
He'd said yes.
But now, he had no confidence at all.
The operating room light went out.
……
On the private plane heading back, the atmosphere was oppressive.
The rescued VP had been taken away by Lucas's people. They would extract every detail about what happened seven years ago from him.
Juliana stared at the pitch-black clouds outside the window, replaying every word Logan had said.
Use. Swallow. What a shame.
Those light, casual words had destroyed her entire family.
Her hands on her lap slowly clenched into fists.
She wouldn't passively wait for the truth anymore. She'd personally send Logan to hell.
……
In the drone of the engines, Juliana unknowingly fell asleep.
Lucas hadn't spoken the whole time, just sat quietly beside her handling emails. When he noticed her breathing had become steady and deep, he put down the tablet and turned to look at her.
Even in sleep, her brow was furrowed. Her long lashes still held traces of moisture. She was curled up in the wide seat, radiating a fragility that made his chest tighten.
He got up, retrieved a soft cashmere blanket from the back cabin, and gently covered her with it.
He leaned down, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze lingering on her pale face for a long time.
……
When the plane landed, dawn was just breaking.
As the car pulled out of the airport, Lucas's phone rang. The caller ID showed the estate's number.
He answered. Ashley's sharp, agitated voice came through. "You need to come back right now! Immediately!"
Lucas's brow furrowed. He glanced at Juliana, still sleeping beside him, and kept his voice low. "What happened?"
"Something's happened to the Sharp family!" Ashley's voice was frantic.
Lucas's expression turned cold.
"Take her home first," he told the driver.