Chapter 31
"I refuse." Juliana didn't hesitate. "My consultation fees are astronomical, Mr. Sharp. I'm afraid you can't afford them."
"Name your price." The man seemed to expect this response. "Or one condition."
A condition? Juliana's fingers tightened around her phone.
"Cure me, and I'll grant you one condition." The voice on the other end held an irresistible certainty. "Any condition."
Any condition. Juliana's heart stirred. Her overwhelming hatred and maternal instinct clashed violently in her chest.
After a long moment, she heard herself speak. "Alright. I'll treat you." Juliana added slowly, "But Mr. Sharp, once you agree, don't regret it."
Lucas gave a cold laugh. "Of course."
That weekend, at the Hale Mansion, Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and glanced at his "son" in the passenger seat. The little guy wore a crisp suit today, but instead of bouncing around like usual, he sat quietly absorbed in a thick introductory finance book.
Lucas's brow twitched. He couldn't shake the feeling that his son had changed somehow. He spoke less, stopped begging for the latest gaming console, and no longer scattered toys everywhere. He'd even pull up a little stool and read quietly while Lucas worked—so quiet he was almost invisible.
Ashley said the child was growing up, becoming more mature. But Lucas felt an inexplicable unease.
Bianca and her mother Emily were already waiting at the entrance. The moment Bianca saw Lucas, she plastered on a saccharine smile and hurried over.
"Lucas, you're here." Her voice dripped with sweetness, but her gaze stayed glued to Lucas, not sparing a glance for the child beside him.
Emily enthusiastically grabbed Matthew's hand. "Long time no see! You've grown so tall! Let me get a good look at you."
Matthew calmly withdrew his hand. "Hello, Grandma."
The group entered the lavishly decorated living room as Bianca's father, Marcus, emerged from his study wearing the shrewd smile typical of a businessman. "Lucas, you're here. Please, sit."
At the dinner table, the Hale family pulled out all the stops, constantly serving Lucas and Matthew, creating an atmosphere of apparent harmony. Bianca went full 'devoted wife and mother' mode, fussing over them endlessly.
"Dami, eat more shrimp. It's good for you." She placed a peeled shrimp in Matthew's bowl.
Matthew poked at the shrimp with his fork, then suddenly looked up. "Mommy, Grandma said you had a really hard time when I was born. Can you tell me about it?"
Bianca nearly spat out the soup she'd just sipped. Lucas's chopsticks froze mid-air.
Bianca's face flushed and paled alternately, her grip on her chopsticks tightening. "I was... in so much pain, I couldn't think about anything else. But for you, Dami, any pain was worth it."
"Oh..." Matthew drew out the sound, then asked, "Was I born in the morning or at night? Grandma said she forgot and wanted to ask you."
This question was even more lethal than the last. Bianca looked desperately at her parents for help.
Emily immediately smoothed things over. "What's with all these questions, child? Your mother was in such pain when you were born, how could she remember everything clearly? Now eat up before the food gets cold."
"But my classmate said his mom remembers his exact birth time, down to the minute." Matthew tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "He said it's the greatest moment in a mother's life—something she'd never forget."
Bianca's face went completely pale. Lucas's eyes darkened. He set down his chopsticks and stared at Bianca with such scrutiny that she squirmed in her seat.
"I... I hemorrhaged badly that day. The doctors gave me anesthesia, so a lot of what happened... I can't remember clearly." Bianca's eyes reddened, her voice taking on a tearful quality, as if she'd suffered some great injustice.
"Alright, alright. It's all in the past. Why bring it up?" Marcus's stern voice broke the tension. "Eat!"
The meal continued with undercurrents of tension.
After dinner, Emily took Matthew's hand with an especially doting smile. "Dami, sweetheart, you haven't visited in so long. Why don't you stay here tonight? I've prepared so many toys you'll love."
Lucas instinctively started to refuse. "He has to—"
"Sure!" The crisp child's voice cut him off.
Everyone froze. Matthew looked up with a bright smile. "I love spending time with Grandma and Mommy!"
He agreed? Lucas was taken aback. Every previous visit to the Hale family had been met with reluctance. What changed? And saying he loved spending time with Grandma and Mommy? Was he up to something?
Bianca and Emily exchanged glances, both seeing delighted surprise in the other's eyes.
"Lucas, you see—the child wants to stay. Let him spend a couple days here. It'll be good for him and Bee to bond." Emily struck while the iron was hot.
Lucas looked at his "son's" expectant eyes and hesitated. "I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow."
After Lucas left, the atmosphere in the Hale household relaxed considerably. Bianca took Matthew to show him the 'prince's room' they'd prepared, while Emily went to the kitchen to prepare fruit.
In the spacious living room, only Marcus and Matthew remained. Marcus sat on the sofa with a cup of tea, studying his overly 'well-behaved' grandson. His eyes gleamed shrewdly behind his glasses.
"Dami, come here. Let's chat."
Matthew walked over on his little legs and sat on the sofa across from him.
"Why are you suddenly being so nice to your mother today?" Marcus got straight to the point.
"She's my mommy. Shouldn't I be nice to her?" Matthew blinked innocently.
Marcus gave a cold laugh. "Cut the act. Tell me—have you met that Dr. Wells?"
Matthew's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained neutral. "Dr. Wells? The one Daddy hired to treat Grandma? Yeah, I've met her."