Chapter 318

Chapter 318

In the days that followed, Bayport seemed to truly return to its former calm.

Owen's case was officially closed with a public announcement.

On the TV news, the anchor reported in measured tones: "The major international crime syndicate led by Owen has been completely dismantled. All domestic and international assets have been lawfully frozen and seized. Core members have all been apprehended and, according to their crimes, sentenced to life imprisonment or terms ranging up to twenty years."

The massive storm that had swept through high society and financial circles ended with this simple news brief.

Juliana's arm fully recovered. She returned to the hospital. Kate still hadn't woken, but her vital signs remained stable. Professor Lee practically lived at the hospital, personally overseeing every detail. Milo was the same as ever, guarding his small corner of the world, asking nothing of the outside.

That day, when Juliana got off work, Lucas's car was already waiting at the hospital entrance.

She opened the door and climbed in. Matthew was sitting in his car seat. When he saw her, he immediately held up a drawing like a treasure.

"Mom, look! This is our family!"

On the page, three crooked stick figures held hands, with a villa and a field of sunflowers in the background.

"It's beautiful." Juliana smiled and ruffled his hair.

Lucas watched Juliana and Matthew in the rearview mirror, his expression soft.

"We're having dinner at home tonight."

Not a question. A statement.

Juliana hummed in agreement and leaned back in her seat, watching the streetscape fly past the window.

The city lights were just coming on. Everything peaceful and prosperous.

The special care unit was so quiet you could hear the faint hum of machinery.

Milo sat beside the bed with a small nail clipper, patiently trimming her nails. His movements were gentle—one clip, then another—as if performing some sacred ritual.

This hospital room had become his entire world.

That day, Professor Lee finished checking the data but didn't leave.

"She can't hear you."

Milo's hand paused mid-clip. He didn't look up. "I know."

"Wearing yourself down like this won't help."

Milo finally raised his head. Those bloodshot eyes looked at Professor Lee without a ripple of emotion. "Then what will help? Tell me."

One question silenced the top medical authority.

Yes, what would help? Medicine wasn't theology. Faced with a brain that refused to wake, all they could do was maintain the body's vital functions.

Milo lowered his head and continued clipping the last nail. When he finished, he gently filed the edge smooth.

"She loves to look beautiful."

Professor Lee watched him. After a long moment, he sighed and walked out.

Some illnesses, doctors couldn't cure.

...

Lucas had been very busy lately.

So busy he often didn't come home until the middle of the night, carrying an aura of cold exhaustion that wouldn't dissipate. He'd take a shower, then quietly slip into bed beside her, his movements light, afraid of waking her.

Juliana pretended to sleep. She could feel his body like a branding iron, his muscles tense.

He didn't say. She didn't ask.

Their days passed like a meticulously painted work—every brushstroke just right. Lucas remembered the pastry she'd mentioned in passing. He spent weekends taking Matthew to the science museum. When she worked late, he waited quietly in the living room.

Lucas used this method to carefully maintain the illusion of something called "stability."

But Juliana wasn't some naive girl.

That night, she woke up thirsty and went to the kitchen for water. Passing the study, she found the door ajar. Lucas wasn't inside, but his computer was still on.

The screen didn't show financial statements. It showed a massive world map marked with dozens of red dots—from Astoria to some small European country. Intricate lines connected them, all converging on a single point.

At that point, only one name: Blackbird.

Juliana's hand froze mid-air, the cold from the glass seeping through her fingertips.

He was isolating her safely from danger.

The next day, Juliana said nothing. She went to work as usual—rounds, surgery. But during a break between procedures, she sent Matthew a message.

[Matty, I need a favor.]

That evening when Lucas came home, Juliana had already sent Iris and Damian back to the villa.

"Home early today?" Lucas was clearly surprised.

"Waiting for you." Juliana sat on the couch and patted the space beside her.

Lucas walked over and sat down. He naturally reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

His heart lurched.

"What's wrong?"

Juliana didn't speak. She just pushed her tablet in front of him.

On the screen was the exact same world map from his computer. Except Juliana's version had more detailed information. Next to each red dot were company names, capital flow amounts and directions, even the names and photos of several key figures.

Lucas's expression darkened progressively.

"You investigated me?" Lucas's voice turned cold.

"What else was I supposed to do? Wait until you come home missing an arm or leg and tell me everything's handled?"

"Juliana!"

"Lucas, we had an agreement." She cut him off. "Don't treat me like an idiot, and don't treat me like some caged canary. You're forgetting—I also walked out of those woods alive."

Lucas looked at her. Looked at Juliana's cool, stubborn face. That nameless anger he'd been forcibly suppressing suddenly dissipated.

He sank back into the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose. His whole body radiated defeated exhaustion.

"I just... didn't want you in any more danger."

"The biggest danger is you hiding everything from me. You charging ahead alone—did you ever think what would happen to me, Dami, and Matty if you went down? You think you're protecting us, but you're actually pushing us away."

Juliana cupped Lucas's face, each word deliberate.

"Lucas, I don't want a hero who shields me from behind. I want a husband who can stand beside me."

Husband.

That word was like a key, unlocking the hardest lock in Lucas's heart.

Lucas looked at her, complex emotions churning in his eyes. Finally, he reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.

"I'm sorry." He buried his face in Juliana's neck, his voice muffled.

Juliana hugged him back, gently patting his back.

"Talk to me," she said. "What exactly is this 'Blackbird'?"

Lucas was silent for a long time before speaking again.

"It's not a person. Most likely an organization." He pulled Juliana into the study and opened the map he'd been hiding. "Owen was just a chess piece they pushed to the front. Or rather, a product. They exploited Owen's greed and cruelty, crafted him into the perfect target, drew all our fire."

He pointed to the tangled web of lines on the map.

"This is what I've uncovered over the past two months. A massive money-laundering network hidden behind international trade and financial investment. Owen fell, but their foundation remains. That money transferred to Owen before we closed in? That was their 'severance pay.' Let Owen die and use his death to burn all the evidence clean."

"They succeeded." Juliana looked at that web, her scalp tingling.

"Almost." A cold light flashed in Lucas's eyes. "They didn't expect Matthew to find a flaw in a video that had been processed countless times."

"So what do you plan to do now?"

"Blackbird must die." Lucas looked at her, his gaze sharp. "But not now. If you strike a snake and don't kill it, it'll bite back. What I want is to pull up everyone behind this network, roots and all."

Juliana looked at him. Looked at the cold determination in his eyes. Suddenly, she smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing." Juliana shook her head. "Just thinking that this version of you looks a lot better than the Lucas who comes home on time every day pretending everything's fine."

She paused, then pointed to a spot on the map.

"Tomorrow, I'll go to the hospital and talk to Professor Lynd. He has a student who's a well-known anti-financial crime expert in Europe. Maybe he can help."

That afternoon, Juliana had just finished a four-hour surgery and returned to her office, completely drained.

She leaned back in her chair, eyes closed, fingers absently rubbing her lower back.

Her phone rang. "Chloe" flashed on the screen.

Juliana answered, her voice still carrying traces of fatigue. "Hello?"

An ear-piercing shriek nearly burst her eardrum.

"Juliana!"

Juliana pulled the phone away from her ear. When the excited screaming subsided, she brought it back. "Did you win a hundred million in the lottery?"

"Better than that!" Chloe's voice was high and bright. "David proposed!"

Juliana froze.