Chapter 33
Juliana's temper flared. "Lucas, what is wrong with you? Do you have any idea how bad your condition is? Do you want to get better or not? You want to die young? What about your son?"
"That's my business."
"You—"
Before Juliana could explode, the man suddenly threw off his covers and got out of bed. He didn't even put on slippers, walking toward her barefoot. His tall figure radiated overwhelming pressure. Juliana instinctively backed away until her spine hit the cold wall—nowhere left to go.
"Lucas, what do you think you're doing!"
The man said nothing. He simply stretched out his long arm, bracing one hand against the wall by her ear, caging her completely in his shadow.
"As a doctor," his voice dropped low, warm breath fanning across her ear with a dangerous rasp, "shouldn't you satisfy your patient's needs?"
Juliana's heart skipped a beat.
"My need," he leaned down, drawing closer until their noses nearly touched, "is to know everything crystal clear."
"You..."
Just as the charged atmosphere reached its breaking point—
Click. The door swung open from outside.
A man in a white casual suit stood in the doorway, his demeanor refined and gentle, holding a gold-embossed invitation. He froze at the scene before him—the classic wall-pin.
"Sorry. I'm interrupting."
He quickly retreated, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
The atmosphere in the room turned awkward beyond measure. Juliana's cheeks burned scarlet. She mustered all her strength and shoved the man away.
"Lucas!"
She grabbed her medical kit and stormed out without looking back.
"Drink the medicine or don't—I don't care! And don't come looking for me when you don't get better!"
Juliana yanked the door open furiously, only to find the man from before still standing in the hallway, apparently waiting for someone. Seeing her emerge, he nodded politely.
Juliana walked past him without a glance.
Just as they passed each other, the man suddenly spoke.
"Miss, have we... met somewhere before?"
Juliana's steps halted.
"We've met?" She frowned, studying him, but couldn't find any memory of that face.
The man maintained his impeccable gentle smile. "Perhaps I'm mistaken. You have a very distinctive presence—quite memorable."
The words were flawless—could be a pickup line or simple flattery.
Juliana gave him a cold nod and hurried toward the stairs.
Inside the room, Lucas had already put his robe back on. David entered, casually placing the gold-embossed invitation on the table. He was Ashley's godson, summoned back to the country by her.
"The new club at the west side stables is hosting a gala next week. Brought you an invitation."
"Not interested." Lucas returned to the bedside, picked up the half-cooled medicine, and downed it in one emotionless gulp.
David raised an eyebrow watching him drink. "Well, well. Had a change of heart? Thought you never consumed anything of unknown origin?"
Lucas ignored the teasing.
Seeing his sour expression, David switched to business. "I came back mainly because Mom's worried about you." He paused, his gaze falling on the empty bowl. "Looks like your health really has become a problem."
"Won't kill me." Lucas's tone was indifferent.
David pulled out a chair and sat with casual ease. "I wouldn't be so sure. That doctor just now—she looks like trouble. What, planning to marry her?"
Lucas shot him a cold glance. "I'll be dissolving my engagement with Bianca soon."
This news shocked David more than the illness itself. He sat up straight, his casual demeanor sharpening. "Because of that woman just now?"
"Yes."
"You're into her?" David pressed. "Let me remind you—that woman has clear, honest eyes. She's not some gold digger. Getting her to be your son's stepmother won't be easy."
Lucas gave a cold laugh, his smile laced with possessive certainty. "She will."
David knew Lucas's temperament—once he decided on something, he'd make it happen. Still, something about that woman called Juliana told him she wasn't as simple as she appeared.
Meanwhile, Juliana was nearly at her apartment building, her mind still chaotic—filled with Lucas's magnified handsome face and his line about "satisfying the patient's needs."
Besides Lucas, there was that man in the white suit...
"Have we... met somewhere before?"
The inexplicable sense of familiarity wouldn't leave her.
Stepping into the elevator, she caught sight of her flushed cheeks in the mirror. A long-buried memory suddenly flashed unbidden through her mind.
"Ms. Wells, here's the agreement. Once completed, this money will be enough for your mother's remaining treatments."
That man's face slowly overlapped with the face she'd encountered in the Sharp estate hallway today.
It was him!
Juliana's pupils contracted sharply. All the blood in her body seemed to freeze in that instant.
It was him! The one who'd approached her seven years ago on behalf of the Sharp family's mysterious employer about that surrogacy agreement!
Did he recognize her?
If he did, would he tell Lucas about what happened back then?
Massive panic seized Juliana's heart in an instant.
She'd worked so hard to return to the country, to get close to her son. If Lucas found out she was the surrogate from seven years ago, what would he think of her?
Would he assume she'd schemed her way back into his life for money?
Forget custody—she might not even be allowed to see her children again!
Ding. The elevator doors opened.
Juliana stumbled out in a daze, fumbling with her keys several times before getting them in the lock.
No. She couldn't panic.
Maybe... maybe he just found her vaguely familiar and hadn't actually remembered. After all, seven years had passed. Her appearance and bearing had changed considerably.
Yes. That must be it.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.