Chapter 56
Lucas set down his newspaper and looked down at the small, serious child before him. He reached out naturally and ruffled Matthew's soft hair, responding with a flat "Mm."
One word. But complete acceptance.
Damian reacted first, bouncing up from his chair excitedly. "Wow! Matty, you called him Daddy! Me too! Good morning, Daddy!"
The two children chimed in together. The dining room atmosphere instantly became warm and... surreal.
The small box in Juliana's pocket felt heavy as a thousand pounds, burning her fingertips numb. There was no returning it now.
Breakfast passed in a flavorless blur. The moment she sent both children off on the school bus and turned around, she found Lucas waiting. He leaned against his car, watching her with unhurried patience.
"Get in. I'll drive you to the hospital."
"No need, I can—"
"Dr. Wells," he interrupted, his tone casual, "I'm out of medication. I need my attending physician to write me a new prescription. Unless you'd prefer my assistant to book an appointment at your clinic?"
"..."
Juliana found herself speechless, biting down her frustration as she opened the back door.
"Sit up front," the man commanded.
The car glided smoothly out of the villa complex. Juliana's hand remained in her pocket, unconsciously tracing the velvet box's edges.
Red light. The car stopped smoothly.
Just as she gathered the courage to speak, the man beside her beat her to it.
"I never take back what I've given."
Her head whipped around, meeting his unfathomable dark eyes. He'd already seen through what she was hiding in her pocket, had seen through her restlessness all morning.
"Juliana, I always get the woman I want."
"Last night, you rejected me. I didn't give up."
Juliana's mind went blank, stunned speechless by the implication in his words. This man... how could he be so...
Before she could react, his burning lips crashed down on hers. Not devouring, not punishing. But a deep kiss carrying absolute possession and no room for refusal.
The light turned green. Cars behind them began honking.
Lucas acted as if he didn't hear. Juliana's mind blanked completely. The chaos outside the window faded away. Her senses filled only with his familiar yet foreign scent and the burning heat from his lips.
She tried to push him away. Her hand lifted halfway before he caught her wrist and pinned it to the seat.
He pulled back slowly. "Your body is more honest than your mouth."
Lucas restarted the car.
"Lucas, what exactly do you want?"
Lucas tilted his head slightly. "What do you think?"
"I don't understand." Juliana's voice was cold. "And I don't want to understand. If you don't stop this car, I'll jump out."
Screech—
The Bentley stopped at an extremely dangerous angle on the roadside. Lucas whipped around, his chest heaving violently.
For several seconds, Juliana actually thought he might strangle her. But he only unlocked the doors.
Juliana didn't hesitate. She immediately shoved the door open and slammed it hard behind her. Without looking back, she walked quickly along the sidewalk, her heels clicking sharp and frantic against the pavement.
She thought he would drive away.
But after just a few steps, that black Bentley followed like a silent shadow, maintaining its distance beside her.
The window lowered, revealing the man's stern face.
Juliana stopped and turned to look at him. Exhaustion flooded through her like a tide.
"Lucas, what do you want from me?"
"Get in the car." Brief and to the point.
"We're not from the same world. You're used to being on top, controlling everything. And I just want to live my life in peace."
She took a deep breath, as if making some final decision, and played her last card.
"Besides, didn't you investigate me? You should know I've had someone else in my heart."
She deliberately emphasized "someone else."
"I'm not a blank slate, Mr. Sharp. Can you accept a woman who still carries her first love?"
Lucas's hand on the steering wheel clenched tight, knuckles white.
Juliana's heart sank with that silence, bit by bit.
This was the result she wanted, wasn't it? Using what bothered him most to make him give up completely.
But why, seeing that desolate coldness on his face, did her chest feel blocked by something, aching with a dull pain?
She looked away, no longer meeting his gaze, and turned to keep walking.
This time, the car behind her didn't follow.
She'd won.
But she felt no joy at all.
She didn't know how long she walked. She found herself on a bridge spanning the river. She stopped, gripping the cold railing, watching the rushing water below. Her heart felt hollow.
Just then, urgent footsteps sounded behind her.
Before Juliana could turn around, someone grabbed her wrist from behind.
A powerful force spun her around, crashing her into a familiar embrace radiating fury.
Lucas.
He'd gotten out of the car at some point and run after her. His breathing was still ragged, his chest heaving violently. Those eyes locked onto her, holding anger, unwillingness, and an obsession she couldn't understand.
"Juliana!"
He suddenly shouted her name toward the wide river, using every ounce of his strength.
The wind scattered his voice, but it still rang deafeningly loud.
Juliana was completely stunned.
Was this the same Lucas who never showed his emotions, always calm and restrained?
Had he lost his mind?!
"What are you doing!" She reached instinctively to cover his mouth, alarmed. "Everyone in this city knows you! Want to make tomorrow's headlines?"
Lucas grabbed her hand and pulled her tighter into his arms. He looked down at her, the madness and stubbornness in his eyes threatening to swallow her whole.
"I told you. I always get the woman I want."
"You reject me once, I'll chase you once. Reject me a hundred times, I'll chase you a hundred times. Until you say yes."
Juliana was shocked speechless by the emotion in his eyes. This man... how could he be like this...
"Juliana," he suddenly softened his tone, his burning breath against her ear, half seduction, half plea, "let me make you happy. Please?"
All reason, all defenses, crumbled in that moment.