Chapter 59
Not only did Lucas not release her, he tightened his arm around her waist, practically holding her against him with zero space between them.
"Stand steady," he murmured in her ear.
Then, with her in his arms, he walked toward Logan step by deliberate step.
Each step felt like it was landing directly on Juliana's heart. She tried to pull away, but his arm was like an iron clamp, holding her captive.
Logan watched with evident amusement as Lucas approached with Juliana. "Lucas, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Logan," Lucas stopped in front of him, his voice cold as ice. "My bastard half-brother. Juliana, my fiancée."
Logan's face flickered with displeasure at the word 'bastard.'
"Fiancée?" Logan's gaze lingered on Juliana, his tone turning suggestive. "Though Juliana and I... oh, I suppose I should call her my sister-in-law now. This isn't our first meeting."
Guests had already gathered around them, whispers rising in waves.
"That's the second young master of the Sharp family, right? I heard he's been abroad. Why did he suddenly come back?"
"Look at Mr. Sharp's expression... these brothers don't seem close at all."
"The real question is Dr. Wells. They know each other?"
Juliana felt like a prisoner being stripped naked in public.
Logan seemed to relish the effect. He stepped closer, leaning in so only the three of them could hear. "Come to think of it, I'm a bit curious. Back then, you were interested in my brother too. So why did you choose me in the end? Am I more charming than him?"
Juliana's face turned white as paper.
She opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out.
"Show respect."
Lucas cut her off coldly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling pressure.
Logan's smile froze for a moment before he recovered his devil-may-care attitude. He bowed mockingly to Juliana. "Since we're all family now, I look forward to your guidance."
That phrase 'your guidance' dripped with implication.
Lucas ignored him, turned with Juliana still in his arms, and returned to the main table.
Throughout the rest of the banquet, Juliana couldn't taste the food. She sat on pins and needles, her mind filled with Logan's face and his words.
Why had he come back? What did he want?
Seven years ago, he'd deceived her. Now, was he trying the same tricks again to disrupt her life?
She kept spacing out, not even hearing when people spoke to her.
"Ms. Wells?"
Only when Lucas nudged her with his elbow did she snap back to reality.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
The person speaking to her was one of the Sharp Group's directors. Lucas deflected for her, raising his glass to the director. "She's exhausted today. Please excuse her."
He drained his wine in one gulp.
The man waved dismissively. "No problem at all."
Lucas's hand at her waist suddenly released. "I'm going to greet some friends. Find somewhere to sit and rest."
Without another glance at her, he took his glass and walked to another table, chatting and laughing with several business tycoons.
Juliana's fingertips went ice cold.
Taking a deep breath, she found a quiet corner and tried to eat.
A shadow fell across her.
"All alone?"
Logan.
He'd somehow appeared beside her, swirling a glass of champagne, smiling like a fox.
Juliana looked at him coldly. "What do you want?"
"Just catching up. Why so tense?" Logan leaned back, relaxed. "I just never expected that after seven years, you'd become my sister-in-law. Don't you think the world's fascinating?"
"I have nothing to catch up with you about." Juliana stood to leave.
"Don't rush off." Logan grabbed her wrist. "Let's talk about the past. Or... the future?"
His fingers were cold, making Juliana's skin crawl with revulsion.
"Let go!" She tried to wrench free.
Not far away, Lucas had just finished with his business associates. He turned and saw exactly this scene.
In that instant, the handsome man's face became terrifyingly cold.
Juliana's stomach churned.
"Aren't you curious how my brother ended up in a coma out of nowhere?" Logan's voice dropped low, carrying malicious temptation as it burrowed into her ear.
Juliana's whole body jolted. Her struggles stopped.
Seeing her freeze, Logan continued, "Some secrets only I know. Want to hear them?"
Before Juliana could react, sharp pain shot through her wrist.
Lucas had appeared without her noticing, his expression blank as he gripped her wrist and forcibly pulled her away from Logan.
His cold aura instantly enveloped her.
"I'll handle my fiancée myself. No need for your concern." Lucas looked at Logan, each word like it had been dredged from an ice cellar.
Logan shrugged carelessly, raising both hands in mock surrender, his expression still insouciant. "Brother, don't be so uptight. Juliana and I were just reminiscing. After all... we knew each other long before you came into the picture."
Lucas's expression grew several degrees colder.
Without another word, he gripped Juliana's wrist and dragged her toward the exit. His strides were so long that Juliana, in high heels, was practically being hauled along behind him, stumbling awkwardly.
Fortunately, she'd found a secluded corner—no one noticed.
She was roughly shoved into the passenger seat of the Bentley.
Lucas circled to the driver's side and started the engine.
The pressure inside the car was suffocating. She knew he was furious, but she felt just as wronged.
"Lucas, will you let me explain?" The man stared straight ahead, his grip on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. His profile looked like a bowstring drawn taut.
"Explain what? Explain how you met my dear brother? Explain how you got that scar on your back saving him? Or explain why seeing him made you lose your composure like that?"
"I don't have any relationship with him anymore!"
Lucas laughed as if he'd heard a joke, then suddenly slammed on the brakes.
He turned to face her. In the dim car, those eyes were startlingly bright, roiling with suppressed fury and disappointment.
"Juliana, do you think I'm an idiot?"
"You hid from me that your first love is my brother. Why? To surprise him at our engagement party? Or to surprise me?"
His words were like knives, each one more cutting than the last.
"Is that who you think I am?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"What else am I supposed to think?" Lucas leaned closer.