Chapter 78
Juliana's eyes were red-rimmed, brimming with unshed tears. She looked like she'd suffered a terrible grievance but stubbornly refused to let the tears fall. She just stared at him, her lips moving several times without making a sound.
"What happened?" Lucas asked again, his tone softening as his thumb gently stroked her cheek.
Juliana's psychological defenses completely crumbled in that moment. Her voice was tight with barely suppressed trembling. "It's Logan..."
She poured out everything Logan had said to her, fragmented and incoherent.
Lucas listened quietly, relieved by her honesty. At least she wasn't shouldering this alone anymore.
"When you were together, did he often ask about your family's affairs?"
Juliana tried hard to remember, her eyes showing more fear. "Yes, he was always casually asking about my family's research and my father's company operations... I thought at the time he was just curious..."
She'd thought it was normal conversation between lovers. Looking back now, it was all a trap.
Lucas's expression turned cold.
"Logan is my father's illegitimate son from outside, never taken seriously." He spoke slowly, his voice emotionless. "Back then, the Wells and Lynd families were at their peak. A marriage alliance would have been his greatest asset."
Juliana's face drained of color inch by inch.
"He wouldn't have dumped you for no reason. Either he gained sufficient benefits, or there was something more important he needed to pursue. But regardless, if he's saying this now, it proves he had some knowledge of what happened to your family back then."
Lucas's analysis was coldly sharp. Juliana felt dizzy, barely able to stand.
A large hand steadied her waist, drawing her into a solid, warm embrace.
"Don't be afraid. Leave the rest to me."
A simple sentence, but it carried reassuring power.
Juliana's taut nerves gradually relaxed, her mood miraculously settling.
Just when she thought he might say something comforting, she heard him ask from above, "So, are we still doing this or not?"
"..."
Juliana's head snapped up to meet Lucas's deep eyes, which held a barely perceptible hint of teasing.
She froze for half a second, then realized what he meant. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
This man...
Lucas watched her embarrassed and annoyed expression, then walked to the bedside cabinet, pulled open a drawer, and took out a small square box.
He waved it, raising an eyebrow at her.
Juliana's face burned at his gesture, her heartbeat skipping. But the heavy weight that had been pressing on her chest was indeed mostly dispelled by his interference.
She bit her lip, took the box from his hand, and kissed him again.
……
After their intimacy, Juliana curled up in Lucas's arms, her emotions completely stabilized.
Lucas's hand stroked her long hair rhythmically. "Want to go see Dami?"
Juliana's heart immediately tightened.
"Yes."
They dressed and Lucas took her hand, heading toward Damian's hospital room.
The scene inside made them both stop in their tracks simultaneously.
Matthew, that little rascal, was triumphantly riding on Ashley's back, his small hands gripping her hair like reins, his sweet voice calling out, "Giddy up! Faster, faster!"
And Ashley, being used as his horse, wasn't angry at all. She played along, coaxing, "Oh my, slow down a bit. Grandma's old bones are about to fall apart..."
David stood to the side, wanting to laugh but not daring to, his whole face flushed red from holding it in.
Lucas's expression darkened instantly.
He couldn't stand such lack of propriety.
Ashley was an elder. No matter how much she doted on the child, she couldn't let a few-year-old kid ride on her back and act so domineering.
"Damian, get down."
Matthew, who'd been playing cheerfully, paused. He turned his head to see Lucas and Juliana at the door. His little mouth pouted, and instead of getting down, he gripped Ashley's hair even tighter.
"I don't want to! The horse hasn't reached the finish line yet!"
"You..." Lucas's brow furrowed as he stepped forward to grab him.
"Hey, what are you doing!" Ashley panicked first, looking up to scold Lucas. "Why are you being so fierce? You'll scare the child! I'm willing to play with my grandson—what's it to you?"
Lucas stopped in place, his expression unpleasant.
Juliana was also stunned.
The Ashley in her memory was arrogant and domineering. Though she cared for Damian, it was more about valuing him as "the Sharp family heir." When had she ever shown such boundless indulgence and affection?
David awkwardly rubbed his nose and tried to smooth things over. "Lucas, Mom's just playing around with Dami. Don't take it seriously."
Ashley snorted. "Dami, let's stop running. I'll take you to get something delicious."
Matthew slid down from her back and stood obediently to the side.
Juliana stepped forward and supported Ashley's arm. "Careful."
Ashley glanced at her with complicated eyes but didn't shake off her hand. Once steady, she pulled Matthew over and checked him thoroughly from head to toe, afraid he'd gotten hurt.
"Mommy." Matthew ran to Juliana's side.
"Does anything hurt?" Juliana crouched down, asking gently.
Matthew shook his head and whispered in her ear, "Mommy, I helped teach that old woman a lesson. Are you happy?"
Juliana's heart ached, though she also found it somewhat amusing. She patted her son's little head and said softly, "Thank you, my Matty."
She stood and said to Ashley, "I'll take him for a checkup on his recovery."
Ashley's gaze lingered on Matthew, full of reluctance, but she still nodded.
Lucas watched Juliana lead Matthew toward the intensive care unit next door, then turned his attention to his mother.
Ashley felt guilty under his gaze, her eyes evasive. "What... what's wrong? I'm just playing with my grandson. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You weren't like this before. You're so tolerant today because your conscience is bothering you?"
Ashley's face went pale.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Are you still hiding something from me about what happened back then?" Lucas completely ignored her denial, his voice growing more severe. "That surrogate woman—what was your relationship with her really?"