Chapter 81
At that moment, Lucas's phone rang.
He glanced at Juliana, who was organizing medicine bottles by the bedside, and answered the call.
"Mr. Sharp, the Hale family called asking when you're available. Mr. Marcus Hale would like to meet with you."
Lucas was silent for a few seconds.
"Tell them tomorrow evening."
He hung up and tossed his phone onto the nightstand with a soft thud.
Juliana had just finished organizing the medicine bottles and turned to look at him at the sound.
"Something wrong?" Juliana asked.
"Come with me tomorrow evening."
Juliana frowned slightly. "Alright."
She didn't ask where or why. Lucas watched her calm demeanor with an inexplicable discomfort—he'd rather she ask more questions.
The next evening, a black Rolls-Royce glided smoothly into the Hale Estate.
Lucas stepped out first and extended his hand toward Juliana inside the car. She hesitated briefly before placing her hand in his. He grasped it firmly—not forcefully, but unyieldingly—and led her up the steps.
Bianca sat on the sofa in an elegant white gown. Seeing Juliana beside Lucas, her smile stiffened for an instant.
"Lucas, you're here."
Bianca quickly adjusted her expression and asked deliberately, "And this is?"
"Juliana." Lucas's answer was succinct as he drew her closer to his side, the gesture intimate.
The movement completely ignited Bianca's fury. Her nails nearly dug into her palms.
Juliana tried subtly to withdraw her hand, but Lucas only gripped it tighter.
Just then, Marcus and his wife Emily descended the stairs.
"Lucas, you're here. Please, sit." Marcus wore a smile, adopting the warm manner of an elder. His gaze paused only briefly on Juliana.
Lucas nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
As everyone sat down, Bianca moved to sit beside Lucas, who imperceptibly shifted away.
Bianca's expression darkened further.
Lucas looked at Juliana, his tone softening. "Wait for me in the side parlor. I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Hale."
Juliana nodded and stood.
Only Lucas, Marcus, and Emily remained in the living room.
Lucas picked up a teacup but didn't drink.
"Mr. Hale," Lucas finally spoke, "seven years ago, after I became comatose, did you receive a DNA test report comparing Damian and me?"
Crash! The teacup slipped from Emily's hands and shattered on the floor.
Marcus's expression changed as he immediately scolded, "What's wrong with you! A grown woman can't even hold a cup steady!"
Though he berated his wife, his mind raced. Emily's reaction had already revealed everything—denial would be useless.
He took a deep breath and assumed an expression of pained regret. "Lucas, why... why are you suddenly asking about this? Wasn't it your mother who told me about it back then?"
Lucas looked up, his blue eyes glacial.
Marcus sighed. "Back then, your mother came to me and said that child... that child wasn't yours. But the Sharp family couldn't be without an heir, and you were unconscious. She said she hoped our Bee, considering her years with you, would acknowledge the child and help stabilize the Sharp family. Our Bee loved you so deeply that she willingly bore this enormous grievance and agreed. All these years, she's loved Dami like her own son. Do you have any idea how much she's suffered?"
His words dripped with sincerity.
"Oh? Is that so?" Lucas pulled a document from his jacket pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.
"This is a new report I obtained yesterday." Lucas's gaze locked onto Marcus like a hawk. "According to this report, Damian is my biological son."
Marcus's pupils contracted sharply.
"I'm very curious why the same DNA test would produce two completely different results seven years ago versus now. Mr. Hale, why is it that seven years ago you happened to invest in a private hospital, and that DNA test just happened to come from that same hospital?"
Marcus stared hard at the document.
Lucas hadn't come to "discuss matters" today—he'd come to demand answers.
"Lucas!" Marcus flushed with humiliated anger. "What are you implying? You suspect me? What evidence do you have that I tampered with the report back then? That's slander!"
"Coming to my Hale Estate to make wild accusations without proof—do you think the Hale family is easy to bully? Believe it or not, I'll call my lawyer right now and sue you for defamation!"
Facing his accusations, Lucas slowly stood. "Evidence," he adjusted his cufflinks, "I have plenty."
His tone was calm, his eyes showing no retreat. "See you in court."
Those words were an ultimatum, announcing the complete rupture of the alliance between the two families.
Marcus's vision darkened with rage. "Get out! Get out of my house! The Hale family doesn't welcome you!"
Lucas didn't even spare him an extra glance. He turned and walked toward the side parlor.
When he opened the door, Juliana and Bianca were both inside—one quietly gazing out the window, the other staring at her with venomous eyes.
"We're leaving." Lucas took her hand again and strode toward the exit, ignoring Bianca's face twisted with jealousy.
Only after settling back in the car did Juliana shake off his hand and rub her reddened wrist.
"Lucas, what exactly are you playing at?" she finally couldn't help asking.
Lucas looked at her, his eyes unfathomable.
"Taking back what belongs to you," he answered.
"What belongs to me?" Juliana frowned, her tone carrying a trace of impatience. "Lucas, I don't understand what riddle you're speaking in."
"Some truths that have been obscured." He paused. "And the vindication Bianca owes you."
Juliana froze.
……
At the Sharp Estate, Ashley sat in the master's chair. Marcus had just called to tell her everything about Lucas causing trouble at the Hale family.
She'd schemed for so many years, finally binding the Sharp and Hale families together tightly. Now that woman named Juliana had destroyed it all.
"Mom." David approached softly with a cup of tea. "Don't let it upset you. It's not worth damaging your health."
Ashley didn't even glance at him. "David, leave us."
David's hand holding the teacup paused. In all his years at Ashley's side, he'd rarely heard her dismiss him in this tone.
He looked up just as Logan sauntered down from the second floor.
David instantly understood. Ashley had dirty work even he couldn't know about—work she was assigning to Logan.
He asked nothing, bowed, and withdrew.