Chapter 84
But meeting Lucas's deep eyes tinged with exhaustion, the refusal on Juliana's lips somehow got swallowed back down.
She was silent for two seconds, then pulled over a chair and sat by the bed.
"Open your mouth."
The corners of Lucas's lips lifted almost imperceptibly as he obediently opened his mouth and accepted the spoonful of porridge.
The warm porridge slid into his stomach, dispelling the cold emptiness and seeming to soothe some corner of his heart.
"You really are the perfect wife."
Lucas suddenly threw out that comment.
Juliana's feeding motion froze, the spoon nearly dropping into the bowl.
She looked up at Lucas like he was some kind of alien, wondering if she'd heard wrong.
Perfect wife?
He actually used those words to describe her?
"What are you talking about?" Her cheeks felt hot, though whether from anger or embarrassment, she couldn't tell.
"I'm not talking nonsense." Lucas looked at her, his expression impossibly earnest. "Juliana, without you this time, I really might not have made it."
For someone as proud as him to say he "might not have made it" was extraordinary.
Juliana's heart felt like something had gently bumped against it, skipping a beat.
She awkwardly avoided his gaze, lowering her head to continue scooping porridge, muttering, "Just eat. You talk too much."
……
At the Sharp Estate, Matthew, disguised as Damian, sat in the study.
The clock showed nine at night.
According to his agreement with his brother, tonight was supposed to be when they switched back.
But starting at eight, he'd been sending messages on his phone watch to his brother, and still hadn't received any reply.
[Dami, are you done there?]
[Message me back when you see this.]
[Dami?]
Matthew's small brow furrowed.
He tried calling Damian's phone watch, but no one answered.
Matthew's heart sank bit by bit.
How could it not connect?
His brother's phone watch was specially made with excellent battery life and GPS tracking. Unless there was no signal or someone had deliberately turned it off.
Matthew's usually calm, composed little face showed cracks for the first time.
He gripped the phone watch tightly, its screen's dim glow reflecting on his serious face.
Today his brother had gone with their mother back to her own place. The Sharp family shouldn't know about that location.
So who was it?
He forced himself to calm down.
He couldn't panic now. Panic wouldn't solve anything.
He immediately opened another hidden feature on the watch—emergency contacts. He quickly scrolled through the list, skipping past his mother Juliana's number.
Mom was likely with his brother right now. If they were both in danger, calling her would only expose them.
If Mom wasn't with his brother, then she was definitely with Lucas. Lucas was seriously injured, and Mom was surely taking care of him. He couldn't disturb her at a time like this and make her worry.
His finger finally stopped on a contact with no name, just the letter "P."
This was someone Grandfather had arranged to look after them domestically, a trusted member of the Lynd family who only answered to Grandfather and Mother.
He didn't hesitate to dial.
The call was answered almost immediately.
"Master Matthew?" A steady, respectful male voice came through.
"Paul," Matthew kept his voice low but it carried a composure and urgency beyond his years. "Something may have happened to my brother. His phone watch isn't connecting. He should be at Mom's apartment right now. The address is..."
He quickly rattled off the address.
"I need you to go check immediately. Be careful—don't expose yourself. Confirm the situation first."
"I'll go right now!" Paul on the other end didn't hesitate for a second.
Hanging up, Matthew stared at the heavy darkness outside the window, his heart sinking with it.
Dami, please be okay.
……
Meanwhile, at Juliana's apartment.
"Ding dong—"
Damian, who'd been building with Legos in the living room, paused and lifted his little head toward the door.
Wasn't Mom supposed to be taking care of that jerk dad these days? Was she back already?
No, wait. Mom would use her own key, not ring the doorbell.
He slid down from the sofa and peered through the peephole.
Outside stood an elegantly dressed woman, with two men in black suits standing behind her, their expressions stern.
Damian's small frame went rigid.
It was Grandma!
How did she find this place?
A strong sense of unease immediately seized him. Grandma had never liked Mom. Showing up suddenly now definitely meant no good!
He was currently wearing his brother's clothes, playing the role of "Matthew."
A thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
Damian's little face instantly adopted a confused and wary expression. Instead of opening the door, he asked through it in a timid voice, "Who are you looking for?"
Outside, Ashley's heart clenched at the sound of that voice.
This was the child!
She'd had someone track down Juliana's address and discovered she was living with a child. In the photos, the child looked exactly like Damian!
Seven years ago, she'd thought the other grandson was dead. Maybe he'd never died at all!
A mixture of heartache, anger, and guilt surged through her.
"Child, open the door. I'm your grandmother." Ashley tried to make her voice sound gentle, but her commanding presence from years of authority couldn't be disguised.
Grandmother?
Damian sneered inwardly.
Keep pretending.
If you really thought I was your grandson, wouldn't you recognize my voice?
He saw right through her, but his tone only grew more innocent. "Old lady, you've got the wrong person. I don't have a grandmother. Please leave, or my mom will be upset when she gets back."
He deliberately mentioned "mom" to test Ashley's reaction.
Sure enough, the moment she heard "mom," Ashley's expression darkened.
"She's not your mother!" she snapped, losing control. "Open the door! Let me in!"
The butler behind her quickly stepped forward, saying softly, "Mrs. Sharp, please stay calm. Don't frighten the child."
Ashley took a deep breath, forcing down her fury.
Right, she couldn't scare the child. This boy had been with that woman Juliana—he'd probably suffered plenty and being wary of her was natural.
She softened her tone and spoke again, adding a coaxing note. "Good child, just open the door first. I won't yell at you. I've come to take you home. No one will dare bully you anymore."
Damian pursed his lips.
Easy to say.
When he was at the Sharp Estate, that wicked woman Bianca had bullied him openly and secretly, and this "grandmother" never said a word.
He was determined not to open the door. Turning, he ran toward the living room to grab his phone watch and call his mother.
But just as he lit up the screen, there was a soft "click" from the door.
The lock had been opened from outside!