Chapter 85
Damian's pupils contracted sharply as he spun around.
The apartment door swung open and Ashley strode in with two bodyguards.
Her eyes immediately found the little boy standing in the living room's center, wearing a cartoon sweatshirt and clutching a phone watch.
That face was practically identical to Dami's when he was younger, though there seemed to be traces of Juliana's cool demeanor in his features.
Seeing the cheap-looking clothes the child wore and this pitifully small apartment, Ashley's heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles.
Her grandson, blood of the Sharp family, had spent seven years living in such poverty!
"Child, come here to me."
Damian gripped his phone watch tighter.
"Who are you people? Breaking into someone's home is illegal! I'm calling the police!"
Ashley looked at his stubborn, wary expression with a mix of heartache and anger.
"You're just like that mother of yours—stubborn and obstinate!" She approached and crouched down, trying to meet his eyes. "I'm your grandmother, your real grandmother. Your father's name is Lucas, and our home is your home. Come back with me, won't you? I'll buy you the biggest house, the best toys—whatever you want, I'll give you."
Damian looked at her and suddenly spoke. "Isn't my father dead?"
That's what Mom had told his brother Matthew.
Right now, he was Matthew.
Ashley's face went white, her heart feeling like someone had squeezed it viciously.
That bitch Juliana! This was how she'd been teaching the child! Cursing Lucas to die!
"Nonsense!" she snapped back sharply. "Your father is perfectly fine! That woman lied to you! She kept you from seeing your father, from coming home—she wanted you to live this miserable life forever!"
Damian lowered his eyes. What a performance.
"I don't know you."
Ashley's patience finally snapped.
"You don't have a choice. Today, you're coming with me!"
She shot a look at the butler behind her.
Understanding, the butler stepped forward to grab Damian.
"I'd like to see who dares touch him!"
Just then, a cold, steady male voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned in unison.
A middle-aged man in a black trench coat stood in the doorway, tall and imposing, with two equally formidable bodyguards behind him.
The Sharp family butler felt a chill run through him at the man's gaze and instinctively stopped.
"Paul!" Damian saw who it was and immediately moved behind the man.
The man called Paul shielded Damian behind him. "Mrs. Sharp, this is a private residence. You forced your way in with your people and now want to forcibly take the child? That hardly seems proper, does it?"
Ashley's expression turned ugly.
She recognized this man—he was from the Lynd family.
The Lynd family...
A flicker of wariness crossed Ashley's eyes, but thinking of her grandson, that wariness was replaced by determination.
"This is a family matter. I'm taking my own grandson home. It's not your place to interfere, outsider!"
"Grandson? I'm afraid you have the wrong person, Mrs. Sharp. Matthew has no connection whatsoever to the Sharp family."
"You—!" Ashley trembled with fury.
The butler beside her quickly stepped forward. "Mrs. Sharp, the Lynd family isn't to be trifled with. We can't be forceful here. Now that we've found the child, we'll have opportunities later. If this escalates today and Mr. Sharp finds out, it won't end well."
Ashley understood this logic, of course.
She glared viciously at Paul, then looked at Damian peeking out from behind him, her expression complicated.
"We're leaving!"
She turned and swept out with her entourage.
Paul immediately crouched down, carefully checking Damian over. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
Damian shook his head. "I'm fine, Paul."
……
On the other side, back in the car, Ashley's chest still heaved violently.
"Mrs. Sharp, please calm down." The butler offered her a glass of warm water.
Ashley knocked it away with one swipe. Water splashed everywhere.
"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down! My grandson, my own grandson! That bitch Juliana has brainwashed him so much he doesn't even recognize me as his grandmother! And she got the Lynd family to back her up—what is she trying to do? Does she think she can keep my grandson forever?"
"Mrs. Sharp, don't worry. The child is young and has been deceived by Juliana for so many years. It's natural he can't see clearly right now. We'll take it slowly. Once he knows the Sharp family is his real home and you're the one who truly cares for him, he'll come around."
Ashley breathed heavily, her chest feeling constricted.
Take it slowly? She couldn't wait another day!
She pulled out her phone.
"Find out which kindergarten Juliana enrolled that child in. Transfer him immediately to St. George International Primary School!"
"Also, assign two of our best drivers to be on standby at their building twenty-four seven! Send two nannies over to handle the child's three meals a day!"
"And buy the latest children's clothing, toys, snacks—everything you can think of—and send it all to that apartment! I want my grandson to know who can actually give him a good life!"
Hanging up, Ashley's eyes flashed with ruthless determination.
Juliana, you want to fight me? You're not ready yet!
Not only will I bring this child back, I'll make him change his surname!
He can only be a member of the Sharp family!
……
At the Sharp Estate, several delicate breakfast dishes sat untouched on the dining table.
"Mrs. Sharp, please eat something. You can't go on starving yourself like this—your body won't hold up."
Ashley reclined on the sofa with her eyes closed, her face waxen, looking utterly depleted.
Since returning from Juliana's apartment that day, she'd refused all food and drink, no matter who tried to persuade her.
"Take it away. The sight irritates me." She didn't even have the energy to open her eyes, her voice hoarse.
The servant was about to try again when light footsteps sounded from the doorway.
"Well, well, who's gotten you all worked up? Not eating this lovely spread—are you planning to offer it to the ancestors or something?"
David strolled in wearing a flashy pink shirt, carrying a food container and looking completely casual.
Seeing him, Ashley finally opened her eyes. "What are you doing here?"