Chapter 87
They arrived at their destination shortly.
They stopped before a clean headstone. The couple in the photo smiled warmly—refined and kind.
Juliana crouched down, pulling a clean soft cloth from her bag, her movements as gentle as if caressing a priceless treasure.
Lucas stood behind her without interrupting, his gaze resting on the black and white photograph.
Just then, Walter, the cemetery caretaker, wandered over.
"Young man, you look a bit familiar."
Lucas nodded politely.
Walter thought for a moment, then slapped his forehead. "Oh, now I remember! Another young man came by before. He looked somewhat like you, especially around the eyes. He also came to see Professor and Mrs. Wells, brought white chrysanthemums."
Juliana's wiping motion paused.
Lucas's brow furrowed. "When did he come? What did he look like?"
"Last month, I think," Walter recalled. "Tall like you, but he seemed... how should I put it... less steady than you. A bit superficial. These days, lots of young people look alike though."
Lucas's expression darkened completely.
Someone who looked like him, with a superficial air, visiting Juliana's parents.
It could only be Logan. No one else.
How dare he show his face here!
Juliana slowly stood up, her face drained of all color. She stared at the headstone, her body trembling slightly with pure rage.
Logan...
The one who'd destroyed all the beautiful illusions of her youth, who'd betrayed her when her family needed him most, who might even be connected to her parents' deaths.
How dare he?
What gave him the right to appear before her parents? What cruel mockery, what desecration!
Lucas noticed her trembling and stepped forward, his hand steadying her arm.
"Juliana," he called softly.
Juliana leaned into his support, barely managing to stay upright.
"Let's... pay our respects," she said hoarsely.
She divided the flowers she'd brought, giving half to Lucas.
As he straightened, Lucas looked at the gentle eyes in the photograph and spoke solemnly, word by word.
His voice wasn't loud, but in the silent night, it carried with perfect clarity.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wells, hello. I'm Lucas."
"I'm deeply sorry for what happened in the past. But I promise you both—from now on, Juliana has me. I'll take care of her and make sure she never suffers again."
Juliana whipped her head around to look at him. The moisture that had been building in her eyes finally condensed into droplets, sliding down her cheeks.
She sniffled and turned back to her parents' photo.
This time, her voice carried release and a trace of reliance she hadn't even noticed herself.
"Dad, Mom."
"This is Lucas."
……
By the time they left the cemetery, night had completely fallen.
Logan's appearance was like a poisoned thorn lodged in the softest part of her heart, making her entire being uncomfortable.
The atmosphere in the car was somewhat oppressive.
Lucas turned up the heat.
The car didn't head toward Juliana's place. Instead, it turned at an intersection, driving toward the most bustling commercial district downtown.
"Aren't we going home?" Juliana asked.
"No." Lucas kept his eyes on the road, his tone even. "Taking you somewhere."
The car eventually stopped in the underground parking garage of the city's most upscale shopping mall.
This place gathered all the world's top luxury brands and was the favorite haunt of wealthy socialites.
Juliana looked at him questioningly.
Lucas unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to face her. "Get out."
His tone brooked no argument.
Juliana had no choice but to follow him out. They took a private elevator directly to the top floor VIP area.
The entire floor was nearly empty of other customers. Well-dressed brand managers and sales associates immediately approached respectfully when they saw Lucas.
"Mr. Sharp."
Lucas nodded slightly, his gaze settling on Juliana as he instructed one of the managers, "Bring out all of this season's new arrivals that would suit her."
The manager paused briefly, then immediately nodded and bowed as she went to prepare.
Juliana tugged at his sleeve. "Lucas, I don't need—"
"I need this." Lucas cut her off. "I want my woman's closet filled by me."
Soon, racks of new dresses, coats, and shoes were wheeled out.
Lucas's eye was sharp. He selected a pale pink dress and handed it to Juliana. "Go try this on."
Juliana entered the fitting room.
When she emerged, not just the sales staff but Lucas's eyes brightened.
"Beautiful." Lucas's admiration was genuine.
"Wrap it up." He didn't even ask the price.
What followed became Lucas's personal show.
He barely needed Juliana to make any choices. Anything she glanced at for more than a moment, or anything he thought suited her, received the same response: "We'll take it."
From clothes to shoes to bags and accessories.
Juliana went from initial resistance to eventual numbness, finally giving up any struggle and letting him take charge.
She understood—this man was using his own way to try to heal the wounds in her heart, using these beautiful material things to wash away the disgust Logan had left her with.
Though his method was very "capitalist," she had to admit... it was somewhat effective.
As they emerged from a jewelry store, they encountered several fashionably dressed society women walking toward them.
One of them clearly recognized Lucas. When she saw Juliana beside him, undisguised surprise crossed her face.
"Mr. Sharp? What a coincidence. And this is...?" The woman's gaze swept over Juliana with open curiosity.
Lucas naturally wrapped his arm around Juliana's waist, pulling her closer into his embrace in an intimate, possessive gesture.
"My fiancée, Juliana."
The expressions on those women's faces became instantly colorful—shock, jealousy, and knowing looks all mixed together.
Juliana's body stiffened slightly. She instinctively looked up at him.
The man's profile was coldly chiseled, but his arm around her waist only tightened further.
He'd given her a legitimate identity.
In front of everyone.
……
At that very moment, on the third-floor café terrace of the mall, a man was taking in the entire scene below.
It was Logan.
He watched Lucas and Juliana's retreating figures downstairs, his lips slowly curving into an icy arc.
"Sir, the materials you requested." A subordinate in a black suit handed over a document folder.
Logan took the folder, opened it, and pulled out several pages, scanning them briefly.
"Everything arranged?"
"Yes, Sir. Sharp Group has received our cooperation proposal. Tomorrow morning at nine is the project briefing."
Logan nodded, a calculating smile playing on his face.
Lucas, this game is just beginning.
……
The next day at Sharp Group, the atmosphere was serious and tense.
Lucas sat at the head of the table, his expression stern as he listened to the project manager's report.
This was Sharp Group's most important new energy project for the second half of the year.
Today was the first round of vendor qualification presentations.
Familiar and unfamiliar company names passed before his eyes one after another.
"Prime Enterprise."
A name he'd never heard before.
He frowned, flipping to this company's introduction page. In the legal representative column was a name he never expected to see.
Logan Sharp.