Chapter 96
Paul was completely petrified.
Damian tilted his small face up, staring at his dad's devastatingly handsome profile, his eyes full of worshipful little stars.
And Juliana—she was completely stunned.
She stared blankly at the man before her, at his lips pale from weakness, at his wan but still upright figure. Her mind went blank.
He... what did he just say?
My wife?
The woman he was going to marry?
Lucas ignored everyone's shock. After hanging up, he simply shoved the phone back into Juliana's hand.
Then he did something that everyone present would remember for the rest of their lives.
He looked at Juliana, straightened his suit jacket that had gotten wrinkled from his hasty exit from the hospital bed, and then, under Juliana's disbelieving gaze, bent one knee and knelt down.
The dull thud sounded like it struck Juliana's heart.
"Lucas!"
Juliana screamed, instinctively reaching to help him up.
But he raised his hand, stopping her movement.
He looked up at her stubbornly. The position made his already weakened body unsteady, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead again, but he knelt straight as a rod, like a mountain that would never fall.
"Juliana."
"I've never begged anyone in my life. Never knelt to anyone."
"Today, I'm kneeling here—not to beg you, but to inform you."
He took a deep breath. "Marry me."
Juliana felt the entire world spinning.
She covered her mouth, thinking she was hallucinating, thinking she'd gone crazy from the series of blows.
But the man's dark eyes were so real, reflecting her disheveled, tear-stained face.
"I know what you're afraid of." Lucas looked at her, his gaze so intense it nearly burned through her. "Listen to me. From today on, I'm your support. Whether it's my mother or Logan, whoever dares touch you, whoever dares pressure you, I'll make them pay tenfold."
"You don't need to be afraid of anything. Don't worry about anything. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."
His voice was like a key, instantly unlocking the tightly sealed gate in Juliana's heart.
He knew everything!
He knew Matty had been taken, knew she'd been threatened by Ashley, knew she was helpless and alone. That's why he'd run out of the hospital. That's why he was saying these things!
This was his way of telling her—
Don't be scared. I'm here.
All that fear, grievance, and helplessness she'd suppressed for so long transformed into a flood in that moment, surging forth.
But at the same time, a scorching power she'd never felt before erupted from the depths of her heart.
She wasn't alone anymore.
She had him.
Juliana grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled him up from the ground.
"Lucas, get up! You haven't recovered yet!"
Lucas stood with her momentum, his tall frame swaying. She caught him tightly.
He raised his hand and clumsily wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips.
"So... is that a yes?"
Juliana looked at him, and through her blurred tears, a smile broke through—uglier than crying.
"Lucas, I accept."
Then the vulnerability in her eyes quickly faded, replaced by something sharp and resolute, like tempered steel.
"But I'm bringing my son back myself. No one's taking him from me again!"
With that, she took her phone back from his hand.
The fingers that moments ago had trembled too much to hold the phone were now remarkably steady. She found Logan's number and, without hesitation, called back.
Lucas stood beside her, watching her straight spine, watching that fearless expression on her face. A real smile finally touched his pale lips.
His girl was finally showing her claws.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Juliana? You—"
"Logan." Juliana cut him off coldly. "I choose Lucas."
"And I'm warning you. If my son loses a single hair, I promise you'll regret ever being born."
She hung up immediately. Only after finishing did she turn back to Lucas, her tear-washed eyes shining brilliantly.
This war was just beginning.
……
Logan held his disconnected phone, his stunned expression lasting less than three seconds before a low, cold laugh escaped his throat.
He tossed the phone onto the couch and leaned back into the soft leather.
Interesting.
This was getting more and more interesting.
His half-dead brother actually had the strength to crawl out of his hospital bed to play hero.
And Juliana—that woman actually dared to hang up on him right in front of Lucas.
Perfect.
He loved disobedient prey like this. Breaking them in was so much more satisfying.
……
On the other end, Juliana turned to meet Lucas's deep gaze.
Without pausing, she found another number in her contacts and called it, putting it on speaker.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered. Ashley's extremely impatient voice came through.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Juliana."
Ashley on the other end was clearly taken aback, then let out a mocking laugh. "You dare call me? What, have you thought it through? Ready to get on your knees and beg?"
Lucas stood right beside Juliana. He could feel her body tensing.
Juliana ignored the mockery. "My son, Matthew. Is he with you?"
"What Matthew? The one here is Dami. Are you so scared you've lost your mind? Oh... your son is named Matthew, right? Yes, he'll be a Sharp family child soon enough. If you know what's good for you, you'll never show your face in front of Lucas again. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what might happen to him."
"You're not in a position to negotiate with me. Right now, I'm the one giving you choices."
Ashley sounded like she'd heard the world's funniest joke. "You're giving me choices? Juliana, have you lost it?"
"This afternoon, I contacted the three largest media outlets in New Seashire." Juliana spoke evenly. "I've arranged with them to hold a press conference tomorrow at ten a.m. at the Grand Hotel."
On the other end, Ashley's laughter stopped abruptly.