Chapter 80
But every time he'd barely settled in, Lynn's call would come right on cue.
One minute she's got a minor ache or cold, the next she's startled by burst pipes around the house.
Every single time, Lucas would answer with a furrowed brow, then glance at Sylvia with something like apology. "Lynn's got an emergency. I need to check on her. I'll be right back."
Sylvia never even lifted her eyes. She just kept reading her parenting book, not bothering to respond.
Lucas would storm out, slamming the door, his face dark. And that promise of "right back"? It usually meant he wouldn't return all night.
Sylvia didn't care in the slightest. When he wasn't around, even the air felt fresher.
---
Half a month later, the Spencer Group acquisition finally wrapped up.
Bluewater Capital's funds transferred into the Spencer Group's account right on schedule. The Spencer family not only avoided bankruptcy but also walked away with a substantial nest egg.
In the study, Hayden stared at the long string of numbers on the account statement and let out a long breath of relief. He turned to Sylvia, who sat on the sofa, his tone tinged with emotion. "Sylvia, I'm planning to take a portion of this money and pay Lucas back what he covered for the Spencer Group when you married into the Smith family."
Hayden sighed, his eyes full of heartache. "I don't want you living at the Smith family forever feeling inferior because of that debt, unable to hold your head up."
Sylvia set down her water glass and shook her head gently. Her eyes were clear and rational. "Dad, there's no rush to pay him back."
"Why not?" Hayden looked surprised.
"Lucas doesn't need that money. If we pay him back now, he'll just think we're trying to cut ties with him using money. It'll only make him angry." Sylvia spoke methodically. "Vincent's company is in a growth phase right now. What he needs most is startup capital and R&D investment. Why don't we invest this money in his company first?"
She paused, her gaze steady as she met Hayden's eyes. "Once Vincent's firmly established in the industry and the company's scaled up, we can pay the Smith family back with interest. By then, the Spencer family will have real leverage. And Lucas and I... we'll finally be done for good."
After hearing Sylvia's reasoning, Hayden thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. "All right. We'll do it your way. We'll invest in Vincent first!"
---
A few days later, Emerald City's temperature plummeted. Cold wind drove icy rain against the windows of Spencer Manor.
That evening, Lucas's car pulled up outside Spencer Manor.
For once, he'd turned down his evening business dinners. He stepped into the living room carrying several boxes of expensive imported prenatal supplements.
Hayden and Rhea showed no warmth at his arrival. The atmosphere at the dinner table was so cold it felt like ice had formed over everything.
Hayden didn't even pour wine. He just kept his head down and ate. Rhea didn't spare Lucas a single glance.
The entire meal was oppressive and suffocating.
After dinner, Hayden and Rhea excused themselves to take a walk around the neighborhood, leaving the vast living room to the two of them alone.
Sylvia sat on the sofa, holding a glass of warm water. Her expression was as still as stagnant water.
Lucas looked at her swollen belly. A strange emotion flickered through his chest.
He walked over and tried to sit beside her. "How have you been feeling these past few days? Is the baby giving you trouble?"
Before he could finish, Sylvia set down her water glass.
She pulled open the coffee table drawer, took out a thin document, and pushed it directly in front of Lucas.
Black ink on white paper. At the top, the words Divorce Agreement stood out in bold, painfully stark under the cold light of the crystal chandelier.
Lucas's movements froze. The warmth on his face drained away instantly. "What the hell is this supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it looks like." Sylvia didn't even lift her eyes. Her voice was cold and flat. "The terms are all laid out clearly. I'm voluntarily giving up everything. I don't want a cent of the Smith family's assets. All I want is sole custody of this child. After that, he'll have nothing to do with the Smith family. Take a look. If there's no problem, sign it."
Lucas stared at the agreement like it had burned him. His chest felt like something had stabbed straight through it. Rage surged to his head.
He shoved the papers aside violently, his teeth grinding as he glared at her. "Sylvia, have you lost your mind? You're about to give birth, and you're bringing up divorce now? You want our child born into a broken home?"
"A home where the father's never around and only cares about his mistress? Better off without it." Sylvia met his furious gaze head-on. Her eyes were full of mockery and finality. "Lucas, drop the act. If you can't let go of Lynn, I'll make it easy for you both. What more could you possibly want?"
"I told you, Lynn and I aren't what you think!" Lucas yanked at his tie in frustration, trying to rein in his anger and reason with her. "The Spencer family's crisis is over. You don't need to keep dragging up the past. As long as you behave and have this baby, the position of Mrs. Smith will always be yours."
Sylvia listened to his patronizing offer and found it absurd beyond words.
She was about to tell him to get out when the phone in Lucas's coat pocket suddenly rang.
In the dead-silent living room, that distinctive ringtone was painfully jarring.
Lucas glanced at the caller ID. His brow furrowed slightly. Almost reflexively, he answered.
"Lucas..." On the other end, Lynn was sobbing uncontrollably. Her voice trembled like she'd suffered the world's greatest injustice. "Can you please come see me? I'm so scared. I don't know what to do anymore."
Lucas's expression tightened. His fingers curled slightly around the phone.
He looked up at Sylvia sitting across from him. He met her cold, knowing eyes—those eyes that held a hint of mockery, as if she'd seen through everything long ago. Inexplicably, panic stirred in his chest.
But Lynn's desperate crying continued on the line. Lucas finally bit down hard, grabbed his coat from the sofa, and stood.
"I'm not signing the agreement. Take a few days to calm down. Stop making a scene." He tossed those cold words at her, then turned and strode out into the endless night rain.
Sylvia watched his retreating figure disappear in a rush. A faint, cold smile curved her lips.
This was the man who'd just claimed their child needed an intact family.
---
Half an hour later, Lucas pushed open the door to Lynn's apartment.
Lynn wore a thin silk nightgown, barefoot as she ran over and threw herself into his arms, crying pitifully. "Lucas, you finally came."
"What happened? Why are you crying like this?" Lucas patted her back and led her over to sit on the sofa.
Lynn sniffled, her eyes red and swollen as she poured out her grievances. "It's Victor. He's been acting crazy lately, using every connection he has to find that long-lost sister of his. He's so obsessed with finding her, he's not even managing the company anymore! I only tried to talk some sense into him, and he snapped at me."