Chapter 72: She Called Me a Stranger

“Why does he never let me live in peace?”

Ariana’s trembling lips parted as she whispered through clenched teeth, her voice laced with restrained anger. She had just managed to pull her foot free from the thick snow. In the distance, Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Fraser were approaching.

They quickly split up. Mrs. Campbell came to stand beside Ariana, while Mr. Fraser stepped forward and pulled Lucas back, away from Christian in a protective motion.

The old man’s face was filled with suspicion, his eyes narrowing sharply at Christian.

“You must be part of some syndicate. Stay away from this child. I know you’re just pretending to be kind,” Mr. Fraser snapped, his voice trembling with anger.

“Sir, what are you saying?” Lucas turned his head, looking up at Mr. Fraser’s tense expression. “I know him. He’s not a bad person.”

“Mrs. MacRae, I’m so sorry. That man is impossible to drive away. He’s been standing in front of your house for hours,” she said, her eyes restless. “We all suspected he came to destroy our housing area for that cursed project of his.”

Ariana said nothing. Her gaze slowly shifted toward Christian, who was still standing motionless at the doorway. The thick snow clinging to his coat unsettled her.

“But he said he came to apologize to his wife, not for anything else,” Mrs. Campbell added softly, studying Ariana with a questioning look. “If you know her, ask her to go meet her husband. He looks pitiful, like he’s ready to die out there in this snowstorm at any moment.” She ended with a heavy sigh.

The storm outside grew fiercer, the howling wind sounding almost terrifying. Ariana glanced into the distance, but she saw no car, no sign of Christian’s men stationed nearby.

“Fraser, let’s go home. They know each other,” Mrs. Campbell said, patting her neighbor’s shoulder. “That man has already promised he won’t touch our housing area.”

Mr. Fraser still looked suspicious. He turned to Ariana, as if asking for confirmation.

Ariana gave a small nod, her chest rising heavily. “Yes, I know him. You can go back inside. Thank you.”

“Alright. If anything happens, shout,” Mr. Fraser replied, casting one last sharp glance at Christian.

“If you want to die, could you not do it in front of my house?” Ariana said coldly, her tone merciless, her dislike completely undisguised.

Christian gave a faint smile. “I don’t want to die at all. I want to live a long life with you.”

“What are you talking about, Mom?” Lucas asked, looking up at her, searching her darkened expression as she stared at the man before them. “Were you two enemies back in school?”

“He’s no one. Just a stranger,” Ariana replied quickly. Then she picked up her son, casting a cold glance at Christian. “Come inside, if you still want to live.”

“That bastard, how could he let Ariana and my son live like this?” Christian muttered under his breath, his voice low.

Inside the small, modest house, Christian sat stiffly on an old wooden chair. His wet overcoat was draped over the back of another chair. His sharp gaze moved from one corner of the room to another.

“This place is nothing like the luxury of Matheus Mansion.” Anger surged in his chest. “Everything here is limited, yet Ariana smiles more. She actually lives.” His large hand clenched tightly.

Ariana walked toward him from Lucas’s room. Their eyes met briefly, but she immediately turned her face away, cold and distant.

Seeing that, Christian lowered his head. “I can feel how much she hates me. Don’t I deserve a second chance from her?” he thought quietly.

Ariana placed a cup of hot herbal tea and a bowl of warm soup on the table in front of him. “Finish it. Once you’re better, you need to leave my house immediately. My husband will be back soon.”

Christian flinched. His brows furrowed as he let out a harsh scoff. “Husband? Has your relationship with David gone that far?” he asked, his tone rising.

“Yes. Because we are husband and wife.”

Christian smiled faintly. His face darkened, his gaze turning ice cold.

“That’s unfortunate, Ariana. Your proud husband is currently sitting in prison,” Christian said softly, each word landing clearly.

“What do you mean?”

“He was arrested for falsifying his identity. His residency in this country is also illegal.” Christian responded with a sharp smirk.

“You did that?” she asked, her voice trembling violently.

“Yes, I reported him,” Christian answered without hesitation. “He came to me while I was searching for you around here.” He held up the divorce papers. “He even dared to ask me to divorce you so he could force you to marry him, even if you refused.”

“He thought he could steal you from me? Ridiculous.”

Ariana stared blankly at the divorce papers. “You’re still the same as ever, Mr. Matheus,” she hissed. Christian’s hand, which had been lifting the teacup, froze midair. Her voice was filled with contempt. “Always doing whatever you want just because you have everything.”

She stepped closer until only a few paces separated them. “I don’t care about what’s written on paper between us. To me, you are no one.”

Without waiting for his response, Ariana turned and hurried toward Lucas’s room when she heard crying. Inside, a commotion had broken out between Lucas and Toby, while Bonnie tried to soothe a sobbing Toby.

Christian stared at Ariana’s retreating back, her cruel words piercing his chest. He crumpled the divorce papers in his hand.

Moments later, the bedroom door slowly opened. The sound of small footsteps approached him. The boy stopped in front of Christian, tilting his head up.

“Does the big sir feel bothered by Toby’s crying?” Lucas asked innocently. “He’s always like that when the head of his new robot breaks.”

Christian looked at Lucas, his gaze softening. He reached out and gently ruffled the boy’s hair. “It’s alright. Kids cry, don’t they?”

Lucas broke into a wide smile, showing his neat little teeth. He shook his head as if disagreeing. “I don’t like crying. But I was really scared when I saw you fall into the water at the dock. I thought you died, sir.”

“That’s impossible. You’ve seen it yourself, I’m big and strong. I won’t die that easily.”

Lucas nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with admiration. “You’re like the heroes in the storybooks my mom reads to me.”

Suddenly, Lucas stepped closer, tilting his face up even more. “Are you my biological father?”

Christian froze. His heart pounded hard. “Why would you ask that, Lucas?”

Before answering, Lucas scratched his flushed cheek and glanced nervously toward David’s room, its door tightly shut. Then he rose onto his tiptoes and whispered, “Because my mom and dad don’t sleep together,” his voice growing softer. “They’ve had separate rooms since I was little. I once saw Dad take off his eye color. He doesn’t have gray eyes like me. Please don’t tell Mom. This is our secret, sir.”

Christian’s sharp gaze instantly shot toward the door of David’s room.

“Sir,” Lucas called softly, tugging at the edge of Christian’s clothing. “How do I find my real father?”