10
Frank demanded that I find an opportunity to take Lucas out to the karaoke club he frequented, under the pretext of cheering him up. If I didn’t help him, he threatened to scatter my grandfather and mother’s ashes, leaving them without a proper resting place.
I don’t know how Frank had the nerve to say such things. But his shamelessness made me realize he was a man without any moral bottom
line.
On the way back, I ran into Lucas’s older brother William and Aiden.
William’s gaze was inscrutable. He gave Aiden a look.
Aiden walked up to me: “Sophia, I was too harsh before. I fell for Isabella’s schemes. I thought you had always looked down on me for being illegitimate, which is why I kept trying to make you angry.”
“I’ve realized these past few days that you’re the one I truly love.”
I fought back the nausea and didn’t push his hand away. My tone was stiff: “It’s too late to come to me now.””
His reddened eyes even had a few tears about to fall. His tone was deep with emotion. He really deserved his title as a top actor!
“I’ll prove to you that you’re the only one I love!”
The next day, scandals about Isabella being a diva, bullying assistants, and stealing her sister’s boyfriend were leaked online. In an instant, she went from a beloved top star to public enemy number one.
Hah, so this was Aiden’s proof? Once a scumbag, always a scumbag. Poor Isabella.
Frank called me again. This time his tone was even more forceful. He mentioned that Isabella had already been sent away, and promised that after this was done, I could marry Aiden and fulfill my teenage first love.
Unfortunately, he overestimated the allure of first love.
I hung up the phone and knocked on the study door. I said to Lucas, who was buried in work; “Mr. Howard, shall we go?”
It was the same top VIP room, but the suffocating smell of smoke was gone.
Under the colorful lights of the crystal chandelier, Lucas’s friends were enjoying themselves, belting out songs at the top of their lungs.
In a dark corner, an unfamiliar face at Lucas’s gathering – the boss of a small entertainment company called Li Li – was sneaking up on Lucas
with a knife hidden in his sleeve.
Lucas and I exchanged a glance.
Li Li got closer and closer. Perhaps he was too nervous, because he failed to notice that most of the people at this gathering weren’t the rich young masters he was used to seeing.
Just one more step.
Li Li pulled the knife from his sleeve and lunged at Lucas.
In an instant, several figures sprang out from around the room, pinning Li Li to the ground. Li Li struggled frantically, descending into
madness, but it was no use.
The police took Li Li away for questioning. Li Li didn’t last long before giving up William and Aiden as the ones who had instructed him. William and Aiden were immediately arrested, but Frank, who was an accomplice, managed to escape.
At the Howard mansion, Lucas knelt before his mother’s memorial photo: “Mom, I’ve avenged you. I’ve sent that little bastard Aiden to jail too.”
<
—
I stood in the doorway, unsure whether I should go in. But I was leaving, so I still needed to say goodbye to him.
When he heard I was leaving, his expression changed slightly. I didn’t think much of it, assuming he was just in one of his moods again.
