Chapter 4

Marcus, so you harassed Aria for my sake?

Guilt, gratitude, and various other emotions intertwined, leaving me with mixed feelings.

"You don't deserve her."

These five words seemed to have struck a nerve with Lucas. His eyes blazed with fury as he clenched his fists and shouted at Marcus, "I don't deserve her? And you do?"

"She's the one who's fickle and chose to degrade herself!"

"Marcus, did you think I'd be the same as five years ago? You'll all pay the price. Just wait, I'll deal with you one by one."

After saying this, Lucas left with Aria.

Marcus was detained by the police for harassing Aria.

Before being taken away, Marcus smiled at the departing Bugatti, "Lucas Grant, you'll regret this."

However, Lucas didn't hear him.

In the car, Aria asked softly, "Lucas, should we take down those photos?"

Lucas hesitated for a moment before saying, "No need."

The car drove slowly, but this wasn't the road to Royal River Gardens.

Aria placed her hand on his, her tone somewhat anxious, "Lucas, can I stay at your place tonight? I'm scared."

Perhaps today's encounter with Marcus had brought back memories of the past and soured his mood.

Lucas looked at her for a while, but still removed her hand, "The house hasn't been cleaned in a long time. It's very dirty."

Aria wanted to say something more, but Lucas patted her head, "Be good, just bear with it for tonight."

Aria could only nod.

Because she saw the impatience in his eyes.

After dropping Aria off, Lucas drove to Royal River Gardens.

The car stopped by the roadside. He leaned back in the driver's seat, eyes closed, lost in thought.

Until Mrs. Grant came down, impatiently knocking on the car window, "Lucas! What are you daydreaming about? Get out now!"

Lucas was startled for a moment, then got out of the car, "Mom, why are you back in the country?"

Mrs. Grant looked exasperated, "If I didn't come back, Zoe would be bullied to death!"

"What's going on between you and that Aria Sullivan? If you don't like her, why are you still being all lovey-dovey with her! What about Zoe? How could I have a son like you!"

All the grievances of the past days finally burst out at the sight of Mrs. Grant. I could no longer control myself and burst into tears, "Mom, I'm right here."

Thankfully, she looked in good health now.

No longer the bedridden, comatose person in my memory.

But she couldn't hear me.

Lucas walked all the way, and she scolded him all the way.

She was venting for me, feeling indignant on my behalf.

Finally, back in the room, Lucas couldn't bear it anymore. With a grim face, he said, "Mom! Stop talking! What do you know about what happened back then!"

"Zoe Foster abandoned me first! Why don't you scold her!"

Mrs. Grant pointed at him and shouted, "Lucas, I found Zoe abandoned as a child. From when she was ten until now, she's been with us for over a decade. Don't you understand her personality?"

"You loved her so much. When Zoe suddenly changed into a different person, shouldn't your first reaction have been to find out why?"

"Zoe is kind-hearted! I don't believe she's a bad person!"

When I was ten, my birth parents, who favored sons over daughters, took me out of the mountains and sold me to a homeless man for a thousand dollars.

The homeless man had probably never seen a woman in his life.

After the transaction, he eagerly took me to an alley and was about to molest me when Mrs. Grant happened to pass by and saved me.

She stood with her hands on her hips, cursing non-stop and threatening to call the police. Although her hands hidden in her sleeves were trembling non-stop, in the end, she and Lucas managed to drive the homeless man away.