The Charismatic Lucas Gray

Chapter 8

Upon hearing Atticus' decision, the faces of the Brooks lit up with excitement.

Yes, that's right!

That's our indomitable Patriarch!

Linda excitedly grabbed Ariadne's arm. "Ariadne, why are you just standing there? Quickly bow and thank your grandpa for giving you a chance to fix this. Then take that loser, apologize, and get a divorce."

"What?" Ariadne was already shocked by her grandpa's decision, but hearing her mom push her to thank him and go through with it stunned her even more. She stared at her mother as if she were a stranger.

"Mom, what are you saying?" she asked, disbelief in her voice. "Lucas did nothing wrong. Why should he apologize to Seth and the Millers? And he’s done nothing wrong to me, why should I divorce him?"

"Ariadne, how can you ask those questions? Our family is on the brink of ruin, all because of that loser. How can you question why he should apologize?

"And what do you mean he's done nothing wrong to you? He crashed your wedding, thereby dragging us into this crisis, isn't that wrong enough?"

Ariadne stared at her mother in shock and disbelief. How could she blame Lucas for everything? Did she really expect him to stand by and watch her marry another man when they were already married? She couldn’t wrap her head around it.

"Mom, Lucas has been nothing but good to you! Why are you so against him?" she cried, stomping her foot as tears welled up in her eyes. "I remember it like it was yesterday — every time Lucas came back from work, he brought you gifts. Every single day! He prepared breakfast before leaving and cooked dinner when he returned. He even helped with family chores, including gardening, without ever asking for a single cent. Is being poor the only crime he's committed?"

"Yes!" Linda snapped without a second thought, completely disregarding Ariadne's feelings. "Yes, his only crime is being poor! So what if he brought me gifts? That doesn’t erase the fact that he's a loser! It’s not like those gifts were expensive jewelry — they were just fruits! Fruits I could easily buy myself. Hmph!

"Ariadne, you're the county's belle. How could you possibly end up with someone like him? You should be with someone like Seth — or one of the heirs from the top five families. They’re the kind of men you deserve! Stop hesitating, take him to apologize, and divorce him already!"

Ariadne's heart ached at her mother’s words. How could she be so ungrateful? A cold light flashed in her eyes.

"Never!" she said defiantly, her voice trembling. "Lucas did nothing wrong. He won't apologize to Seth or his family. And I will never divorce him! Never!"

"Ariadne, why are you being so stubborn?" Vera huffed in frustration. "Just listen to Mom!"

"Yeah, sis, stop being so stubborn and listen to mum. This is even for your own good." Kelvin added, siding with Vera.

"Never!" Ariadne stomped her foot stubbornly. "I'd never divorce Lucas and he's not going to apologize to anyone! You guys should give up!"

BANG!

Atticus slammed his hand on the desk. "What did you just say?!" he bellowed. "Do you dare to repeat yourself?"

Ariadne flinched under his terrifying gaze. "Grandpa," she swallowed a lump of spittle, unable to utter another word.

"I thought as much." Atticus snorted. "Now, take that loser and go apologize to Seth and the Millers, then divorce him. Go quickly!"

"No, no, no." Ariadne shook her head. Though fear gripped her, she stood her ground. "Grandpa, Lucas did nothing wrong to me or the Millers. I'm not divorcing him, and he's not apologizing to anybody! Grandpa, please retract your order!"

Atticus's face turned purple with rage. His body trembled violently, almost as if he were having a seizure. "You unfilial child!" he growled. "If you won't do as I command, then get lost! You are no longer my granddaughter. Get out of my sight!"

"Grandpa..." Ariadne stared at him in shock, her vision blurred by tears. How could he so easily disown her? She was his granddaughter—his own blood!

"Hmph. Shedding crocodile tears? Do you think that will make Grandpa pity you?" A mocking voice sneered. A young man stepped forward, a smug grin plastered on his face. It was Jack Brook, Ariadne’s cousin and Atticus’s favorite grandson.

Jack had always despised Ariadne simply because she surpassed him in every way. Now, he looked at her with disdain, his voice dripping with false righteousness.

"Grandpa has raised you all these years, given you everything, and this is how you repay him? He’s even offering you a chance to make up for your mistake, yet you stubbornly refuse.

"It's almost as if you are so eager to see us destroyed. Grandpa is absolutely right—if you won’t obey him, then get lost! You and that pathetic loser of yours!"

"Yes, get out of here!"

"You ungrateful bitch! You caused this mess, yet you refuse to fix it! We don’t have a sibling like you. Disappear!"

"Leave!"

"Get lost!"

"Scram!"

The Brooks all rallied behind Jack, shouting at the top of their lungs.

Each insult pierced Ariadne’s heart like a bullet. She whimpered at first, but soon, her sobs grew uncontrollable. Yet, the Brooks didn’t care. They kept yelling, their eyes filled with nothing but contempt.

Jack's grin widened as he watched. He felt immensely pleased with himself. The more Ariadne defied their grandfather’s orders, the sooner she’d be cast out. And once that happened, he’d have no competition left!

BANG!

Suddenly, Lucas stomped his foot on the floor, a murderous aura surging around him, his expression dark and thunderous.

The tiles beneath his foot cracked, the impact spreading through the floor, rippling all the way to where the Brooks stood.

Instantly, the conference hall fell deathly silent, as if it had turned into a crypt.

The Brooks gawked at the ruined tiles, then at Lucas, who stood there like a harbinger of doom. He looked like a grim reaper sent straight from hell.

A chill ran down their spines. When did this loser become so terrifying? And what kind of power did he possess to cause such destruction with just a single stomp?

They had never seen anything like it before!

Ignoring the stunned and horrified gazes directed at him, Lucas locked eyes with Atticus. "Let's make a bet," he said coolly. "If I resolve the Brooks’ crisis, you’ll leave Ariadne and me alone. You’ll never force her to divorce me or marry someone else."

"What?"

The Brooks were momentarily stunned before they burst into laughter.

The Millers were second only to the top five families. If they wanted to destroy someone, only a direct intervention from one of those top families or the Millers themselves could prevent it. And yet, this nobody was claiming he could resolve it?

Did he think he was suddenly powerful just because he now had a bit of strength?

"Punk, who do you think you are? A heir of one of the top five families?" one of the Brooks jeered.

"He's clearly gone so broke that he’s lost touch with reality. Hahaha!" another mocked.

The room erupted with laughter.

Lucas ignored their mocking laughter and taunts, his gaze fixed on Atticus. "Do you dare bet with me?"

Atticus chuckled, amusement flashing in his eyes. "Why not?" he scoffed dismissively. "But what happens if you fail?"

"Lucas, stop!" Ariadne pleaded urgently. "We can just run away. Please, don’t do this."

Lucas reached out and gently wiped her tears with his thumb before pressing a kiss to it. His gaze softened as he looked into her eyes. "I promise, from today onward, I will never let you shed another tear. If you want the world, I’ll give it to you."

Ariadne sniffled, her heart swelling with love. She threw herself into his arms, clinging to him. "I don’t want the world, Lucas. I just want you. Please don’t take this bet! Let’s just run away!"

Lucas shook his head. He knew Ariadne too well—she might say they should run away, but if they actually did, she would never be truly happy being away from her family. She loved them that much, even though they didn’t love her half as much.

He gently pulled away from her and turned back to Atticus. "If I fail, I’ll leave Ariadne forever. I’ll also bow and apologize to Seth and the Millers. I give you my word."

"Lucas, you..." Ariadne was stunned beyond words. Her breath hitched, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Moments later, she started pounding his chest in desperation. "How can you say that? Are you that eager to leave me? Wasn’t six years enough?" Her sobs grew louder, her tears soaking his coat.

Lucas’s heart clenched at the sight of her distress, but his determination didn’t waver. He cupped her face, his voice gentle yet firm. "Trust me, Ariadne."

But she only cried harder, refusing to let go. In the end, he had to softly push her away.

"Is that enough for you?" he asked Atticus.

"More than enough," Atticus sneered, chuckling mockingly. "Alright, off you go."

The Brooks snickered, exchanging smug glances.

"Make sure to apologize to Seth and the Millers before you crawl back," Jack taunted, his voice dripping with amusement.

The rest of the Brooks burst out laughing, their laughter filled with ridicule as they looked at Lucas like he was a fool.

Lucas said nothing. He calmly walked away.

Watching Lucas's retreating figure, Ariadne’s sobs grew louder. He didn’t love her anymore. He didn’t love her anymore!

If he did, why would he make such a reckless bet?

Why was he so eager to leave her?