CHAPTER 168: THEY’VE GROWN UP

So Sophia was Aurora’s daughter.

And Frank had known Aurora.

They even shared the same last name—Turner.

Ethan froze, his suspicion solidifying into something dangerously close to certainty.

"Come on, brother! Drink with me! From now on, we’re real brothers. If you ever need anything, just say the word!"

Ethan smiled and downed the entire glass.

"That’s what I’m talking about! Another one!"

Nathan shoved another drink toward him.

"I gotta ask—how did you even get caught today? If I hadn’t run into you, you’d be in serious trouble."

"Those guys? Please. When I had money, they treated me like royalty. I only borrowed a little over ten million—small change. Then they had the audacity to come after me for repayment. Every last one of them is trash! But don’t worry, bro. When I’ve got money again, I’ll pay you back."

Ethan let out a low chuckle. "Didn’t you just say we were brothers? Why would I take your money?"

Nathan blinked at him, stunned. Their eyes met.

Then Nathan hurriedly grabbed the bottle and poured several more drinks. "Come on! Drink! We’re not going home sober tonight!"

He was clearly overly excited.

His money had been blown on a mistress a while ago—and with gambling on top of that, he had nothing left.

Twenty million was a massive amount for him now.

They kept drinking until night fell.

Ethan squinted. "Nathan? Nathan?"

The man beside him was completely wasted.

Ethan hauled him up.

Before long, they arrived at a hotel.

Ethan threw Nathan onto the bed. Not long after, a seductive woman walked in.

"Young Master Trump~"

"When it’s done, it will be yours."

Ethan removed a luxury watch worth hundreds of thousands from his wrist and swayed out of the room.

He leaned against the hallway wall, a faint smile on his lips.

Nathan, don’t blame me. I don’t have a choice.

Everything I’m doing... is to get the Morgan family.

If I can’t beat Sophia, then maybe I should stop getting in her way.

He kept walking.

...

Meanwhile, in the villa, Sophia suddenly sneezed—hard.

"Mommy, did the weather get cold? Are you chilly?"

Angela grabbed a small blanket and draped it over Sophia’s shoulders.

Sophia laughed softly. "It’s nothing. Someone’s probably thinking about me."

"Mommy, you need to be careful! You’re getting your stitches removed in a few days."

Faye lifted Sophia’s shirt and stared at the ugly scar, her eyes gradually reddening.

"Mommy..."

"Sweetheart, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m fine—really. Trust me."

Suddenly—

A soft "click" came from the door.

All of Lucas’s exhaustion vanished the moment he saw them.

"Daddy!"

The six kids shouted in unison.

Lucas walked straight to the sofa, pressed a kiss to Sophia’s cheek, and then went around petting each child on the head.

"Daddy! Don’t touch my head! I won’t grow taller!" Faye protested dramatically.

Her brothers and sisters were all taller; she absolutely could not fall further behind.

Lucas chuckled and looked at Sophia. "Have you eaten?"

"No. I was waiting for you."

He immediately scooped her up and gently placed her on the chair by the dining table.

Charles made a face. "Daddy and Mommy are showing off again."

Dustin sighed. "Just be used to it."

Eric nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Pretend you don’t see anything."

...

By the time dinner ended, it was already eight.

Lucas insisted on taking Sophia out.

"I don’t want to move. Why are you dragging me outside?"

She muttered a tiny, half-annoyed complaint.

Lucas bit back a laugh. "What kind of little pig eats so much and doesn’t go out for a walk afterward?"

"Lucas! Are you looking for death?!"

She grabbed him by the neck instantly.

He pressed his lips together, trying to escape her grip.

"You think you can still run? Now that I’m alive and back, you don’t treasure me anymore, is that it?"

Lucas suddenly stopped walking.

Sophia blinked, confused, barely opening her mouth before she noticed the way he was staring at her—serious, sharp, locked in.

"What is it?"

"What did you just say?"

"I said, maybe you’re—mmph—"

Warm lips sealed hers before she could finish.

Lucas didn’t let her speak.

"Don’t say anything unlucky again," he warned, voice low against her mouth. "Or you’ll regret it."

Sophia arched an eyebrow, teasing. "Oh? I’ll regret it? Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

Her fingertip slid down the curve of his neck, brushing over his Adam’s apple, tracing upward before stopping beneath his chin.

His eyes darkened dangerously—

And then, suddenly—

She flicked her hand upward.

"Mmph—!"

Lucas bit his tongue on impact.

Sophia bolted.

She wasn’t stupid.

The two of them ended up running around the yard twice before collapsing back inside the villa, breathless.

Lucas tackled her straight into his arms.

"Get off!"

"No."

She pushed at him, but it did nothing.

Lucas rose slightly, bracing his hands beside her head.

Then he kissed her—hard.

Sophia closed her eyes, letting the moment deepen—and then—

"Charles, what are Daddy and Mommy doing?"

"You wouldn’t get it. Just watch."

The unexpected voices shattered everything.

Sophia’s eyes flew open.

She turned—

And there they were.

All six of her children lined up behind them like a tiny audience.

Her face went crimson in an instant.

She shoved Lucas away and sprinted upstairs like her life depended on it.

With his beloved fleeing in embarrassment, Lucas straightened up, trying—desperately—to regain dominance.

"Why aren’t you doing your homework?"

Six small pairs of eyes narrowed at him in perfect synchronization.

Faye stepped forward first. "Daddy, shame on you. You think pretending to act all fatherly is gonna intimidate us?"

She huffed dramatically and marched upstairs.

Eric shook his head at him. "Daddy... Faye is still young."

Then followed her.

Dustin sighed. "Daddy... you’re not the only one living in this house."

Charles grinned, wicked and proud. "Daddy, I understand everything~"

Understand?

You little gremlin, what the hell do you "understand"?

Billy was the calm one. "Daddy... stay strong."

The first five disappeared up the stairs.

The last one was Angela, arms crossed.

She stared at Lucas, torn between saying something... and not wanting to say anything at all.

After a long internal struggle, she forced out three words:

"You’re... impressive."

When all six children turned around to look at him from the staircase—six pairs of knowing eyes—Lucas felt his heart jolt.

Aren’t children supposed to be innocent?

Naive?

Sweet and clueless?

Where had everything gone wrong?

...

Once they were finally out of sight, Lucas went upstairs too—and shut the bedroom door behind him with a click.

Sophia peeked out, cheeks still visibly flushed.

Lucas lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, expression blank.

She frowned.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"Sophia... I think..."

"Hm?"

"I think we raised our kids... off-course."

Sophia stared. "Off-course? What do you mean?"

The moment she got close, Lucas suddenly yanked her down.

"Ah! Lucas! You tricked me again!"

"Hey, I never said I wasn’t going to. And we should definitely have a few more babies. The ones next door... are already too grown."

"Get off me—!"