CHAPTER 158: DON’T UNDERESTIMATE SARAH

Lucas narrowed his cold eyes.

"I wouldn’t be so sure about that.

Don’t underestimate Sarah’s resilience.

She’s not that delicate princess anymore—she’s grown much tougher now."

Drake rolled his eyes at him.

"Of course you’d say that.

We’re coming from completely different perspectives.

To me, no matter how successful or strong Sarah becomes, she’ll always be that little princess.

But to you, she’s no different from me—just another one of your bros, a business partner.

Do us all a favor and don’t pile work on her.

That workaholic of yours can’t help but take everything on."

"Hah." Lucas let out a cold laugh.

"Worry about yourself first.

No matter how much you fuss over her, she might not even appreciate it.

That Ryan is practically glued to her side these days.

Watch out, or someone might just steal her away.

Then you’ll be left growing old alone, watching me with my wife while you sulk in envy."

The moment the words left his mouth, a throw pillow came flying at him.

Lucas caught it effortlessly, his lips quirking into an infuriating smirk.

Another successful jab at his friend’s expense.

The scheming man chuckled inwardly.

What are best friends for, if not to mess with each other?

The next morning, after sharing breakfast with Drake, the two men left the villa, heading in opposite directions.

Drake continued his covert efforts to assist Sarah, while Lucas, dressed sharply and looking refreshed, made his way home to his wife.

But the moment he stepped into the neighborhood, the butler informed him that Beauty had left early that morning.

His heart lurched, and he immediately pulled out his phone to call Beauty.

Only after learning she was at the hospital keeping Sarah company did he finally relax.

His expression darkened as he turned to the butler and security guard, his voice icy.

"From now on, no matter what time my wife leaves the house, you call me.

If I don’t answer, send a text.

Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Everyone in the villa treated Lucas with the utmost deference—even though he always wore that stern, unapproachable expression, as if the world owed him something.

Yet everyone’s income was quite substantial, and when it came to those around him, Lucas was never stingy.

That was why his most trusted aides and subordinates had stayed with him for so long.

Though he was strict and unsmiling at work, as a boss, he knew how to take care of his people. ---

*Hospital Ward*

Beauty had originally planned to go shopping with Sarah, never imagining that something so terrible had happened to her—and that Lucas had kept it from her all this time.

"Sarah, you probably haven’t had breakfast yet, right?

These are homemade burgers from our family chef—they’re delicious.

I brought them especially for you."

Placing the breakfast on the bedside table, Beauty spoke with genuine concern.

Sarah sighed, staring at the steaming, fragrant food without the slightest appetite.

"I can’t eat," she murmured.

"Mom’s been looking a lot better these past couple of days, and she’s been eating more too.

But with everything that’s happened to our family, I know she’s hurting inside.

As the only child, I don’t even know how to help shoulder this burden.

I just feel so... useless."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.

In the past, no matter what happened, she would never have allowed herself to shed a single tear—forcing her heart to become impenetrable, immune to all pain.

Only now did she realize how fragile that armor truly was.

The shield she had built with blood and sweat had shattered at the slightest push, crumbling into pieces.

Seeing Sarah like this, Beauty’s heart sank.

She had experienced life and death at a young age and thought she had grown numb to such sorrow.

But now, her nose stung, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.

Taking a small bite of the burger, she sniffled and said softly, "Sarah, I’m sure Auntie wouldn’t want to see you wasting away like this.

It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already lost so much weight.

If Ryan saw you now, he’d be heartbroken." The mention of Ryan only deepened the bitterness in Sarah’s heart.

She didn’t want to drag anyone into her troubles—not Drake, not Ryan, and certainly not Lucas, who might pull strings on her behalf.

"Let’s eat together then.

And don’t worry about the scar on your forehead—it’ll fade in time.

Besides, a beauty like you could still turn heads even with a faint mark.

I’m sure Lucas wouldn’t mind it either."

At the mention of Lucas, Beauty’s expression darkened.

She took a bite of the burger, only for it to lodge in her throat, making her cough.

A quick sip of water finally washed it down.

With a woman’s intuition, Sarah arched an eyebrow and gave her a knowing smile.

"What’s wrong?

Did you and Lucas have a fight?"

"Not exactly," Beauty murmured, setting down her cup.

Her lashes lowered as she recalled Nathalie’s words, her mood sinking further.

"It’s just... our relationship feels a little complicated.

I can’t quite put it into words."

Sarah seized her hand, locking eyes with her in earnest.

"Beauty, now I’m absolutely sure—you’re in love with him.

The way you’re acting today? It’s written all over your face.

You two must really be husband and wife now."

Beauty’s cheeks flushed.

"But I don’t know if he’s serious about me.

Maybe it’s just a passing infatuation.

Or maybe he thinks I’m easy to control—that’s why he keeps me around."

"Don’t even think like that," Sarah chided.

"From what I know of Lucas, he’s a man who thinks things through, especially when it comes to relationships.

He wouldn’t marry you on a whim.

Sure, he might keep you close out of loneliness, but he’d never marry for such shallow reasons.

A widower diamond bachelor like him?

If he remarries, it’s because he’s thought it through.

You just don’t know him well enough yet."

A man like Lucas was nearly impossible to fully understand.

It all depended on whether he was willing to let someone in.

Even Sarah only had a surface-level grasp of his emotions.

Which version of him was the real one?

It was a question that left Beauty utterly bewildered.

By the time Lucas arrived at the hospital to pick her up, it was already afternoon.

After Sarah’s mother had fallen asleep, Beauty and Sarah strolled through a park behind the medical center.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed incessantly in her bag.

One glance at the screen, and her face fell.

"Answer it!" Sarah urged.

"You know how Lucas is—if you don’t pick up, he’ll call until his phone dies."

With a resigned sigh, Beauty pressed the answer button.

A voice, icy enough to freeze bone, crackled through the receiver.

She immediately held the phone away, as if afraid the fury on the other end might scorch her through the speaker.