Chapter 193 House Arrest

    Andrew’s heart clenched tight, his fists balled so hard that his nails dug into his palms.

    Tessa fainted more than once from the shock and stress.

    Just then, a loudmotion erupted outside the vi. Andrew frowned and was about to check it out when Aubrey—Lucas’s mother—burst through the doorway with a fruit knife pressed to her neck.

    The bodyguards didn’t dare stop her. All they could do was follow closely behind, shouting anxiously, “Ms. Aubrey, please, be careful! Don’t hurt yourself!”

    Andrew and the others tried to stop her, but she was too quick.

    Aubrey charged straight into Lucas’s room without resistance.

    The moment she saw Lucas unconscious and covered in blood, a barely detectable smirk shed across her face–but it vanished as quickly as it came, hidden behind a mask of grief.

    She immediately broke into loud sobs and turned to Andrew, her voice trembling with sorrow. “Andrew, what happened? What’s going on with Lucas?!b” /b

    Tears spilled from her eyes, the perfect image of a distraught mother.

    But everyone in the room knew better.

    Aubrey had never truly cared about Lucas. In fact, she had shown far more affection to Mason, her adopted son. Her sudden appearance now wasn’t out of concern–it was to confirm whether Lucas was on the brink of death, so she could report back to Mason.

    Tessa, already frantic with worry, was seething the moment she saw Aubrey’s fake disy. Her anger boiled over.

    She shot to her feet and pointed a trembling finger at Aubrey. “Spare us the act! When have you ever cared about Lucas, huh? He’s been your son since birth, and

    you’ve treated him like a stranger! Now that he’s in critical condition, youe running in like you’re some loving mother? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really after!”

    Aubrey’s face went pale from the usation, but she quicklyposed herself and put on an expression of hurt. “Mother, how can you say that? Lucas is my biological son. Of course I care about him! You’ve always favored him over me- now you’re using me unfairly too?”

    “Unfairly?” Tessa let out a sharp, bitterugh. “Weren’t you the one who took off the second you heard he woke up, like you couldn’t get away fast enough? And now, as soon as there’s trouble, here you are ying the concerned parent. Don’t think I can’t see right through you.”

    Tessa stepped between her and the bed. “Let me make one thing clear. Lucas is only sick–he’s going to recover. And none of you are taking a single thing from him. Not while I’m still breathing.”

    Aubrey realized she’d been exposed and stopped pretending altogether. After all, she’d already seen what she came to see.

    She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with forced elegance, her voice calm and cold. “Since you’re so convinced I’m here with bad intentions, I won’t bother staying where I’m not wanted.”

    She turned to leave.

    “Stop her!” Tessa barked. The bodyguards at the door immediately moved to block Aubrey’s path.

    Her face darkened as she turned back slowly, her gaze frosty. “Mother, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to put me under house arrest now?”

    Tessa’s expression didn’t flinch. Her eyes were like des. “House arrest? You tter yourself. I’m just making sure you don’t run off to spread lies–or worse, give certain people the chance to stir up trouble.”

    Aubrey nced at the tall, unyielding bodyguards blocking her way. She clenched her jaw, too furious to speak, and was forced to follow them obediently.

    Benjamin let out a long sigh, helpless. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for Lucas.

    They’d grown up together, and while Lucas always came off as cold, deep down he longed for family more than anyone. And yet, his own mother couldn’t care less- showing more warmth to an adopted son than to the boy she gave birth to.