Chapter179


    Heturnedandheadedbacktothehospitalroom.


    SophiawasalreadyreceivinganIV.Afterthetraumaofbeingkidnappestnight,hermentalstatewasalreadyfragile.Today’seventshadonlyworsenedit,andfaintingwasamildreaction.


    “Mr.Tudor,”Briancalledfromthedoorway.


    Lucasstoodbythebedsideandlookedoverathim,hiseyesfilledwithasharp,icycoldnessthatboreintoBrian.


    Brianfeltachillspreadfromhisfeettohisentirebody,reachingthedepthsofhissoul.


    Lucaswalkedout,closedthedoorbehindhim,and wentintothestairwell.


    Brianfollowedsilently.


    Once insidethestairwell,Brianspoke.“IsawMissYounggetintoMr.Russell’scar.Mr.Tudor,MissYoungisdefinitelynotinnocent.Mr.Russellisthenephewofthatperson,andMissYounghasbeengettingclosetohimrecently.WithMissWinter’skidnapping,itmustbe…”


    “Bang!”


    Beforehecouldfinish,Lucas‘fisndedsquarelyonhisface.


    Brianstaggeredbackseveralstepsbutdidn’tdarefightback.Heloweredhishead.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lucastooktwostepsforwardandkickedhimhardinthe


    knee,causingBriantokneeldowninpain,hisfaceturning


    pale.


    Lucaslookeddownathim,hishandsome,fiercefacegrowingevendarkerinthedimstairwell.Hiseyesshonewithanicychill,andafaint,murderousintentflickeredwithinthem.


    “Didn’tItellyounottotouchher,hmm?”


    Lucas‘coldvoicewasfilledwithanoverwhelmingpressurethatmadeBrian’sbackbendevenmore.


    “ShekidnappedMissWinter…”Briantriedtoargue.


    Lucasinterruptedwithacoldvoice,“Whatevershedid,wasityourcetointervene?”


    Brianfellsilent.Hedidn’tunderstand.Avelinehadthe


    audacitytohaveSophiakidnappedandeventriedtoruinher.Thefactthathehadn’idahandonAvelinewasa


    concession.Hehadonlyforcedhertokneel.WhywasLucassoangry?


    Coulditbethat,inLucas‘heart,AvelinewasmoreimportantthanSophia?


    LucaslookedcoldlyatBrian’snkfaceandsaidwithicydetachment,“GotoDesmondandreceiveyourpunishment,thenleave.”


    Withthat,heturnedandwalkedaway.


    “Mr.Tudor!”Brian,wasshockedandlookedupathim,instinctivelywantingtostand.


    ButseeingLucas‘anger,hedidn’tdaretorise.Hiseyesturnedred,andveinsbulgedonhisforehead.


    +15BONUS


    WhatdidLucasmean?Washebeingdismissed?


    Brianclenchedhisfists.Hebelievedhehadn’tdoneanythingwrong.ButwithoutLucas,wherecouldhego?


    Thestairwellwasempty,andafaintwindblev.infromsomewhere.HetookouthisphoneandopenedachatwithMaria.


    Briantexted,“Mr.Tudordoesn’twantmeanymore.”


    Mariareplied,“What?Whathappened?”


    Brianexinedeverything<b>to</b>Mariaindetail.


    Afterawhile,Mariasentathumbs–upemojiandthensaidnothingmore.


    Brianblinked.So,Mariathoughthewasrightanddidwell,didn’tshe?ThenwhywasLucassoangry?


    Lucasreturnedtothehospitalroom.


    Aaronhadarrived,lookingveryserious.HehandedLucasatablet.“ThisisallthevideofootageofSophia’sjourneyhomstnight.I’vealsoinvestigatedthosemen.Oneofthemhasasister–inwworkingasamaidfortheTudorfamily.Justafewdaysago,herountreceivedadepositoffourhundredthousanddors.”


    Lucastookthetabletandbegantowatchthefootage


    carefully,hisexpressiongrowingcolderbythesecond.“Whotransferredthemoney?”