CHAPTER 12: SHE’S IN THE LIGHT, HE’S IN THE SHADOWS

Carter Group.

"Big brother, please, just this once—help us out!"

Harper clung to her brother’s arm, stopping him from lifting his coffee cup. William didn’t even raise his eyes, simply switched hands and kept going.

"Biiiig brother~" she pouted dramatically.

"Forget it," William said flatly. "Morgan Group might be sliding downhill, but their foundation is still solid. They won’t collapse overnight. They still have value to exploit."

His gaze never left the report in his hand, not even sparing her a glance.

"If you don’t help me, then I’ll just have no choice but to end it all right here!"

Harper threw her hand against her throat, rolling her eyes back and sticking her tongue out like she was about to drop dead.

William actually chuckled, shaking his head. His handsome face softened into a smile as warm as a spring breeze. If they weren’t siblings, that smile alone would have been dangerous.

"Cut the act."

But Harper wasn’t giving up. "Come on, just help me this once. Sophia would be so grateful! Besides, don’t you like her? What’s the point of liking someone if you won’t even lift a finger for her?"

William shot her a look and was about to respond when a knock came at the door.

The secretary walked in respectfully. "Mr. Carter, Mr. Hilton is here."

William froze, brows lifting. Lucas? Last he’d heard, Hilton had zero interest in working with them. Why show up in person now?

"Make him a hand-brewed coffee. We’ll finish this later," he ordered.

"On it!" Harper chirped, already darting off like a happy puppy.

...

Moments later, Lucas entered.

"Mr. Hilton, what an honor to see you here yourself," William greeted.

With a subtle nod from Lucas, Alex stepped forward and placed a box of premium tea on the table.

"Mr. Carter, we heard your father is a tea connoisseur. Mr. Hilton brought this especially for him."

William’s chest tightened. Plenty of people tried to cozy up to Lucas, but for him to deliver tea personally? That was no small gesture. What game was he playing?

"Then I’ll gladly accept. But tell me, Mr. Hilton—what brings you here today?"

Lucas’s voice was calm, steady. "Partnership. Tell me about your current projects. I want to see exactly where my profit lies."

William blinked, then nodded quickly. "Of course. Actually, I’ve just been eyeing a gaming start-up—an e-sports and development team. I’ve tested their work myself; it’s got huge potential. The market’s tough right now, but with the right partner to share the risk? It could be a goldmine."

Lucas laced his fingers together on the table, his eyes cool and unreadable.

Just then, Harper reappeared with a tray of coffee.

"This your sister?" Lucas asked casually.

"Yes. I almost forgot—this is my sister, Harper," William replied with a smile before gesturing across the table. "And this is Lucas Hilton, CEO of Hilton Group."

Harper tilted her head. The man looked oddly familiar, but she couldn’t place him.

Lucas’s lips curved faintly. "You mentioned yesterday that you had a sister... Miss Grey, right?"

"Gray? You mean—" William started, but the door suddenly swung open.

"William, is Harper here?"

Sophia stepped into the room, pausing for a second before offering a polite smile. "Oh, looks like I walked in at the wrong time. Sorry to intrude."

She turned to leave, but William caught her arm, smiling. "Perfect timing. Mr. Hilton was just asking about you."

Sophia stiffened, then turned back slowly.

"Mr. Hilton?"

"That’s right," William said. "This is Lucas Hilton, CEO of Hilton Group. And she—" his gaze softened—"is Miss Gray. My sister’s best friend. And my sister by choice. Her real name... is Sophia Morgan."

A flicker of darkness flashed in Lucas’s eyes—so fast it almost went unnoticed.

Sophia’s mind snapped back to the banquet the night before. So, it was him—the man who had spoken up for her!

God really did play favorites. That face, those hands, those legs... well, maybe the legs weren’t the point right now.

Wait—Hilton Group?

The Hilton Group. One of the most powerful corporations in the world.

Her breath caught. She studied his cold, handsome features, her heart pounding, yet underneath the excitement, a strange sense of familiarity surfaced.

"Miss Morgan," Lucas greeted coolly.

His aura was sharp, distant, untouchable—yet the moment their hands met, the chill seemed to lift.

Sophia smiled. "Mr. Hilton, thank you for helping me last night."

Lucas’s lip curled slightly. "That’s obviously not much of a help. I should be the one to say thank you." After all, his kind uncle still hadn’t shown up, and it was obvious that he’d overworked his kidneys last night.

Sophia chuckled lightly.

Lucas withdrew his hand, his voice dropping low. "I hear you’re a designer. Well known. If you’re interested, I’d pay generously to bring you into Hilton Group."

He slid over a sleek black business card, understated yet carrying weight—his name and personal number embossed in silver.

Sophia accepted with a faint smile. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Hilton."

Lucas’s expression remained steady, though his gaze shifted back to William. "As for the project you mentioned—I’m in."

Even William, who’d seen his share of power plays, was caught off guard. "Mr. Hilton, aren’t you deciding a little quickly? You said you needed time to consider."

"No need. It’s worth it." Lucas’s reply was firm, his tone meaningful. Then he added, "Bring your team to my office tomorrow. We’ll finalize."

That sealed it—the partnership was locked in stone.

Lucas came fast, and he left just as quickly.

"You really are my lucky star!" Harper burst out, beaming at Sophia.

"Huh?" Sophia blinked, confused.

"Dinner’s on me tonight," Lucas said coolly on his way out.

"French restaurant—" Harper started.

"Fine." He cut in with just one word.

Harper nearly skipped with joy, dragging Sophia close. "Babe, you showed up at the perfect time!"

...

Outside Carter Group, beside the car.

"Boss, let me help you," Alex said, moving to steady Lucas into the vehicle.

But before Lucas could climb in, a little girl popped out of nowhere.

Faye, clutching a lollipop, her wide doe eyes fixed directly on him.

"Wait." Lucas froze—wasn’t this the same girl from last night?

"Uncle—" Her sweet little voice rang like magic, a sound that could melt stone.

Lucas’s face tensed. He forced what looked like a smile, though it was stiff and unnatural.

Faye blinked, startled. Inside, her tiny heart panicked: Daddy looks so scary...

Her eyes welled up, tears brimming.

"Waaah!" She burst into sobs, wailing loudly as she cried out for "brother."

"Faye!" someone shouted nearby.

A boy rushed over—her twin. No, not just a twin—he looked almost identical to Lucas when he was a child.

"Faye, what happened?" the boy—Eric—asked urgently.

"I’m scared!" Faye hiccupped, her tears and snot flowing freely.

Eric’s brows furrowed, his young face deadly serious as he glared at Lucas. Man to boy, the standoff was tense.

"Whose kids are these?" Lucas muttered under his breath.

Faye’s cries grew louder.

"Faye!" "Faye!" More voices joined in.

Angela appeared with the other three siblings in tow. They quickly surrounded Faye, tugging her away and hustling her off.

Even Lucas, who prided himself on his composure, was momentarily stunned.

"Alex," he asked, his tone razor-sharp, "did you see what I saw?"

"Yes, Mr. Hilton. Six of them. Actual sextuplets!" Alex’s voice carried disbelief.

"And..." He hesitated, then added carefully, "They look... a lot like you."

Lucas lowered his head, brows drawn tight, a shadow of doubt flickering in his eyes.

"Tell Kai. Find them. If they’re really my children..." His voice turned cold, cutting like steel. "You know what to do."

"Yes, wipe them—oh!" Alex slapped his own mouth, instantly regretting his words. "Sorry, boss. Been watching too many revenge dramas. Wrong choice of words."

Lucas’s fist clenched, his icy gaze locking on Alex. "If anything happens to them, you won’t live to regret it."

"Understood, boss!" Alex stiffened like a soldier at attention.

Lucas climbed into the car and it sped away.

...

Meanwhile, in the back of a stretch Rolls-Royce not far off, Faye was still hiccuping through her tears.

"Don’t cry, Faye. You’re breaking my heart," Eric soothed, his protectiveness plain as day.

"Mommy’s coming down soon. If you keep crying, she’ll find out what we’ve been up to," he added gently.

"He was so scary! Like he wanted to eat me alive!" Faye bawled.

If Lucas knew that his very first attempt at a smile had been described as "like a man-eating monster," even he might not know whether to laugh or cry.

Beside her, Billy rubbed his temples and rested a small hand on Faye’s head. "Be good, Faye. Mom’s been through enough already."

"Billy, let’s not pick that scary man for a daddy, okay? Let’s choose a gentle one instead," Faye sniffled hopefully.

Billy sighed but nodded.

If Daddy can’t even keep from making Faye cry, then he’s disqualified.

They needed a gentle daddy.

As for Lucas? He’d just been voted out. Next candidate, please!