CHAPTER 15: WALKING INTO THE LION’S DEN

Aiden stormed in, fury written all over him.

"Uncle," Lucas greeted calmly.

"So you do remember I’m your uncle?" Aiden’s voice dripped with challenge.

Unlike Andrew, who always lost his composure like some shrill shrew, Aiden still clung to the shell of refinement.

"I’m not quite sure what you mean, Uncle."

Lucas tilted his head, looking at him with the innocence of a lily—almost too pure, too harmless.

What was going on with him today? Normally, Lucas’s eyes were sharp enough to kill. But right now... he actually looked innocent. Almost... fragile?

"I—"

Aiden choked on his words. Hilton Group belonged to Lucas. If Lucas wanted, he could crush him with one hand. And yet, resentment burned in his chest.

He still owned shares. And Lucas was just a cripple. He couldn’t continue the Hilton bloodline. If he wasn’t married by twenty-eight, the company had to be handed over.

What Aiden didn’t know was that Lucas not only had heirs, but six of them—and all prodigies.

"Uncle, I know you’re worried about my legs. These legs, after all, are thanks to you. If I can’t fulfill the will Grandfather left—if I fail to find the right bride—I’ll honor the contract."

Lucas had spoken more in this one moment than he usually gave Aiden in an entire month. The man’s suspicion only deepened.

"Aiden! What are you doing standing there?"

A woman’s lion-like roar echoed up the steps. Julia Taylor, Aiden’s wife, swept forward, her heavy features jiggling with each step.

"Well, well. If it isn’t Lucas. Haven’t seen you visit me in a while."

"Auntie, I had Alex send Uncle some supplements yesterday. Did they suit his taste?"

Beside her, Aiden’s face turned black. He’d been caught cheating not long ago, and Julia had unleashed her wrath on him, fists flying. When he came home and found those supplements on the table, he understood immediately. Lucas’s handiwork.

Julia gave Aiden a withering glance. "If not for you, I wouldn’t have discovered that this old guy was so bold - actually having an affair under my nose."

Lucas’s lips quirked faintly. "Uncle and Aunt’s bond is even stronger than I thought."

Julia’s expression hardened. "Fine. Since we’re here, I’ll be honest with you. Lucas, your legs are useless. You can’t produce heirs. My son Richard, on the other hand, already has a girlfriend—the daughter of the T Group. Marriage is on the table, and it would benefit Hilton Group enormously. Hand the company over to us, and rest assured, I will never shortchange you."

From the side, Sophia nearly gagged. When it came to shamelessness, this family competed neck and neck.

"Lucas, I’m hungry," Sophia suddenly said. She’d been ignored long enough, and her soft interruption finally drew both pairs of eyes her way.

Who was this woman?

Julia and Aiden exchanged a look, both frowning in confusion.

Lucas suppressed the smile tugging at his lips and reached for Sophia’s hand.

"Then let me take you to eat." His voice was unexpectedly gentle, shocking the two watching.

Lucas Hilton—cold, unpredictable, notorious for his temper—showing tenderness to a woman?

"Yes, let’s go."

"Uncle, Aunt. She’s hungry, so I’ll leave you here. We’ll talk another time."

Sophia pushed his wheelchair forward.

It was custom-made, worth over a million.

Together, their figures receded step by step until they disappeared from sight.

The restaurant was quiet for a moment. Sophia inhaled slowly — she was in a bad spot, but the people across from her weren’t exactly in great shape either.

"Mr. Hilton."

"Just call me Lucas." He smiled faintly, his deep eyes fixed on her, and Sophia felt a sudden flush of embarrassment.

"Lucas, what are you planning to do? Hilton Group wouldn’t be what it is without you."

"Grandfather’s will is still in effect."

Sophia shook her head in frustration. "I don’t believe you’re someone who’d quietly hand everything over."

"So what do you think I should do?"

"Fake marriage — sign off on whatever the will requires, then use that leverage to root out the parasites and leeches in the company."

Hilton Group was a world-class corporation — top of the charts, with countless international branches. Meeting Lucas had been an opportunity she couldn’t ignore.

"You saw my legs..." she trailed off.

"You’re rich." The words slipped out of Sophia before she could stop them; Lucas’s expression darkened. She realized she’d misspoken and hurried to soften it. "Don’t take that the wrong way — I just mean, you have the means. With your resources you have so many choices."

"I’m not interested in women."

Sophia froze. The rumor about the Hilton CEO being cold and disinterested in romance — was it true?

"Sophia, I like you," he said, blunt and even. "Your status, your talent — if you’re willing, I can sign a contract with you and pay you one hundred million dollars afterward. How does that sound?"

He said "one hundred million" without so much as a blink. Hilton Group’s weight could crush the Morgans — if she played this right, her six kids wouldn’t be asking for a father all the time anymore. Most importantly: he wasn’t interested in women. Most importantly: he was disabled. This deal looked like a win-win.

"Why me?" she asked, keeping her excitement carefully hidden.

"You’re the famous designer Luna, not a celebrity girl. Your identity would bring me huge advantages. I’m a businessman — I do deals. You don’t lose, and I gain." Lucas’s mouth tilted; the hint of a smile betrayed amusement. The little white rabbit was stepping into the snare.

Sophia folded her hands. She wasn’t after the hundred million — at least not only that. If she could use Hilton Group to cripple Morgan Group, then, when the contract expired, crush them with her own company — that might be far more satisfying.

"Mr. Hilton, to be frank, I intend to use Hilton Group’s influence."

"Become my wife, and not only Hilton Group but I myself will be yours to command." He spoke with a casual cruelty that landed like a dare.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, weighing the line between literal and implied.

"Miss Morgan, you’re unmarried and I’m unwed. You’re whole and I’m disabled. Isn’t that the perfect arrangement?" he said.

"They say you’re cold," she offered.

"That’s just a rumor."

Rumors weren’t reliable — especially not now, since he clearly understood what she meant.

"I don’t want the money. We each get what we need. Deal?" she proposed.

"Of course."

The little white rabbit had wandered into the circle — the door was about to swing shut.

"Just in case, three rules," Sophia said after a moment’s thought. She picked up a pen and, half an hour later, the page was densely filled with clauses.

Lucas nodded without even looking closely. "For security, Miss Morgan — sign here."

"All right."

Lucas tucked the paper away, the smile at his lips widening. He offered his hand first. "Sophia — here’s to a successful partnership."

"To a successful partnership," she echoed.