CHAPTER 170: REGRET

Marcus had never truly let go of Aurora.

Her death back then had hit him harder than anyone knew.

Lucas held Sophia tightly in his arms, heart aching for her—but his thoughts were drifting elsewhere.

Marcus had brought over a dowry.

Did that mean he should start preparing something just as serious?

No matter what, his woman deserved the very best the world had to offer.

...

In the car, Marcus glanced at Sophia through the rearview mirror, a faint smile touching his lips.

Maybe... maybe it was time for him to visit someone too.

...

When he stepped into Andrew’s holding room, he frowned.

"You?"

Andrew snorted. "Surprised to see me? Are you disappointed? What, did you expect me to come here to laugh at you?"

Andrew stiffened. "If that’s why you’re here, then sorry to disappoint. I’ll be getting out soon. Sophia doesn’t have what it takes to keep me here."

Marcus said, voice chilled. "You think you’re walking out of here?"

"I may have hurt Sophia, but I didn’t lay a hand on her. I’ll be released soon enough—just wait."

Andrew was currently detained only as a suspect. No trial yet, so there was still a chance he’d be freed.

He clung to that hope.

"If you manage to get out," Marcus said softly, dangerously, "I’ll personally send you right back in."

Marcus gave a cold laugh. "Aurora’s death... I can drag you through hell with me for the rest of your life."

"Tch. That woman is dead. What does that have to do with me? Marcus, I’m telling you—her death has nothing to do with me!"

"She loved you. I watched it happen with my own eyes. And you’re telling me you had nothing to do with her? Andrew... remember this. I’ll make you spend the rest of your life repenting."

Their stares collided, sparks crackling in the air between them.

For Aurora’s sake... anyone who hurt her would live out the same loneliness—for a lifetime.

...

Afternoon

Even though it was Sunday, Lucas still went back to the office.

Once something lodged itself in his mind, he couldn’t work in peace.

"Mr. Hilton, something on your mind?" Alex asked.

"You can tell?"

Alex nodded. The signs were obvious—no need for anyone to spell it out.

"When I married her, it was only to get revenge. I never expected—"

"You never expected the boss lady to be this amazing? To walk straight into your heart and get stuck there?" Alex finished, half-smiling.

Lucas lifted a brow. "You know too much."

Alex laughed nervously. "So... what do you plan to do now? Make it up to her? Or something else?"

"A wedding. I want a wedding the world will remember. She married me—I won’t let her feel wronged."

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "But in the eyes of everyone else, you already had a wedding."

And it had been extravagant—grand enough by any standard.

But...

"Mr. Hilton, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what direction your mind is going."

"If I knew the direction, would I be asking you? And keep this confidential."

Alex sighed but quickly remembered his original purpose for coming.

"Mr. Hilton, the DS Group overseas has been getting... very restless. They’ve been aggressively pushing into the domestic market, and their stock movements are changing. I’m afraid they’re coming in hard."

"DS? I haven’t even gone after him yet, and he’s already making the first move."

"Mr. Hilton, they’re targeting the same sectors we operate in. If they keep expanding, it may put us at a disadvantage."

"Jacob from DS has some real skills. Don’t let his age fool you—back when he was overseas, plenty of assassination groups were hired to take him out. Every single one failed. He’s not just a businessman; he’s got influence in the foreign arms trade too. And we," Alex said, "are law-abiding citizens. For now, we stay steady. His goal isn’t just the market—he wants to break Hilton Group’s long-standing legend as number one."

The Hilton Group had dominated the business world for years. Their strength was so overwhelming that no one could believe a man in his twenties—Lucas—was the one running it.

"Mr. Hilton, there are also some small fry trying to disrupt the Hilton Group’s jewelry division."

"Jewelry? Who?"

"Scott Group."

Devin had been dormant for a long time, but in jewelry, he was a formidable rival.

"Mr. Hilton, these are the jewelry industry numbers from the past two weeks."

Devin specialized in jewelry, but never—not once—had the Hilton Group’s jewelry division seen such a sharp decline.

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

Lucas frowned deeply as he compared the charts.

"Mr. Hilton, it’s not that I didn’t want to. You just wouldn’t listen—you were too busy focusing on the boss lady."

Lucas shot him a cold look, and Alex instantly shut up.

"What about the market response?"

"I’ve already sent every department to investigate. We’ll have results within three days."

Lucas opened his laptop and looked up Scott Group’s activity.

"The Scott Group launching an attack on our jewelry division now is no coincidence. You have a day and a half. I want the full report on my desk Monday morning."

"Yes, Mr. Hilton."

But Alex didn’t leave. He stood there awkwardly.

"What? Spit it out."

"I... I have a class reunion tonight."

Lucas caught on immediately. "Every year you go, and every year you end up being the one paying. You still think it’s worth going?"

Alex looked conflicted.

For someone with a cool, aloof face, he somehow always looked like he was being bullied—like a kicked puppy.

"My goddess will be there."

"You have a goddess?"

Alex immediately perked up. "Of course I do! But... I heard she’s married now. Still, she was my high-school crush."

"You think I don’t know you? Alex, you were the campus heartthrob. Don’t tell me you couldn’t even chase your goddess back then."

Alex waved his hand shyly. "Boss, don’t expose me like that. It’s embarrassing~"

"You quitting the job? Or planning to resign so you can chase love instead?"

"What?! No way! I’m not stupid!"

"Then stop mumbling. What do you want?"

"...Boss, can I borrow your Rolls-Royce?"

Lucas glanced at him. Alex looked pitiful enough to adopt.

Lucas raised a brow, walked over to his cabinet, and casually pulled out three keys from a drawer full of car keys.

"I’m lending it to you to drive, not to wreck. Any damage—you pay for repairs yourself."

"Thank you, boss!!"

Alex grabbed the keys and ran off like a happy idiot.

Lucas exhaled helplessly.

He knew how those reunions went.

Some people hated the rich yet envied them.

They had nothing and assumed everyone else did too.

But Alex... insisted on keeping a low profile every year.

He’d been treated unfairly long enough.

Maybe this year, he’d finally get to vent.

Lucas stared at his laptop for a moment, frowned, then shut it.

Forget it.

Going home to be with his wife sounded much better.

Downstairs, Alex stared at the car keys in his hand, his expression complicated.