CHAPTER 22: A LIFELINE IN THE STORM

Morgan Family.

"No! No! Everything Ethan said is a lie—it’s all lies!"

Olivia completely broke down, her voice hoarse as she cried hysterically, desperate to smash everything around her.

"What’s going on now? I haven’t even left the house yet and you’re already sobbing like this?"

Andrew came downstairs to find his daughter in tears, while Susan clutched her hand, murmuring comforts.

"You still dare ask? This is all thanks to the daughter you raised so well! Sophia—she actually stole Olivia’s man! And Ethan had the nerve to say he only used Olivia, that Sophia is the one he truly loves!"

Andrew’s brows furrowed. "Is that true?"

"Why would I lie to you? Do I get anything out of it?"

Andrew’s voice grew heavy. "Of course Ethan wanted to use the Morgan family to climb higher. That much was obvious. The only thing I miscalculated was your so-called eight-year relationship—turns out it was all fake."

Yes, they could have made better choices. But back then, Olivia couldn’t stand Sophia, so she snatched Ethan away. Somewhere along the way, Olivia became the one who fell too deep.

"Andrew, Olivia is our daughter. Now she’s been humiliated, and you’re just going to sit here? Ethan treated her like this, and you’re saying we shouldn’t retaliate? What about the Morgan family’s reputation?"

Susan’s words dripped with pride, as if suddenly remembering the importance of face. Andrew gave a cold laugh. "Now you care about face?"

Still, his heart ached for his daughter.

He sat down beside Olivia, taking her hand. "Listen, Ethan is never going to end up with Sophia. Have you forgotten? She’s with Lucas now."

"Dad, I can’t accept this!"

"My sweet girl, don’t worry. I won’t let you swallow this humiliation. I’ll find someone else for you, and we’ll make sure Ethan gets crushed underfoot."

But Olivia’s tears only streamed harder. She didn’t just want Ethan ruined—she wanted him back. She couldn’t accept that Sophia’s return had turned her entire world upside down. Everything that should have been hers was suddenly gone.

"Dad, this is all Sophia’s fault. I have to make her pay!"

"It’s Ethan who betrayed you, not Sophia. Don’t you understand?"

"I don’t care. It’s all because of her. If she hadn’t come back, Ethan and I would already be married by now!"

She dumped every ounce of blame squarely on Sophia.

Andrew sighed heavily. "I need to get to the office. Secretary Smith said an important guest has come to discuss a partnership. I need to lock down every single deal we can."

"An important partnership? Wait—Dad, Sophia is Luna. If she refuses to cooperate with us, if she withholds her designs, we can sue her. Take everything from her!"

Olivia’s thinking was far too simplistic. Andrew only nodded absently, humoring her for now.

"I’ll go to the office."

...

Morgan Group Headquarters.

As soon as Andrew arrived, his secretary Paul Smith hurried over.

"President Morgan, Hilton Group’s secretary Alex is here. He says they want to work with us."

Andrew’s stern face shifted in surprise. "Who did you just say? Lucas’s secretary? Wants to work with us? Isn’t he..."

His fingers tapped against the desk. Lucas had never been seen with a woman by his side.

And yet, he had publicly announced his relationship with Sophia, placing her directly in the spotlight.

At first glance, it looked like protection—an attempt to suppress the Morgan family, to suppress him.

But when you thought about it carefully, you could see the truth: the danger Sophia now faced was immeasurable.

So many women wanted a chance to crawl into Lucas’s bed—actresses, socialites, even heiresses.

And it wasn’t just women. More than a few men had shamelessly tried their luck too.

Everyone wanted a piece of him. Yet now, he had publicly declared he had a girlfriend.

Or rather, he called her his fiancée. They weren’t married yet, but the message was clear.

From this moment on, Sophia wasn’t just facing jealousy.

She was about to face endless schemes, sabotage in the open and in the shadows.

"Quick, let him in!"

Whatever Lucas’s motives were, Andrew needed to see for himself what this meant.

Alex stepped inside with a frosty expression, not even bothering with pleasantries.

"President Morgan, I’m here under Mr. Hilton’s orders."

"Mr. Taylor, you could’ve just given me instructions. Why make the trip yourself? If it’s about business, I can easily visit Hilton Group."

Andrew waved for someone to bring coffee.

"No need," Alex cut him off. "I came to deliver one message. As far as Sophia is concerned, Mr. Hilton won’t intervene. Your family affairs are yours to handle. But if you take things too far—then it becomes a different matter."

Andrew’s eyes flickered with excitement, his mind racing.

Just as he thought!

Lucas would never jeopardize everything he had for the sake of a woman.

But then, why announce Sophia so publicly?

Was there an agreement between them? Something else?

He didn’t understand Lucas’s move. But Alex’s words meant one thing—Lucas wouldn’t interfere with the Morgan family’s conflict.

Which also meant Sophia might just be a pawn. Maybe she didn’t even realize it herself.

"Mr. Taylor, then what sort of cooperation are we talking about? You know Morgan Group’s cash flow problems. We—"

Alex pulled a check from his briefcase and placed it on the table.

"Mr. Hilton asked me to give you this. As for ’cooperation’—that was just an excuse to come see you."

He spoke bluntly, while Andrew stared at the numbers, stunned.

Two hundred million.

Enough to cover his company’s broken cash chain.

Could it really be that simple? Lucas had just... given him two hundred million, with no strings attached?

"Mr. Taylor, what exactly is Mr. Hilton’s intention?"

"You really need a reason for receiving money? Still, remember this—repay kindness when the time comes. If Mr. Hilton ever needs something, you’d better move fast. Oh, and one more thing. Within three days, Mr. Hilton will propose to Sophia. They’ll be married."

Alex revealed just enough, never more.

Lucas wasn’t protecting Sophia—he was letting things play out.

The three-day deadline was only to fulfill his late grandfather’s will.

Hilton Group towered above every corporation in existence. Nothing could tie Lucas down—nothing except that will.

The only person who had ever truly cared for him feared Lucas would live out his life alone.

So, the old man forced his hand, binding him to marriage with one final wish.

And Lucas—his most loyal grandson—would never defy him.