CHAPTER 70: STOP LYING TO YOURSELF

Hilton Group – Executive Office

"Mr. Hilton, thank goodness the children are safe," Alex said carefully, trying to ease the tension.

"This is insane!" Lucas’s tone was razor-sharp. "Six children—six!—and they managed to sneak out of Blackstone Manor without anyone noticing. They even bypassed the security system!"

When he first heard the news, his mind had instantly gone to how he’d explain this to Sophia. Only to find out that those six little troublemakers had secretly flown all the way to City Y just to see her.

"Mr. Hilton, they just... missed her too much," Alex offered weakly.

"Missed her?" Lucas’s eyes darkened. "No wonder they’ve been threatening me lately—they’re smarter than I thought. Fine then. Fire every security guard at Blackstone Manor. Pay them three months’ severance and replace the whole staff."

Alex blinked. "All of them?"

"Everyone. Including the ones in the control room. If they can’t even do their job, what are they here for—to lay eggs?"

That murderous glint in Lucas’s eyes made Alex take an instinctive step back.

Arguing now would be suicide.

When Alex left, Lucas stood alone before the floor-to-ceiling windows. The skyline stretched beneath him—he was on top of the tallest tower in the city.

He had everything anyone could ever envy.

And yet—he couldn’t even keep track of his own children.

Worse, six years ago he’d been tricked into bed by a mysterious woman... and now, six years later, he couldn’t even handle the mother of his kids.

A wave of helpless frustration burned in his chest.

"Mr. Hilton ~"

A sweet, sing-song voice came from the door.

A woman with wavy auburn hair and a pale-yellow dress stepped in. She was the kind of beauty who knew it. Her eyes roamed over Lucas’s profile, and her thoughts turned dangerous.

If she could just get close to this man, she’d never have to worry about anything again.

"Mr. Hilton ~"

She walked right up to him, her manicured fingers brushing over his shoulder. His reflection in the glass showed a frown forming.

"Mr. Hilton, I’m Zara, from JL Entertainment ~" Her hand slid down toward his chest.

Then—

"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.

Zara only smiled, sultry and confident. "Mr. Hilton, I just came to—"

Lucas pulled out his phone. "Noah. You have thirty minutes to terminate Zara’s contract."

Zara froze. "Mr. Hilton, I—"

"You’re already terminated. You have one minute to get out of my sight, or I’ll have someone escort you out."

He shook her hand off and glared down at her. "You really think someone like you could ever catch my attention?"

Zara swallowed hard.

Rumor had it Lucas was incapable—that he was "broken." That was why he’d turned away every woman who threw herself at him. She’d waited for her moment, certain that with Sophia gone, he’d be lonely enough to take the bait.

But now she’d just slammed the door on her own career.

"Mr.—"

One look from him silenced her. She turned and fled, tripping over her own heels on the way out.

"Mr. Hilton," Alex said as he stepped back in, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"In the future, if just anyone can waltz in here, we might as well fire security and reception while we’re at it."

Alex cleared his throat and nodded quickly. "Understood."

Lucas’s voice softened—barely. "Good."

"Sir, one more thing," Alex continued carefully. "Someone from the Trump Family requested a meeting."

Lucas’s expression hardened.

Of course the Trumps wouldn’t let Sophia off easily—and now they had the nerve to ask him for a meeting.

"Mr. Hilton," Alex said quietly, "I know it’s not my place to comment on your private life. But... let me say this. You went through hell to marry Sophia, and yet you’ve spent all this time trying to keep her under lock and key—as if revenge were the point.

"But truth is, you’ve saved her more than once. Whatever this ’contract marriage’ started as, your actions don’t match your words.

"And as for the six kids—they’ve clearly made their choice. They’d follow Miss Morgan anywhere.

"Mr. Hilton, you’ve never let another woman get close to you. But when it comes to her... you’re not the same man."

Lucas stared at him in silence for a long moment, until Alex was sweating profusely, and then asked, "Do I make it that obvious?"

"Painfully obvious," Alex replied with absolute certainty. "Not only that, sir—you’ve practically handed Miss Morgan’s rivals the upper hand, and made it even harder for her to fight back. But every single time she’s in trouble, who’s the first one to step in personally?"

Lucas’s face darkened.

"Mr. Hilton," Alex continued carefully, "let’s be honest—you helped Morgan Group fix their financial shortfall, you got involved with Olivia’s mess, and even stepped in with the Trump Family... Tell me, doesn’t all that sound like someone who’s just wasting his energy on a lost cause?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Lucas shot him a glare so sharp Alex nearly flinched.

He hurried to speak before Lucas could.

"Mr. Hilton, you always tell me to be honest—to never play games or hold back around you. You said it’s my job to tell you when you’re right or wrong, and that’s all I’m doing here. So please don’t fire me for being honest."

Alex straightened his back, face serious and righteous, though his heart was pounding.

Lucas exhaled slowly, expression unreadable. "Didn’t I tell you to stop watching those stupid romance dramas?"

"Sir, what else am I supposed to do after work? I get bored."

Lucas’s brow twitched. "If you had a girlfriend, maybe you wouldn’t act like this. How about I give you a three-month vacation?"

Alex’s eyes lit up. "Wait—seriously?"

"Of course," Lucas said dryly. "Paid leave. You can go straight to accounting, collect your check, pack your things, and don’t come back. I have no use for a secretary whose head is filled with soap operas."

"Boss~ please, don’t be like that—"

Lucas’s entire arm broke out in goosebumps. His icy gaze shut Alex up immediately.

"Mr. Hilton," Alex coughed lightly, "about Thomas—how do you want to handle him?"

"Don’t meet him. Tell them Sophia hasn’t returned yet. And when she does... if they’re coming to beg for forgiveness, they’d better bring everything with them."

Alex raised an eyebrow. Was the boss finally coming to his senses?

Once Alex left, Lucas interlaced his fingers, tapping them lightly against his desk, then setting them down again.

Like her?

Did he really... like Sophia?

His mind flashed to that night at the hotel—her trembling voice, the raw trust in her eyes as he pulled her out of danger.

She’d looked at him like he was the only person who could save her.

But that same woman had also told him, without a hint of hesitation, that everything between them was "just for fun."

Weren’t we just using each other?

His fingers drummed rhythmically on the desk.

If Sophia ever found out that he was the one who’d leaked the truth about the six children... what would she do?

And if she uncovered his involvement in the Olivia and Morgan Family incidents—she’d never forgive him.

Lucas Hilton, a legendary figure in the business world, bowing his head to a woman?

Ridiculous.

He turned toward the window again, his sharp eyes flickering with hesitation.

Still... maybe if he lowered his guard—just a little—she’d finally take the step down he’d built for her.