Chapter One Hundred-Fifty Seven

Lucas forced a smile at Alicia, who was now genuinely smiling, tears of hope glistening in her eyes. "Good day, my boy. Someone wants to talk to you. Alicia Montgomery. Your mother."

The boy's tone hardened, "I don't talk to women like her."

Alicia shook her head bitterly. "No… son…"

Lucas pouted and hung up, then laughed mockingly. "You see, Alicia? He hates you more than you can imagine."

She scoffed, her voice breaking. "No. What have you done? You made him hate me?!"

Lucas laughed sadistically. "Oh, Alicia, you give me too much credit. I didn’t have to do much. He just needed to hear the right words about you, and his hatred blossomed naturally."

Alicia's eyes filled with rage and despair. "You're lying! He would never hate me if he knew the truth."

Lucas leaned in, his breath hot and malicious on her face. "Truth? There’s no truth in this world that matters. Only perception. And I’ve shaped his perception well."

Alicia's voice trembled. "You’re worse than the devil."

Lucas grinned