chapter 13

Lucas took a step towards Julia and Harry.

"What do you want!" Julia panicked, she didn't want the man near her.

The events of five years ago were vivid in Julia's memory; she was roughly touched and dominated by the man.

Julia didn't want to be touched by those hands again; she couldn't bear it.

Thinking about it made Julia's face pale; her fear of Lucas was evident.

Seeing Julia shaking in fear, Lucas abandoned his intention to embrace them.

Clearly observing Julia's fear of being touched by him, Lucas felt guilty and conflicted.

"Sorry," Lucas muttered softly. "I didn't mean to scare you; I missed you, I've been looking for you all this time."

Julia slowly turned to look at Lucas, who was so close to her; she could even smell his body scent.

The scent was just like five years ago; Julia quickly turned away. She didn't want to smell that scent, as it caused her heart to race abruptly, feeling a sense of closeness when smelling Lucas's body scent.

"What do you want by kidnapping us and bringing us here?" Julia replied coldly.

"I want you to stay here with me, don't leave again!"

"On what basis are you keeping us here? I don't want to!" Julia snapped angrily, her face showing clear displeasure.

"You bore my child; you are my responsibility. I want my child and you as his mother," Lucas explained.

"I don't need your responsibility; I can handle my own problems. Five years ago, you shattered my life. Don't look for excuses to keep us in your home. Haven't you given me a lot of money to never appear in front of you again?" Julia bravely met Lucas's sharp gaze, not blinking at all.

Lucas fell silent, looking into Julia's beautiful eyes; she mesmerized him. Each of Julia's words pierced directly into his heart.

It was like a stabbing dagger right into his heart.

Lucas remembered how arrogantly he had told Julia never to show up in front of him again. Could it be that because of his words, Julia had been untraceable for the past five years?

Lucas unconsciously swallowed hard, realizing that everything Julia said was true.

"Later on, I found out that you mistakenly entered the room, and you were not given to me by my friend. I misunderstood back then," Lucas said softly, feeling guilty. "That's why I want to make amends, I want to take responsibility for you."

"No need, we can live happily without an adult man between us!" Julia said curtly, turning away.

"But, Mom... I want us to be like before, don't be apart, I want a complete family like my friend Nico, he has a Mom and Dad who always love him!" Harry suddenly spoke up.

This made Lucas and Julia turn to look at their son, who had been quietly watching their argument.

"Mama, they were never together, you are still young, so you don't understand!" Julia panicked, her son misunderstanding her anger towards Lucas.

"Yes, son, we will be together again like we used to be!" Lucas affirmed Harry's words.

Lucas then knelt down to look into his son's face, so handsome just like he was when he was a child.

"That's not true!" Julia snapped angrily.

"Mama is angry with Papa, so Papa is trying to ask for forgiveness from Mama!" Lucas lovingly caressed Harry's head.

"Don't touch my child!" Julia shouted, pulling Harry behind her.

Julia's eyes glared with anger at Lucas; the man was utterly out of line. She had experienced so much in giving birth and raising Harry on her own.

Being young and pregnant, her life was not easy, struggling alone to care for herself and her baby in her belly.

And now, this man was audaciously trying to take her son, her son who had strengthened her shattered heart.

It was Harry's presence that had kept Julia going and allowed her to endure and live strong all this time.