Chapter 17: Realizing What He Lost
Lucas left the auction hall in a daze, the weight of Amos's words pressing down on him.
He had been holding onto hope that somehow, despite everything, Aurora would come back to him. But now, with the knowledge of Hades looming over him, that hope felt more like a fool's errand.
The night air was cool as he stepped outside, the distant sounds of the woods filling the void that had settled in his chest.
Julia was at his side, still simmering with irritation, but for once, she stayed silent.
Maybe she sensed his internal struggle or maybe she was just tired of arguing. Either way, her presence was grating.
He walked a few steps away from her, needing space, needing to think. But all he could see in his mind was Aurora—her calm expression, the finality in her voice when she mentioned the divorce papers.
She wasn't bluffing. She wasn't trying to provoke him. She was done, truly done.
"Lucas," Julia's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and biting as always. "Are we just going to stand here all night, or are you going to pull yourself together?"
Lucas didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced at her, the bitterness in her eyes reflecting his own frustration. But there was something else there too—a calculation, a coldness that had always unnerved him.
He had once thought Julia could be an ally, someone who understood the world of power and ambition he lived in. But now, she just felt like a reminder of everything he was trying to escape.
"I need some time," he muttered, his voice rougher than he intended.