Chapter 391: A Secret Conversation
In the secluded, top-secret meeting room, Lucas sipped his tea lightly, lost in thought. It took him a long while to gather his focus. The most pressing matter now was finding a way for Ella to willingly acknowledge him as her father.
"Father, don’t overthink it. Miss Davis is still your daughter. No matter how much she resents you, that fact won’t change," Luke said softly, trying to comfort him.
Lucas nodded, his eyes glistening faintly with unshed tears. "Isabella’s been gone for so many years, yet I’ve never stopped regretting. If only I’d been more decisive back then—if I’d forced her to come back with me, how different things might have been. But I didn’t. I thought she’d fallen for someone else. I didn’t even have the courage to confront her. I was so afraid... afraid that my love for her was too intense and that I might lose control and hurt her."
Back then, Lucas had chosen restraint over seeking clarity, fearing that his deep love and overwhelming emotions would lead to harm. But that hesitation had only turned into a permanent regret.
"Father, what’s done is done. There’s no point in dwelling on the past. Instead, think about how you can bring Ella back to your side," Luke said with quiet pragmatism.
Though Luke was a mixed-race man, his long years by Lucas’s side had imbued him with a similar aura. His sharply defined features, particularly his deep-set eyes, exuded a distinct coldness.
Luke’s gaze was piercing, almost predatory, often carrying an air of dominance and unyielding resolve. Lucas had poured immense effort into grooming Luke, shaping him into a decisive and formidable leader capable of carrying the Anderson family into the future.
At just 27 years old, Luke had already earned a reputation as a feared adversary in both domestic and international circles.
...
"But... I can’t stand the thought of knowing Isabella and I have a child together and not being able to acknowledge her. She’s my only daughter, and all I want is to spend the rest of my life making it up to her," Lucas said, his voice heavy with emotion and his eyes shadowed by sorrow.
"I understand, Father, but Ella doesn’t like you right now. You’ll need time and patience to win her over," Luke replied, narrowing his eyes as though deep in thought.