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The Heiress Revived from the Ashes
Chapter 197 Shattered Delusions
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Lucas''s fingers gripped the metal frame of the wheelchair tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. The biting chill seeped into his bones, but it was nothingpared to the coldness he felt in his
chest.
Does she really want to cut ties with me?
No! I wouldn''t allow it.
"How can you say that? We grew up together. We''re childhood sweethearts!"
Lauren scoffed. "You might be my childhood friend, but you''re not my father. Who I associate with is none of your business."
Lucas''s face darkened instantly, his eyes full of jealousy and fury as they locked onto Gael.
Through clenched teeth, "Laurie, have you forgotten our promise? You told me that once I made something of myself, you''d always be by my side."
Lauren chuckled, the soundced with mockery.
A deep, overwhelming sense of irony filled her chest.
Back in the orphanage, they had been each other''s only family. She had once believed they would never be
apart.
She had thrown herself into hardbor, participated inpetitions, and fought tooth and nail for schrships-all for his sake.
Because of a single promise.
I''ll be awyer and put everyone who hurt you behind bars.
She had been so foolishly entranced by those words.
She had worked tirelessly, sending every penny she earned to him in secret, making sure he never had to struggle the way other poor students did.
Even in her suffering, she had been happy, fueled by the dream that one day, Lucas would be a topwyer, shielding her from the world.
Reality had been cruel.
Not only had he failed to bring justice to those who wronged her-he had sent her to prison himself.
And the money she had painstakingly earned?
Not spent on books. Not spent on necessities.
But on luxury sneakers, designer jackets, and watches worth thousands.
And worst of all, on gifts for Willow.
A socialite who never even wanted them.
Chapter 197 Shattered Delusions
She had tossed his presents to the maids the moment she got home, too disgusted to keep them.
Lauren had never known.
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She had been too used to poverty to recognize the price tags on Lucas''s clothes. She had never questioned how a merew student could afford a wardrobe worth nearly ten grand.
It wasn''t until Gael''s investigation into the Bet family uncovered everything- until she saw for herself how Lucas had spent years pretending to be someone he wasn''t-that she realized the truth.
The boy she once trusted had be greedy, selfish, and vain.
He was nothing but a parasite.
Her gaze turned ice-cold.
"A promise?" She let out a short, scornfulugh. "Lucas, do you really think you deserve to bring that up? You ruined my life. Did you honestly believe I would ever forgive you? Have I not made my disgust clear enough since the day I got out of prison? You''re not even worth calling a stranger. At least a stranger wouldn''t make me sick. Every time I see you, I feel like throwing up."
Lucas visibly flinched, his body jerking as if he had been pped. A sickly red flush spread across his cheeks, a twisted mix of rage and humiliation.
"No! I didn''t put you in prison! It''s you! you brought that on yourself!" His voice trembled with desperation. "If you hadn''t pushed ine down the stairs, if you hadn''t turned her into a vegetable, none of this would have happened! You were convicted because of your own actions!"
Lauren''s expression turned ice-cold.
Her patience snapped.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand and pped him.
Hard.
A sharp crack echoed through the air.
"Are you blind or just deaf?" she spat. "ine woke up and proved I wasn''t the one who did it. How long are you going to keep pretending? If it weren''t for you and the rest of them covering for Willow, ine would have pointed her out as the real culprit that very day! And you still have the nerve to push the me on me? You''re disgusting."
Lucas sat there, stunned.
His mind went nk.
He refused to acknowledge his mistakes. Because if he did-if he admitted the truth-then there was no future left for them.
So, he did what he had always done. He forced the me back onto her.
If she carried the burden of attempted murder, if she remained an outcast, then
she would have no choice but to rely on him forever.
Sending her to prison had never been about justice.
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Chapter 197 Shattered Delusions
It had been about control.
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The moment he realized Keh had feelings for her, the moment he saw their
engagement approaching, his world had cracked.
He hadn''t wanted to see her in another man''s arms.
So, he had destroyed her instead.
If he couldn''t have her, then no one could.
And now, seeing her with Gael, seeing the way she hadpletely erased him
from her life, his emotions spiraled out of control.
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