Upon their arrival and as they entered Deasy’s apartment unit, Deasy couldn’t bear it any longer and reached out to grab Lucas’s arm, trying to stop him in his tracks, attempting to pull him to focus on her.


    “Luc… I beg you, I can exin everything.”


    Lucas immediately turned to look at her, his gaze sharp, and he showed a cutting grin.


    “What do you want to exin? Do you want to tell me why you hate my father? Or maybe you want to exin your intentions for revenge and destroying the Morales family?”


    Deasy swallowed hard. Like a skilled person, Lucas could urately perceive what she intended to express.


    “Luc… you really need to hear my exnation.”


    “Yes,” Lucas nodded. “As you said the other day, you do need to provide an exnation, Des.”


    Deasy tried to reach for Lucas’s hand, intending to invite him to sit down together and talk about the issue that had now be their problem.


    However, instead of epting, Lucas pushed Deasy’s wrist away. He even deliberately adjusted his position to create distance between the two of them.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    “I think we don’t need to get too close for this conversation.”


    “Luc…” Deasy whispered, her voice filled with sadness. “I’m sorry.”


    “Just get to the point, Des. No need to beat around the bush. I don’t like people who overly dramatize things.”


    Deasy took a deep breath, thinking quickly about where to start with all of this.


    “In the past, my father and your father were indeed business rivals who often shed. They frequentlypeted for major tenders with huge investments at stake. Long story short, both of them were involved in a bidding war for a multi-billion-rupiah project. For some reason, my father believed that the idea he intended to use for hispany was exactly the same as what your father’s team had presented. This raised suspicions that your father had cheated to win the bid.”


    “So, your father used mine of stealing his idea?”


    “Just listen for a moment,” Deasy requested when Lucas interrupted her. “My father was convinced that there were many simrities, even up to nearly 100% identical with his idea in their presentation. There were also indications that your father had internal connections with the investors. And during the final presentation, my father’s suspicions proved correct. The investors chose your father and Quantum Tech to carry out this major project.”


    Deasy paused briefly in her narrative, as feelings of sadness and loss washed over her again. She had always found it difficult to talk about herte father.


    “Because of this loss, my father’spany’s stock plummeted on the market. Furthermore, due to this defeat, many business partners withdrew from extending their coborations. They even unterally terminated almost finalized agreements and switched to your father’spany, which was deemed morepetent. My father was under extreme stress, Luc. His career was utterly destroyed at that time. He couldn’t bear the continuous onught of trials and tribtions and suffered a heart attack, ultimately passing away. You can’t even imagine how painful that was for me.”


    Deasy’s tears flowed freely as she recounted the story. Lucas even handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. However, this act of kindness did not indicate that Lucas was relenting or forgiving Deasy for what she had done. No, at this moment, Lucas hadn’t even considered doing that.


    “Are you done?” Lucas asked after a pause. “Is there anything else you want to say before I take over this conversation?”


    Wiping her tear-streaked cheeks, Deasy looked at Lucas. There was no longer the gentle and affectionate look in his eyes that he used to show her so often.


    “I know the reason why my father had a heart attack, and it’s only natural for me to be angry. It’s human nature not to ept such a bitter incident happening to my family.”


    “So, because of this, you sought revenge?”


    Deasy nodded.


    “I even had a good career and position back then. If I wanted, I could have repaired and continued my father’spany to make it thrive again. But my heartache ran too deep, Luc. I couldn’t ept that my father lost his life due to the recklessness of your father’s team.”


    “Once again, I ask, is it because of this that you sought revenge?”


    Deasy nodded repeatedly. Her gaze remained fixed on Lucas’s eyes without wavering.


    “That’s why I chose to leave my job at the time. I deliberately joined Quantum Tech with the help of insiders. I tried to learn, understand thepany’s character, and eventually find a way tomit-”


    “Embezzlement of funds that ultimately cost thepany tens of billions?” Lucas interjected.


    “It’s iparable to my father’s life lost, Luc.”


    Lucas chuckled bitterly. He then nodded. From the look in his eyes, it was clear that he was trying to be patient and listen to Deasy’s arguments before responding.


    “Just so you know, Des…” Lucas continued with difficulty, his every word filled with disappointment. “I even felt guilty in the beginning, afraid that you might feel deceived by the disguise I put on. I even feared that you’d think I was using you. But…” Lucas paused, chuckling bitterly as if he wasughing at himself. “It turns out I’m the one being used here. It turns out I’ve been lied topletely.”


    “Lucas… please, just listen.”


    “What else needs to be heard, Deasy Winterborne? What else should I listen to?”


    Lucas’s voice grew louder. Seeing Deasy’s surprise, Lucas took a deep breath, attempting to control his emotions. He had every right to be furious at this moment.


    “You need to know that at the beginning, before knowing the truth, I did feelfortable with Lucas Orion. In case you forgot, I even got to know you as Lucas Orion, not Lucas Morales. Despite being annoyed at times, you managed to melt my heart, Luc. Before finding out you were a Morales, I was even willing to marry you, right? I genuinely love you. I was serious about our rtionship. Yes, even though I was shocked when I found out that you were Andreas’s biological child, the one I had been targeting all along. I admit that after learning this truth, I briefly considered continuing to use you.”


    Lucas snapped his fingers in the air, once again taking control of the conversation for a moment.


    “So that’s why you told me to marry you no matter what? Because you knew I’d do anything for you?”


    “Lucas…”


    “Everything is clear now, Des!”


    “Not yet!” Deasy quickly retorted. “I did consider continuing to use you. But after thinking it over and receiving enlightenment from Mama, I realized I couldn’t do this to you, Luc. I love you too much!”


    Lucas remained silent, taking multiple deep breaths. He smiled dismissively. It was as if Deasy’s recent words were just a passing breeze, and they didn’t shake his soul like they used to.


    “Let me rify this issue from start to finish,” Lucas said emphatically. “From the beginning, your intentions were wrong, Des. I’m sure you’re senior enough in the business world to understand that winning or losing in thepetition to attract investors is nothing new in business. Moreover, you jumped to conclusions too early. Do you and yourte father’s usations against my father have sufficient evidence? Once again, this is just wild spection on your part.”


    “Oh my God, Lucas. The ideas were identical.”


    Lucasughed cynically once more.


    “Des, it’s not my intention to defend anyone here. I’m speaking objectively. Selling ideas, business concepts, project proposals, or other proposals can often be very simr. It’s usually the execution that differs. Perhaps my father’s idea and your father’s idea were fundamentally the same. However, my father’s idea might have been moreplex and appealing, which is why the investors chose to work with him. And again, you can’t just make my father the scapegoat for your father’s death. This is business, and there are always ups and downs. It’s about how wisely we handle it. How can you me my father for your father’s death? My father didn’t kill yours, Des.”


    “You can say this because you’re not in my shoes, Luc.”


    “Okay, let’s turn the tables. Now let’s talk from my perspective. What about my father, Des? Do you think that when Quantum Tech suffered tens of billions in losses, my father’s situation didn’t deteriorate? Do you think he didn’t feel the pressure and stress of dealing with this problem? This is where our families differ. Even when in trouble, my father tried his best to rise again. He worked tirelessly to find a way to fix things. And me? I didn’t even have the slightest interest in retaliating against your actions, even though they clearly hurt us badly. But that doesn’t mean you can get away with it, Des.”


    Deasy was at a loss for words, unable to respond to Lucas’s lengthy argument. She feltpletely cornered and was aware of her grave mistake.


    “Okay, I admit I was wrong,” Deasy whispered softly. “I’m sorry. But for God’s sake, I never intended to hurt your feelings, Luc.”


    Lucas nodded repeatedly.


    “Don’t worry, I forgive you for what you’ve done to me, Des. Fortunately, I’m not a vengeful person. But don’t celebrate just yet. Even though I forgive you, I still believe that you should be held ountable and return everything you embezzled without any deductions. After all, that’s your responsibility, isn’t it? If you can’t return it, you’ll have to deal with the authorities.”


    “But, Luc, what about our rtionship-”


    “No,” Lucas quickly shook his head. “I don’t think I can be with you anymore.”


    Deasy was shocked. She was certain she hadn’t heard wrong. Did this mean Lucas wanted to end their rtionship?


    “I mean, what do you mean?”


    “I think I can’t be with you anymore.”


    Lucas then turned around, walked into Deasy’s room, and began packing some of his belongings.


    As Deasy followed him, at first, she just watched. But after a while, she tried to stop him from doing what he was doing.


    “No, you can’t leave, Luc. I’m sorry. I really am. You don’t have to worry; the money I embezzled is still intact. I can return it right now if you want.”


    Lucas turned to look at her sharply.


    “Oh, of course, Deasy Winterborne. Whether or not the money is intact, I will still hold you responsible for returning it in full without any deductions. Besides, it’s your duty, right? Even if you can’t return it, you’ll have to deal with the authorities.”


    “But, Luc, please-”


    “No,” Lucas hastily shook his head. “I can’t live with someone who easily jumps to malicious assumptions, let alone seeks revenge for something unclear. But don’t worry, as the biological father of your child, I will still take full responsibility. If you don’t want it when the child is born, as you once said, I will be the one to take care of and raise the child with all my heart.”


    “Lucas!”


    “That’s it, Des. Our rtionship ends here. Don’t forget to settle your issues with thepany.”


    Lucas then walked away, leaving Deasy sitting on the floor, sobbing uncontrobly. She regretted whatever it was that had caused her rtionship with Lucas to be so chaotic.