Her Divorce, His Downfall (Sophia and Damian) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186 Lucas‘ Buried Past

Resentment and anger still simmered in Lucas‘ chest, but he

knew he had no other choice but to agree now that Weston had conceded.

Could he really cut ties with Damian for good?

No. He couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t lose Damian.

To Lucas, Damian was closer than his own blood brother.

Over the years, Damian had bailed him out of countless messes.

Without him, Lucas would have been severely disciplined by his father and older brother Orion Hunt a hundred times over.

It was no secret Lucas left a trail of broken hearts wherever he went, a playboy who flitted from one woman to the next without a second thought.

Orion only let him off the hook because Damian always cleaned up his messes behind the scenes.

Orion knew his younger brother was close friends with Damian, the most favored heir of the Hall family, so he never dared come down too hard on Lucas, forcing himself to tamp down his frustration.

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Damian’s father, Daniel Hall.

Daniel’s brother, Bradley, was a retired director of the NEC.

Theodore served as a division chief at the ITA, overseeing commercial investment projects for New York.

Not to mention Hall family members like Samuel, who held high–ranking military positions.

Naturally, the Hunt family gave Damian a wide berth–he was Lucas‘ ultimate protection.

The Hunt family business was run by Lucas‘ father, Aiden Hunt, and Orion, leaving Lucas with no real responsibilities at all.

Orion was the family’s sole heir, and as the youngest son, Lucas‘ only job was to enjoy his wealth and live carefree.

The family fortune was more than enough to last him a lifetime.

Lucas had once casually dropped hundreds of millions into a gaming company to fund new projects, treating it as nothing more than a hobby.

By sheer luck, the venture turned massive profits, leaving him stunned at his own hidden talent for investing.

After that, Lucas hired top–tier professional managers t a high8

When his family saw he’d actually turned a profit instead of losing everything on his first serious investment, and even handed over large annual dividends to his parents, their frustration with him faded significantly.

Damian and Weston were both 26, while Lucas was just 24, the youngest of the trio, and by far the most reckless and hedonistic.

Of course, his playboy ways hadn’t always been part of who he

was.

Lucas had turned into the carefree womanizer he was now only after being dumped by his first love, Amelia Bronte.

At 22, fresh out of college, Lucas had fallen into the most sincere and most devastating, relationship of his life.

He’d hidden his identity as the Hunt family’s youngest heir, pretending to be a regular guy to pursue Amelia, the quiet, virtuous campus beauty from a poor background.

On graduation day, Amelia’s formal dress had torn unexpectedly. Lucas had immediately taken off his jacket and draped it over her, stepping in to smooth over the awkward moment with gentle charm.

After that, they’d job–hunted together, spending nearly every waking moment side by side. Their bond deepened quietly, growing far beyond casual friendship.

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after pretending to finish a long shift at work.

Amelia had already cooked dinner and simmered a hearty beef

stew.

She rushed over to greet him, pulling him into a chair and pressing the warm bowl into his hands, her voice soft and sweet.

“Long day at work? I made your favorite stew. Have some.”

Warmth flooded Lucas‘ chest at Amelia’s tender care.

This quiet, constant devotion was a feeling he’d never known growing up in a world of luxury and privilege.

Lucas took the bowl, letting his fingers brush against hers in what looked like a total accident. At that brief moment of contact, they both froze.

Amelia’s cheeks flushed bright pink, and she quickly pulled her hand away.

Lucas smiled to himself, lowering his head to take a sip of the

stew.

It was rich, savory, and gently sweet; it was clear she’d spent hours simmering it to perfection.

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Lucas finished dinner as if nothing was amiss, then waited until Amelia was cleaning up in the tiny kitchen before rushing in and pulling her into the small living room.

“Amy,” Lucas murmured, pulling her tight against his chest. She was soft and light in his arms, carrying the fresh, sweet scent of a young girl.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her unique fragrance, his voice low and nervous.

“I love you. Not as a fling–love that’s forever. I want to drink your stew every morning, hold your hand every day, and give you a home. No matter how hard it gets, I want to spend my whole life with you. What about you?”

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. She tilted her head up to look at him.

In the soft lamplight, the sharp lines of his back and the toned abs from regular exercise were on full display.

He was strong, firm, radiating the raw energy of youth that felt endlessly safe.

His hold was warm, carrying a faint, clean scent of soap that settled her nerves completely.

She just didn’t know how to answer him.

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His Adam’s apple bobbed, a wave of longing crashing over him.

“Amy, can I…” he whispered, pressing his forehead gently to hers, their breaths mingling warm and close.