Chapter 7: The Family Plan
I didn’t sleep after Lucas’s confession.
Not because I missed him.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I was trying to understand how long this had been planned.
How many conversations happened when I wasn’t there.
How many smiles were fake.
How many times did Lucas look at me while knowing his family was discussing my future?
The next morning, I asked him to meet me.
Not because I trusted him.
Because I needed answers.
We met at a quiet coffee shop away from our neighborhood.
Lucas looked different.
Smaller.
Like someone who finally realized the consequences of his choices.
“I appreciate you coming,” he said.
I didn’t respond.
He looked down.
“I deserve that.””
I folded my hands.
“Start talking.””
He took a breath.
“My mother has always believed everything should stay within the family.””
“That’s not an explanation.””
“I know.””
He rubbed his face.
“She grew up with nothing. She thinks security comes from owning things.””
I stared at him.
“So she decided my house was her security.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
But I needed it.
“When did this start?””
Lucas looked away.
“Before we got engaged.””
My chest tightened.
“How long?””
“About six months.””
Six months.
Six months of planning.
Six months of pretending.
I whispered:
“You were going to marry me while your family was making plans for my property.””
“I was confused.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You were comfortable.””
He looked like he wanted to argue.
Then he stopped.
Because he knew.
“You’re right.””
The waitress brought our coffee.
Neither of us touched it.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
Lucas swallowed.
“My mother found out your parents gave you the house.””
“And?””
“She thought it was unfair.””
I almost smiled.
“Unfair?””
“She said a husband should be the one providing.””
I looked at him.
“And you agreed?””
“At first.””
That answer was enough.
“But then I fell in love with you.””
I looked away.
Because those words would have destroyed me weeks earlier.
Now they just sounded empty.
“Love without respect doesn’t mean much.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
For the first time, he didn’t defend himself.
He just accepted it.
“My mother wanted us to refinance after marriage.””
“Why?””
“She had debts.””
I stared.
“Your mother wanted my house to pay her debts?””
“Yes.””
The coffee shop noise disappeared.
All I heard was my own heartbeat.
“What about the fake transfer?””
Lucas looked nervous.
“I didn’t know about that.””
“Do you expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
He looked down.
“I don’t.””
I studied him.
“Why are you telling me this now?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because I found something.””
He pulled out his phone.
A recording.
“I recorded my mother yesterday.””
I didn’t touch the phone.
“Why?””
“Because after you left, she blamed me.””
He pressed play.
Beatrice’s voice filled the space between us.
“You ruined everything.””
Lucas’s voice responded.
“You told me it was legal.””
“I told you what you needed to hear.””
My breath caught.
The recording continued.
“You think Felicity would ever agree if she knew the truth?””
“No.””
“Exactly. That’s why you needed to marry her first.””
I looked at Lucas.
The recording continued.
“She has no siblings. No one to challenge her. Once you’re her husband, things become easier.””
I felt sick.
Lucas stopped the recording.
“I’m sorry.””
I stared at him.
“Sorry doesn’t undo this.””
“I know.””
The old Lucas would have begged.
This Lucas just looked broken.
“Can this help you legally?””
I looked at the phone.
“Maybe.””
He nodded.
Then his expression changed.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“My mother has copies of your house documents.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
That answer wasn’t enough.
I stood.
“Where?””
Lucas looked terrified.
“She keeps them at the house.””
I stared at him.
The house.
My house.
The place she had invaded.
The place she believed she owned.
I grabbed my bag.
“Where are you going?””
“To get back what belongs to me.””
When I arrived, the front door was unlocked.
That alone made my blood boil.
I stepped inside.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then I heard voices upstairs.
Beatrice.
And someone else.
A man.
I slowly walked toward the stairs.
Then I heard my name.
“She has no idea what we found.””
I stopped.
The man replied:
“Then keep it that way.””
I recognized his voice.
It was Lucas’s uncle.
May you like
And then Beatrice said something that made my entire body go cold.
“Once she knows the truth about her father, she’ll never trust him again.””
