Chapter 73:Revealed Secrets

Lucas blinked as the hospital lights greeted him once again. The sterile, hollow hum of the hallway filled his ears, but it did little to distract him from the simmering thoughts in his mind. Dimitri was still there, leaning against the wall with an unreadable expression, arms crossed in that calm, controlled way of his as he talked to his uncle.

They locked eyes for a moment, and Lucas could tell Dimitri was waiting for something—a sign of what had transpired behind that door. But instead of acknowledging it, Lucas slid his hands into his pockets and walked past him without a word. He didn't owe Dimitri an explanation. Besides, there was no need for words when they both knew exactly what kind of person Lucas was. He'd play the long game.

Lucas pushed open the door to his hospital room and stepped inside, his thoughts still a whirlwind of half-formed plans and dark desires. But as he turned to close the door, his hand froze.

Mrs. Bennet stood there, her hand on the door, slowly easing it shut with an almost deliberate care. Her gaze met his, steady and unflinching, as though she had been waiting for this moment.

"Lucas," she said softly, her voice unnervingly calm. She stepped further into the room, her presence filling the space between them.

He tilted his head, his lips curling into that familiar, predatory smirk. "What are you doing here?"

Her face was streaked with tears, eyes swollen with grief and desperation. She said nothing at first, just stared at Lucas with a mixture of sorrow and something far more unsettling—like she knew something she shouldn't. Lucas's calm facade faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained composure, masking his surprise with a well-practiced smile.

Mrs. Bennet's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "I wanted to speak with you," she replied, her tone never wavering. "Alone."

Lucas moved to lean against the edge of the hospital bed, his arms crossed as he studied her. She was different, more flustered than the last time they had spoken .

"You picked a strange time for a chat," he said, his voice mocking, but there was a sharpness beneath it, a tension that couldn't be ignored.

Mrs. Bennet didn't move closer, keeping a measured distance, though her gaze never left his.

Her lips quivered, and she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She looked hollow, as if the tears had drained her of everything but the crushing weight of grief.

"Are you alright?" Lucas asked, stepping closer, though there was no genuine concern in his tone. He tilted his head, curious as to why she had appeared in this moment, out of nowhere.

Mrs. Bennet's breath hitched. Her voice, when it finally came, was a whisper. "Why did you do it?"

Lucas blinked, the question hitting him like a splash of cold water. For a moment, he wondered if she meant Ryan—if she somehow knew what he had planned. But then, as her gaze locked onto his, he realized she was asking something deeper. Something more personal.

"Do what?" he asked innocently, taking another step closer, his curiosity now piqued.

"You know what you did..." Her voice broke, and fresh tears welled in her eyes.

Mrs. Bennet's chest heaved as she struggled to contain her emotions. Her eyes locked onto Lucas's, filled with a mixture of accusation and grief. "My sister… Evelyn," she said, her voice trembling.

Lucas blinked, the name unfamiliar. He narrowed his eyes slightly but kept his composure, the familiar smirk playing on his lips. "Evelyn?" he repeated, genuinely confused. "Who the hell is Evelyn?"

Mrs. Bennet's eyes flared with frustration, her hands clenching into fists. "Don't play games, Lucas," she spat, her voice cracking. "She was my sister—my older sister. The one who tried to warn you about Dimitri. And now she's dead because of it."

Lucas felt a slight chill creep up his spine, though his outward demeanor didn't falter. "Warn me?" He took a step closer, staring her down. "I don't know anything about your sister. What are you talking about?"

Mrs. Bennet's face twisted in grief and disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes. "You never knew, did you?" Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with sorrow. "She tried to protect you,that's the type of person she was… from Dimitri, from everything you were getting into. She saw what kind of boy he was long before you did. She wanted to help you—save you. But you never gave her a chance."

Lucas's frown deepened as Mrs. Bennet's words tugged at something in his memory, a flicker of recognition that felt like the sudden click of a light switch. The name Evelyn didn't register, but then he remembered—the note.

It had been months ago.The details were fuzzy, like they always were when he tried to think too hard about anything that happened during that chaotic time. He remembered the first Mrs. Bennet handing him a small folded piece of paper, her eyes wide and filled with urgency. He'd thought she looked different that day from how she looked now, older somehow, but he'd shrugged it off, figuring his mind was playing tricks on him.

But now, standing here, watching the second Mrs. Bennet's face twist in grief, it hit him all at once. They weren't the same person—they were sisters.

A low, almost disbelieving laugh escaped his lips, startling Mrs. Bennet. "Of course," he muttered under his breath, the realization settling in. "She wasn't trying to protect me... She was warning me.I was actually right about there being two of you."

Mrs. Bennet's tears fell harder now, her voice cracking as she continued. "She was terrified of him but wanted to save you."

Lucas's irritation flared, not at the memory of Evelyn—no, at the idea that someone had tried to interfere. He never liked the thought of people meddling in his life. Still, there was something about this revelation that gnawed at him, something he couldn't quite place. The memory was clear now, but his feelings were a tangled mess of confusion and anger.

"She wasted her time," Lucas finally said, his tone cold and dismissive. "I was never the one who needed saving. And if she got involved with Dimitri, that was her mistake—not mine."

Mrs. Bennet shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You don't understand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Dimitri didn't keep his word. I was never suppose to be his aunt. I was forced into this, threatened to keep up the lie unless I wanted my sister—Evelyn—dead. But even then, Dimitri didn't care. He found out before she could say anything. He killed her to keep her quiet."

Her voice cracked, and she brought her hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. "She was trying to save you, Lucas. She tried to warn you about Dimitri, about everything you were getting pulled into. But now she's gone."

Lucas's mind raced, the weight of the revelation settling in.

A slow, cruel smile spread across Lucas's face.

For a moment, Lucas stood there, watching her crumble. Something cold and hard twisted inside him.

But Lucas felt nothing for her. Only a fleeting sense of irritation that her death had caused this mess now.

"You think her death changes anything?" Lucas asked, his voice quiet but sharp. He stepped closer, his presence looming over Mrs. Bennet. "I didn't ask for her help."

Mrs. Bennet looked up at him, eyes burning with fresh anger. "You could've stopped it. If you had listened, if you had paid attention—"

"I didn't know her!" Lucas snapped, cutting her off, his patience finally wearing thin. "I didn't know, and I don't care. So stop trying to make her death my problem."

For a moment, Mrs. Bennet stared at him, lips trembling, the silence between them thick and suffocating. She stepped back, her shoulders slumping in defeat, the weight of her words dragging her down. Then, with a shaky breath, she whispered, "You're as heartless as he is."

Lucas stilled, his cold blue eyes narrowing as they locked onto hers. Slowly, he straightened, his expression hardening, the room filling with an almost palpable tension. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to. He simply watched her, his gaze steady, dark, and intense. There was something terrifying in the way he stood so calmly, so silently, as if he was considering what to do with her.

Mrs. Bennet's breath caught in her throat, and the reality of the situation finally seemed to settle in. Her lips trembled as she took a step back, but Lucas didn't move. He just kept watching her, unblinking, like a predator observing its prey. The fear in her eyes was unmistakable now.

"I… I should've known you were like this," she stammered, her voice shaking. "Cold… heartless… like Dimitri. No wonder you—" She cut herself off, backing away even further, her hands trembling.

Lucas took one slow, deliberate step toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. Mrs. Bennet flinched, instinctively raising a hand as if to shield herself, her breaths coming out ragged and panicked. Her bravado from before crumbled, replaced by sheer terror.

"Stay away from me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You… you monster."

Lucas smiled, a cold, psychotic smirk that sent a shiver through her. He took another step forward, closing the distance even more. Mrs. Bennet whimpered, her eyes wide with fear, and without another word, she turned and bolted for the door.

She fumbled with the handle, her hands shaking uncontrollably, but finally managed to pull the door open. Her hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway as she fled, leaving Lucas standing alone in the room, still and unbothered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He turned his gaze toward the now-closed door, the quiet settling over him once more. Her terror had been tantalizing, and for a moment, he let himself savor it.