Chapter 118
Lucas observed Daniel, noticing his distant and vacant expression as he remained fixated on the blank wall for hours. Concern creased his features as he gently shook his younger brother’s shoulder.
“Daniel, are you alright?” he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
“I’m not. Something feels off in my mind. There’s a voice,” Daniel confessed, his gaze still fixed on the wall. “I fear I’m losing my sanity. I feel myself growing weaker by the moment,” he murmured, his words heavy with distress.
Sitting beside him, Lucas placed a reassuring hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “What you did to Logan and Hope was unforgivable,” he remarked solemnly.
“Dad and you should have let me perish. I can’t endure life without my wolf,” Daniel uttered, his gaze still transfixed on the wall. “I’ve been trying to remember who urged me to do it. The individual is dangerous,” he added, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency.
Lucas, unaware of Daniel’s inner turmoil caused by his own karma, remained seated beside his brother, hoping his presence would prevent any impulsive actions from Daniel. When a knock on the door interrupted their somber moment, Lucas rose to answer it.
“Master has summoned Young Master Daniel downstairs,” the serv ant informed
Lucas.
Daniel silently stood up from the couch and exited the room without a word. Observing this, Lucas followed him quietly, his concern deepening with each step.
Cesar was seated at the center of the couch as he watched his two sons descending the stairs. As they both approached their father, Cesar asked them to take a seat.
“Why did you sk ip breakfast?” Cesar inquired, directing his question to Daniel.
“I have no appetite,” Daniel replied flatly, which lacked any emotion.
“Everyone knows what you did to Hope. It’s time for you to leave this country,” Cesar pronounced firmly
“Dad! We can’t just let Daniel go like that. He needs us. Someone manipulated him into doing it,” Lucas objected the decision of their father.
Cesar maintained a stoic expression as he continued, “I don’t want Daniel to be
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manipulated again by the same unknown person. Moreover, Daniel needs space for himself. That’s why he should relocate to the USA. I’ve spoken with an old friend of mine. He’s willing to offer Daniel a good position in his company,” Cesar explained his decision to his son. As a father, he was concerned for Daniel’s well- being. He knew living in the same country might bring more stress to Daniel.
“I understand. I’ll relocate as Dad wants,” Daniel agreed quietly. He felt slight relief at the prospect of leaving the country for the sake of his own men tal health.
“Did you harbor ill intentions toward Hope?” Cesar suddenly queried him.
Lucas watched his brother closely, waiting for his response.
“I needed her for the moon stone. I considered Hope to be the reason of my ill fate. However, I was wrong about her. She is a nice woman, whom I lost,” Daniel truthfully told his current feelings toward Hope.
“Moon stone?” Cesar frowned, puzzled by the mention of it. “What do you mean?” he inquired as his curiosity piqued.
Daniel met his father’s gaze steadily. “I meant Hope was destined to receive the moon stone from the Moon Goddess,” he revealed.
“That implies the unknown person urged you to kidnap Hope after injuring Logan, all to obtain the moon stone from her,” Lucas deduced, connecting the dots.
“I believe so. I can’t recall much about that person, except for this detail. Hope will carry the next moon stone for the werewolves,” Daniel proclaimed, recalling the prophecy.
“We need to tell about this to Logan,” said Lucas and decided to call him. Cesar agreed with him and thought that Logan might consider forgiving their family if they would give him this detail.
“Dad, can I never get my wolf back? I am thinking to meet Hope and beg her for it. I feel empty inside,” Daniel stated, feeling frustrated.
“You can’t see her if you want to stay alive,” Lucas said, his voice laced with anger. “I warned you not to harm Hope, but you didn’t listen to me.” His frustration with his younger brother boiled over, fueled by the realization that all of this could have been avoided if Daniel had let go of his baseless hatred.
With a swift motion, Lucas rose from his seat and pulled out his phone, dialing Logan’s number. However, Logan didn’t answer the call. Lucas sighed heavily,
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lowering his hand as he informed his father that he would be stepping outside. Before leaving, he cast a stern glance at Daniel, urging him not to do anything rash.
Hope scrolled down the page in the laptop as she read the email forwarded by Paul to her.
Logan did not wish her to attend the office for a few days since he was concerned about her safety. Though she would be around him all the time, but he could not protect her if he had outside meetings. At home, she was at least surrounded by Grandpa and the others.
“I need to prepare a report on this,” Hope murmured and she picked up the notepad from the desk. Taking out the pen, she made small notes that she needed to research first before making a report.
As Hope was fully engrossed in the work, her phone rang. She shifted her gaze from the laptop and checked her phone, wondering if the call was from Logan.
Hope hesitated briefly when she saw the unknown number flashing on her phone screen, but ultimately decided to answer the call and bring the phone to her ear.
“Hello, who is this?” she inquired cautiously.
“Hope, it’s me, Lucas,” came the response from the other end.
“Oh. Why did you call?” Hope asked her curiosity,piqued.
“I wanted to apologize to you on my brother’s behalf. Are you free? I’m outside the Moore Group company,” Lucas explained earnestly.
“I am not in the office, Lucas. I’m in my in-laws house. Also, I don’t think we should meet,” Hope straightforwardly told him. NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“Hope, I have to tell you something important too. I don’t think it’s right to tell in the phone. I can come to your home if you allow me or do you wish to meet outside?” Lucas said. He needed to warn Hope for the upcoming danger lurking over her head.
Hope paused for a moment, considering Lucas’s offer. “You can come to the nearest cafe to my home,” she finally decided.
“Alright. I can pick you up if you want,” Lucas offered.
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“It’s alright. I’ll come with the driver,” Hope asserted firmly.
Lucas hummed in acknowledgment, and the call was disconnected. Hope shut down her laptop, after saving the report, and she got ready to go out, opting for a casual outfit: a pair of beige loose trousers paired with a maroon top.
After getting ready, she went outside. While crossing the living room, Hope encountered Aunt Anna, who was asked her where she was going.
“To the cafe, Aunt Anna. I’ll be back soon,” Hope said.
“I’ll send the bodyguard with you,” Anna stated.
Hope didn’t refuse to it and allowed Anna to send a bodyguard with her. As she entered the car, the bodyguard sat on the passanger’s seat next to the driver.
After ten minutes, she arrived outside the cafe, where she had called Lucas. The bodyguard stayed outside the cafe while she went in. The staff welcomed her and she passed a smile to them.
Lucas rose to his feet to see Hope and waved at her. “Thank you for coming here. Have a seat. Do you wish to drink something?” Lucas asked her in his soft tone.
“Iced Latte will be fine,” Hope replied.
Lucas hummed and went to the counter to give the order. He returned to the table after a minute and forwarded iced latte to Hope. She thanked him and took a sip.
“Hope, I’m extremely sorry for what Daniel did to you. He is remorseful of his act and Dad has decided to send him to USA,” Lucas began.
“You don’t have to apologize for what your brother did,” Hope stated.
“Daniel revealed that the person who compelled him wanted you to grab the moon stone from you. You are the woman from the legend, Hope. And you need to be careful from now onward,” Lucas informed her while showing his concern toward her.