"No!"Lucas Lu roared, lunging forward—but he was too late.
Crack!
With a sharp, echoing shatter, Cynthia Zhang hurled the porcelain urn to the ground.
It exploded on impact, shards scattering as ashes spilled across the floor like a ghost released from its cage.
Lucas stood frozen, his entire body trembling as the reality sank in.Why? Why would she do this?Why couldn't they even leave his mother's ashes in peace?
"Huh. So it really was ashes?"Cynthia pinched her nose in exaggerated disgust."No wonder I've been losing at mahjong lately. With this creepy thing hiding in the house, no wonder my luck's been rotten. What a damn curse!"
She sneered as if the ashes reeked of filth.
"Pick up my mother's ashes."Lucas's voice was low and gravelly, fists clenched, shoulders shaking.
"What?"Cynthia blinked, feigning confusion.
"I said—pick up my mother's ashes!"
Lucas exploded. His voice was a thunderclap, his eyes bloodshot and blazing with fury.His whole body vibrated with rage.
"What are you yelling for?! It's just some dusty old bones!"Cynthia spat."You better hand over the money, or I'll make sure even her ashes are scattered to the wind!"
She raised her heel and stomped on the ashes, grinding them beneath her shoe.
"Get. Out!"
Lucas's hand whipped across her face with the crack of a whip.
"Ahhh!"
Cynthia screamed and collapsed, clutching her cheek.She writhed on the floor, moaning in pain and outrage.
Just then, the front door burst open.
Lily Li and Leo Li stormed inside.
"Lily! You're just in time!"Cynthia scrambled toward them on hands and knees."That monster hit me! Your ex-husband hit me! You have to stand up for me!"
She was all tears and trembling, playing the victim like a seasoned actress.
"You bastard! You hit my mom? I swear I'll—"Leo charged forward—but froze mid-step when Lucas turned his fiery eyes on him.
One glare.
That's all it took.
Leo's bravado drained like wine from a shattered glass.
"Lucas! Are you insane?! Why would you hit my mother?!"
Lily's face darkened with fury, her voice slicing the air like a blade.
"I'm insane?"Lucas growled."Ask your mother what she just did."
"I don't care what she did. That doesn't give you the right to hit her!"Lily shouted.
"So you're saying that even if she smashed my mother's urn—trampled on her ashes—I should just stand there and smile?!"
"Urn? Ashes?"
Lily's voice faltered. She looked down.The mess on the floor struck her like a slap.
"Mom... what did you do?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Don't listen to him, Lily!"Cynthia pointed at the mess, then to her cheek."It was just an accident. I knocked it over by mistake! Then he just snapped—he went crazy! If you hadn't come, I don't know if I'd still be alive!"
"Lucas! She didn't mean it! Did you really have to hit her like that?"Lily's anger flared again.
"She meant every second of it."Lucas's voice was stone.
"That's enough!"Lily snapped, stepping forward."I know the divorce hurt, but that doesn't justify attacking my family.Apologize to my mother—right now. For the sake of what we had, I'll pretend this never happened."
"Apologize?"Lucas scoffed."To her? She's not worth it."
The fire in his eyes was cold now—calm, but deadly.This woman had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed.
"Lucas, I'm giving you a chance here. Don't make me regret it."Lily's voice trembled with both rage and disbelief.
"Keep your 'chance.' I'm not interested."Lucas straightened his spine, his gaze steady."If you want revenge, go ahead.But if I so much as flinch, I'll change my name."
"You—!"
Lily was livid, her fists trembling at her sides.She hadn't expected Lucas to be so... unmoved.So defiant.
"Sis, enough talk!"Leo barked."This ungrateful bastard needs to be taught a lesson!"
He spun around and bellowed into the hallway:"Security! Get in here! Drag him out!"
A group of security guards charged in, batons drawn, eyes hard.
"Beat him!"Leo yelled.
But just as they were about to act—
"I dare any of you to lay a finger on him!"
A voice like silk and steel rang out from the doorway.
Everyone turned in unison.
A stunning woman in a shimmering silver qipao strode in, flanked by suited bodyguards.
Red lips, hourglass figure, every step exuding danger and elegance.She didn't enter the room—she conquered it.
She was seduction incarnate, with the aura of someone you didn't say no to.
"Holy..."Leo's jaw dropped.
His eyes widened, breath caught in his throat.
He'd seen beautiful women before.But this...This was something else.