Chapter 587 Negotiation
Chapter 587 Negotiation
Lucas glanced at the Griffins and said, "If you want to argue, save it for later. I didn't come here for that."
"Of course, of course!" Mario quickly said, "Lucas, if there's something on your mind, just tell me. If it's within my power, I'll help."
Cynthia and her sisters were infuriated by their father's sudden attentiveness to Lucas. They had never received this kind of treatment from their father. Despite their efforts to please him over the years, his indifference had remained unchanged.
The sisters used to believe Mario was naturally cold-hearted, but witnessing his favoritism toward Lucas shattered that illusion. They realized their father wasn't naturally cold; he simply didn't care about them, and that realization was painful. Despite being his daughters, they watched him prioritize Lucas. The sisters couldn't accept it.
At that moment, the Griffins sisters glared intensely at Lucas, their eyes filled with resentment. If looks could kill, he would be dead by now.
Lucas turned his contemptuous gaze toward the sisters before returning his attention to Mario. "Someone wants me dead tonight."
"Huh?" Mario's face paled, and he stepped closer to Lucas, examining him anxiously. "Are you okay?"
Old Mr. Griffin voiced his concern. "What's going on? Who's trying to kill you?" To him, Lucas was the last hope for the Griffin Family. If anything happened to him, their family line would be in jeopardy.
"The person who hired the assassin goes by the name Skylar." Lucas turned her attention to Cynthia and added, "He's one of Cynthia's admirers."
Cynthia was shocked upon hearing that, and her body trembled nervously. "Lucas Hart! What are you insinuating? So what if Skylar admires me? I have many admirers. Am I responsible for their actions?"
"Cynthia!" Before Lucas could speak, Mario glared at her and shouted, "Have you forgotten what Isabella did? She failed, and now you're repeating the same mistakes. You… You..." He wanted to curse but hesitated because she was his daughter. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't utter them. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Martha and scolded, "Look at what your daughter has done!" Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
"What do you mean, Mario?" Martha's face paled with anger. "The police require evidence to convict someone. You can't just jump to conclusions based solely on Lucas' words and accuse Cynthia. Aren't you being biased?"
"Do we need more evidence?" Mario replied with a stern expression. "Have you forgotten about Isabella? She messed up once, and now Cynthia is heading down the same path. Will you only be satisfied when all your daughters end up in jail?"
"What are you saying?" Martha was profoundly hurt and raised her voice. "Isabella's incident was an accident, and what happened tonight is a false accusation by Lucas. You're showing favoritism and believing everything he says. Mario Griffin, don't forget, I am your wife, and Cynthia and her sisters are your biological daughters!"
"Yes, I haven't forgotten!" he sneered. "I remember it very clearly. I told you before we married that I would only love Lucas' mother in this lifetime. I don't love you and will never develop feelings for you. I
advised you to leave and not marry me, but you insisted on marrying me."
He turned his gaze at her and let out a bitter laugh. "Martha, are you seriously going to claim you love me? We met through a blind date and had no emotional connection before that. On our first meeting, I explicitly told you I was already committed to someone else and would never accept your advances. Are you now telling me you've fallen in love with me? If that's your answer, I can only say it's utterly despicable!"
Martha seethed with anger. "What on earth are you saying? Is this how you speak to your wife? How can you utter such hurtful words?"
"I can only speak this way because of your actions," Mario retorted coldly, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain. "You never loved me. You loved money, the Griffin Family's wealth and status. A woman so obsessed with money that she would sacrifice her daughters makes me sick!"
"You... You..." She trembled with fury, nearly losing her composure.
At that moment, the Griffins sisters exchanged worried glances.
Quinn hurriedly supported her trembling mother. She said, "Dad, how could you say such things about Mom? You've gone too far!"
"Can't handle it?" Mario roared. "If you can't, then leave—all of you. We don't need heartless individuals like you in the Griffin Family."
"Dad..." Quinn's expression changed, shocked by her father's words. She couldn't believe he was kicking them out of the house and wondered what their future would hold.
She knew that as long as they remained in the Griffin Family, they would still be considered the Griffin Family's young ladies. Even if they weren't favored, the family would arrange marriages for them and provide generous dowries, ensuring a future of wealth and luxury. But now, if they left, what would become of their future?
Martha pulled Quinn aside and said, "Mario, our issues should not be taken out on the children. They are your daughters—"
Mario interrupted her impatiently, "Stop it! I don't have any feelings for you, so why would I care about the children you gave birth to? If they had behaved and the Griffin Family was still thriving, I might consider helping them out. But they went so far as to threaten Lucas' life. I, Mario Griffin, won't support such disgraceful and unworthy offspring!"
Lucas calmly chimed in, directing his gaze toward Old Mr. Griffin and Mario. "Do you want me to return to the Griffin Family and acknowledge my heritage?"
"Yes!" Old Mr. Griffin responded enthusiastically. "Lucas, if you return, I'll immediately appoint you to the board of directors!"
The old man knew Lucas was talented and also the Hart Family's adopted son. Hence, he reasoned, having Lucas back in the Griffin Family would ensure the family's continued success and advancement.
"Lucas, if you decide to return to the family, I'll grant you anything you want!" Mario's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Lucas looked at him and said, "Sebastian saved my life, and the Harts raised me. In this lifetime, I'm a
member of the Hart Family, and even in death, I'll remain loyal to the Harts' legacy. Acknowledging my ancestral roots is impossible. However, if you agree to my conditions, I'm willing to have my future son bear the Griffins' surname."