Divorced and Chased by My Alpha Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 120: Poor Baby

Chapter 120: Poor Baby

Caleb pushed open the door, padding over to his mother’s side with a serious look on his face.

He looked up at her expectantly, his brows drawn together in the same determined way Julia remembered from someone.

Julia leaned forward, crossing her hands under her chin with a feigned warmth in her smile.

"What’s on your mind, honey?" she asked sweetly, though inside, her curiosity flared.

If Caleb had any information about Aurora, she wanted every detail.

Caleb hesitated, a small frown darkening his face. "Daddy took me to see Nana," he began slowly. "But when we got there, Mrs. Aurora was with her... and then Gabriel brought Aria and Leo, too." He huffed, folding his little arms and lowering his voice. "They were calling her Great-Nana, like she was theirs."

Julia’s eyes narrowed slightly.

After catching a glimpse of Aurora in the mansion through Caleb’s tablet some time back, Julia had wasted no time doing her own digging.

It hadn’t taken her long to discover that Aurora had two children—Leo and Aria—both with the same striking eye color as Lucas.

So, when Caleb mentioned their names, Julia put two and two together. Aurora had not only returned but had the audacity to bring her children right into Lucas’s life?

The nerve.

To parade her children so openly in front of him? The idea burned within her, though she kept her expression calm and unreadable.

"Oh, did they now?" she said, her tone light, masking her irritation.

Forcing a small, sympathetic smile, she raised an eyebrow, giving Caleb her full attention. "And how did that make you feel, sweetie?"

Caleb’s lips tightened, and he kicked the edge of the carpet.

"I didn’t like it," he admitted, glancing down. "Nana’s supposed to be mine. Daddy, too."

He blinked, swallowing down the confusing feeling that had nagged him all day. "I don’t want to share them with anybody."

"Oh, my poor baby," Julia cooed, reaching out to cup his cheek. "Of course you don’t. They’re your family. You shouldn’t have to share them if you don’t want to." Her heart twisted in satisfaction as she sensed his loyalty shifting in her favor. "Why should you have to share the people you love the most?"

Caleb glanced up at her, his face softening. He felt comforted by her understanding, as if she truly saw what he couldn’t explain himself.

"Yeah," he whispered, his expression firming. "I just want them for myself."

Julia nodded thoughtfully, casting a quick glance toward her reflection in the mirror. "That makes perfect sense, sweetheart. And don’t you worry."

She brushed a hand through his hair, her voice turning almost reassuring. "I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure they stay far, far away from your daddy."

Caleb’s face brightened, and he leaned into her touch, relief flooding his small frame. "Really, Mommy? You’ll keep them away?"

Julia’s smile deepened as she whispered soothingly, "Yes, really. I’ll make sure they never get in the way again."

Inside, she could feel a swell of victory.

Aurora may have tried to worm her way back into Lucas’s life, but Julia had no intention of letting her succeed.

She continued, her voice soothing and confident, "Trust me, Caleb. Daddy is yours, and no one’s going to take him away from you."

Caleb’s smile grew wider, a little glimmer of pride flickering in his eyes. "Thanks, Mommy," he murmured.

Julia pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, her heart surging with smug satisfaction.

As far as she was concerned, Aurora had made a grave miscalculation by bringing her children into Lucas’s life.

Whatever spark might have lingered between Lucas and Aurora, Julia was confident that she could extinguish it entirely.

"Now, it’s time for bed," she whispered. "It’s getting late."

"Okay, Mommy," Caleb replied with a sleepy nod.

Julia followed Caleb down the hall to his room. She tucked him into bed, smoothing the covers over him before flicking off the light and leaving the door slightly ajar.

With Caleb settled, her mind sharpened on what she planned to do next.

Without hesitating, Julia headed to Lucas’s room.

When she reached it, she didn’t bother with a knock; instead, she pushed the door open, entering with a purpose.

Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting and landed on Lucas, who was in the middle of a conversation with Gabriel.

"Excuse me, but I need to talk to Lucas," she said, her tone firm.

Gabriel paused, shifting his gaze to Lucas.

Lucas nodded, a silent signal that made Gabriel understand he was being dismissed.

Without a word, Gabriel rose, gave a brief nod, and exited the room, closing the door behind him and leaving Julia alone with Lucas.

Lucas looked up at her, his expression neutral. "What is it?"

Julia crossed her arms, her voice barely restrained. "What’s this I hear about your meeting with Nana—and Aurora?" she asked, her eyebrows raised, studying him closely.

Lucas leaned back in his chair, feigning a look of indifference, though he knew Julia well enough to expect she’d already pried her way into the details.

She loved to poke into his business, but he hadn’t anticipated her finding out this quickly.

"Okay," he replied casually, his gaze fixed on her. "So?"

"So?" Julia echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "Why would you do that?"

Lucas shrugged. "There’s no reason not to meet with Nana."

"Yes, sure, anyone can meet Nana," Julia replied smoothly, her eyes narrowing. "But just in case you don’t realize, Aurora is not just anyone. She’s a manipulative woman who hurt you once. I don’t understand why you’d even want her around."

Lucas’s gaze drifted inward, memories of Aurora’s loyalty and devotion as his wife resurfacing.

He had previously recalled the past, and the fragments he remembered revealed a painful truth: he had hurt Aurora deeply.

The weight of that guilt still lingered.

Now, as Julia spoke, he recognized the subtle manipulation in her words.

If anyone was a master manipulator, it was Julia, not Aurora.

Lucas knew Julia’s tactics all too well – the carefully crafted concerns, the veiled suggestions.

She was trying to cloud his judgment, to sow doubts about Aurora’s intentions.

He decided to play along, curious to see how far Julia would go.

"Don’t beat around the bush, Julia. Just say what you mean." Lucas replied, his expression unreadable.

Julia let out a huff. "Alright, if that’s what you want," she said, her tone sharpened. "Aurora was nothing but an evil vagabond to you in the past. You shouldn’t involve yourself with her now—or with her filthy kids."

Lucas’s eyes flashed with annoyance, his jaw tensing.

The word "filthy" echoed in his mind, stirring a mix of emotions: disgust, anger, and protectiveness.

He recalled Julia’s words about Aurora’s children, and his expression hardened.

How could Julia speak about his innocent kids like that?

"I’ll do whatever I want, Julia," he replied, his voice quiet but resolute. "I’ll surround myself with whoever I choose, and don’t you ever call her children filthy. No pup is filthy."

Lucas’s words hung heavily in the room, leaving Julia rooted to her spot, momentarily speechless.

She had never seen him so steadfast, so firm in his defense—not just of Aurora, but of her children, too.

Regaining her composure, Julia forced a tight smile, but something in Lucas’s steady gaze sent an uncomfortable chill down her spine.

She left his room, her head held high, but doubts gnawed at her.

The next morning, Julia entered the study, fully expecting to find Lucas with a softened expression, maybe even ready to apologize.

But as she approached his desk, she froze.

A stack of papers, neatly set, awaited her. Lucas’s eyes met hers as he pointed to the documents with calm finality.

"Julia, I need you to look these over," he said, voice even, but his gaze stern.

Curious, and just a little anxious, Julia reached for the papers. Her eyes widened as she read the title across the top: Divorce Agreement.

She looked up, disbelief spreading across her face. "What is this?" she demanded, her tone sharper than she intended.

"It’s exactly what it looks like," Lucas replied, his voice soft but firm. "I think it’s time we go our separate ways."

Julia’s jaw clenched, her fingers tightening on the paper. "So, you’re just going to end this?"

She took a deep breath, struggling to keep her emotions in check. "After everything?"

Lucas held her gaze, unblinking. "This isn’t sudden, Julia. You and I both know things haven’t been working. You have your reasons, and I have mine."

Her heart raced, panic bubbling beneath her calm exterior. "And I suppose Aurora has something to do with this," she said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.

Lucas exhaled, eyes softening slightly. "This isn’t about Aurora. It’s about us. You’ve held onto this control for so long, thinking I’d always stay... but I can’t do that anymore. Not like this."

Julia’s chest tightened, disbelief mingling with frustration. "You don’t know what you’re doing, Lucas. Do you really think this is going to make you happy?"

He met her gaze with a quiet strength. "Yes, Julia, I do." He paused, his voice lowering. "I want a life with love and honesty—a life without feeling trapped. And it’s something I have to find for myself."

Julia’s voice wavered, caught between anger and a plea. "So that’s it? You’re just done with me?"

Lucas held his ground, nodding slowly. "I’m sorry, Julia. But I need to move forward. And you deserve the chance to find happiness too."

Julia’s eyes burned, and for a moment, the façade slipped, revealing the raw hurt she tried so hard to hide.

But just as quickly, she blinked it away, holding her head high.

Without another word, she turned and walked out, her heels echoing down the hallway.

Lucas watched her go, a small sense of relief settling within him. This was the first step toward a future he could truly embrace—a life he could build anew.

---

As Julia stormed down the hallway, her mind raced.

She wanted to scream, to tear that stack of papers to shreds.

Divorce? She had thought about it before—more times than she could count.

In truth, she would have left Lucas long ago, had it not been for her carefully laid plans.

Plans that, until now, she had been diligently executing to siphon off part of his wealth.

When she’d first plotted it, she’d thought she had all the time in the world.

Slowly, subtly, she’d begun exploiting his assets, positioning herself to claim what she considered her rightful share.

But the divorce papers in her hand now felt like a punch in the gut, tearing her strategy apart before she could finish.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she fought to keep her composure.

"I can’t let it end like this. Not when I’m so close."

The thought of Aurora’s smug face twisted the knife deeper.

Is this what she wanted all along?

To push me out, to take everything that should be mine?

She clenched her fists, her steps slowing. No. If Lucas thought she’d simply sign those papers and vanish, he was mistaken.

She hadn’t come this far just to lose everything to him—or to that woman.