Chapter 387

Leonard stared at Lucas, filled with righteous indignation. At the same time, Lucas was silently sizing him up. When their eyes met, Lucas froze for half a second—then his gaze turned sharp, brimming with aggression as he stared Leonard down.

Aurora broke the tension at just the right moment. “Alright, enough. My assistant will be here any minute.”

The two men locked eyes one last time, then fell silent, neither willing to give an inch. Aurora caught all of it and could only feel exasperated. At a time like this, they were still acting like children. Where was that composed, steady image they usually carried? This back-and-forth bickering was starting to give her a headache.

Leonard glanced at Lucas, clearly wanting to say something, but ultimately kept his mouth shut out of respect for Aurora. He knew full well that in her heart, he couldn’t compare to Lucas. They were husband and wife, after all.

Even knowing she already had a family, Leonard wasn’t willing to let go. It was rare enough in life to meet someone you truly liked—why should he back down just because it was complicated? Who knew if he’d ever feel this way about someone again? Fate had brought her into his life, and he couldn’t bring himself to give up so easily.

The three of them stood there in silence, and the air grew a little awkward. Lucas had no idea what Leonard was really thinking—if he did, he wouldn’t have let him off so easily. He and Aurora were already married, and yet someone else still dared to covet his wife. No man would take that lightly.

Aurora, for her part, had no clue what was running through their minds. Right now, all she could think about was her mother. If it weren’t for the fact that both men insisted on accompanying her to see Grace, she wouldn’t have kept this conversation going at all. It was unnecessary, and more than anything, a waste of precious time.

Lucas noticed the urgency in Aurora’s eyes and stepped closer, taking her hand in his right in front of Leonard. “It’s alright. I’m here with you,” he said gently. “Don’t worry, Mom will be fine,” Lucas said, his tone calm but clearly laced with intention. He made sure to say it just loud enough for Leonard to hear, deliberately using the word "Mom"—a pointed reminder of his place in Aurora’s life.

It was pure strategy, a jab meant to stir jealousy and draw a clear line: Aurora was his, not someone for others to covet. Of course, Aurora saw right through it. But she let Lucas get away with it. It wasn’t often he showed this kind of possessiveness, and some part of her—despite herself—found it oddly comforting. Still, the mention of that so-called true love from his past left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Leonard, watching them, clenched his fists tightly. Standing there beside them, he couldn’t help but feel like an intruder, like someone who didn’t belong. But love was about choice. He wasn’t about to accept being cast as the outsider so easily.

Aurora didn’t respond to Lucas with anything more than a quiet “Mm.” She had no energy left to think about anything else. Lucas understood that completely, and so neither of them said another word. They simply waited for the assistant to arrive, hoping he’d be able to get in touch with Jason on Grace’s side.

At that moment, Tessa returned to the hospital room and handed the phone back to Jason.