Unstoppable against his enemies

Chapter Two

When Lucas arrived at the house, he was greeted with an unexpected and jarring sight—his belongings scattered haphazardly outside. The weight of the moment settled heavily on him as Annie, Stephanie, and her son, Nicholas, stood at the door. It was clear from their guarded expressions that they weren’t about to let him back inside. He knew instantly what had happened. Sophia had told her mother about the divorce, and now the family was making it painfully clear where they stood.

“Have you all planned this? To throw me out like I’ve been nothing but a burden these years, rather than contributing to this family?” Lucas’s voice trembled with frustration, his words thick with the weight of hurt and betrayal.

Stephanie’s response came sharply, as cold as the wind whipping through the empty doorway. “You already know the answer to that, Lucas. Yes, you’ve been useless. Ever since Sophia married you, you’ve been nothing but a drain. Not even a single job, not one shred of stability. How low can a man sink?” Her words were like daggers, each one aimed at the fragile remnants of his pride. “It's a relief that Sophia finally saw through it all. She’s doing the right thing, ending it with someone like you. You have no place in this house. The entire Caruso family has decided, and we don’t want you here. Ever.”

Her tone was like steel, leaving no room for argument. Her words, though harsh, cut through Lucas like a knife through flesh.

Nicholas, standing just behind his mother, nodded his agreement, his youthful face twisted with disdain. “My mother’s right,” he added, his voice unwavering despite his age. “You shouldn’t even come near here again. You’ve hurt my sister for too long. Now she knows the truth: you two were never meant to be together. Just go quietly.”

The boldness of Nicholas’s words hit Lucas harder than expected. How could a child speak so resolutely against him? His mind scrambled to find the words, to make sense of this new wave of hostility.

“Nicholas, this isn’t your fight,” Lucas’s voice was low, strained as he tried to regain control. “This is serious, and you’re far too young to be involved.”

But Stephanie wasn’t done. “You dare talk to my son like that?” Her voice broke through the air like a whip. “You, who we've taken in, housed, and fed for three years? And now you think you deserve respect? My son has every right to speak his mind. You don’t deserve an ounce of decency from anyone in this house. You’ll stand there and listen to him, not the other way around.”

Nicholas stepped forward, a malicious sneer forming on his face. “Yes, you should shut up while I talk,” he taunted, pushing past Lucas with a calculated insolence.

Lucas's patience snapped. The anger he had kept bottled up for so long surged violently within him. Without thinking, he raised his hand and slapped Nicholas across the face.

The air froze. A deafening silence followed, broken only by Stephanie’s scream. “What the hell? How dare you lay your hands on my son? Do you want a death sentence?” She was livid, her face red with fury, eyes flashing with an intensity Lucas had never seen before. Before he could react, she gestured to the bodyguards, signaling them to remove him from the house.

Her voice rang with authority, commanding as it echoed through the house. “Throw him out. And make sure he doesn’t take a single thing with him. He came here with nothing, and that’s exactly how he’ll leave.”

Lucas stood firm, his emotions swirling inside, but his words were resolute. “I won’t take anything. Not a single thing. This house, this family... it’s all been a burden. I don’t want anything from you.”

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed, satisfaction creeping into her voice. “Good. Leave now, and don’t you dare return. If you do, I’ll make sure you’re arrested for what you’ve done today. You think you can harm my son and still walk away unscathed? Not a chance.”

As the bodyguards moved in to seize him, Lucas held his hands up, his voice cold but firm. “Don’t touch me. I’ll leave on my own. Stay out of my way.”

Meanwhile, Stephanie, her rage still simmering, pulled out her phone and dialed Sophia. Her voice was laced with both indignation and satisfaction as she spoke. “Sophia, you need to hear this. Lucas showed his true colors today. He tried to hurt Nicholas. He slapped him when all your brother did was tell him the truth—that he no longer belongs here. If it weren’t for the bodyguards, who knows how far he would have gone.”

Sophia’s voice came through, trembling with disbelief. “How could he do that? Nicholas, or anyone in our family... I never thought Lucas could be violent.”

Stephanie’s voice grew more insistent, as if proving a long-held conviction. “I’ve been telling you, Sophia. He’s been hiding who he really is. He’s nothing more than a pathetic, useless man who never deserved you. Today, we’ve made the best decision to cut him out of our lives. It’s time for you to move on. There’s someone better out there, someone who actually deserves you.”

Sophia’s curiosity piqued despite herself. “And who exactly do you have in mind?”

“There’s no one better than Daniel Hayes,” Stephanie said, her voice brimming with confidence. “He’s the perfect match for you—someone of your caliber. You two would be a great match. When he starts showing interest, don’t hesitate. We all support you both. It’s time to start a new chapter with someone who knows how to treat you.”

Sophia’s heart was heavy with the weight of everything unfolding, but she could hear her mother’s certainty, and a small part of her found it strangely comforting. “Alright, Mama, I’ll meet you soon. Just... I need to know that Nicholas will be okay.”

“Don’t worry about him,” Stephanie reassured her, the finality in her voice leaving little room for doubt. “The bodyguards are taking care of him. He’ll be fine. The best medical care is already on the way.”

As the call ended, Sophia sat in stunned silence, her heart in turmoil. She had never known Lucas to be violent, and now it seemed he was finally showing his true colors. The realization hit her hard, but she decided to call him herself to understand what had led him to act this way.