Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 415: Hurt on Her Behalf

Chapter 415: Hurt on Her Behalf

"Father, she’ll understand your intentions one day," Luke said softly, trying to comfort Lucas. "Let’s finish our meal and head home early, okay?"

Lucas looked pale, likely due to his poor sleep over the past few days. He had been worried about Eric’s safety, knowing that if anything happened to him, Ella would be devastated.

Such an outcome would make it even harder to mend the father-daughter relationship. Lucas had gambled—he bet on Eric being strong enough to get out on his own.

Though he outwardly showed disapproval of Eric, deep down, he hoped his daughter’s choice would prove to be the right one.

Lucas had been plagued by sleepless nights, his mind heavy with anxiety. Only Luke, who had been by his side, could truly see how much it affected him.

"Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve had a proper rest," Lucas said with a faint, melancholic smile. "You’ll take care of the company for me, won’t you? Even if Ella acknowledges me as her father someday, she won’t want my things."

Luke lowered his head slightly, his voice a quiet promise. "Father, I’ll manage the company well. And if she ever needs it, I’ll hand it over to her."

Lucas shook his head gently. "She won’t take it... Even though I’ve only met her a few times, I can see that Ella is stubborn. Besides, Eric is capable, and they don’t lack money. Ella also has a good heart. After all these years of you standing by me, how could I leave you with nothing?"

Such an action would only make others accuse Lucas of being heartless, and it wasn’t something he could bring himself to do.

For over twenty years, he and Luke had depended on each other. Even though Luke wasn’t his biological son, he had been a source of support and was no different from family.

Over the next few days, Lucas continued making frequent visits to the hotel. Occasionally, when Ella and Eric dined at the restaurant, they would encounter him.

Lucas’s persistence saw him visiting the hotel every day for seven days, humbly attempting to reconnect with Ella. His actions even made Luke lose his temper and lash out at Ella several times.

The situation caught media attention, spreading like wildfire across newspapers and websites. Rumors began to swirl—some speculated Lucas had a romantic interest in Ella, a vile and baseless claim.

Eventually, informed sources revealed the truth about Lucas and Ella’s father-daughter relationship, causing a global sensation.

Lucas, recognized as the "Strongest Entrepreneur of the Year" by authoritative publications, was already under public scrutiny. Now, with his family ties to Ella publicized, those who had ill intentions toward Eric hesitated to act.

Meanwhile, Bowan Miller, the head of the Miller family, faced multiple allegations of his crimes, with evidence piling up against him.

Barry’s kidnapping of Eric, which ended with Eric fighting his way out, only reinforced Eric’s reputation as a man of exceptional skill and determination.

On the ninth day, Ella and Eric returned from shopping. Ella had bought numerous gifts for Amelia, Chloe, and others in preparation for their upcoming wedding back home.

As they entered their usual restaurant, Lucas approached them with a warm smile.

"Ella," he greeted.

"Mr. Anderson," Ella responded politely but with a clear distance in her tone.

Luke’s face darkened again, but Lucas ignored him, smiling as he nodded. "You’re back? I stopped by this morning, but you weren’t here."

"We went out to buy some small gifts... We’re leaving for home in a couple of days," Ella said softly.

Lucas’s smile faltered for a moment before he recovered. "I see. Make sure to let me know when the wedding happens."

Ella smiled faintly, thinking that even if she didn’t tell him, Lucas would surely find out anyway.

"I will," she replied, maintaining her polite demeanor.

Eric glanced briefly at Luke, whose veins were visibly throbbing in frustration, and said calmly, "Mr. Anderson, everything takes time."

His words were a subtle reminder to Lucas to be patient—Ella would come around eventually.

Lucas nodded with a bittersweet smile. "It’s alright. I can wait."

"Father!" Luke exclaimed, his voice filled with emotion.

"Why don’t we have a meal together?" Lucas said, ignoring Luke’s outburst and looking at Ella with a gentle smile.

Ella hesitated, unsure of what to say. Eric remained silent, leaving the decision entirely up to her.

At that moment, a waiter pushed a cart laden with a large, steaming bowl of soup toward their table. Suddenly, a child dashed out from the restaurant, startling the waiter and causing him to swerve the cart abruptly.

The scalding soup spilled over, heading straight toward Ella, who was standing nearby.

Lucas reacted first, moving faster than anyone else.

Eric, focused on Ella, didn’t notice the commotion.

Lucas, however, had been watching the waiter the entire time.

With a sharp cry from the waiter, Ella snapped out of her thoughts just as Lucas shoved her aside. The boiling soup splashed onto his hand instead, immediately causing it to swell and redden.

Ella froze, stunned.

She had been distracted, debating whether to agree to eat with Lucas, and hadn’t noticed the sudden chaos.

"Father, are you okay?" Luke’s voice was filled with alarm and concern as he quickly pulled Lucas aside. "How could you be so careless? You need to be more careful!"

The waiter, pale with fear, stammered out an apology. "I’m... I’m so sorry! A child ran by, and I tried to avoid him. I didn’t mean... I’m so sorry, Mr. Anderson, so sorry!"

"It’s fine," Lucas said with a kind smile, waving off the apology. "You weren’t at fault. Just focus on your work and don’t let this weigh on you."

Despite his reassuring words, the burn throbbed painfully, the heat biting into his skin.

"I’m so sorry, so sorry..." The waiter was on the verge of tears. He knew Lucas was a major shareholder in the hotel, and offending him could easily cost him his job.

"Bring some cold water immediately! And get burn ointment!" Ella ordered sharply, her tone cutting through the waiter’s panic. Her heart ached, and she didn’t have time to think about anything else as she directed him with urgency.

The waiter, still pale, dashed toward the hotel’s medical station.

Another waiter quickly brought cold water. Ella took Lucas’s hand and submerged it in the cool liquid.

Luke, watching Ella’s reaction, scoffed quietly. Her obvious worry and tension were a stark contrast to her usual indifference. Was this just a typical case of women being outwardly stubborn but inwardly soft-hearted?

Eric remained silent throughout, simply observing Ella’s response.

Lucas felt the warmth of Ella’s soft hand around his, a wave of emotion washing over him. Though she refused to acknowledge him verbally, her actions revealed her concern.

"Is it feeling better?" Ella asked softly. "For burns, it’s best to cool the wound first. Then we’ll apply some burn ointment. It should heal fine."

She suddenly became aware of the room’s silence, everyone’s eyes on her. Lifting her gaze, she found herself meeting Lucas’s tear-filled eyes.

He smiled gently, his voice thick with emotion. "It’s just a small burn. I’ll be fine. Thank you, Ella... thank you."

Ella was at a loss for words, her expression unreadable.

Everyone was staring at her, and she couldn’t shake the discomfort of their scrutiny. Was her reaction really that surprising?

"You don’t need to thank me," she said, her voice slightly stiff as she turned her face away. "Even if it were a stranger, I’d have done the same."

Her words felt awkward, and she struggled to mask the emotions flickering in her eyes.

Her heart was conflicted. This man had protected her so selflessly—but only because she was his daughter.