SWNOVELS Chapter 588 Settled
Chapter 588 Settled
Since Sebastian already had two sons, Lucas knew that the Harts wouldn't rely on him to continue their family lineage.
In the past, Lucas had no interest in any association with the Griffins, not even their wealth. However, Leigh reminded him not to hold material possessions responsible for individual actions. She emphasized the importance of seizing financial opportunities. She also pointed out that if he didn't want the Griffin Family's wealth, Martha and her daughters would benefit from it.
At the time, Lucas found Leigh's words both amusing and poignant, but he didn't immediately agree with her perspective. After all, he had no shortage of funds.
Despite the Griffin Family's substantial wealth, totaling in the billions, and their prominence in Dusktown, he used to dismiss them entirely. However, his view had now changed.
Before Isabella had plotted against him, he didn't hold any resentment toward Martha and her daughters. Lucas knew that the true culprits in his mother's tragic fate were Old Mr. Griffin and Mario.
He learned that it was Old Mr. and Old Mrs. Griffin who had forced their son to abandon his mother and marry a woman from their well-matched family. If it weren't Martha, it would have been another woman.
Lucas had always seen Mario and his parents as the ones behind his mother's misfortune, not Martha and her daughters. Unfortunately, while Lucas didn't consider them enemies, the mother and daughters viewed him as a threat and repeatedly attempted to kill him.
The last time Isabella wanted to harm him, he had ensured she faced the consequences through the
legal system, which he believed in as a way to maintain fairness and justice. He felt that people are accountable for their actions and should not push boundaries.
Her downfall resulted from her choices, and she had paid the price she deserved. Hence, he held no grudge against Martha and her daughters but treated them as strangers. He wanted to let the past incident go, but the other party was relentless. He had assumed that with Isabella in prison, the troubles would be over. Still, he didn't anticipate Cynthia's recent actions.
Although Lucas escaped unharmed this time, Leigh was injured, and he was furious about it. This time, seeing her hurt while protecting him made him think about their future if they had children together. He couldn't imagine the pain of losing his children if they were targeted.
So, he wanted to be well-prepared and completely crush Martha and her daughters, making sure they would never have the means to cause trouble for him and his family. However, he couldn't understand why they saw him as a threat and wanted to get rid of him. Then, he reasoned that maybe they were afraid he would take the Griffin Family's wealth.
In the past, Lucas had regarded the Griffin Family's wealth as tainted and wanted nothing to do with it. But he had now changed his stance. He was determined to seize everything from the Griffin Family, leaving nothing behind for Martha and her daughters.
On the other hand, Old Mr. Griffin and Mario couldn't fathom why Lucas had suddenly changed his mind, and they didn't want to speculate. What mattered to them was that Lucas had finally accepted them, and the Griffin Family would have an heir to continue the family line.
While Old Mr. Griffin was excited about having a male heir, Mario's feelings were more straightforward.
Mario simply wanted Lucas to come home, acknowledge him as his father, and accept him. The surname their future children carried was of little consequence to him. As long as Lucas was willing to communicate with him and inherit his wealth, he would be content. He believed that his daily efforts were only worthwhile if Lucas utilized his resources.
Yet, Mario's biggest regret in life was yielding to parental pressure and leaving Lucas' mother. The impulsive decision haunted him throughout his life. He often dreamed of resisting that pressure and running away with her.
In these dreams, he was no longer the Griffin Family heir. He lived a simpler life with Lucas' mother in a sunny courtyard filled with blooming flowers and echoed with the laughter of his wife and Lucas. She would smile at him in the warmth of the sun and amidst the fragrance of flowers. But upon waking up, his tears flowed, and his heart felt empty.
Throughout his life up to this moment, he had no other desires except to see Lucas inherit his wealth, get married, have children, and lead a peaceful and joyful life. Moreover, Mario had no intention of giving a single penny to Martha.
In the past, he had approached Lucas multiple times, hoping that Lucas would take up the Griffin family mantle. However, Lucas had always dismissed money as inconsequential, ignoring Mario's pleas.
Hence, Mario was ecstatic that Lucas had finally expressed a desire to return to the Griffin Family. His eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice quivering as he said, "Lucas, name your conditions. I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill them!"
"Yes!" Old Mr. Griffin chimed in eagerly. "We'll do whatever it takes to fulfill your wishes." Then, he thought, At my age, I may not wake up tomorrow, and I want to witness the continuation of the Griffin
family line. I don't want to leave this world without seeing it happen.
Lucas didn't spare Old Mr. Griffin a glance but focused on Mario as he laid out his conditions. "I want you to divorce Martha, disown Cynthia and her sisters, and drive them out from the Griffin Family."
"Lucas Hart! What nonsense are you spouting?" Martha erupted. "Who are you to meddle in our marriage? You're just a b*stard, and Cynthia and her sisters are our legitimate daughters. What right do you have to make my husband disown them?"
Lucas turned his steely gaze toward her and sneered, "Whether I have the right or not is irrelevant. What matters is whether your husband will accept my terms."
"I accept!" Mario responded almost immediately, with no hesitation. He locked eyes with her and declared, "I want a divorce from you!"
He had contemplated divorcing her for a long time, but in the past, he lacked the motivation to act on it. Now, Lucas had given him a purpose to live for, igniting his determination. He wished to sever ties with Martha, disown her daughters, and completely distance himself from his past.
At that moment, Mario wasn't afraid of being alone. Even if Lucas were to distance himself from him in the future, Mario would gladly watch from afar as Lucas enjoyed the wealth he'd inherited, got married, had children, and lived a peaceful, prosperous life. Mario simply wanted to do something meaningful for Lucas. If he couldn't achieve that, he would never find peace, even in death.
"Have you gone mad, Mario?" Martha fumed, a mix of anger and fear coursing through her. She trembled uncontrollably. "I've been your wife for over twenty years and bore you five daughters. I've contributed to this family. Who do you think you are to divorce me?"
Mario regarded her coldly, his icy gaze devoid of emotion. "I warned you from the beginning, Martha. I told you that I only loved Lucas' mother and had no affection for you. I never liked you, and I never will. If you chose to marry me, you gained nothing."
He had been upfront with Martha, yet she had chosen to marry him despite his warnings. Not only did she marry him, but she had also orchestrated trouble at Lucas' grandfather's house, tarnishing Lucas' mother's reputation. Based on these actions alone, Mario felt no guilt about how he treated Martha in his lifetime.