Chapter 158

"You shouldn't trust them," Edwin continued to say, his voice filled with a mix of anger and concern. "I know you're dating Lucas."

"I really don't need you telling me what to do," I retorted, feeling a protectiveness over Lucas. "I appreciate you trying to... warn me, but I don't need it. Lucas would never do anything to hurt me."

He shook his head like he thought I was being ridiculous. "I'm telling you this for your own good. Don't let them manipulate you like they've done to so many others."

"Do you even know Lucas enough to be making these kinds of accusations about him?" I asked, tilting my head in consideration.

From what I remembered, Lucas wasn't close to any of his family besides his father. In fact, I think his only other blood-related relative besides his father was Edwin, but they didn't speak or see each other.

How could Edwin make all of these comments about Lucas when he didn't know him?

I knew Lucas better than him.

"I know his father, and you know what they say." Edwin pinned me with a hard stare. "Like father, like son."

"Lucas is nothing like Kendrick," I argued.

"Maybe so." Edwin shrugged. "Maybe not yet, but eventually, over time... he might become just like his father. He has to take over the business someday, right?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" I questioned with a frown.

"I'm telling you that people can change. Just because you know Lucas now, doesn't mean he won't turn into someone else later on."

I shook my head, not wanting to believe what Edwin was saying. Lucas has always been good. He would never be as ruthless as his father was.

"Shake your head all you want. I'm only telling you this for your own good. Don't let them manipulate you like they've done to so many others," Edwin warned again, his fingers tightening on my arm.

I thought about Lucas's recent behavior changes and wondered if Edwin knew anything about it.

"Have you spoken to Lucas lately?" I quizzed his cousin, hoping he had some kind of intel.

"No," Edwin said, making my heart drop. "But I've been watching him and his father closely... They've had a lot of meetings lately. Kendrick is a busy man, but this is the busiest I've ever seen him. It makes me think that they're up to something."

His words left me feeling uneasy, but I couldn't deny the sense of danger that radiated from him. I wasn't sure what he was trying to achieve by sharing these secrets with me, but I didn't want to provoke him in case he was indeed unstable and crazy.

"Meetings?" I asked. "What kind of meetings?"

"I'm not permitted to enter the building," Edwin explained, "so I couldn't get further information. I just know they've been running around town and everywhere Kendrick goes, his band of security guards follow him. That's how I know whatever their doing is of the utmost importance."

I wanted to scratch my head to try to figure out what Kendrick could be up to. Maybe he just had the security guards with him to stop Lucas from running away again.

That was a possibility... or maybe Kendrick really did have something up his sleeve. I wondered if Lucas had any idea of what his father's plans might be—that is—if he had any.

I decided to reply cautiously, "I appreciate your concern, but what do you want from me? Why are you telling me all this?"

Lucas's cousin's eyes narrowed as he regarded me. For a short moment, his thoughts seemed to waver as if he was contemplating his next move.

Finally, he spoke in a low, determined voice, "I have a plan to get my revenge, to expose the Busch family for what they truly are."

His words were cryptic and left me feeling more confused than ever.

"Revenge? What are you planning?" I asked, needing to know what he had in mind.

"Like I'd reveal all of my secrets to you." Edwin smiled evilly. "Just know, I will get my revenge."

"You know how powerful Kendrick is better than most people," I said. "Don't do anything. I understand he hurt you, but if you seek revenge, his counterattack will be worse."

"Believe me, I know what I'm doing and I'm not afraid of Kendrick Busch," Edwin finally snapped, showing his true colors. "You can't stop me from getting what I rightfully deserve."

I put my fingers into a fist. "Well, whatever you're planning, leave Lucas out of it. He hasn't done a single thing—"

"He took the heir status away from me!" Edwin said louder this time, pushing me further into the wall. I winced as he held me aggressively. "Now I won't be able to get it back!"

Oh no... was he going to hurt me now?

Noticing the way he had just suddenly shoved me, Edwin let me go.

"I'm sorry," he said, backing off slightly. "It's not you I'm mad at. I didn't mean to do that."

Normally, I would've shrugged it off, but I didn't know if I could trust Edwin. His emotions were all over the place.

One second he was confiding in me and telling me to be careful and that he had a plan for revenge... And the next second, he was pulling me away from prying eyes and shoving me around.

He seemed completely unstable and it made me wonder if he was actually mentally insane. Perhaps this is why Kendrick wanted Lucas to return.

He had been trying to contact Lucas nonstop and had him followed for weeks before Lucas ultimately came back into his life.

Was that all because Kendrick couldn't stand Edwin? Or did a small part of Kendrick truly care for his son?

A sardonic laugh escaped Edwin's lips as he leaned in closer. "You're a stupid girl if you think Lucas would choose you over his father and his legacy. Just look at him now! With his father, and not you!"

His words hit me like a slap in the face. "You have no clue what's going on between Lucas and me. You don't know any of our business!"

The insinuation that Lucas might prioritize his family's power over me stung deeply.

I knew he was wrong. Lucas would never do that. He always chose me over Kendrick, time and time again.

"Again, where is Lucas right now?" Edwin asked, looking around for dramatic effect. "Because I don't see him here."

I stumbled away from Lucas's cousin, feeling a sense of vulnerability that I hadn't experienced before.

I didn't want to believe his words, but Lucas hadn't spoken to me all week except for a few one-word text messages.

I had no idea what he was up to or what he was thinking.

However, I did know that he was under Kendrick's full control right now. That's what he agreed to in order to help me pay off my debt.

The reminder that he was doing this for me eased some of my doubt.

"You don't know Lucas like I do," I said.

"I know more than you think I do, Shana," Edwin said with a sinister smile.