?<strong>Chapter 1037:</strong>


    It wasn’t until well past six in the morning that exhaustion finally overcame her, and she drifted into a restless sleep.


    By the time she woke up, sunlight was already streaming through the curtains. It was noon.


    After freshening up and changing her clothes, Belinda headed downstairs for some food.


    Just as she finished eating and was about to head upstairs, the front door suddenly opened. A tall figure stepped inside.


    It was Lucas.


    Just yesterday, Lucas had pestered Belinda into giving him the new code to her ce.


    Lucas had barely taken two steps when his sharp gaze locked onto her. The moment he saw her, his expression changed instantly.


    His usuallyposed demeanor tensed as his eyes zeroed in on the bruises around her neck.


    With quick strides, he closed the distance between them and reached out, his fingers grazing the bruises on Belinda’s neck.


    “What happened?” His voice was low, yetced with barely contained anger. “Who did this to you?”


    Holley, who had been standing nearby, hesitated before reluctantly raising her hand. “I-I was sleepwalkingst night,” she stammered. “I don’t know how it happened, but I ended up in Belinda’s room. And I choked her…”


    She swallowed hard, her voice growing weaker. “But I-I didn’t mean to…”


    Lucas’ expression turned dark, his presence turning icy.


    His sharp, prating eyes locked onto Holley. His jaw clenched as he said, “Sleepwalking? How convenient.”


    His words wereced with unmistakable usation. “So you just happened to sleepwalk into Belinda’s room? And just happened to choke her?”


    Holley instantly caught the meaning behind his words.


    She quickly said, “Mr. rk! What are you implying? Are you actually suggesting that I faked sleepwalking just to harm my own daughter?”


    Lucas’ eyes didn’t waver. “You know what you did.”


    Holley’s chest heaved with indignation at his usation. “Mr. rk, how could you think that? I’m Belinda’s mother! Why on earth would I ever attempt to strangle my own daughter? Do you genuinely believe I would want to hurt her?”


    Holley turned to Belinda, pain etched across her face. “Belinda, do you really think I would do something like that on purpose?”


    Belinda met her mother’s gaze but remained silent.


    The truth was, she didn’t know what to believe.


    Herck of response made Holley’s eyes fill with tears.


    “We don’t need you here. Get out now!” Lucas, unwilling to drag the conversation any longer, spoke with cold finality.


    Holley stared at him, momentarily stunned by his bluntness. But the next moment, her expression hardened. “I’m not leaving! I’m staying right here with my daughter!”


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