?<strong>Chapter 983:</strong>


    Rnd studied him, noticing the calmness in his posture. After a beat, he scoffed. “I know you. My dad told me you were just a stand-in for me back then.” Rnd’s eyes darkened, and he took a step forward, standing at the same height as Lucas.


    “My uncle died that day.”


    The air grew thick, tension pressing down on the room.


    “Who did you call a stand-in?”


    The younger ones had no idea what had happened all those years ago, so naturally, they didn’t know Lucas’ real identity.


    But Lucas was well aware of his origins. His childhood memories were fragmented, but Rafael and Allie had always treated him as their own child. Still, the truth couldn’t stay buried forever. In first grade, the teacher had asked the ss to bring in baby photos.


    But Allie and Rafael didn’t have any to give.


    Rafael took Allie and Lucas for regr check-ups every year. Once, Lucas had caught sight of a medical report by ident and noticed something odd—his blood type waspletely different from both of theirs. It was biologically impossible.


    So, he secretly took a paternity test without Rafael’s knowledge, which only confirmed his suspicions.


    Eventually, Rafael found out and had to tell Lucas the truth.


    To protect Rnd, Wade had brought Lucas from somewhere unknown. Lucas had been sent to take Rnd’s ce. Later, when the truth came out, Rafael and Allie, seeing how innocent and vulnerable he was, adopted him as their own.


    They hadn’t nned on having more children, so they told Lucas that he was their only one.


    Lucas acted friendly when he met Rnd. He was a little taken aback by Rnd’s attitude, but he could understand. After all, he, a substitute, had aplete and happy family, while Rnd had been struggling.


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    Molly came storming downstairs, her neck stiff with anger. “Hey! Who are you calling a stand-in?”


    “Molly, don’t be like that,” Lucas stepped in, pulling her back, but Molly was too furious to be calmed, her anger unstoppable.


    Rnd tilted his head, sizing her up. He knew she was Joelle’s daughter, and for Joelle’s sake, he decided not to engage with her.


    Joelle and Adrian walked in shortly after. Rnd ignored Molly’s outburst and turned to Joelle. “Hey, where am I staying?”


    Molly’s anger red even higher. “Do you have any manners? How dare you speak to my mother like that?”


    “All right, all right. Rnd’s just gotten off the ne, and he’s exhausted. You can all celebrate for him in a few days.”


    Joelle calmed the kids, then led Rnd to the room Aurora had prepared.


    The room was bathed in soft, natural light, and Aurora had made sure it was spotless. Gifts were arranged neatly on a table, all waiting for Rnd’s attention.


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