Chapter 1717: Can I Hold Her?

Chapter 1717: Can I Hold Her?

"Hehe, I didn't mishear, did I?" Luther's thin lips curved into a sneer.

After more than ten years, it was the first time Christian had voluntarily

reminded him.

Christian's handsome face stiffened, showing a hint of embarrassment,

but more of it was anger.

"Athena has finally woken up. She has been in a coma all this time.

Don't get involved with her anymore. Stay away from her. So, what are

you doing here? Why don't you leave?" Christian turned away, avoiding

Luther's gaze, still reluctant to face him.

“You don't need to worry about my affairs,” Luther sneered. “If you have

the ability, you'd better take care of your sister.”

Christian furrowed his brows. "My family matters don't concern you. I

will naturally take care of her. What about Joyce? Have you thought

about her? She came to see me!"

Luther narrowed his eyes sharply, his gaze piercing Christian. "What

did you say to her?"

Christian sneered, "What did I say? I've said everything that needed to

be said about the past. Are you afraid? You know very well what you've

done."

"I am very clear in my heart, but it's always you who are unclear.

Christian, we used to be friends, but you have always been blind.

Haven't you realized it yet? As for Joyce, I will handle it. I appreciate

you saving her, and if you ever need help, I will definitely repay this

favor." Luther said solemnly.

"Handle it? Is this how you handle it?" Christian's brows furrowed in

anger. Joyce wouldn't come to him unless it was absolutely necessary.

He could see the turmoil in Joyce's heart, and he didn't want her to

endure any more pain.

“Is this how you treat Joyce? She almost died, and I saved her just so

that she could suffer at your hands again? Luther, I warn you, if you

can't make her happy, don't blame me for taking her away from you."

Christian's face turned cold as he made a firm statement.

Luther clenched his fists tightly.

He clearly felt that compared to four years ago, Christian was

deliberately targeting him, which was why he approached Joyce and

was somewhat attracted to her. He had always thought that the person

Christian liked was Athena.

But now, he suddenly became uncertain.

Christian's expression when mentioning Joyce was clearly different

from before. Luther gritted his teeth, feeling an unpleasant sensation

rising in his heart. Damn it, emotions change over time, and he had

overlooked it.

Luther took a sudden step forward, approaching Christian, and grabbed

his collar without hesitation. "What did you say? Let me advise you,

don't have any inappropriate thoughts.”

Christian immediately grabbed Luther's wrist.

"What? Do you still want to have it both ways? Do you think I will just

stand by?"

The tension between the two men was palpable, and they were on the

verge of a fight.

The black-clad figures behind them were getting anxious. Mr. Ballard

had already led his men into the villa, and they couldn't stop them. If

they made a bigger commotion, Athena would definitely find out when

she returned. They knew firsthand what she was capable of, and she

would surely make them suffer.

Christian's eyes were burning red. "If you insist on staying here with

Athena, I will take Joyce away right now and bring her back to my

house."

“You dare! Christian, let me tell you, don't you even think about

touching a single hair on her. She belongs to me. You're dreaming!"

Luther was furious, his hand gripping Christian's collar tightly, his fist

clenched, his eyes fixed on Christian's alluring profile, ready to strike.

"Daddy, what are you doing?"

Suddenly, a clear and melodious child's voice sounded behind Luther.

It instantly brought Luther back to his senses. It was Alisha. Alisha had

been awakened by the commotion outside.

He immediately released Christian, turned around quickly, and rushed

to Alisha, lifting her up in his arms.

"Alisha, why did you wake up?" he asked softly.

"Daddy, were you fighting?" Alisha's bright eyes looked around, taking

in Christian, and asked innocently with her childish voice.

"How is that possible? Daddy and Uncle were just playing around. We

weren't fighting,” Luther quickly denied, his face completely calmed

down, and all traces of anger vanished.

Christian looked at Alisha, staring at her for a while before suddenly

realizing.

"This is... Alisha?"

At first, he wasn't entirely sure. Alisha had been kept alive with tubes

since birth, and he had watched her grow up. He had spent three long

years with her, and unfortunately, Alisha had passed away. He

remembered it clearly. He had mournfully held the urn containingher

ashes, carefully placing it in the grave.

Alisha was actually alive?

He couldn't be mistaken. The slender eyebrows, slightly upturned eyes,

and delicate chin. He never expected Alisha, who opened her eyes, to

be so beautiful and lively, surpassing his imagination.

Who else could call Luther "daddy" besides Alisha?

Alisha leaned against Luther's embrace, hooking her arms around his

neck. With her big eyes blinking, she looked at Christian curiously and

asked, "I'm Alisha. Daddy named me. Uncle, who are you?"

"I..." Christian opened his mouth but couldn't figure out how to

introduce himself.

"Daddy, is he your friend?" Alisha asked innocently, her eyes shining

brightly.

Luther... He was caught off guard by Alisha's question, not knowing

how to answer.

Christian looked at Alisha, as if finally understanding something. “You

stayed here because of her?"

Luther gave Christian a cold sidelong glance. "Don't you know? Are you

surprised?" From Christian's expression, Luther could tell that Christian

was completely unaware. Athena had deceived both Christian and him,

executing her plan flawlessly.

Christian's face stiffened like iron. It turned out that Athena had also

hidden such a crucial secret from him.

Now he finally understood why Athena didn't tell him immediately after

waking up. It was all part of Athena's plan. She had hidden Alisha and

lied about Alisha's death.

And then, he could almost imagine Athena's intentions.

He never expected that the girl he had once considered pure and

innocent in his heart would turn out to be completely different. Was he

really wrong? He took a deep breath, his fists clenched, his nails deeply

embedded in his palms.

"Can I hold her?" Christian looked at Alisha, his heart moved, and he

suddenly looked at Luther with sincerity.

He had held her since she was born. Every time he went to Manderson

Hospital, he would hold her, until he thought Alisha was dead.

Alisha was still alive, and it was a great comfort to him. Otherwise, he

would have blamed himself for not saving her completely, always

carrying a sense of regret.

Now, there was no more regret left.