Twenty three

When Johnson Dallas was about to speak, he was suddenly caught off guard.

Lucien looked at him, his eyes turning red, and softly called out, “Father.”

His voice trembled, filled with longing and something deeper that no one could understand.

Everyone froze.

When Lucien saw Johnson Dallas clearly, his heart shook violently. The man standing before him looked exactly like his father from his past life.

His father, the head military doctor. A man who had spent his life on the battlefield, saving lives. A man who had loved his wife deeply and never remarried after her death. A man who had loved his son without conditions.

He had taught Lucien everything. How to fight. How to heal. How to endure.

And yet… Lucien had failed him.

He had abandoned his own father just to please his wife’s family. And in the end, his entire family had been falsely accused and executed. He had watched them die and could do nothing.

That regret had followed him even in death.

And now…

Now he was standing in front of him again.

His emotions broke.

Tears slipped down his face as his body trembled. His lips moved again, weak and desperate.

“Father…”

Lyra stared at him in shock. Everyone else was equally stunned.

Before anyone could react, Lucien suddenly rushed forward and tightly hugged Johnson Dallas.

Lyra froze.

The entire room fell silent.

Johnson Dallas stood there, stiff and confused. This was the same Lucien who had never even properly greeted him, and now he was clinging to him like a lost child.

Lucien cried uncontrollably, his grip tightening as if he was afraid this person would disappear again.

“Father… Father…” he repeated, his voice breaking each time.

No one understood what was happening, but the pain in his voice was real.

Lyra felt something strange in her chest as she watched him. Quickly, she stepped forward and gently pulled him away, then wrapped her arms around him.

“It’s okay… calm down,” she said softly, though she herself was confused.

He didn’t stop crying immediately, but slowly, his sobs weakened.

The others looked at him with complicated expressions. To them, it seemed like he was simply longing for fatherly love, something he had never received from his real father.

After a while, Lucien finally calmed down, though his body still trembled slightly.

He looked exhausted.

Lyra guided him to the couch and made him sit down. Everyone followed and sat as well.

Lady Dallas leaned forward, worry clear on her face.

“My child, are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

Lyra immediately agreed. “Yes, we should go.”

But Lucien held her hand and gently pulled her back.

“I’m fine,” he said softly. “I just… lost control of my emotions. I’m sorry.”

He then looked at Johnson Dallas again, his gaze calmer now.

“I’m sorry… Father. I must have surprised you.”

To cover his earlier reaction, he bowed slightly.

“Please accept my greetings.”

Johnson Dallas looked at him quietly. Something in his expression softened.

His children had always been closer to their mother. With him, there had always been a distance.

But this was the first time someone had called him “father” like this.

Without hesitation, he accepted the greeting and gave a small nod, his expression gentler than before.

The tension in the room eased.

At that moment, Lucien noticed the young woman sitting opposite him. He looked at her with confusion.

The woman smiled and stood up, walking toward him confidently. She extended her hand.

“I’m Laura. Lyra’s younger sister,” she said brightly. “We haven’t met much after your marriage. I was always busy. But how come you don’t know me?”

Lucien was about to shake her hand, but Lyra suddenly stepped in and slapped Laura’s hand away.

“He doesn’t need to know you,” Lyra said coldly. “He just woke up from a coma and still doesn’t remember everything. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Laura rolled her eyes but said nothing.

Lucien gave an awkward smile and said politely, “I’m Lucien. Nice to meet you… sister-in-law.”

Laura blinked in surprise.

He had never called her that before.

Both sisters were beautiful, but completely different.

Lyra was cold, sharp, and distant.

Laura was lively, bright, and full of charm. A popular singer loved by many.

She had never had much interaction with Lucien before, and from what she had heard, her impression of him had not been good.

But now…

Looking at him like this, her opinion began to shift.