Your Uncle’s My Husband Now Back Off, Ex! novel Chapter 31

**Through Unseen Doors We Step Into Untold Worlds Beyond**

After a long, exhausting day at the police station, Lucia trudged home, her body feeling heavier with each step. The weight of her father’s anger loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she knew she had to find a way to soothe him. As she entered the kitchen, she took a moment to inhale the familiar scents that surrounded her, grounding herself. She decided to make a bowl of hot cream of mushroom soup, a dish she knew Clement cherished deeply. It was a small act, but perhaps it would bridge the chasm that had formed between them.

With the steaming bowl cradled in her hands, Lucia tiptoed toward the study, her heart pounding with a mix of trepidation and determination. The door stood slightly ajar, and through the narrow crack, she caught snippets of her father’s deep, resonant voice. She hesitated, contemplating whether to push the door open. But then she heard the name “Summer,” and an instinctual fear gripped her, halting her in her tracks.

“Cyrus, you should remember what I did for the Summer family back then,” Clement’s voice dripped with a menacing undertone. “Now it’s time for you to repay that favor.”

The tension in the air was palpable, and Lucia pressed her ear closer to the door, straining to catch every word. Cyrus Summer’s voice came through the phone, tight and defensive. “Clement, that happened six years ago. We agreed never to bring it up again.”

“Is that so?” Clement’s tone was laced with mockery. “But circumstances have changed, haven’t they?”

Lucia’s heart raced as she absorbed the weight of their conversation. She felt like a voyeur in her own home, trapped in a moment she wasn’t meant to witness.

“What do you want?” Cyrus’s voice wavered, betraying a hint of desperation.

“It’s simple,” Clement replied, his voice growing darker. “Make sure Clark stops pursuing me and my daughter. If you don’t cooperate, I won’t hesitate to inform Richard about the truth regarding Harris Pharmaceuticals.”

The mention of “Harris Pharmaceuticals” struck Lucia like a bolt of lightning. She stifled a gasp, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, pressing her back against the cold wall for support. Harris Pharmaceuticals was the company owned by Nyla’s father, a name that had become synonymous with tragedy after the firm collapsed six years ago due to a so-called “accident,” leading to Nyla’s family’s ruin.

A wave of dizziness washed over Lucia, and she felt the world around her spin. Her father’s involvement in the downfall of Nyla’s family was a revelation that shook her to her core. How could she have been so blind? The truth was far more sinister than she had ever imagined.

Just as she grappled with the shocking realization, the bowl of soup slipped from her grasp, clattering softly to the floor. The sound echoed in the silence, and the room froze.

“Wait,” Clement’s voice cut through the stillness as he abruptly ended the call.

Panic surged through Lucia as she realized she had been discovered. With a deep breath, she forced herself to open the door, stepping into the room as if she had just arrived.

Clement sat behind his desk, the phone still pressed to his ear, his icy gaze locking onto her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. It was as if he could see straight into her soul, and a chill ran down her spine.

“Dad…” Lucia attempted to sound casual, her voice trembling slightly. “I brought you some soup.”

Clement slowly lowered his phone, his expression unreadable. “We’ll talk later,” he said curtly before hanging up. The atmosphere in the room shifted, thickening with unspoken tension.

“How long have you been standing outside?” Clement’s voice was low, a dangerous edge lurking beneath his calm demeanor.

Lucia fought to maintain her composure, forcing a bright smile onto her face. “I just arrived and saw you on the phone, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”

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