CEO Plus-Size Ex-Wife

Chapter 82: I Am Lucas Anderson

Tony's confidence in his assumption stemmed from his past investigation of Valentine Anderson six years prior, carried out under Mr. Singer's orders. The individual before him exhibited no resemblance in speech or behavior to Valentine Anderson in any way.

"I am not Valentine; my name is Lucas Anderson, his twin brother," Lucas calmly stated, neither confirming nor denying Tony's suspicions.

Tony's brow furrowed in surprise at Lucas's response; he had anticipated a denial.

"Aren't you afraid I'll reveal the truth to Andrea?" Tony questioned, his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

Lucas merely shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. "It wouldn't matter. Do you think she's unaware? She grew up with my brother, married him for five years. Do you believe you understand Valentine Anderson better than she does?"

Lucas's words struck Tony with the truth, rendering him momentarily speechless. Andrea seemed to prefer the falsehood that Lucas was Valentine rather than acknowledge the reality.

"What are your intentions?" Tony inquired, his expression darkening. Lucas exuded an air of mystery that Tony found unsettling, unlike anyone he had encountered before.

Maintaining his amiable smile, Lucas quipped, "You appear as if you've encountered the devil."

Tony's countenance grew graver as he regarded Lucas with narrowed eyes, ready to act at a moment's notice.

"I assumed my brother's identity to experience the love of my mother, sister, and a devoted wife. Growing up without parental figures, you are just like me?" Lucas gazed at Tony, his smile unwavering.

Tony froze in shock, realizing that Lucas was privy to his own past—a fact known to only a select few, including those aware of his adoption by Mr. Singer from an orphanage.

Without further dialogue, Lucas turned and headed towards the hospital building, leaving Tony to watch his departure with clenched fists and gritted teeth.

"Lucas Anderson, I hope you mean well. But if you pose a threat to Andrea, I will not hesitate to intervene," Tony muttered to himself as he watched Lucas walk away.

Tony was plagued by a headache as he struggled with how to convince Andrea that Lucas Anderson was not Valentine Anderson.

No matter how much evidence he presented to Andrea, he feared she would never believe that the man she had married was not her beloved Valentine. It dawned on him that the only way to settle the matter definitively was to have Valentine Anderson himself confirm this.

A spark of an idea ignited in Tony's mind, and he swiftly reached for his phone, dialing a number with determination.

"How is the search progressing?" Tony inquired as soon as the call was answered.

"Sir, we have questioned the residents along the coastlines, but none of them could identify who rescued the last victim," a voice responded from the speaker of the phone.

"Offer a bounty of one million dollars. If they remain uncooperative, double it," Tony instructed, prepared to spare no expense in uncovering the individual who had saved Valentine Anderson from the river.

"Tony, tragically, a group of fishermen were found dead last night. They were the ones whom some of our informants indicated had witnessed the rescue," the voice on the other end informed him.

Tony fell silent, realizing that the situation had taken a darker turn, suggesting that someone was actively obstructing their efforts to locate the missing Valentine Anderson.

"We have also checked all the local hospitals, but there is no record of the rescued victim being admitted. It appears that someone is determined to prevent us from finding the last victim," the investigator lamented, expressing his frustration at the unusual level of obstruction they were facing.

"Understood," Tony replied before ending the call. Lost in thought, he contemplated the possibility of Lucas Anderson being involved in the disappearance of his twin brother. Determined to confront Lucas, Tony made up his mind to seek answers from him.

Without returning to the hospital, Tony departed in his car, leaving Andrea behind.

After speaking with a few nurses, Andrea entered Mrs. Anderson's ward to find her peacefully sleeping in bed.

As Andrea approached, she observed that Mrs. Anderson, while not deceased, appeared just as lifeless.

"Mom," Andrea whispered, sitting beside the bed and grasping her hand gently.

"I hope you awaken soon. Val has been so caring to me and our son lately. We've been happy as a family. I've neglected my duties as a daughter-in-law by not bringing Pete to see you. I promise to do better if you can just wake up," Andrea pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing Mrs. Anderson unmoving, Andrea's heart ached. Despite their past conflicts, Mrs. Anderson had become a mother figure to her after her biological mother's passing.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Andrea knew she needed to focus on finding a solution rather than succumbing to grief.

Plucking a strand of Mrs. Anderson's hair, Andrea discreetly tucked it away before rising to her feet. As she did, she found herself locking eyes with Benita, who was storming into the ward.

Benita's expression twisted into a mask of rage as she lunged forward, shouting, "Andrea, what are you doing here? Are you here to ensure that you've succeeded in harming my mother?"

Andrea furrowed her brow at Benita's hurtful accusations but chose to remain silent, seeing the turmoil in Benita's bloodshot eyes and her evident emotional state.

"If only you hadn't remarried my brother, none of this would be happening. You're a curse, Andrea!" Benita yelled, her arms outstretched to grab Andrea's hair.