Lucien blinked. "What?"
"In public," Victor clarified. "Starting from tomorrow."
Lucien let out a humorless laugh. "You want me to pretend to care about her now?"
"I want you to convince the world that you always have," Victor corrected smoothly.
Lucien shook his head, already irritated. "That's ridiculous."
Victor didn't raise his voice. Didn't react to his son's tantrums.
"You'll take her to the hospital," he continued, as if Lucien hadn't spoken. "You'll stay by her side. You'll make sure people see it." He pointed at him. "Concern. Care. Guilt, if you can manage it."
Lucien stared at him. "You want me to pamper her?" He asked, disbelief clear in his tone.
Victor's gaze didn't waver.
"I want you to protect this family's reputation," he said quietly. "However that requires."
That shut him up.
For a moment.
Lucien looked away, running a hand through his hair, frustration building but contained it inside him.
