"I do not want to see a day come where I am completely controlled by greed simply because it is unclear who the true owner actually is. At that moment, if this piece of paper does not exist, you would be left empty-handed. And I... I would become the most despicable, treacherous traitor imaginable. I do not want to lose you, Julian. I do not want to lose my only true friend just because of money. So please, let the law bind the darker, primal instincts within me, ensuring that I remain the Lucas Hill of today, forever."
Lucas Hill spoke in a long, breathless stream, seeming to pour out all the thoughts, anxieties, and inner struggles that had been plaguing him for so long. He felt his throat go slightly dry from the exertion of his speech, so he picked up his teacup and drained it in a single, desperate gulp. He smacked his lips, savoring the moisture, before speaking again, his tone consciously trying to appear lighter and more casual than before.
