Claire P. O. V
After tidying up and getting dressed that morning, I headed downstairs with Ethan. A spread of different dishes awaited us at the dining table, along with Lucy, who was sitting there spreading butter and a bit of jam on a piece of bread.
Just like the day before. Lucy looked stunning. Her wavy hair flowed freely, swaying with every movement of her head. It was gorgeous, and I can’t count how many times I’ve said it, but Lucy truly deserves all the compliments.
“What time did he call?” Ethan asked, giving Lucy a quick kiss on the lips.
It was 7:30 AM when he called to say he was at Hong Kong airport and would be there in an hour.
“Whose plane is he on?”
“I’m not sure, but it might be your jet. Before you decided to head home, I overheard Danny chatting with someone about the plane.”
“Ugh, he better cover the expenses.” Ethan was annoyed but quickly took his usual spot in the front seat reserved for the family leader.
Ethan and Lucy’s chat felt so effortless, like they were in their little bubble, while I just sat there feeling super out of place.
I couldn’t help but notice this strange scene every time I saw it. Their vibe felt like a couple entirely in their bubble, untouched by the outside world. I couldn’t shake the thought-were they really just friends? But then Lucy flashed me a smile that pulled me in and made me forget everything else.
“Let’s dig into this food together,” she said, motioning for me to join her for breakfast while Ethan started munching on the food she had mentioned when she came to grab him from my room.
Without hesitating, I dove into Lucy’s meal. As I ate, she kept chatting away with Ethan. Their conversation could have been clearer, leaving me feeling out of place. I just sat there, listening, wondering if I really belonged in their little world.
Claire, did you enjoy the food? Lucy asked, noticing I was sitting quietly while they chatted about something I wasn’t in on.
I nodded awkwardly, smiled, and said, “The food is really good.”
“Thank goodness you like it! I was worried you might not, since I thought the dishes from our kitchen might not suit your taste,” she said.
I shook my head again. “No, I’m good with any kind of food. I grew up in a place where we ate whatever was available, so I’m not picky at all.”
“Wow, that’s amazing! When I first joined this Pack, it was a bit tough getting used to the food. I hope you’re finding it easier.” Lucy said with a playful grin. Meanwhile, Ethan was quietly eating, stealing glances at me occasionally.
Lucy kept chatting away, ignoring Ethan, who was just trying to finish the breakfast she made for him. I felt out of place with all the conversation, but it all changed when Ethan got a call telling him to head out immediately.
“Chen Lien just called and said I need to get to the airport ASAP. He’s already there. Want to come along?” Ethan wrapped up his meal, jumped up, and urged Lucy to join him after that call from Chen Lien.
“I’ve got work until later, but maybe you can take Claire to meet Chen Lien. I bet he’d love that,” Lucy suggested.
That felt like a tease. Ethan glanced my way. After that, there was an awkward vibe, but he couldn’t say no to Lucy’s suggestion, so he quickly invited me to join him at the airport.
“Sure, you can head out once you’re finished with your breakfast,” Ethan said, shaking his head, signaling that I could come along right away.
Not wanting to keep Ethan waiting or miss out on seeing anything else outside the mansion, I jumped up. But just as I stood, Lucy stepped in to stop me from giving Ethan a kiss.
“Have a great trip! And Claire, I think you’re really going to like Chen Lien when you meet him,” Lucy whispered as I followed Ethan away from the dining table.
I was at a loss for words, so I nodded and thanked Lucy for driving us to the front door. It wasn’t until Ethan finally told me to hop in the car for our trip to the airport that I snapped out of it.
Honestly, I’ve been dying to know who Chen Lien is. Ever since I met Ethan, he has often mentioned his name.
This time, though, Ethan seemed way more chill compared to when he brought me to the Pack. He was quiet and didn’t say a thing during our ride to the airport to pick up Chen Lien.
“You don’t always have to take Lucy’s word for it.” After about twenty minutes of silence, Ethan finally broke the ice. Why was he bringing up Lucy?
“Even though you’re part of this Pack because of me, you still have your own choices. Sure, you need to follow Lucy’s orders, but you can say no if you have your own reasons. That’s something that won’t change.”
“Why should I even bother?”
“Huh?”
“Is Lucy someone significant in your Pack? Are you following her orders? Kind of like how Agatha and Jane had everyone in the dorm wrapped around their fingers, including the sisters, just because they had the upper hand?” I shot back at Ethan.
He finally turned to face me, his expression a mix of annoyance and reluctance to say more. He knew all about Agatha and Jane from that day at church and was aware of their selfish ways.
“I’m the Alpha of this Pack. I’m the one in charge, the one who calls the shots, and I can command everyone, even The Elders. I’m irreplaceable, not even for a moment.”
“If that’s the case, why should I listen to Lucy Torrance?” I pressed.
Ethan just sat there, not saying a word. She looked at me blankly, not reacting, until I repeated my question about who Lucy Torrance was to her and what role she played in the Pack. The answer Ethan gave me caught me off guard.
“Lucy is my fiancee.”