Claire’s P. O. V
It’s been a week since I last talked to Chen Lien. Ever since our fight, everything has felt awkward. It’s as if I’m trying to cover up my own anger, and then I take it out on someone else.
It’s really embarrassing, maybe I should apologize to him when we meet again later.
However, since that day I haven’t seen Chen Lien, I have been spending more time in my room, and even my appetite has gotten worse since returning from the Philippines. Almost no food can go into my mouth, and everything I smell seems really bad, even though it looks delicious.
“This is horrible, how am I supposed to get my revenge on Christopher Gale if I can’t even get food into my body?” I mumbled while lying down and hugging my bolster pillow.
The smell of this mattress has completely become my own, nothing left. I had hoped there would be some of Ethan’s scent left, but there’s absolutely nothing I can smell from Ethan.
Oh, my God… What was I thinking? Hasn’t Ethan not come here ever since Lucy Torrance returned? Nothing of that guy could possibly remain here.
Knock… knock…
My attention was diverted by someone knocking on the door. I didn’t want to open it, but every time I ignored it, it got harder to do so, and the sound became more annoying.
Despite feeling very lazy, I decided to get up and see who was knocking on my door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Octa.
“Good morning, Lady Halle,” he greeted me politely as always.
I hadn’t seen Octa for quite a while. The Elder who lived in the same mansion as Ethan rarely appeared, especially when he didn’t want to show himself to others. I’ve often heard that Ethan actually distances himself from the Elders.
“Would you like to take a walk with me?” he invited.
Honestly, I was very reluctant to do so, but I couldn’t refuse an invitation from the Elder to accompany him. “Of course,” I replied.
“The weather outside is a bit chilly this morning. How about you bring a knitted jacket with you.”
I didn’t know it was that cold outside. But I still tried to show my respect by complying with his request to bring a knitted jacket with me.
As we started walking through the main corridor, we saw Ethan talking with Lucy. We made eye contact, but I quickly looked away, not wanting to get involved in anything that could harm me later if I kept staring at Ethan. However, I could see that Ethan continued to do so.
“Where are we going?”
“Isn’t it true that you haven’t been to the forest for a long time?”
“Are we going to meet Lady Spectra?” I asked, and maybe my eyes were sparkling with joy at this point. It had been a long time since I last saw her, and if I recall, the first and last time I met the old woman was when Ethan took me from the forest.
“Octa.”
Ethan called, stopping our steps that were almost reaching the backyard, the only way to the forest. Octa and I turned to see Ethan, who, I didn’t know since when, had been following us, and now he and Lucy Torrance were standing behind us.
“Are you going to the forest?”
“You don’t need to worry, Alpha. I will guard Lady Halle with my life,” Octa reassured.
Even though reassured like that, Ethan still seemed not to agree with Octa’s decision to take me to the forest to meet Andara Spectra. I could have argued with Ethan and said he didn’t need to worry about me because I’m nobody, but Lucy Torrance was there, and I didn’t want to worsen my situation by arguing with him.
“Danny and a few Warriors will follow you. Don’t go alone to such a dangerous place,” Ethan said. It sounded like an order that couldn’t be refused, and even Octa didn’t seem to intend to refuse Ethan’s order.
“We won’t be gone too long, will you and Lady Torrance be back before dinner?” Octa tried to make small talk.
“I won’t be gone too long, just a simple check-up and will return by lunch, hope you can return before that?”
“We’ll be going to the forest, not sure when we’ll be back, besides-”
“Can’t you not argue just for once?” Lucy seemed angry when she heard my refusal.
Our eyes met, and I could tell she was angry about something I had no idea about. But I was sure that she truly hated my presence.
“We won’t be back by lunch, because Octa and I will be going to the forest. Besides, don’t you dislike having me eat at the same table as you? So it’s better this way, right?” I said, and of course, it made Lucy even more offended.
I might not like causing trouble with someone first, but with Lucy, I couldn’t hold this back. I didn’t like her, just as she didn’t like me.
“Sorry, Lady Torrance,” Octa suddenly spoke, seemingly to mediate the tension between Lucy and me. “As Lady Halle said, we won’t be able to return that soon, as the journey to the Rogue Wolves’ camp takes quite a bit of time and we can’t do it immediately.”
“You-”
Ethan raised his hand, stopping Lucy, who was still going to speak, expressing her disagreement. But because Ethan stopped the unnecessary quarrel, Lucy reluctantly stopped talking, although the frustration was still clearly visible on her face.
“It’s fine, but you must stay with Danny and the Warriors. Don’t stray too far from them, and take care of yourself,” Ethan said.
I glanced at Ethan. He wasn’t looking at my face, but downwards. I didn’t know what part of me he was looking at, but seeing how he just stood there, it seemed there was an unexplained concern in his gaze.
“Don’t push yourself. If the journey feels exhausting, return and rest,” he said, then turned to leave.
What was that? His cold face and words that sounded harsh, didn’t align with the essence of his statements which were full of concern.
I have to admit, ever since Lucy Torrance returned, Ethan reverted to the person I first met. Harsh, arrogant, and seemingly without compassion. But wasn’t I used to that? So why should I feel uncomfortable with it?