Chapter 40
The soft hum of the car’s engine filled the quiet space as Lillian and I sat in the dimly lit parking lot, the tension between us palpable yet unspoken.
We’d been talking about something important something that lingered in the air, but neither of us dared to bring it to the surface. Just as I felt the weight of his gaze upon me, a sharp knock on the window startled us both.
I glanced
up to see Ethan standing outside, eyebrows raised in a mix of confusion and amusement.
What are you guys talking about? And why aren’t you down by now? We’ve been home for a few minutes.”
Lillian quickly averted her eyes, clearing her throat awkwardly.
The subtle tension we’d shared dissipated in an instant as the reality of Ethan’s presence broke through.
I reached for the car door, stepping out to meet Ethan’s puzzled expression.
The driver had to leave unexpectedly,” I explained casually, trying to ease his curiosity. “Lillian was kind enough to drive me back.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Lillian drove you?”
His shock wasn’t just about the fact that I had accepted a ride from someone else.
Ethan knew me well. He understood how guarded I had become with most people, especially men
But now, I would be in a car with Lirian?
Yet, here I was, getting out of a car that wasn’t driven by our usual driver. He blinked, and I could tell he was trying to figure out what was going on.
For a moment, I wondered if he thought there was something more between me and Lirian, though It hardly knew the guy.
Ethan turned towards Lirian, who was still in the driver’s seat, and flashed a friendly smile.
“Why don’t you come inside for a bit? You’ve done enough driving for one night. Join us as a guest.”
The Alpha’s Substitute Luna: A Heart Claimed. A Soul Reborn
Lirian politely shook his head, a gentle smile on his face.
appreciate the offer, but I’ve got things to take care of tonight.”
He shot me a quick glance, something unreadable in his eyes, before getting into his car.
He drove the car, left quickly, leaving us standing there in the cooling night air,
Back inside the house, I felt the exhaustion hit me like a wave.
It had been a long day.
Between Lirian’s unexpected kindness and the complicated feelings I had swirling inside me, it was more than I’d bargained for.
Yet, in a strange way, things had gone better than expected.
At least there had been no awkward moments, no lingering discomfort–just a simple car ride, I told
myself.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts.
It was a message from an unfamiliar number. I glanced at the screen and saw a simple message:
Good night
For a moment, I was confused, then remembered the party. Lirian and I had exchanged contact information, almost as a formality.
I smiled slightly, typing a quick reply before collapsing onto my bed and drifting into sleep.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains as I stretched, blinking the sleep from my
eyes.
I had barely gotten up when one of the omegas came knocking at my door.
“Ryan is here to see you.”
Ryan? After last night’s fallout, I had assumed we were done.
His manipulative ways, always trying to weasel his way into my good graces, had finally worn thin. He must’ve known I wasn’t going to spoil him any longer.
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Why would he come now?
Curious but not overly concerned, I headed downstairs.
To my surprise, it wasn’t just Ryan waiting for me–it was his mother, Clara, too, Clara’s stern expression spoke volumes.
I was off. Before I could speak, she turned to Ryan with a scowl.
“Apologize to her, now,” Clara demanded, her tone sharp. “You’ve messed up enough already.”
Ryan stood there, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking like a petulant child. His pride was clearly getting the better of him. He shot me a quick glance, but the apology never came. Instead, he stood frozen, unwilling to admit any wrongdoing in front of his mother–or me.
I watched the scene unfold, slowly piecing together why they were here.
It wasn’t about Ryan’s behavior.
It was about something bigger – something that would affect Clara, too. I’d always suspected Ryan wasn’t in it just for affection, and now it made sense. His cushy title as a “tutor” was a way for him to bring in a lot of money. With our fallout, that income was in jeopardy.
Ryan, if you can’t even apologize, I’ll disown you,” Clara snapped. “You can’t hold down a job, and now you’ve managed to mess this up, too. What’s the point of having a son who can’t do anything right now.”
