Chapter 100

Honestly, she wasn't sure why she was there. Perhaps she should never have come. The butler was right; with Evelina present, there was little room for her. Hadn't Lucian always praised Evelina's soup?

Not long after Lemira left, Lucian returned to his hospital room. Noticing flowers in the trash can, he asked, "Who's been here?"

The butler replied calmly, "Just someone I've sent away to avoid disturbing your rest."

Evelina arrived with a thermos. "Lucian, try my soup. Do you think it's improved?"

Lucian tasted it. "Mm-hmm, it's definitely better, Eve. You've put in a lot of effort." Yet, he couldn't help but remember Lemira's nutritious dishes. He'd taken her care and affection for granted, becoming so accustomed to it that he'd overlooked her efforts. He regretted hurting her.

Seeing Lucian's reaction, Evelina felt uneasy. "Lucian, I have something to tell you. Lemmy's been streaming."

"Streaming to make money?" Lucian felt a pang of discomfort. Lemira should be living comfortably, without needing part-time work, let alone streaming. The streaming world was unpredictable.

Evelina nodded. "Yes, but she joined PixelStage, Alaric's competitor. If he finds out, he'll be furious."

Lucian replied coolly, "Let him be mad. He deserves it for driving Lemmy away!"

Evelina was startled. She'd expected Lucian to side with Alaric, condemning Lemira and opposing their family. She'd thought he would pressure Lemira to quit. That was her hope. But Lucian didn't react as anticipated.

Not wanting Lemira to surpass her, Evelina continued, "Lucian, Lemmy joining PixelStage is embarrassing! If we could make her quit…"

Lucian cut her off. "Lemmy is free to choose her platform."

Seeing Lucian's expression, Evelina didn't press further. Internally, she panicked. Lucian had truly changed. Her efforts had barely secured a place in his heart, yet Lemira, doing nothing, received his forgiveness. Being a real sister made a difference. Alaric's earlier words felt like a cold shower, a complete awakening. She would never truly belong to the Langston family. She had to plan for herself.

Lemira returned to her apartment. The housekeeper had prepared a meal for one, indicating Orion and Thaddeus wouldn't be joining for dinner. After eating, Lemira logged into her gaming account to repair equipment, preparing for the evening's battle. Upon logging in, she received a message from Alaric: "[Who are you, really?]"

Lemira knew she couldn't keep her secret much longer, but she didn't intend to hide it or explain herself. Ignoring the message, she started running instance dungeons. Many knew her ID and sent team invites. Lemira joined one at random. During team formation, she noticed a familiar ID—Alaric's.

Soon, Alaric's voice came through the team channel. "Got time for dungeons but can't reply to my message?" His tone was accusatory.