Chapter 47
It almost seemed as if she thought Orion had a thing for her. Holding her phone, Lemira found herself reminiscing about a past-life online relationship—unrequited love, to be precise, since she'd never confessed her feelings, and he'd never hinted at reciprocating. But his presence had been a faint light in her otherwise dim and sorrowful life, offering warmth. This felt eerily similar to how Orion made her feel. Yet, she couldn't shake the uncertainty about whether Orion was truly the person from her past life.
Orion's slender fingers twitched. "Stepping in when I see injustice is just what I do," he said. "Does it need a reason? I mean, if I saw an old lady trying to cross the street, I'd help her without a second thought."
Lemira managed a smile, but a sense of loss lingered. Trying to keep the mood light, she said, "After my exams, I'll officially be moving out of the Langston mansion."
"Feel free to move in next door!"
After hanging up, Lemira felt surprisingly uplifted. She showered and even practiced exam questions before bed. The final mock exam was just around the corner. She was eager to see how much she'd improved and whether she stood a chance at Orvin University. Being in her school's top ten would likely secure her a place.
The next day, Lemira went about her usual school routine. She noticed Evelina bringing Lucian a bowl of soup, placing it beside him. "Lucian," Evelina said, "the butler told me you weren't feeling well, so I made you some soup. It should help." Evelina also prominently displayed a burn on her hand.
Lucian's heart softened. "You got hurt? You didn't have to do this; let the servants handle it next time."
"Lucian," Evelina replied, "you do so much for us, for this family. It's the least I can do." She flashed a sweet smile. Lucian felt a surge of relief and glanced at Lemira, hoping she'd notice his discomfort.
Lemira caught sight of the soup and scoffed inwardly. So, the soup had finally made its appearance! With little appetite, she simply stood up and walked away, never asking a single question.
Lucian felt a wave of disappointment. Was Lemira not going to ask? Or did she simply not care about him anymore?
Evelina quickly reassured him, "Lucian, Lemmy does care about you. She's just a little upset right now."
"I hope so," he replied. He wanted to believe Lemira was just acting out over something trivial, not ready to sever ties with the family completely. Without Lemira's concern, he felt profoundly uncomfortable.
Evelina, satisfied with her manipulation, left for school.
The butler commented, "Mr. Lucian Langston, it's really too bad Ms. Langston didn't even ask how you were feeling."
Lucian's mood lifted slightly as he saw the soup, grateful for Evelina's thoughtfulness. He took a sip, but his stomach pain worsened. Frowning, he remembered the nutritious meals Lemira used to prepare, which always seemed to alleviate his discomfort.
He requested, "Have them prepare one of Lemira's meals she's done before."
The butler looked troubled. "Those meals were always personally prepared by Ms. Langston."
"It's just a meal, how hard can it be?" Lucian grumbled, feeling the pain intensify.
A maid explained, "Mr. Lucian Langston, I heard Ms. Langston would prepare the rice for those meals a day in advance. She'd get up early to ensure all ingredients were fresh. The cooking sequence and timing were crucial; even a slight deviation could ruin it. She got the recipe from an old doctor. None of us learned how to make it; for all these years, Ms. Langston was the one who always prepared these meals!"
Hearing this, Lucian felt an unexpected pang of distress.