Chapter 66

Alaric realized his mistake. "Get out of the way!" he yelled in panic.

Lemira's face was stoic, her eyes inscrutable. The screech of tires announced a car's arrival beside her. As the window rolled down, Orion's sculpted features appeared. His voice was calm: "Get in."

A slight smile played on Lemira's lips—she had known it was him. She bent to enter the car, as Alaric's voice echoed from outside: "Lemira, you can't go with him!"

Turning her head, Lemira rolled up the window, shutting out the outside world. Alaric chased them for a while but eventually stopped, panting and frustrated. He punched the ground, dismayed, wondering how things had turned out this way. He regretted leaving Lemira behind.

Panic seized Alaric as he recalled Lemira's gaze. What should he do? He had unconsciously chosen Evelina, but that didn't mean he didn't care about Lemira. Evelina had saved him, and he couldn't ignore that. He thought Lemira, being so smart, should understand.

However, Alaric wasn't so sure.

Evelina approached worriedly. "Alaric, are you okay? Lemmy will be fine. She didn't come home last night; probably hanging out with that school doctor."

Alaric straightened. "Lemira is being led astray by that man. She used to be stubborn, but she never held grudges against her family like this."

Lemira had changed. He determined to set things right.

In the car, Lemira opened the window, letting in the wind without speaking. Orion drove in silence, taking her back to her apartment.

As they entered the elevator, Lemira glanced at him. "Are you mad?" She'd noticed his upset expression earlier.

Orion, looking at their reflection in the elevator mirror, remarked, "You've improved. At least you knew to call me for help this time."

"It all happened so fast. Some guy at the school gate confessed to me, and I ended up spraying him with a fire extinguisher. He was from Orvin—not someone easy to mess with. Alaric showed up, intervened, and shoved me into his car. But I didn't expect him to take me to the team's base," she explained.

And she certainly hadn't expected Alaric to have arranged such a welcoming committee with banners. She scoffed internally. The old Lemira would have felt obligated to join; but now, she wouldn't let others dictate her actions.

"Who confessed to you?" Orion asked.

Lemira looked up. "Just the heartthrob from the private school next door!"

Orion squinted. "Was he the one you had a crush on?"

"No way! Not him!" Lemira laughed.

As the elevator stopped, she exited first. Watching her go, Orion called out in a slightly stiff tone, "Kid, don't rush into love!"

"I know, you've lectured me about it a million times. Don't be such a dad," she retorted.

Orion followed at a leisurely pace, his brows furrowed, seemingly pondering.

In the kitchen, Lemira noticed fresh vegetables and fruit. Surprised, she asked, "Are you planning to cook?"

"I was about to call the housekeeper when I got your message," he replied.

Feeling guilty, Lemira offered, "Maybe I should cook from now on. I'm actually quite good." She wanted to contribute to Orion's hospitality.

Orion eyed her skeptically. "Since when did you learn to cook?"

"Back when I was with the Langstons, I often cooked for everyone. Especially Asher and Lucian—they had stomach problems, and only liked my cooking." She paused. "Anyway, I learned it then."

To win over her brothers, she'd taken lessons from the family chefs.

Orion seemed displeased. "Kid, your hands weren't meant for cooking," he said slowly.

Chapter 67