Dr. Fletcher appeared as if summoned, his timing suspiciously perfect. "Perhaps
you should use Alpha Stone''sfortable vehicle as transportation," he
suggested diplomatically.
He gently ushered Evelyn toward my car before she could protest. I realized Dr.
Fletcher was responsible for the t tire, but Olivia wouldn''t apologize for
suspecting me.
If it were only herself, Olivia wouldn''t have gotten into my car. But Dr. Fletcher''s
words made sense for her mother''s condition.
She knew Evelyn needed rest and protection from the cold wind. Her health was
more important than avoiding my presence.
Lucas agreed, prioritizing Evelyn''s wellbeing over being in the same car as
someone they disliked. Evelyn sat in the back seat, and Olivia and Lucas
followed.
Dr. Fletcher signaled me with a subtle nod. "Call Maxwell yourself," I told him
quietly.
"Thank you, Alpha Stone," he replied, clearly delighted with the arrangement.
I felt it was worth every penny. Millions in moonlight herbs in exchange for a ride
together was a bargain to me. My wolf was pleased to have my mate''s scent filling
my car again.
"Olivia, didn''t you call Lucas?" Evelyn asked after settling into thefortable
leather seat.
She deliberately treated me as nothing more than a driver, and the three of them
ignored my presencepletely.
"I was afraid he was busy," Olivia replied softly.
"Olivia, Lucas is your boyfriend. You need to get used to troubling him," Evelyn
continued, her words like silver daggers to my heart.
"It''s best not to trouble people with ordinary rtionships. But in close
rtionships, if you don''t bother Lucas with anything, he''ll think you don''t care
about him."
Driving the car, I heard Evelyn acknowledge Lucas as Olivia''s boyfriend. My wolf
growled with jealousy beneath my skin, the sound barely contained.
The car smoothly arrived at Maple Grove Cottage. I saw Lucas waiting by the
building, his presence a stark reminder of my failures.
Lucas greeted them warmly and helped Evelyn out of the car. "Thank you for
bringing them safely," he said to me, clearly staking his im.
My face darkened, but I was interrupted by Evelyn''s affectionate greeting.
"Lucas!" she called out with genuine warmth.
The bitterness welled up inside me as I remembered when I had also been
treated with such affection by "Orange Mom."
Evelyn held Lucas''s hand with
maternal fondness. "Lucas, now that
I''m discharged,e over for dinner
whenever you have time. I''ll cook for
you–you''re only focused on work
and have lost weight."
Olivia remained silent, but she didn''t object to her mother''s invitation. Although
Lucas was in perfect shape, he didn''t refute thement.
He smiled and looked at Olivia with gentle eyes. "Olivia, is that okay?" he asked,
seeking her permission.
Lucas''s words made me turn my gaze to Olivia, my wolf anxiously waiting for her
response. Everything depended on what she would say.
Olivia didn''t deliberately distance herself from Lucas. She wanted to let things
happen naturally between them.
Her eptance made the gloom in my eyes even deeper. My thin lips moved,
wanting to say no, but I found that I had no right to object.
"Mrs. Winters, the wind is strong outside. You should go inside first," I said,
suppressing the emotions surging in my heart.
My concern for Evelyn''s health was genuine, despite everything that had
happened between us.
"Lucas, let''s go inside," Evelyn replied, still refusing to acknowledge me directly.
She walked forward, holding Lucas''s
arm with one hand and Olivia with
the other. They moved as a family
unit, leaving me standing alone
beside my car.
My bitterness was overwhelming as I watched them. My gaze followed them
constantly, my wolf whining softly with desperate longing.
Evelyn suddenly stopped and turned
her head toward me. My eyes
obviously lit up with hope, and there
was undisguisable expectation in
my gaze as I looked at her.