Ryan noticed my choice and frowned. He got up, walked over, and sat next to me with a scowl. “You’re really making this a thing now, huh? I saved you a seat, and you’re still pulling this attitude.”
I furrowed my brow, annoyed, and was about to tell him the seat was meant for Lucas when the dining room doors opened.
A tall figure strode in. Lucas was clad in a sleek, silver–gray wolf fur coat, his heavy combat boots thudding against the floor with each confident step.
After years apart, Lucas appeared much more mature than I remembered. His every movement exuded an effortless nobility that couldn’t be hidden.
Everyone present stood up in unison.
In recent years, Lucas had grown his business abroad to an impressive scale. Even the weapons for Silver Claws‘ military unit were funded by him.
All eyes were on him, but his gaze found only me. When he noticed Ryan standing beside me, a fleeting look of disappointment seemed to flash in his eyes.
I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could, Ryan’s phone rang. Answering it quickly, he excused himself, saying he needed to meet someone outside.
Feeling a twinge of unease, I glanced at Lucas, only to see him moving toward me. The next moment, he sat down in the seat Ryan had just vacated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“You all must be starving waiting for me. Let’s eat,” he said, his tone calm and commanding, before settling into his seat and gesturing for me to sit beside him.
He then began slicing venison for me, his hands deft and precise. I explained, “Ryan came over by himself and sat-”
“It’s fine. Eat first,” he interrupted, focused on arranging food on my plate.
He picked out all my favorites–steak, venison, and freshly roasted wild boar. The aroma was mouthwatering, the meat glistening with just the right amount of char. Slices of raw meat were piled high on the plate before me, their fresh, deep red color and firm texture promising tenderness with every bite. His knife skills were impeccable, cutting each piece so precisely that not a single sliver of excess fat remained.
