Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Lucian’s Worries

Axel smiled. “Good.” Then his expression sharpened.

“I’ll be inspecting Lana’s bedroom, with her permission. And I’m informing you in advance: if I find any hidden cameras, forget everything we agreed on.”

Lucian laughed softly. “Go ahead.”

The confidence in his voice eased Axel’s worries.

As her uncle, countless fears weighed on him, one of the worst being the possibility that Lucian had installed surveillance around Lana’s room.

That alone could destroy her peace of mind.

Not like he didn’t trust Lucian; rather, he had seen many such things and was worried that someday Lucian might use some kind of footage that he had recorded of Lana to blackmail Lana.

If Mr. Crow had heard Axel’s thoughts, he would have laughed. From how much he knows Lana, she would have happily allowed Lucian to blackmail her…

With Lana’s consent, Axel thoroughly checked her room.

When he confirmed there was nothing that allowed Lucian access, he released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Looking down at Lana, his expression softened yet remained grim.

“I’ll take care of you,” he said quietly. “We’ll have dinner together. First, I need to move my things in.”

She nodded. Watching him, Lana couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Mr. Crow lifted his hand and gently tapped her forehead with a finger.

She looked up, startled, as he studied her seriously. “Isn’t this uncle of yours a little dangerous?”

Lana laughed softly.

“From what I know,” she replied, “of all the people I’ve dealt with, I can trust you. I’m sure he is not faking your sincerity.”

Mr. Crow nodded once, his expression unreadable.

Then he turned to Lana, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “So,” he drawled lightly, “what are you planning to do now?”

Lana tilted her head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at him.

The corners of her lips lifted with effortless grace, her posture relaxed yet carrying an unmistakable hint of attitude.

“I’ll enjoy my uncle’s pampering,” she replied smoothly, as though it were the most natural choice in the world.

In truth, her heart was brimming with happiness.

Axel’s behavior toward her wrapped around her like a warm blanket, gentle and reassuring, and lately, her dreams had been growing more vivid by the day.

Even when Lucian was not by her side in reality, he appeared unfailingly in her dreams… or rather, she often found herself stepping into his.

’It’s strange,’ she thought, ’almost too convenient.’

More often than not, she took full advantage of those fleeting dream encounters.

Perhaps it was because of the jade bangle resting against her wrist, cool against her skin even now, that she could enter Lucian’s dreams so easily.

A selfish thought crept into her mind, sly and tempting.

’If I keep seducing him like this,’ she mused, ’his willpower will eventually crack.’

He would start believing that something was wrong with him, or worse, that he was truly in love with her.

And when that happened, she would gently draw him in, acting as though she were reluctantly accepting his feelings.

Lost in that thought, she broke into a soft giggle, her smile widening before she realized it.

Mr. Crow noticed immediately. He arched an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“What kind of awful, disgusting thing are you even thinking about,” he questioned dryly, “to be smiling like that?”

Lana rolled her eyes, utterly unbothered. “It’s not disgusting,” she retorted, her tone light but firm.

During dinner, Lana and Axel sat together, while Lucy, upon seeing Axel, continued to create all sorts of expressions. Mainly throwing dirty expressions toward Axel.

Axel had noticed long ago that Lucy often looked at him as if he were some sort of thief intruding into the household, though he knew he was nothing of the sort. Still, he didn’t mind.

What mattered was the reassurance settling in his chest.

From Lucy’s expressions alone, it was clear that no one in this mansion harbored ill feelings toward Lana.

On the contrary, everyone seemed quietly vigilant, watching the people around her, ensuring that no one with ill intent could get close.

And that realization, subtle yet powerful, allowed Axel to relax just a little.

Meanwhile, Lucy was becoming restless. Especially when she saw Axel ignoring her looks.

The man who had suddenly appeared beside Lana felt like an unknown variable, and the thought gnawed at her relentlessly.

’What if he kidnapped her?’

The mere idea made her chest tighten. If that truly happened, their master would be utterly devastated, and the consequences would be unbearable.

Hence, she took out her phone and messaged Lucian.

……………………….

Faraway, Lucian was restless.

Just a few moments before, he had received Lucy’s message.

’Miss Lana has started to like someone else.’

That single sentence was enough to make his heart heavy and he didn’t even dare to ask who the other person was.

Maybe it was Quinn… or maybe it was Richard. Anyhow, he couldn’t tolerate the thought at all.

’Looks like I need to visit her tonight.’ He thought in his heart, while his face regained the calm expression.

Back in the mansion, Lana finally halted her cultivation after five exhausting hours.

Her body felt light yet heavy at the same time.

A yawn escaped her lips as drowsiness washed over her, and she padded toward the bed.

Mr. Crow, watching from nearby, felt a rare sense of relief.

Lana’s schedule had always been a constant headache.

She barely slept, pushing herself far beyond what was healthy.

Yet ever since she obtained the jade bangle, her rest had noticeably improved.

Seeing her finally succumb to sleep so naturally made him quietly grateful.

’Thank Lucian for this,’ he thought sincerely.

Otherwise, he could not even imagine how Lana would ever manage to enjoy such a peaceful night’s rest.

If only Mr. Crow from the future could communicate with Mr. Crow of the present, he would have definitely destroyed the jade bangle.

Lana closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she found herself in a beautiful crystal castle.

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