Chapter 94: Warning

Luke felt a flicker of disappointment, though he wouldn’t admit it out loud.

He hadn’t wanted anything troubling to show up in the report. To him, Dart and Nadia were a loving couple, and as their friend, he genuinely wished for them to have everything they dreamed of.

He hadn’t forgotten that despite all the rumors surrounding him Dart genuinely appeared happy talking.to him back then. So yes, he actually looked at him like a friend.

And Nadia also appeared to be a good girl. She has a gentle nature with a slight humorous touch to it. He cherished the relationship he has developed with them.

But the moment he read the results, he knew he would be hurting those two.

Dart couldn’t be a father.

It wasn’t entirely unheard of. There had been cases like this before. But most of the time men refused to believe that they couldn’t be a father and continued to bring new mates time after time.

Dart wasn’t like that. That explains why Dart hadn’t seemed too shocked. Maybe he had already suspected it and was simply waiting for confirmation.

Still, Luke couldn’t shake off the guilt of being the one to deliver that news.

Maybe he should have spoken to Dart privately first. Maybe then Nadia could have taken it a little better.

The way Nadia fell into denial was something he saw coming but it didn’t lessen the grief.

But there was no point dwelling on it now.

No matter how he said it, it would have hurt just the same.

Letting out another quiet sigh, Luke stepped into his house.

The construction of the bathhouse had already begun, and it would be finished in ten days. He has already given the structure and how big he wanted it to be made. Of course, he didn’t forget to have a bathing pool added into it.

He had planned to check on it to see how things were going but right now, he wanted to see his mother first.

The moment he stepped inside, he noticed everyone gathered around the table.

No one was speaking.

His arrival drew their attention. Monica quickly approached him from the side. “Ah, you’re back. Come, join them.”

The members of the house were already having dinner. Only Ginna and Monica seemed not to be eating.

Luke walked over and hugged his mother, as he always did. But today… she felt different.

Stiff.

As if she wasn’t sure how to respond.

That alone was enough to unsettle him.

He pulled back slightly, tilting his head. “Did something happen?”

Monica seemed flustered and shook her head. “No… why would you think that?”

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “You really expect me to believe that?”

She fell silent, her gaze drifting away.

A frown formed on his face. Then he turned toward the others.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on?”

Monica panicked. “It’s really nothing, Luke. I promise.”

Luke sighed. She was clearly avoiding the topic, even though something was obviously wrong.

He decided to leave it for now and talk to her later, when they were alone.

Walking over to the table, he pulled out a chair and sat down.

Lex didn’t bother looking up, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened. Beside him, Dalia ate quietly too, though her eyes flickered between Luke and Monica, filled with unease and curiosity.

Monica soon served Luke his food, a strange red leaf soup, some meat, and rice.

He gave a faint smile. “Smells good.”

Without waiting, he started eating.

Ah… it really was delicious.

He was focused on his meal when Lex suddenly spoke, “Luke… you should have asked Father before building the bathhouse.”

Luke hummed and looked up.

What was this tension?

Usually, Gustav would have stepped in by now, brushing it off with a casual remark, saying he had already approved it or that such a small matter didn’t need discussion.

But today, he remained silent, focused on his food as if he hadn’t even heard Lex.

Strange.

Luke glanced at his mother once before shrugging. “I mean, the bathhouse isn’t even connected to the house. It’s not disturbing anyone.”

“It is,” Caleb cut in.

Luke snorted. “Then go out more instead of sitting at home all day—”

CLANG

Caleb slammed his hands on the table and shot to his feet, the sudden noise startling everyone.

He glared at Luke. “How dare you speak to your elders like that!”

Luke went quiet, his gaze turning cold.

Caleb sneered. “Just because you’ve started hunting a few beasts, you think you’re better than me?!”

“Caleb, please calm down,” Monica tried to intervene.

“No, stay out of this—ah!”

Caleb suddenly yelped, jumping back from the table.

A sharp crack echoed from behind him.

Slowly, he turned.

A knife was embedded halfway into the wall.

His face drained of color as the realization hit him. If that had been aimed a little differently… it would have gone through his head.

In a low voice that somehow filled the entire room, Luke spoke,

“Watch your tone when you speak to her.”

A brief pause.

“I won’t miss next time.”

Caleb’s heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst out of his chest.

Luke calmly settled back into his seat and continued eating. “If anyone has a problem with what I do or why I do it, talk to me,” he said evenly. “Don’t drag my mother into it. And don’t raise your voice at her… or at me. That goes for everyone.”

With that, he stood up.

He picked up his plate, then took his mother’s hand with his free one and walked away.

Silence fell over the dining room.

The same boy who once couldn’t even lift his gaze while speaking, who used to tremble at the slightest raised voice, had just warned them all.

Lex had always been considered the strongest in the house.

But things were starting to change.

…

“Luke,” Monica called softly, letting herself be led by him.

“It’s fine, Mom,” he said gently. “Don’t worry about it.”

Monica pressed her lips together.

What happened today… she had sensed it coming.

The warning to Caleb had surprised her, yes, but deep down, she knew.

This new version of her son wouldn’t sit quietly anymore while others tried to suppress him.

Once they entered his room, Luke gestured toward the bed. “Go on, sit on our new bed.”

Monica was still tense, but she hid it well, not wanting to make him worry by hesitating.

She sat down, watching as Luke took a seat beside her and continued eating.

After a brief silence, she finally spoke. “Son… what’s on your mind?”

Luke hummed lightly. “That the food is incredibly good.”

A faint smile touched her lips, and she shook her head. “Not that. Luke… I don’t know why Caleb acted like that—”

“Monica.”

He said her name suddenly, stopping her mid-sentence.

She blinked, caught off guard.

Then she heard him say, his voice calm, “If things here become difficult… we’ll just leave. We’ll build our own world somewhere else.”

He glanced at her.

“So don’t worry about them. Just focus on me.”

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