- Chapter 24
- As the plane touched down at Northspire International Airport, Eleanor Knight finally relented and forgave Lucas Chase. Throughout the flight, she had grilled him relentlessly, making sure he hadn’t kept any more secrets from her.
- “Really forgiven me?” Lucas’s eyes sparkled like stars as he pulled her into a tight embrace. “Then let’s go home right now!”
- Eleanor let him tug her along but suddenly grabbed his sleeve. “Wait… when you say ‘home,’ which home are we talking about?”
- Lucas flashed a mysterious smile. “Meeting my parents, of course. You promised.”
- When the black Maybach rolled into the most exclusive mansion district in Northspire, Eleanor’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the seatbelt. Her heartbeat quickened as she took in the increasingly opulent estates lining the streets.
- “So this is what you call an ‘ordinary family’?” She narrowed her eyes. “The Chase family of Northspire?”
- Lucas feigned innocence. “Isn’t it ordinary? My parents always taught me to stay humble—”
- “Lucas Chase!” Eleanor pinched his arm in frustration. “You call this humble?”
- The moment the car stopped, Eleanor gasped—two neat rows of people stood at the mansion’s entrance. She counted twelve in total.
- “I thought we were just meeting your parents?” Her voice trembled.
- But Lucas had already bounded out excitedly. “Mom! Dad! I brought your future daughter-in-law home!”
- Forcing herself out of the car, Eleanor felt her legs weaken. Lucas took her hand and introduced each family member one by one. “This is my father, my mother, my eldest brother, my second uncle, my third aunt…”
- She nodded mechanically, but when her gaze landed on the man standing at the far end, her entire body stiffened. Ethan Chase, the current CEO of Chase Group—infamous in the business world as the “Iceberg CEO”—was studying her with a scrutinizing gaze.
- After the greetings, Eleanor excused herself to the restroom to escape. Taking deep breaths in front of the mirror, she suddenly spotted Ethan leaning against the doorframe in the reflection.
- “Miss Knight,” his voice was icy. “Or should I say… Mrs. Sinclair?”
- Her fingers twitched, but she turned with a composed smile. “Just call me Eleanor. Sebastian and I are already divorced.”
- “Engaged to my brother the day after your divorce?” Ethan took a step closer. “Impressive maneuvering, Miss Knight.”
- The air in the restroom seemed to freeze. Eleanor bit her lip before meeting his gaze head-on. “Yes, I met Lucas while I was still married. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. But don’t take it out on him.”
- Ethan’s brow arched slightly. “He’s five years younger than you.”
- “There’s no law against a woman marrying a younger man.” She clenched her fists. “We’re serious about—”
- “Ethan!” Lucas’s voice cut in as he swiftly stepped between them. “You promised not to give her a hard time!”
- Ethan looked at his fiercely protective brother and suddenly chuckled. “I was just confirming if she’s as brave as you claimed.”
- Eleanor froze, realizing Lucas had already confessed everything to his family. Her nose stung, and she quietly squeezed his hand.
“Enough,” Ethan turned to leave. “Mom and Dad are waiting for dinner. But…” He glanced back at Eleanor with a meaningful look. “Being a Chase isn’t as easy as you think.”
