99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 195

He sat in a wheelchair, his body slumped as if boneless. His once-handsome face was now carved with the marks of time, looking much older. Fortunately, recent care had improved his complexion, lending a rosy hue to his cheeks.

“Emeric, Claire has come to see you! She came back with Lucien! Look!”

Lucien and I stood quietly in the center of the living room. I watched Alpha Emeric, trying hard to calm the turbulent emotions within me.

“Claire-bear—” A garbled sound came from Emeric’s throat. He clearly recognized me. He struggled to lift his head, but in the end, he only managed a slight movement of his neck.

“Alpha—” I called out with difficulty, stepping forward quickly and actively grasping his withered hand.

Emeric stared fixedly at me, his cloudy eyes quickly welling up with moisture pooling in his cloudy eyes. It was a heart-wrenching sight that tugged at my very soul.

Sensing the weight of the moment, Bart quickly interjected, eager to lighten the atmosphere. “No need for sadness! Emeric, everything is alright now! The children have patched things up! Let bygones be bygones! Now, let’s eat; the meal is ready!”

Bart’s bustling energy seemed to lift the heaviness that had settled over us, and soon the table was adorned with an array of exquisite, health-conscious dishes, their enticing aromas weaving through the air like a warm embrace.

“I’m starving! It smells absolutely divine! I think I can even smell the soup!” Liyah’s exuberant voice broke through the tension, her excitement palpable as she bounded in, following the delicious scents like a moth to a flame. “Oh my goddess! All my favorites! Tsk tsk, this is definitely the Crown of Thornes hosting a special guest. These are all rare delicacies I won’t find anywhere else!”

“Ms. Cruz, please, take a seat! Today, the chefs have truly outdone themselves! After dinner, there will be pastries made with flowers, fragrant and delightful!” Bart welcomed her with a warm smile.

“Claire! Lucien! Don’t just stand there—help Emeric and bring him here! I’m absolutely famished! That pesky cousin of yours was chasing me earlier; I nearly had to run a marathon!” Without a second thought, Liyah plopped down onto the chair, sprawling out as though she owned the entire place. It was a bold move, one only a member of the family would dare to make, but I suspected her confidence stemmed from the newfound softness radiating from Lucien lately.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lewis burst into the room like a whirlwind, his eyes glinting with mischief as he snatched the piece of oven-roasted potato that Liyah had just picked up.

“You actually have the audacity to say that? You started it by lying through your teeth; everyone knows I’m far more handsome than my dark and brooding cousin over here. Plus, I’m a doctor. This potato is mine!”

“Lewis! That was mine! I’m counting to three—give it back, or my six brothers will break your legs!” Liyah shot back, her eyes narrowing in mock fury.

“Oh no—six brothers? I’m sooo terrified!” Lewis replied, feigning fear with a dramatic flourish. “Six brothers? My cousin is the most notorious demon Alpha. They wouldn’t stand a chance against him. If I let him loose, he’d have your whole family running for the hills in no time…”

“Let me loose?” Lucien’s voice cut through the banter like a knife, cold and sharp. “Am I a wild beast that you keep like a pet?”

The smug grin on Lewis’s face froze in an instant, and before he could react, Lucien seized him by the ear, unceremoniously dragging him toward the door and tossing him outside.

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