Chapter 3
At 6 PM, the family dinner officially began.
Louis sat between Cersei and Rachel as they joined the traditional toast to the elders.
Cersei also stood up, lifting her glass in respect..
Rachel reached for her glass as well, but Louis stopped her.
“You just got out of the hospital. You don’t need to drink.”
Glancing nervously at the formally–dressed relatives around the table, Rachel whispered, “But Cersei’s drinking even though she’s not feeling well. Won’t it be bad manners if I don’t?”
Louis frowned, taking Rachel’s glass away before addressing the elders in a respectful tone.
“Rachel’s still recovering, and the doctor advised against drinking. But since it’s tradition. As her older brother, I’ll drink on her behalf.”
He downed her glass in one go.
Looking at her own half–empty glass and watching as Louis helped Rachel back into her seat, Cersei tasted bitterness in her mouth.
She took a deep breath and ignored the burning sensation in her stomach. Then tipped her head back and finished her wine.
The alcohol hit her empty stomach, causing waves of cramping pain.
She bit her lip until it turned white, cold sweat soaking through her blouse. But she couldn’t even cry
out.
The Moore family traditions were clear–no one left the table before the elders. So she gripped the edge of the table, enduring wave after wave of pain.
Everyone was drinking and chatting. No one noticed her distress.
Louis divided his attention between responding to the elders and filling Rachel’s plate with choice
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pieces of lobster.
The family matriarch Grace Reed noticed Rachel’s heaping plate compared to Cersei’s empty one
and narrowed her eyes.
“Louis, stop fussing over your sister. Cersei hasn’t eaten anything–are these dishes not to her taste?”
Louis turned and noticed her pallor. Then placed some fish in her plate.
Faced with concerned looks from around the table, Cersei hesitated before picking up the fish and
eating it.
Rachel’s eyes widened as she opened her mouth to say something.
But after meeting the elders‘ stern gazes, she remained silent.
Grace nodded with satisfaction and turned her attention to Rachel, her tone serious but caring.
“Rachel, your birthday is next month. I’m planning a party and inviting several eligible young men from our circle. You should meet them and see if any catch your eye.”
“It’s time we settled your marriage plans. It’s harder to find a match when you get older.”
The color drained from Rachel’s face as she looked anxiously toward Louis.
His expression darkened too. Though he maintained his composure and carefully deflected the suggestion.
“Rachel is still young. There’s no rush. I’ll personally help her choose the right match when the time
comes.”
The elders at the table were stunned by Louis’s response. Then started to offer their opinions.
“Louis, we know you’ve always spoiled your sister,” his uncle said with exasperation, “but come on, it’s time. With your impossibly high standards, who knows how many more years this will drag on?”
“We’ve been trying to find Rachel suitable matches since you’re married,” his aunt chimed “We’ve introduced dozens of potential candidates, and you’ve rejected every single one! Aren’t you just holding her back?”
“Exactly, Rachel’s 25, just like Cersei. She’s not getting any younger! Now that you’re married, she
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probably wants to start her own life too.”
Rachel grew anxious listening to this barrage. For the first time, she gathered her courage to voice her own thoughts.
“I–I’m not in a hurry to get married… I don’t mind waiting a few more years…”
“Rachel. You may be adopted, but your mother and I have always loved you like our own. Of course, we want you to have a good future. Now that Louis is married, it’s only natural we focus on you. The matchmaking event is happening, so you’d better start preparing for it.”
Amidst the discussion, Louis‘ father Philip Moore stood up to make the final decision.
Rachel trembled at these words, her eyes instantly welling with tears.
Louis‘ expression darkened. His veins were visible as his hands clenched into fists.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he shot to his feet. His voice shaking with barely contained
rage.
“I said Rachel’s marriage is MY decision. Keep out of it!”
The normally composed Moore heir losing control in front of the entire family created an immediate shockwave. Everyone’s expressions turned sour.
“What do you mean ‘keep out of it“?” his uncle challenged.
“She’s at the perfect age now. If we don’t start arranging, she’ll be thirty! How can we not be concerned?”
“Yeah, Louis. We understand you’ve spoiled her, but you’re married now. Soon you and Cersei will have children, and naturally they’ll become your priority. No matter how much you care for Rachel, you can’t possibly-”
Blinded by fury, Louis cut her off with an ice–cold retort.
“I will NEVER have children! As long as Rachel doesn’t want to get married, I won’t force her. She can get married whenever she wants, or not at all. I’ll support her for the rest of her life if I have to!”
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