Chapter 3
1417words
I reclined in the passenger seat, eyes closed, while Luke gripped the steering wheel so tightly he might've struck sparks—as nervous as a fresh grad at their first interview.
"Mr. Evans," I drawled, opening one eye, "anyone would think you're heading to your execution."
The hard lines of his profile softened as he reached for my hand.
"I'm worried they might… upset you."
I squeezed his palm and said nothing more.
Luke's house perched halfway up the mountain—secluded yet imposing. As we pulled up, a well-dressed middle-aged woman emerged to greet us, her features unmistakably marking her as Luke's mother.
But she wasn't alone.
Standing beside her was the last person I wanted to see—Lily.
She wore a demure off-white dress, clinging to Luke's mother's arm with a saccharine smile—every inch the perfect future daughter-in-law.
When she spotted us, her smile never faltered. She simply winked at me, oozing the smugness of someone who'd already won.
Damn, she worked fast—already cozying up to Luke's mother.
Luke's brows instantly furrowed. He pulled me behind him, shielding me from Lily's gaze.
"Mom, why is she here?"
His mother clearly saw nothing wrong with the situation. She gave me a cursory glance, her eyes cool and assessing.
"This is Lily, darling. Don't you remember her?"
"When you were little, you fell into a pond, and Lily saved you! Such a wonderful girl."
She patted Lily's hand affectionately before turning to me with frigid politeness.
"You must be Maggie. Do come in."
From the moment I crossed the threshold, I became invisible.
Luke's mother and Lily huddled on the sofa, chatting about everything from work to hobbies, thick as thieves—like mother and daughter.
Meanwhile, I sat alone with my cooling tea.
Luke tried repeatedly to include me, only to be silenced by his mother's pointed glares.
This charade continued until noon, when Luke's mother glanced at her watch with exaggerated surprise.
"Oh my, look at the time! The housekeeper's on vacation today, and I was having such a lovely chat with Lily that I completely forgot!"
She glanced between Lily and me, her meaning crystal clear.
Lily rose on cue.
"Let me cook lunch, Mrs. Evans," she offered with a saccharine smile.
Luke's mother beamed. "Such a thoughtful girl! Not like some women these days who only care about their careers and wouldn't know a spatula from a spoon."
She shot me a pointed look, her words barbed.
"Maggie, do you cook often?"
I lifted my teacup, blew gently across the surface, and answered simply:
"I don't."
The room went still.
I set down my cup and met her challenging stare, my smile unwavering.
"Work keeps me busy. Besides, cooking skills hardly determine someone's worth as a partner."
Luke's mother's expression darkened like a thundercloud.
"A woman, no matter how successful, eventually returns to family life. Luke will inherit the entire company someday. He needs a supportive wife who can manage the household while he leads."
She leaned forward, her tone brooking no argument.
"Have you considered quitting your job after marriage to focus on being a proper wife?"
The question hung in the air like a gauntlet.
Before I could answer, Luke—who'd been silent until now—abruptly stood.
He strode to my side, pulled me to my feet, and gripped my hand so tightly it felt like a declaration.
"Mother."
His quiet voice dropped the room temperature by ten degrees.
"I brought Maggie here to introduce my girlfriend, not for you to interrogate her."
"I love her for who she is—her brilliance in her field—not for her ability to cook and clean."
He paused, his gaze sweeping from his mother to Lily, whose face had drained of color.
"And my partner won't sacrifice her career for anyone. I thought you, of all people, would understand that."
Luke's words sliced through the facade like a scalpel.
His mother's face cycled between pale and flushed, her lips trembling with rage, yet she remained speechless.
Lunch proceeded in glacial silence.
Lily fluttered between kitchen and dining room, serving beautiful, fragrant dishes that Luke completely ignored.
Throughout the meal, he focused solely on filling my plate, as if we were the only two people at the table.
On the drive home, Luke cranked up the heater and said nothing.
"Are you upset?" I asked, studying his profile.
His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his Adam's apple bobbing once.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Wronged?" I laughed softly, leaning over to kiss his clenched jaw. "Actually, today was worth it."
It showed me that this man would choose me without hesitation, even when I wasn't looking.
Besides, does his mother really like Lily?
If she did, why make her cook an entire meal like an unpaid servant?
No, she was using Lily to get under my skin.
A week later, a text arrived from an unknown number.
"Miss Maggie, this is Luke's mother. Can we meet at the café below your office building?"
The message was polite yet commanding.
"Of course," I replied.
At the café, an impeccably groomed woman sat with perfect posture, coffee cup delicately poised in her hand.
She greeted me with a practiced smile and gestured to the chair opposite her.
"Please, sit down."
I took my seat, meeting her gaze steadily.
"What can I do for you, Mrs. Evans?"
She set down her cup with a delicate clink.
"I'll be direct," she said, her eyes scanning me like a barcode. "We've looked into your background. Quite ordinary. Your pheromone levels are unremarkable. Frankly, you're not suitable for Luke."
I sipped my lemon water and waited.
"Our family requires a partner who brings advantages—an Omega like Lily who's docile, receptive to marking, with high pheromone levels. This guarantees genetically superior children."
She paused, her voice tinged with false sympathy.
"Your pheromone signature is too weak for proper marking or optimal reproduction. The family elders won't accept this. I suggest you end things voluntarily."
I set down my glass and smiled at last.
"Mrs. Evans, my value isn't measured by pheromone levels. An Omega's purpose extends beyond being marked and breeding. As for my worthiness of Luke—that's not your decision to make."
Surprised by my composure, her expression soured.
"Such a sharp tongue." She sneered, nodding toward the window. "You think Luke is devoted to you? It's merely a passing fancy. Don't believe me? Look there."
I followed her gaze across the street.
Through the window of the restaurant opposite, Luke sat across from a stunning Omega.
The woman had flowing dark hair and a dazzling smile.
"See? She comes from our social circle. This is the kind of woman Luke should choose." Mrs. Evans's voice dripped with satisfaction.
I studied her silently, then pulled out my phone, dialed Luke, and set it to speaker.
He answered immediately.
"What's up?" Luke's voice—gentle yet resigned—filled the space between us. "Calling me now? Missing me already?"
His mother's face froze.
"Not too busy, I see," I drawled. "Just spotted you on a cozy date with a gorgeous woman."
A soft laugh came through the speaker, followed by Luke's lowered voice.
"Don't be mad, baby. Mom's matchmaking again—tricked me into this blind date. I was about to bail. Want me to bring you some steak? It's actually decent here."
His mother's expression shifted from frozen to ashen.
I smiled. "No need. I'm at the coffee shop right across from you."
The moment I said it, Luke stood, offered a polite goodbye to his companion, and walked out without a backward glance.
Two minutes later, the café door swung open and Luke strode in.
Ignoring his mother completely, he came straight to me, searching my face.
"Mom didn't upset you, did she?"
His mother trembled with rage, jabbing a finger at me. "Luke! Has she bewitched you completely?"
Luke finally turned to her, his eyes arctic.
"Mother, for the last time: Maggie is my chosen partner. She's someone's beloved daughter, not a breeding specimen you can evaluate based on pedigree and pheromone levels."
His hand enveloped mine, radiating warmth.
"As for our future…" he looked at me, eyes intense but voice gentle, "I'll respect her choices and never pressure her. This is between us. No one else gets a say."
His mother stood speechless, lips trembling, unable to form a response.
She stared at our joined hands, her arrogance crumbling into defeat.
"Do what you want."
She waved dismissively, refusing to look at us again.
