Trapped in Chain Love
Dinner time

...-Elise was too clumsy to the point that she mentioned her name again with a nervous face. Unexpectedly, it turns out Lucas is very different to Julian even though their faces bear some resemblance but fortunately their nature is not the same...

...————...

"Hello Julian's. I think letting your fiancee walk alone in our spacious house is too much, why don't you deliver her?"

The man Julian called Lucas helped Elise up before his attention was on Julian who was now standing in front of him.

"T—thank you,"

Elise said briefly. Thanking Lucas for his help, it's not like someone who just saw him fall and had no intention of helping at all. Elise looked cynically at Julian while Julian looked at Lucas with a surprised expression.

"When's brother coming home?"

He ignored Elise.

"Yesterday. I deliberately went back to New York to attend your engagement," Lucas paused his speech for a moment, his attention turning to look at Elise who was still standing next to him.

Previously he had been informed by his father about Julian's engagement, which is why he returned to New York while he was still working in Osaka.

Elise flinched as soon as their eyes met. She was nervous thinking about what Lucas was going to say to her. Moreover, the brownish eyes of Lucas managed to make it wrong behavior.

"So, you're Elise Anderson? Sorry to introduce myself too late. My name is Lucas Eldegar, Julian's eldest brother" Lucas said. He reached out his hand and was greeted by Elise.

The European-faced man with the Classic Two blocks hairstyle smiled at Elise. A sincere friendly smile.

"O—oh! Hello Mr Lucas, my name is Elise Anderson! Nice to meet you!" Answer Elise. He just suddenly couldn't control himself to look a bit tacky. Actually, Lucas's face is very in accordance with the type of Elise, which is why he became like this.

Elise was too clumsy to the point that she mentioned her name again with a nervous face. Lucas is very different from Julian. Although their faces bear some resemblance, fortunately their nature is not the same.

Yes, fortunately. It would be difficult for Elise to live in the mansion of the Eldegar family if all of its inhabitants were similar to Julian.

Lucas chuckles amusedly. Interested in Elise's nature.

"Not to be so formal, we'll soon be a family. Just call me brother, can you?"

Elise nodded quickly. No wonder he had a headache after this. Stop looking like the one Elise fell in love with! Julian's eyes next to yours are threatening.

Elise's eyes glanced at Julian. He looked at her like he was saying "*What are you looking at!?" (*What look!?) to Julian.

"Can brother!"

A satisfied smile was imprinted on Lucas' shady face.he patted Julian on the shoulder then walked past the two of them.

"Then I'll see you. We'll meet again tomorrow afternoon Julian and hopefully you'll be comfortable here Elise"

Elise is still glued. Staring at Lucas's back, it felt like the short conversation had succeeded in getting him interested in Lucas while Julian walked back, leaving Elise behind.

"If you stay there, I'll leave you,"

Flinched, Elise immediately followed Julian again. He touched the area of his heart that was beating fast, it seems to meet the figure of Lucas managed to make him heart gymnastics.

After all his face was handsome, his nature was also gentle. Obviously Elise would be fascinated by him right?

'Not bad also to enter the Eldegar family,'

The rest of the day Elise spends admiring Lucas who manages to fascinate her. Unexpectedly, Julian actually drove himself to the door of the room then immediately left without saying anything more even before Elise walked into his room.

...*****...

Due to their respective busyness, the Eldegar family members rarely get together. Especially having dinner together like now.

If any of their conversations are stiff. Just talk about the accomplishments they achieved, what they needed and the work issues. Does not reflect harmonious family conversations at all.

"Lucas, how's your restaurant doing?"

The first question uttered by madam Julia, a mother of three who had a gentle face and a firm gaze, the mole under her lips added to the pretty impression she had. Anyone would have guessed that she was a shady and loving mother figure, but from Elise's current point of view she judged that Julia's madam figure was quite a hard person.

Lucas only cleared his throat briefly, then smiled faintly.

"The restaurant went well, mom. Our branch in Osaka Japan is also finished, we will start holding the opening one more Sunday."

Madan Julia nodded in satisfaction. The corner of his lips formed a thin smile, proud of the achievement of his eldest son.

"What about you Noise?"

The teenage boy sitting next to Lucas gasped. She looked at her mother, with a nervous look.

It seems like she rarely interacts with Madame Julia. Elise thought as she stole a glance at Noise's reaction when asked by her mother. The gap between her and her mother is clear.

"Yes?"

"How was your college?"

"Good,"

"I'm sure you're not having any trouble, are you? All of our families went to business school, if you're having trouble asking your brothers and sisters."

Noise nodded briefly. He made no sound and just ate his food. Julia did not seem dizzy, their conversation ended then he turned to look at his second son who now only plays his food with an unappetizing face.

"Is there something wrong with the food, Julian?"

Julian glanced at his mother at a glance, then shook his head slowly.

"I just don't have a taste for food, mom."

Short words. Madam Julia cleared her throat, she did not continue her question anymore and chose to ask another thing.

"Hm, right? Oh yeah, how's Fiona doing?"

Hearing Fiona's name made Julian smile. Just being mentioned by name alone could already fix his ugly mood.

Anyone would feel happy once asked about the lover he loved so much and that goes for Julian.

"She's nice, but it seems like lately she's been a little busy with her work."

Madam Julia nodded in understanding. He knows very well what Fiona's job is, because he himself gave the department to her first.

"Being a secretary to a CEO isn't easy for mom, I wanted to take her on a vacation to refresh her mood" Julian proudly said his plan to her.

"That's great. Take her home, I haven't seen Fiona in a long time"

"Ekhem—ibu, I don't think it's good to talk about Fiona right now"

Lucas interrupts, making Julia stop talking about Fiona then turns to look at Elise who has been listening to their conversation. With a slightly bowed face.

"Oh, right too. Elise Anderson"

Though madam Julia clearly knew Elise had been there since, but she only assumed Elise existed once Lucas alluded about her. Perhaps, if Lucas had not done that Elise's existence would have been considered non-existent until dinner was over.

"I—iya madam Julia?"

Madam Julia's face looks youthful, although some traces of wrinkles are visible on her face. Her gentle yet firm gaze simultaneously made Elise nervous, it was in contrast to Julian's stern gaze that Elise could contend with.

For madam Julia Elise could not fight her gaze like she was fighting back on Julian.

"I hope you're not hurt because we're talking about Julian's girlfriend, they love each other so their relationship is very harmonious you know?"

The word loving deliberately he presses so that Elise knows her place there. Suppressing the unwanted position of Elise is like a thorn in the flesh, a bully.

'being a fiancee she's not my wish either'

If you have to choose Elise is better betrothed to someone else, she does not even like Julian in the slightest. What fault did he have to be treated like this? Elise just kept quiet as she swallowed the words of Julia's madam that pierced her heart.

Lucas breathed a sigh. The sound of the clanking of the plates and forks he used rang out, interrupting the focus of Julia's madam.

"Mother,"

Madam Julia grunts briefly. He felt that what he said was not wrong, so why was Lucas angry?

"What's? You're just talking about facts, right?"Madam Julia said with an indifferent face.

Lucas breathed again. He has a gentle nature, especially to his mother. But if the mother blatantly shows hatred for Elise who incidentally their prospective family then Lucas can not stand still.

Elise is already burdened by being engaged to a stranger like Julian, plus Julia's bad-treatment must have made her uncomfortable.

Elise was silent in her place. Trying not to care too much about the words of madam Julia who clearly has the intention to hurt.

'When is this done?'

He wanted to leave this stuffy atmosphere immediately.