The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven - Chapter 435

Chapter 435: Someone Wanda’s Father Approved
[Third Person].

Wanda reached the sitting room with quick, eager steps. But the moment her eyes swept across the sofas and found the space empty, the faint shine in her gaze dulled.

Her jaw tightened as she stopped short. “Where is my brother?” she demanded.

The servant following her flinched slightly and bowed so fast her forehead nearly touched her knees.

“M–My apologies, Miss Wanda. I made a mistake. Your brother is outside. His vehicle just drove into the compound.”

Wanda’s irritation flared, then slowly receded. Relief slid across her features before she could mask it.

Without another word, she pivoted sharply and strode toward the front entrance. The doors opened just in time for her to see Levi stepping out of the passenger side of a dark sedan.

Her face lit instantly, softening in a way she rarely allowed.

“Levi—”

She took three quick steps toward him, but halted mid-stride when the back door opened.

A woman stepped out.

Wanda’s expression froze, her smile dropping without subtlety.

Then the woman turned, her face coming into full view.

Vivian, Levi’s wife.

Wanda’s stomach twisted with instant distaste.

Vivian smoothed her long brown hair behind her ear, closing the car door gently before walking around the vehicle to join Levi.

Wanda forced her features back into a pleasant mask and resumed her approach just as Levi finished giving the driver some instructions.

Then, he turned at the sound of her steps, and his expression warmed.

“Wanda.”

She stepped into his arms without hesitation, hugging him tightly.

“What a surprise,” she said against his shoulder. “You didn’t mention you were coming.”

Levi chuckled as he drew back, his hands still resting lightly on her arms. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Her eyes softened genuinely.

Just then, Levi withdrew from the embrace as Vivian drew near.

Vivian offered a small, polite nod. “Wanda.”

Wanda tilted her chin with a faint air of superiority, her smile thin. “Vivian.”

She had never liked that woman. And Vivian knew it.

Levi sent Wanda a tiny warning look—brotherly, patient. He wanted her to be more accommodating and welcoming to his wife, but Wanda lifted her brow in return, as if saying, ‘Whether I’m pleasant or not is entirely up to me.’

Levi exhaled and let it go. It’s not like Wanda would ever listen to him on this matter and change.

“Come,” Wanda said, switching to a more welcoming tone for Levi’s sake as she signalled them inside.

She walked beside Levi, subtly ensuring Vivian trailed a step behind them.

“So,” Wanda asked lightly as they moved through the hallway, “why the sudden return?”

Levi pushed his hands into his pockets, tone relaxed. “My friend has finally returned home. I should come pay my respect to him.”

Wanda’s heart jumped at the thought of Draven. Her mind raced instantly.

If Levi was going to visit Draven, then she would accompany him.

And unlike last night, this time she would have a legitimate excuse to stand before Draven again.

Her pulse quickened with the possibilities.

Maybe… finally, she could get close enough to fix everything. To regain her place beside him.

The three of them walked into the sitting room, and as soon as Wanda stepped in, she took possession of the long two-seater sofa—making sure there was space directly beside her for Levi.

Vivian naturally moved to sit on the single chair next to them.

Levi lowered himself beside Wanda, sinking into the cushions.

“Where’s Father?” he asked lightly.

Wanda folded one leg over the other, brushing a hand over her neatly ironed blouse. “A servant must have gone to inform him already. He will be down soon.”

Levi nodded. “I expect so.”

“Is father aware of your visit?” Wanda inquired and received a nod from him. “I informed him last night.”

Then, she nudged his arm gently with a small grin. “So, you really kept this surprise just for me.”

“I told you I planned to,” he said with a soft chuckle.

Her smile brightened—real, warm in a way she rarely ever showed.

A pair of servants emerged carrying polished silver trays. They placed glasses of chilled juice, warm pastries, and neatly arranged finger snacks on the centre table.

Next, they began serving them, and after they had finished, they stepped back with quiet bows.

Wanda reached for a pastry, though her attention flicked repeatedly to the door, every second counting down to her father’s arrival.

It wasn’t long before the main door to the sitting room opened.

Reginald Fellowes entered with the unhurried authority of a man used to being the centre of command.

Instantly, everyone rose—Wanda, Levi, even Vivian. The servants nearby bowed deeply.

Reginald’s stern features softened the moment he saw his son.

“Levi,” he said with unmistakable warmth.

“Father,” Levi greeted with a respectful nod.

Vivian also bowed and smiled gently. “Good morning, Lord Fellowes.”

Reginald acknowledged her with more light in his eyes than he ever spared for Wanda. “Vivian. It is good to see you.”

Wanda felt that familiar pinch in her chest—not sharp enough to hurt, but persistent enough to annoy.

She knew exactly why her father treated Vivian with such preference. It was for the connections, power, and political leverage.

Vivian’s father was an Alpha with influence. So, her marriage into the Fellowes family was beneficial.

Wanda lifted her chin and smoothed her expression.

Reginald moved closer to Vivian, asking pleasantly, “How is your father doing? And the pack? Has everything been stable?”

Vivian responded with her usual polite grace. “They are well, sir. The pack is thriving, and Father sends his greetings.”

“Good, good.” Reginald nodded, clearly pleased. “And your journey? I trust it wasn’t too exhausting?”

“Not at all,” Vivian replied with a soft smile.

Wanda watched them from the corner of her eye, her jaw tightening just slightly. Her father had never once spoken to her like that. Not with warmth or interest. Not even with civility.

But she swallowed the bitterness. Her mind was on someone else.

Since her brother intended to visit Draven, she would be going, too. She wouldn’t miss this chance.

A few moments later, a servant stepped into the room, bowing deeply. “Sir, dinner is ready.”

Reginald gave a single nod, and everyone rose to their feet.

Wanda smoothed her hair, pasted on a pleasant expression, and walked beside Levi as they made their way toward the dining hall.

They entered the dining area together, the long table already laid with steaming dishes and polished silverware. Servants stood discreetly along the walls, their eyes lowered.

Levi moved first.

He stepped behind Vivian’s chair and pulled it out with gentle care. Vivian murmured a soft “thank you” as she sat, smoothing her dress.

Next, he took a step to the side and pulled out the chair directly beside his father, Reginald’s right hand.

Wanda’s jaw tightened. ‘Vivian first?’ What greatly annoyed her was the fact that her brother didn’t even glance her way, let alone attempt to pull out a seat for her.

She suppressed every flicker of irritation, smoothing her expression into a pleasant, controlled mask as she took the seat on her father’s left.

The moment everyone picked up their cutlery, Reginald spoke without shifting his gaze from his plate.

“Looks like you are suddenly in perfect health… with the arrival of your brother.”

The words slid across the table like a knife.

Wanda’s smile twitched only for half a second, but she controlled it, lifting her napkin as if nothing had been said.

Levi paused mid-cut, brows drawing together. “Wanda, are you ill?” he asked with genuine concern.

She turned toward him with an immediately softened smile.

“No,” she said lightly. “Just a headache. But I feel fine after drinking herbal tea.”

Levi studied her for another moment before nodding slowly, though the concern in his eyes didn’t disappear.

Warmth bloomed in Wanda’s chest. At least her brother still cared deeply about her.

But that fragile warmth evaporated instantly when she noticed Levi reaching toward Vivian’s plate.

He took her chicken thigh, steadying it neatly with his fork, and with careful, precise cuts, sliced it into small, even pieces for her.

Vivian looked up at him with a grateful smile.

Wanda’s fingers tightened around her cutlery so sharply the metal nearly bent.

‘Of course…’ she thought venomously. ‘Of course, he has to treat her like some precious, fragile doll.’

Her face remained calm, but beneath the table her foot twitched with restrained fury.

Vivian glanced at Wanda politely, perhaps sensing the tension, but possibly choosing to ignore it.

Wanda didn’t return the look. Instead, she stabbed a piece of meat with her fork with a little more force than necessary.

She hated this—hated watching her brother fuss over Vivian.

Hated that her father approved of Vivian more than he had ever approved of her.

And most of all, she hated that all the power, respect, and perfect standing she had cultivated in Stormveil still wasn’t enough to change her father’s opinion.

She chewed mechanically, her anger simmering low and quiet beneath her composed facade.