Chapter 27 Testosterone Summit & Emotional Damage
The dining table had officially become a war zone.
No one was eating anymore.
The soup?
Cold.
The steak? Untouched.
The tension?
Medium rare and sizzling.
Arielle sat in the middle like the prize in a survival competition she did NOT sign up for.
I just wanted a peaceful filming schedule.
Why is this a live episode of "Men With Unresolved Feelings"?
The Seating Arrangement From Hell
Some intern made a mistake.
Lucian sat on her right.
Lu Wei sat on her left.
Her four sons sat across like a firing squad.
The fiancées formed a secondary perimeter.
Lin Yue sat diagonal, staring at Lu Wei like she wanted to politely push him off a cliff.
The cameramen were shaking.
The director whispered, "Don't interfere.
This is ratings gold."
Round One: The Polite Insults
Lucian lifted his glass calmly.
"To old acquaintances," he said smoothly.
Lu Wei smiled lazily.
"And second chances.
"
Forks froze.
Arielle inhaled sharply.
OH MY GOD THEY'RE DUELING WITH SENTENCES.
Rhett muttered, "If he says one more poetic thing, I'm flipping this table.
"
Zayden was live-monitoring social media.
"Hashtag 'DivorcedButDangerous' is trending," he said calmly.
Emrys whispered to Darian, "Should we.
.. escort one of them out?"
Darian stared at Lucian.
"...Let's see who cracks first."
Lin Yue Is Not Okay?
Lin Yue had been calm.
She had been dignified.
She had been mature.
Until Lu Wei leaned slightly closer to Arielle and said softly:
"You still tilt your head when you're nervous.
"
Silence.
Arielle froze.
Because he was right.
Lucian's jaw tightened.
Lin Yue's brain short-circuited.
Why does that feel intimate. Why does that feel illegal.
Why do I hate this.
Her chopsticks snapped in half.
Everyone looked at her.
She smiled.
"I'm fine."
She was not fine.
The Sons Lose Their Patience
Rhett stood first.
"Okay.
I have a question."
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
Lu Wei smirked.
Rhett crossed his arms.
"Why are both of you acting like this is a dating show?
"
The entire table went quiet.
Even the wind stopped.
Zayden coughed. "He has a point."
Emrys added sweetly, "Our mom is not a prize to compete over.
"
Darian leaned back, voice calm but firm.
"She's not something you lost."
Lucian looked at his sons.
And for the first time-
He realized they were not boys anymore.
They were men.
Protecting her.
That hit him harder than Lu Wei's words ever could.
Arielle Internally Explodes
Why are they defending me like this.
Why is this attractive. Why am I sweating.
Why is my ex-husband glaring like that. Why is my first love smirking.
WHY IS MY LIFE A DRAMA.
She finally spoke.
"Enough."
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just steady.
Everyone shut up instantly.
Even the birds.
She looked at Lucian first.
"You came unannounced.
"
Then at Lu Wei.
"You are being provocative.
"
Then at her sons.
"You are escalating.
"
Then at Lin Yue.
"...And you're about to combust."
Lin Yue choked.
"How did you-"
Arielle sipped her water calmly.
"I'm forty, not blind."
Dead silence.
Lucian blinked.
Lu Wei laughed softly.
The sons looked stunned.
The fiancées looked impressed.
The director whispered, "She just carried the entire episode.
"
Lucian Makes His Move
Lucian leaned forward slightly.
"I didn't come here to compete," he said quietly.
Everyone stared.
"I came because I realized I misunderstood you.
"
FLASH.
The rehearsal. The broken sentence.
The years of cold distance.
Arielle's chest tightened.
Lu Wei's smirk faded.
Lin Yue looked between them.
Zayden's phone buzzed like crazy.
Rhett muttered, "Oh we're doing trauma now.
"
Emrys whispered, "I need popcorn."
Lu Wei Is Not Backing Down
Lu Wei stood slowly.
"I came back," he said calmly, "because I never misunderstood her.
"
BOOM.
The air cracked.
Lucian's eyes sharpened.
The sons collectively stood up too.
This was no longer dinner.
This was territory.
The Fiancées' Silent Alliance
Clara leaned toward Serena.
"This is spiraling."
Serena nodded.
"We let her handle it."
Elise whispered, "She's kind of iconic.
"
Fiona simply said, "Observe. She's about to dismantle them.
"
Arielle Ends It
She stood.
And suddenly-
She wasn't flustered.
She wasn't panicking. She wasn't transmigrator-chaotic.
She was composed.
Elegant.
Terrifying.
"I am not a memory to fight over."
She looked at Lucian.
"You don't get to regret me publicly.
"
She looked at Lu Wei.
"And you don't get to claim me nostalgically.
"
Then she looked at her sons.
"And you four will sit down before you scare the production team.
"
They sat.
Immediately.
Lucian exhaled slowly.
Lu Wei watched her differently now.
Lin Yue's heart did something complicated.
And the cameras?
Captured everything.
Author's Note ????
MY LOVES.
WHAT.
WAS.
THAT.
We officially entered:
? Lucian jealousy mode
? Lu Wei first-love confidence
? Sons protective alpha mode
? Lin Yue emotional crisis
? Arielle queen mode ACTIVATED
COMMENT BELOW: Who won this round?
Lucian?
Lu Wei?
The Sons?
Lin Yue's broken chopsticks?
Or Arielle, obviously?
Okay. I'm genuinely surprised like. 11.4k views?
. For this book?. Like I had to double check just to be sure.
I was really surprised and I apologize for lazing Instead of updating.
Tell me. I'm I forgiven. The thing is.
I always need to be called back before I update.
Just comment continue or update. Seeing it makes me remember.
I have a lot of stories that are not completed so I'm either lazing or updating them.
Thanks again for the views and votes ??????????
VOTE : Who should Arielle emotionally lean toward right now?
FOLLOW ME for next chapter because:
Next episode: · Lucian privately apologizes?
· Lu Wei crosses a line? · Lin Yue finally snaps?
· One of the sons says something shocking?
It's about to get worse. And funnier. And more emotionally illegal.