My Yandere Harem Doesn't Accept No-Chapter 26: An Afternoon in… Family?

Lyan let out one last sigh in front of the dining room door, his hand already extended toward the doorknob.

He was about to open it when he felt Evelyne gently stop him, tugging at his shirt.

He looked at her in confusion, still holding her in his arms.

"What is it now?" he asked, his tone caught somewhere between exhaustion and resignation.

Evelyne shook her head, wearing an almost guilty expression.

"Nothing... just put me down. I’m not that bad to make you go through something like this."

Lyan looked at her in disbelief for a second. Now she remembered not to be so troublesome? After everything that had happened in her room.

Undressing in front of him, forcing him to help her get dressed, the moan when he touched her...

And now she suddenly decided to be considerate. Even so, he felt an immense sense of relief.

"Alright," he murmured.

He slowly lowered her to the floor, being very careful. Evelyne placed her good foot down first, then the bandaged one, but she immediately wobbled and clung tightly to his arm.

The pain in her ankle was real, though Lyan no longer knew which parts of her behavior were an act and which were genuine.

"Alright, let’s go," she said softly, leaning on him as she walked.

Lyan held her by the waist and helped her move forward. Each of Evelyne’s steps was slow and somewhat unsteady, so he had to adjust his pace to match hers.

When they pushed the door open and entered the dining room, Lyan was impressed. The room was enormous, with high ceilings and a long wooden table that could easily seat twenty people.

At the head of the table, seated elegantly, was a single woman. Several maids stood along the sides of the room, attentive and silent, ready for any instruction.

The woman was identical to Evelyne, but in a more mature version. Long hair, white as snow, cascading in waves over her shoulders, piercing light-blue eyes, and a figure that could, without exaggeration, be described as that of a milf.

With pronounced curves, a narrow waist, and a presence that filled the entire room. She was beautiful in an intimidating way.

The woman slightly lifted her gaze, pulling it away from her mobile phone, and observed them both without much enthusiasm at first.

As Evelyne began to move toward her, Lyan followed, holding her carefully.

The closer they got, the more attention the woman paid, setting her phone aside, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"I see you’ve brought a friend, daughter," she said in a warm, refined voice.

As soon as they were close enough, the system appeared before Lyan’s eyes.

[Maren Montclair – Secondary Character.]

Lyan read the name and repeated it mentally. Maren. Evelyne’s mother...

Evelyne gave a slight respectful bow, which Lyan took a second to imitate.

"Good afternoon," he said, his voice slightly nervous. "I’m Lyan, a friend of your daughter."

Maren looked him up and down calmly, evaluating him without hurry. Then she smiled more warmly.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lyan. Please, have a seat and join me for tea," she said, making a subtle gesture with her hand, and one of the maids immediately reacted, approaching with silent steps.

Evelyne pointed to the chair one seat away from her mother.

"You sit here," she indicated to Lyan.

He didn’t say anything, just obeyed and sat down. As soon as he did, two maids approached and served him a steaming cup of tea with precision and elegance.

Across from him, Evelyne also sat down, carefully resting her injured ankle.

"Thank you," Lyan murmured to the maids, who responded with a small bow before returning to their positions.

The silence that followed was uncomfortable for Lyan, who stared at the cup of tea without knowing what to say, aware that both Maren and Evelyne were watching him.

After a few long seconds, Maren spoke in a casual yet direct tone.

"So he’s your boyfriend, daughter..."

"Excuse me?" Lyan blurted out immediately, incredulous, almost choking on his own saliva.

The lady glanced at him before taking a sip of tea with complete calm.

"Mother..." Evelyne said like an embarrassed maiden, lowering her gaze and blushing slightly.

"I only said I thought he was cute..." Evelyne added, covering her face with both hands in an exaggeratedly shy gesture.

"Really? The way he carried you like a princess, daughter, I thought you already were. Or is he one of those who can’t make up his mind?" Maren replied with an amused smile, looking back and forth between her daughter and Lyan.

The conversation between mother and daughter left Lyan in a completely uncomfortable and blank state. He didn’t know where to put himself. Even the maids standing by the walls seemed moved by their young lady’s "embarrassment," exchanging subtle glances.

"I just hurt my ankle, Mother, and Lyan was kind enough to bring me home. Without him, I don’t know what would’ve become of me," Evelyne said exaggeratedly, with a sweet and vulnerable voice.

Though Lyan thought otherwise...

’Yeah, you were the one who forced me...’

"Anyway," the mother said, now looking at him directly with a grateful smile. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Lyan. I truly appreciate you going out of your way."

Then, with a nostalgic tone, Maren continued:

"When I lost my husband... keeping the family business running and taking care of Evelyne alone seemed impossible. Those were difficult days. But seeing the good friend she has now, I don’t have to worry so much anymore."

Suddenly, Maren’s expression changed. Her gaze became just as cold and heavy as the one Evelyne had directed at him in the infirmary.

"Or perhaps... is there another woman in your heart?"

Lyan swallowed hard. The air suddenly turned heavy. He quickly shook his head.

"Of course not..." he murmured, glancing at Evelyne. "Your daughter gets along very well with me, and she is... a beautiful girl."

"Oh, Lyan... not in front of my mother," Evelyne said, blushing, looking away shyly.

Lyan could only look at her, letting out a nervous laugh as he felt cold sweat run down his back.

At that exact moment, a loud thunderclap echoed outside the mansion, making Lyan instinctively look up at the ceiling.

"Seems like it’s started," Maren commented, finishing her tea elegantly. "It was announced earlier that it would rain all night."

Evelyne took advantage of the moment, looking at Lyan with a mischievous gaze that only he could catch.

"Do you want to spend the night here?"