CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: LACHLAN WYATT, LACHLAN WYATT, IRIS CRAWFORD RAN AWAY!

Beauty lenses?

Iris Crawford felt as if her entire worldview had collapsed. She looked at Lachlan Wyatt’s face, covering her mouth in disbelief.

Lachlan Wyatt’s eyes were two different colors.

One black and one blue, as if the filth and purity in his soul were split into two halves.

They had slept together so many times. How did she never know about Lachlan Wyatt’s eyes?

Thinking carefully, Iris realized it was always her who fell asleep first, so naturally, she didn’t know if Lachlan took out his beauty lenses after she slept.

Taking a deep breath, now Iris and Dante had the exact same expression, both stunned by Lachlan to the point of being frozen. Until Raymond called out, "When did you return, Your Highness the Second Prince? Why didn’t you inform us so we could welcome you?"

Lachlan fiddled with his beauty lenses for a long time but couldn’t find them, so he gave up.

He didn’t even need glasses; he just used black contact lenses to cover up the heterochromia in one of his eyes.

So Lachlan fully let himself go, ruffling his hair with a hint of recklessness, "Why should I tell you when I return? I’m your leader, okay? Remember, you report to me, not the other way around. Got it?"

Raymond was left speechless by his retort, and Dante, standing outside, furrowed his brow, "Even if you’ve returned, you should be in your own place. Why are you here? This is the guest room."

"Oh." Lachlan agreed obediently as he put on his shirt and got out of bed, nonchalantly speaking things that sounded quite perverse, "I missed her, so I came."

Dante took a step back. Was Lachlan implying that he had something with Iris Crawford?

Dante turned to look at Iris, only to see her shaking her head like a drum snare, "No, we’re not close."

Not close, yet he still came.

In front of everyone, Lachlan was almost amused by Iris. With a button still undone on his neck, he couldn’t be bothered to fix it. He simply walked forward to confront Iris, "You call what we have not close?"

"Stay away from her!"

Lachlan’s hand hadn’t even touched Iris’s face when Dante stepped forward directly from the door!

He knocked Lachlan’s hand away and shielded Iris behind him.

This action made Lachlan’s pupils shrink.

"She said it’s not close, so it’s not. In this world, no one can go against a woman’s will. Stay away from her." Dante frowned, "Why didn’t you visit our father and grandmother when you returned, Little Brother?"

Lachlan’s hand hovered in the air for a few seconds before he withdrew it, looking at Iris who was hidden behind Dante without making a sound, his eyes darkening.

"I’ll take you now. If the old lady knows you’ve returned, she’ll surely be delighted." To ease the tension, Raymond stepped forward and bowed to Lachlan. Having reached this point, Lachlan could only let out a cold laugh and turned his head, leaving under Raymond’s guidance. As he left, he gave Iris a deep look.

The two exchanged silent glances, yet it seemed they had sparred numerous times.

All the guards withdrew, and Raymond escorted Lachlan away, leaving the bedroom suddenly empty and awfully quiet. Iris sat on the bed in a daze.

This was the most shocking thing upon her return after two years. She never imagined that Lachlan’s identity would be this powerful.

She had only known that Lachlan’s family was wealthy, and while the arrogance of the rich was no surprise, she didn’t expect him to be such a high-standing person.

Then why did he abandon that identity, specifically return to the country, turn into a company president incomparable to before, and play a constant game of cat and mouse with her?

Iris couldn’t understand; her temples throbbed slightly. She looked at Dante, "Has Lachlan always been your Second Prince?"

"To be precise, he was granted the status of a Prince after he became an adult." Dante stood straight at Iris’s side, displaying all the demeanor of a First Prince. He squinted his eyes, "His mother was once the Empress’s favorite youngest daughter, a glamorous princess. She challenged The Royal Family due to her unwillingness to accept an arranged marriage, willingly giving up her royal status. After that, she was sent away and a decree was issued forbidding The Royal Family from mentioning this princess again."

This essentially erased her existence.

Upon hearing this, Iris was immediately filled with respect. To pursue love and freedom to such an extent, Lachlan’s mother must have been an amazing person, right?

Yet Dante continued, "However, it was nothing more than a pipe dream."

The expression of admiration on Iris’s face changed instantly.

"Lachlan’s mother, while still a princess, fell in love with a man notorious for his dalliances—a selfish man. The relationship was intense at first, but unbeknownst to her, the man was already married, turning the princess into a mistress, and the son she bore a bastard. This illegitimate son is Lachlan."

When Dante spoke, he used an outsider’s tone, as if what Lachlan had experienced had nothing to do with him, "The princess gave up everything for the man she loved, yet in the end, she was abandoned by that same man. Deeply affected, she couldn’t cope with such a shock, and she’s now in a hospital for treatment, having once developed a mental condition. As for Lachlan, he was acknowledged because the Empress dearly loved the former princess, and although she was upset at the defiance of The Royal Family, Lachlan was, after all, the child of the once-beloved little princess. The Royal blood shouldn’t be left outside without reason."

"So, when Lachlan came of age, you brought him back and granted him the identity of the Second Prince, is that correct?" Iris followed Dante’s words to finish the story, and Dante nodded, "That’s right, although even after being acknowledged, Lachlan hasn’t had much interaction with The Royal Family. He clearly stated early on that he had no intention of competing for a position within The Royal Family."

So, Lachlan has Royal blood after all.

His facial features were indeed deep-set, with a high nose bridge that was prominent but not overpowering. His skeletal structure was delicate, his skin was exceptionally superior, and he could withstand scrutiny from any angle. Initially, his eye color never led her to consider whether he had foreign ancestry, but now that it’s been revealed, Iris increasingly felt that Lachlan’s style was somewhat complex and defiant.

"But Raymond’s attitude towards him seems okay. Is there no open or secret conflict between you?" Thinking of this, Iris murmured, "Lachlan has withdrawn from the Royal contention?"

"Yes."

Iris remained silent for a while.

For someone as profit-driven as Lachlan to give up competing for the throne was surprising to her.

"However, as far as I know, Lachlan also seems to have a poor relationship with his father." Seeing Iris silent, Dante assumed she was pondering the truth of his words and added, "That’s how it is for bastards, despised wherever they go."

Despised...

His mother’s failed love and a marriage she never had; what had Lachlan, born in such a setting, gone through?

Iris didn’t want to think about it, nor was there any room for imagination.

A person’s impression of another is limited by their own imagination. Therefore, Iris, who hadn’t experienced these things, who had at least come from a happy, harmonious family, simply couldn’t comprehend the shape of Lachlan’s soul now.

Dante reached out, recalling that moment earlier when Lachlan also extended his hand towards her, only to be intercepted halfway by him. What had Lachlan intended to do then?

To touch her?

Almost instinctively, he also reached out, unconsciously grabbing a strand of Iris’s hair.

Iris instinctively turned her face slightly, "Your Highness the First Prince, please have some decorum."

"What did you and my brother do last night?"

Dante was far from being decorous; instead, he took a step forward, "Found in bed, what is exactly your relationship with each other?"

Iris, being questioned so bluntly by Dante, replied, "Are you conducting a household survey?"

"I need to know."

"You don’t need to."

"You are about to become my fiancée; I believe I should know something about you."

"Indeed." Iris Crawford sneered, "But even if I’m going to marry you in the next second, my past has nothing to do with you."

Her words made Dante’s face change.

"You only need to know who I am now. As for what happened between Lachlan Wyatt and me in the past, what kind of relationship we had..."

Standing up and looking Dante in the face, she spoke each word with a hint of mockery, "It has nothing, at all, to do with you, Mr. Fiancé."

Dante had been retorted by Iris more than once, and now he finally lost his patience, "What do you mean?"

"You can’t take responsibility for my past, so why do you ask about it?" Iris rudely said, "Mind your own business. By the way, where’s breakfast being served? Does The Royal Palace have a hotel-like buffet breakfast?"

"..." Is food all you think about, woman!

******

At nine in the morning, in the prestigious Royal Palace of The Kingdom of L, such a shocking scene unfolded.

A woman boldly appeared in the royal hall, wearing loose sportswear, tall and slender, with a man resembling a steward following behind, saying with his head lowered, "We are abroad, do you really have to eat snail noodles?"

Iris muttered under her breath, "I just want snail noodles... Steven Rhodes, go make them for me."

Awoken, Steven helplessly scratched his head, "Dante said he sent someone to find out about the raw materials for snail noodles for you, but it can’t be done immediately."

"Sigh!" Iris glanced at the expensive tiles under her feet, "The conditions are poor, can’t even get snail noodles, and they dare call themselves The Royal Family."

Frightened, Steven reached out to cover Iris’s mouth, "My lady! Don’t say that, this isn’t your home, what if you get accused of something..."

Iris looked at the high ceiling, murmuring, "Maybe it will be my home soon."

What if I can’t eat snail noodles in the future?

Steven was puzzled by Iris’s tone; he didn’t know what happened last night since he wasn’t taken along when things got out of hand, so naturally, he didn’t know about Iris and Dante’s agreement.

To ensure Skye Lockwood and Cynthia’s safety and freedom, Iris could only agree to Dante for now. Besides...

Iris smiled bitterly at Steven, "You think marrying into The Royal Family means a lifetime of endless luxury?"

Steven felt that Iris’s smile was heart-wrenching. What happened? This woman, who was always powerful like a queen, how come... her eyes were like fragments of stars becoming dust?

"I don’t know, it should be very happy, right."

Steven said purely, "Iris, you don’t want to be a Princess, right?"

"I’m a Queen." Iris tapped Steven’s forehead, "Princess? I’d like to see which member of The Royal Family dares to marry me, we’ll change the dynasty to Crawford. All rise!" She even made a gesture to let them rise.

"..." Steven just covered his little heart instead of her mouth, she dared to make such rebellious jokes!

A voice came from behind, "Iris, the noodles are ready."

Iris turned her head and saw Dante standing behind her. She said, "I want snail noodles, did you find them?"

"Mm." Dante said with a sarcastic smile, "Yes, so what, you want me to bow to you?"

"No need." Iris said awkwardly, "You heard just now?" This... accidentally showed off in front of a genuine royal family member.

"I heard, Your Majesty."

Dante stepped forward and grabbed Iris’s hand, sneering, "Before Lachlan Wyatt finishes his visit to the elders, I need to teach you some manners!"

Half an hour later, Iris sat at a luxurious dining table, eating the snail noodles Dante somehow had fetched, then the man waved and handed over a contract.

"This is our marriage contract. As I said, if you replace your sister in marrying here, I’ll let them go."

Standing behind Iris’s chair, Steven finally understood, clutching the chair back and shouting, "What marriage contract?"

"Your steward here seems more anxious than you."

Dante pierced through Steven’s attitude, saying sarcastically, "Think our Royal Family isn’t good enough for Iris?"

Steven’s heart tightened instantly, but he couldn’t express it.

No, I don’t want...

Suddenly, Steven thought of what The First Prince said about waiting for Lachlan Wyatt’s return from visiting the elders, which meant Lachlan Wyatt might be here too?

Not knowing what happened, but if Lachlan Wyatt were present, he must have a way!

Steven clenched his fingers, lowered his head, found an excuse, and consciously left the dining room, "It’s inappropriate for me to listen to this, you two talk, Iris, I’ll be waiting at the door."

Iris nodded, and Steven turned to close the dining room door, leaning against it breathing heavily, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

Find Lachlan Wyatt, right now there’s only one way, find Lachlan Wyatt!

Despite not being on good terms with Lachlan Wyatt, Steven felt, for some reason, that if Lachlan Wyatt were by Iris’s side, they could surely turn things around.

From when did this become an unconscious belief that Lachlan Wyatt was like an immovable mountain...

Steven grabbed a Royal servant, asking in English, "Have you seen a man who arrived with us from our country today? Can you... take me to him?"

Lachlan Wyatt was being led through the garden by Raymond, lazily saying, "How many more elders do I need to see?"

"Your rare return trip." Raymond conscientiously said, "Of course you need to meet everyone; your grandmother misses you, Your Highness the Second Prince."

"Let me have breakfast first. I’ll go see them. Stop watching me like a prisoner." Lachlan Wyatt was uncomfortable with the Royal Family’s rigid rules, being led by Raymond felt stifling.

He was rebellious, unconventional, hated being forced by others, and was about to speak further when footsteps were heard from not far away, "Lachlan Wyatt!"

The person got closer, calling out more forcefully, "Lachlan Wyatt!"

Lachlan Wyatt focused, ha! Isn’t this Steven, that pretty face!

Annoyedly he said, "Calling for souls, are we? I’m here!"

Steven, out of breath, rushed up to Lachlan Wyatt, grabbing his collar, "Quick, go to the dining room and stop Iris!"

Upon hearing Iris’s name, Lachlan Wyatt’s expression finally changed.

His previously indifferent demeanor suddenly sharpened, with a glint in his eyes like a drawn blade, shaking the surrounding air, "What did you say?"

"Iris is about to marry Dante! She signed the contract! Their marriage contract!"

Steven’s urgent voice made Lachlan Wyatt’s pupils contract suddenly.

Are they really going to finalize this marriage contract? With his brother?