Ethan gritted his teeth against the burning pain of his wound, leaning back to steady himself and taking deep breaths. His voice shook slightly as he said, "The matriarch's here because George got hurt, and she's out for blood. But if my injuries are worse than his, what reason does she have to punish me?"
Andrew sighed but stayed silent, knowing that if Ethan's lineage held more prestige than George's, he wouldn't have to go through this with Claire.
"I'm fine, Andrew," Ethan assured him with a smile, then glanced at Ronnie, who was driving. "Hey, Ronnie, stop staring and keep driving. At this rate, my wound will heal before we even get there."
Ronnie managed a small smile, though it was laced with bitterness and helplessness. 'Lineage is indeed a cursed thing.'
Soon, the Rolls-Royce
