**Chapter 12: Familial Expectations**

 第十二章:家庭期望Ellie believed she had a myriad of emotions to navigate and reflect upon following her enchanting day spent meandering through the streets of New York with Lucas. However, this did not precisely capture the essence of her feelings. There was an uncharacteristically tender side to him that he had never revealed before, and a part of her was eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of his humanity. It was evident to her that the dynamics of their relationship were profoundly complicated, with a structure that was both apparent and resolute. 埃莉觉得在与卢卡斯一起漫步纽约街头度过那迷人的一天之后,她有无数的情感需要梳理和思考.然而,这并不能完全概括她内心的感受.他身上展现出了一种前所未有的温柔,这让她的一部分内心渴望更深入地探究他人性的复杂之处.她清楚地意识到,他们之间的关系错综复杂,有着既明显又坚定的格局.Upon returning to work the following week, Ellie was imbued with a newfound motivation that had eluded her the previous week. There and then, she resolved to make a significant impression on Lucas, as well as on everyone else who constituted the senior team at Hunter Fashion Group. 一周后回到工作岗位时,艾莉身上焕发出一种前一周未曾有过的崭新动力.就在那时,她下定决心要在卢卡斯以及亨特时尚集团的其他高层领导面前留下深刻的印象.The workplace atmosphere remained exceedingly strained, and the ongoing disputes were conspicuously apparent to both Ellie and Lucas, complicating matters further. 工作场所的气氛依旧异常紧张,持续不断的争执对埃莉和卢卡斯来说都显而易见,这使得情况愈发复杂."Miss White," came the familiar voice of Clara as Ellie diligently attempted to organise Lucas's agenda for the day. Clara approached the desk and conveyed further information regarding the work agenda. "怀特小姐,"克拉拉那熟悉的声音传来,此时埃莉正努力为卢卡斯安排当天的日程.克拉拉走到桌前,又传达了有关工作日程的更多信息."Mr Hunter wishes to see you in his office." 亨特先生希望您去他的办公室见他.Clara discerned that her words took Ellie by surprise, and with a smile that varied in nuance, she walked into the office, expecting Lucas to already be present there. Ellie was taken aback to observe the stormy expression on his face. "Sit down, Miss White," he instructed, appearing agitated by something while also clearly unsettled by her presence. "Okay," was Ellie's terse response. She steeled herself to engage with the frosty individual seated before her, settling into the chair while he remained with his arms rested at his sides.

"My family has not been supportive regarding our… arrangement." 

Ellie felt a tight knot form in her stomach, yet she compelled herself to remain composed. "What do you mean?" 

"They have received the rumours with discontent," he stated coldly. "Given your reputation, it is unsurprising, and they believe I should terminate our agreement." 

Ellie's heart plummeted, yet she realised she had no alternate course of action. "I understand, Mr Hunter. I shall accept and respect your decision if it is deemed best to discontinue our arrangement." 

For a fleeting moment, he scrutinised her, and through his impassive façade, she sensed he was engrossed in contemplation. "I do not wish to end it." 

Ellie blinked, taken aback. "What would you like to do?" 

He leaned in, regarding her with an intensity that was almost palpable. "We are not altering anything. We merely need to be significantly more judicious in how we conduct ourselves. My family is observing us, and there is no latitude for further missteps." 

Ellie nodded in agreement. "Of course, Mr Hunter. You can rely on me to undertake the seemingly impossible." 

With a curt nod, he gestured dismissively, indicating their conversation was at an end. 

As Ellie made her way out of his office, she felt an overwhelming swell of anger gradually transitioning into frustration. 

She had exerted every effort within her capacity to validate her worth, and it now felt as though she was being regarded as a potential liability. 

Ellie had never permitted external opinions to dictate her feelings; she consistently ensured that she rose above any confrontations she encountered. Before she departed, Lucas summoned Ellie back to his office to express his views on how adeptly she managed the pressure. To her astonishment, he opted to commend her. Ellie had confronted the challenges associated with familial expectations and was poised for the subsequent steps. She was resolute in her conviction that she would never be weak enough to allow external factors to diminish her spirit, which is precisely why she deemed herself more than adequately prepared to navigate the complexities of Lucas's family dynamics.