As Elara wandered through the mansion, her thoughts swirling with confusion and hurt, she couldn’t help but wonder why Cassia was acting this way. What had changed? Why had the warmth that Cassia had shown in the beginning suddenly turned to ice?
The questions haunted Elara, following her everywhere she went. She had tried to be a good sister, tried to bridge the gap between them, but nothing seemed to work. The more she reached out, the more Cassia pulled away.
It wasn’t long before Elara began to dread the moments when they were alone together. She would tense up whenever Cassia entered the room, bracing herself for the coldness that had become all too familiar. The sharp words, the cutting glances—they were like a thousand tiny knives, each one leaving a small, invisible wound that never quite healed.
In public, though, it was a different story. Cassia continued to play the role of the perfect sister, showering Elara with affection and praise whenever others were around. She would
