روايات بقلم livingfaith237

Elara wakes before dawn. Kieran's arm is draped across her waist. His breathing is deep and even. She lies still, watching the first light creep through the curtains. Everything feels different this morning. Changed.Last night was not just physical. It was something deeper. Something that terrified and thrilled her at the same time.She carefully slides out of bed without waking Kieran. She finds his shirt from yesterday and pulls it on. She walks to the window and looks out at the estate grounds. The world is quiet. Peaceful. For a moment she can almost forget about Lucas and Alice and revenge."You're awake early," Kieran's voice comes from behind her.Elara turns. He is sitting up in bed, bare-chested, his dark hair messy from sleep. He looks younger like this. Less dangerous. Almost vulnerable."I couldn't sleep," she says."Come back to bed," he says. It is not a command. It is an invitation.Elara walks back to the bed and climbs in beside him. Kieran pulls her close. She rests

Elara sits across from Julian Cross in the corner booth of Rosemary's cafe. He looks tired. There are dark circles under his eyes. His usually neat hair is slightly messy. Lucas's arrest has clearly taken a toll on him."Thank you for meeting me," Julian says. He pushes one of the coffee cups toward her. "I wasn't sure you would come.""You said it was about Ethan," Elara says. "I'll always come when it's about him."Julian nods slowly. He studies her face like he's trying to figure something out. "Lucas called me from jail. He wants me to file for custody of Ethan. He says I'm the only family member he trusts."Elara's heart sinks but she keeps her expression neutral. "And what do you want?""I want what's best for Ethan," Julian says simply. "That's all I've ever wanted. Lucas and I may be brothers but we're very different people. I don't agree with the things he's done. I never have.""Do you believe he killed Rachel?" Elara asks carefully.Julian is quiet for a moment. Then he nod

Elara wakes before dawn. Kieran's arm is draped across her waist. His breathing is deep and even. She lies still, watching the first light creep through the curtains. Everything feels different this morning. Changed.Last night was not just physical. It was something deeper. Something that terrified and thrilled her at the same time.She carefully slides out of bed without waking Kieran. She finds his shirt from yesterday and pulls it on. She walks to the window and looks out at the estate grounds. The world is quiet. Peaceful. For a moment she can almost forget about Lucas and Alice and revenge."You're awake early," Kieran's voice comes from behind her.Elara turns. He is sitting up in bed, bare-chested, his dark hair messy from sleep. He looks younger like this. Less dangerous. Almost vulnerable."I couldn't sleep," she says."Come back to bed," he says. It is not a command. It is an invitation.Elara walks back to the bed and climbs in beside him. Kieran pulls her close. She rests

Three days before the cancelled wedding, Elara wakes up in Kieran's bed. Sunlight streams through the heavy curtains of his bedroom. She is alone. The sheets beside her are cold. Kieran left hours ago.She sits up and looks around the room. She has been here before but never really paid attention to the details. The furniture is dark wood and expensive. The walls are covered in abstract art. There are no personal photos. No mementos. Nothing that reveals who Kieran really is underneath the cold exterior.Elara gets out of bed and wraps herself in one of Kieran's shirts. It falls to mid-thigh on her. She walks to the window and looks out over the estate grounds. Gardens stretch out below. Security guards patrol the perimeter. This place is a fortress. Beautiful but dangerous.Her phone buzzes on the nightstand. Multiple missed calls from Lucas's lawyer. Several texts from Patricia the wedding planner asking what to do about the cancelled wedding. One text from Diana asking if she is ok

The wedding is two weeks away. Elara can barely believe it is happening. She is going to marry Lucas Hart. Again. The man who murdered her. The man who stole her son. The man who destroyed her life.She stands in her apartment surrounded by wedding magazines and fabric swatches. Diana sits beside her on the couch making notes on a tablet. The wedding planner, a cheerful woman named Patricia, sits across from them showing photos of flower arrangements."The white roses are classic," Patricia says. "But we could do something more dramatic. Red roses perhaps? Or orchids?""White roses are fine," Elara says. Her voice sounds hollow even to her own ears.Diana glances at her with concern. Patricia doesn't notice. She is too busy scrolling through photos on her tablet."And for the reception dinner, the chef suggests either salmon or filet mignon as the main course. We could also do a vegetarian option for guests with dietary restrictions.""Whatever you think is best," Elara says."The bri

Alice shows up at Elara's apartment at almost midnight. Elara hears the pounding on her door and checks the security camera. Alice stands in the hallway swaying slightly, mascara streaked down her face. Her hair is messy. Her expensive dress is wrinkled. She looks nothing like the polished woman who murdered Rachel Hart.Elara hesitates. This could be dangerous. Alice could be here to hurt her. But she sees an opportunity. Alice is vulnerable right now. Broken. This might be the moment Elara has been waiting for. She opens the door but keeps the chain lock engaged."What do you want?" Elara asks coldly."Please," Alice slurs. Her breath smells like wine. "I need to talk to someone. I have no one else."Elara considers slamming the door. Calling security. But instead she removes the chain and lets Alice inside. She closes the door behind them. She keeps her phone in her pocket with the recording app ready to activate.Alice stumbles to the couch and collapses onto it. She puts her face