Chapter: Chapter Ninety FourAtlas’ mask finally broke. His hand slipped out of Elara’s before she could stop him, and he leaned forward, his eyes blazing. “WHAT?”Victoria gave him a warning glance, but he ignored it, shifting his gaze to Raphael and Amelia. “You spin that cock-and-bull shit story, and just expect me to take it like that?” “We don't expect you to take anything,” Raphael replied, cool and composed. “And you could have waited till the wedding before you made an objection.”“Atlas-” Victoria started.“She tried to sedate my wife. He tried to have my father put away, just so he could contest for a place on the Steele seat. And now, out of the blue, they're getting married?” “Those are far-fetched accusations,” Raphael snapped, his eyes glaring as well. “ I could sue you for that.” “Oh no.” Atlas’ voice was quiet fire. “You wouldn’t get to the court.” Another round of silence fell on the court. Carter took a hurried sip of his wine. Victoria shot another glance at Atlas, but he was too busy st
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-03
Chapter: Chapter Ninety ThreeThe looks of shock and surprise differed from face to face. Elara stared as Amelia walked down the stairs with Raphael, smiling at all, looking unbothered for all it seemed. “Everyone's just getting married to Harringtons now?” Graham mumbled as they took their seats. Atlas remained still, watching with a blank face. But the corner of his lips quivered when someone else walked into the terrace, a teenager with red hair like Raphael, chewing gum loudly and moving with exaggerated swagger. He sat next to Raphael, winked at Elara, then jerked his chin at Atlas. “What’s up?” he said. “Great, and here's the brat,” Graham mumbled again. “Hey, suck a fat one, old man,” the teenager snapped at him. “That's enough now, Theo,” Raphael said. His voice had a deep, rich timbre, and suddenly, Elara imagined Peter Steele sitting in his place. They must have looked quite alike. Atlas didn't seem to have that thought on his mind. He was shifting his gaze between Raphael and Amelia, waiting
آخر تحديث: 2026-09-01
Chapter: Chapter Ninety TwoThey descended the stairs together, Atlas's hand still steady on her back. The evening light had faded, but the lanterns were so bright, it seemed like daylight. The table had already been set with food, but that wasn't what caught her attention. What did, was the people seated around it. There were seven of them, seated in the lantern light. Two children, both fair-haired, heads bent over their phones and paying the world no attention at all. Beside them, a couple who were unmistakably their parents: the woman blonde, poised, watching Elara with open curiosity; the man with the same pale blue eyes Atlas had, though softer somehow and less sharp. Further down sat a woman with a severe pixie cut and an expression of profound boredom, and beside her, a younger man who looked up the moment Elara appeared and did not stop looking.And the seventh person was Victoria, seated at the head of the table. Atlas bent to press a kiss to his grandmother's cheek before taking his seat at the ot
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-31
Chapter: Chapter Ninety OneClara held up the second dress against the first, weighing them both with a critical eye. “This one,” she said finally, nodding at the deep emerald in her left hand. “The other looks too soft.” Elara sighed, taking the dress. On a normal day, she would be able to make the choices herself. But it wasn't a normal day. It was the day she was supposed to meet with the Steele extended family. She had taken her bath half an hour ago,and was now spending the other half combing through her clothes, trying to find a very good-looking one. Each one was better than the last, and she had to call Clara in to help. “You look…worried, ma'am,” Clara said. “It's just nerves.” She took the dress, then stepped out of her towel to change. By the time she emerged, she'd rehearsed the evening in her head a dozen different ways. Perform calm long enough, she'd learned, and eventually it stopped being a performance at all. Clara helped adjust the dress from behind while she stared
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-31
Chapter: Chapter Ninety“Perfect. Run it by morning.” Logan hung up the call, smiling to himself. The man on the other end, (who had insisted on remaining anonymous) was the one behind two of the gossip blogs targeting Elara. And he had promised another post by morning, as per Logan's instructions. Something sharper this time. He turned, still smiling faintly to himself, and found Marielle standing in the doorway.She was staring, but not at him. Her eyes were on the wall behind their bed, the wall he'd slowly turned into a shrine of photographs. They were pinned edge to edge, most of them printed off social media pages.And they were all of Elara Harrington; a picture of her at the annual charity dinner, a picture of her stepping out of a car, a picture of her laughing at something Atlas Steele had said, his hand low on her back. All of it circling one photo at the center, the oldest one he had. It was the only picture he had that still resembled Lucia, the way she used to look. “What the hell is all
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-31
Chapter: Chapter Eighty NineAtlas returned to the ballroom sooner than she expected, his expression unreadable in the low light. “Everything alright?” Elara asked from her spot at the piano, watching him cross the room. He blinked at her, then dropped onto the bench beside her, close enough that his shoulder brushed hers. Her brows dropped into a concerned frown. “That was my grandmother on the phone.” He gave her a tentative look. “There's a family dinner in a couple of days.” “Oh, great,” Elara said. “Why's it such a big deal? It's been a while since I've seen her, it would be great to see her again.” Atlas gave her a grim smile. “It's a dinner for the entire Steele family.” Elara blinked. “What do you mean…the entire Steele family? As in…there are more of you?” “A whole tree of us. Unfortunately.” “You never mentioned that you had other family members.” She sat up straighter, something cold and sharp threading through her chest. “You never mentioned we were even supposed to meet any of them. I thou
آخر تحديث: 2026-08-31
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