Chapter twenty four

Elara POV

Elara woke before dawn, heart already racing, as if it had been running all night without her permission. The house felt different. Not quieter. Heavier. Like the walls knew something she didn’t and were waiting for her to catch up.

She stayed still, one hand resting over her stomach, breathing slow. Two days. Dante had been back for two days, and Alicia had not left his side.

Elara slid out of bed and dressed quickly, choosing soft clothes that hid her changing body. She avoided mirrors now. They reminded her of things she wasn’t ready to claim. She moved through the hallway carefully, listening.

Voices drifted from the study.

Alicia’s voice was low, intimate. Too intimate.

“I’ll bring your medication myself,” Alicia said. “You shouldn’t be moving yet.”

“I’m fine,” Dante replied. His tone was calm, controlled, but weaker than before. “You don’t need to hover.”

Elara stopped. Her chest tightened. She hated herself for listening, but she couldn’t move.

“You almost died,” Alicia said. “Let me do this.”

A pause.

“Fine,” Dante said.

Elara backed away quietly. She didn’t want to be seen. Not today. Not ever, if she could help it.

In the kitchen, Luca was already there, speaking softly into his phone. When he saw her, he ended the call.

“Good morning,” he said gently.

“Morning,” Elara replied, forcing a smile.

“You should eat,” Luca said. “Doctor’s orders.”

She nodded and poured herself water instead. Her appetite had vanished the moment she heard Alicia’s voice.

Alicia entered the kitchen like she owned it, dressed elegantly, hair perfect, eyes sharp. She barely looked at Elara.

“Elara,” she said, flat. “You look tired.”

“I’m fine,” Elara answered.

Alicia smiled, thin and cold. “Of course you are.”

Dante appeared behind her, leaning slightly on a cane. Elara’s breath caught despite herself. He looked thinner. Paler. Still dangerous. Still him.

Their eyes met for a second. Something flickered there. Concern. Relief. Then it vanished.

“Elara,” Dante said. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” she said quickly.

“Good,” Alicia cut in. “She’s strong.”

Dante glanced at Alicia, then back to Elara. “If you need anything, tell Luca.”

Elara nodded.

Alicia placed her hand on Dante’s arm. Possessive. Deliberate. “Come,” she said. “You need to rest.”

They left together.

Elara’s hands shook as she set her glass down. Luca watched her carefully.

“You don’t have to hide,” he said.

“I’m not,” Elara lied.

Luca sighed. “Alicia won’t be here forever.”

“She’s his fiancée,” Elara said quietly.

“Yes,” Luca replied. “But you’re carrying his child.”

The words landed hard.

“I don’t want trouble,” Elara said. “I’ll stay out of the way.”

Trouble found her anyway.

That afternoon, Alicia appeared in the doorway of Elara’s room without knocking.

“Elara,” she said sweetly. “We need to talk.”

Elara stood slowly. “About what?”

Alicia closed the door behind her. “About boundaries.”

Elara’s pulse spiked. “I’m staying in my lane.”

Alicia laughed softly. “You think that’s enough?”

“I’m not competing with you,” Elara said.

Alicia stepped closer. “You don’t get to decide that.”

Elara backed up until the bed hit her legs. “Please.”

“Don’t play innocent,” Alicia snapped. “You poisoned him. You sent him away. You think I don’t see what you’re doing?”

“I saved his life,” Elara said, voice shaking.

Alicia’s eyes darkened. “You made yourself important.”

She shoved Elara lightly, but it was enough. Elara stumbled, grabbing the bed to keep from falling. Pain flared in her back.

“Stop,” a voice said sharply.

Luca stood in the doorway, face hard.

“That’s enough,” he said.

Alicia turned, furious. “This is none of your business.”

“It is when you put her at risk,” Luca replied.

Alicia straightened, smoothing her dress. “I was just talking.”

“Do it elsewhere,” Luca said.

Alicia’s gaze slid back to Elara. “This isn’t over.”

She left.

Elara sank onto the bed, shaking.

That night, Elara lay awake, listening to footsteps, whispers, doors opening and closing. She felt watched. Measured.

She pressed her hand to her stomach again. “I’ll protect you,” she whispered.

Somewhere down the hall, Dante coughed.

Elara closed her eyes, knowing peace wouldn’t last.

The next morning began with tension already coiled tight inside her chest.

Elara moved slowly, carefully, as if sudden movements might shatter whatever fragile balance existed in the house. She avoided the main staircase and took the servants’ corridor instead, keeping her head down.

She heard Alicia before she saw her.

“You’re not taking that yet,” Alicia said sharply. “The doctor said”

“The doctor said I could walk,” Dante replied. “I’m not an invalid.”

“You’re acting like one,” Alicia snapped.

Elara paused behind the corner, her stomach twisting. She shouldn’t listen. She always listened.

“I won’t be spoken to like this,” Dante said quietly.

Silence followed. Dangerous silence.

Alicia softened instantly. “I’m just scared,” she said. “I almost lost you.”

“I know,” Dante replied.

Elara stepped away, heart hammering. She didn’t belong in these moments.

Later, she sat in the garden with Luca nearby, the sun warm against her skin. For a brief moment, she felt almost normal.

Until Alicia appeared again.

“Elara,” she said. “Dante asked for you.”

Elara froze. “He did?”

“Yes,” Alicia replied smoothly. “He’s resting. You should be quick.”

Luca stood. “I’ll walk her.”

Alicia’s smile tightened. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It will,” Luca said.

They walked in silence. At the door, Alicia stopped Elara with a hand on her arm.

“You should remember your place,” Alicia whispered. “This house isn’t yours.”

Elara met her gaze, fear sharp but controlled. “I know.”

Inside, Dante was seated, reviewing papers. He looked up.

“Elara,” he said. “Sit.”

She did.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you?” he pressed.

She hesitated, then nodded.

Alicia lingered by the door.

“Leave us,” Dante said calmly.

Alicia stiffened. “Dante”

“Please,” he said.

She left.

Dante studied Elara carefully. “If anything happens, you tell Luca. Or me.”

“Yes, sir.”

His jaw tightened. “You don’t need to call me that.”

She blinked. “Okay.”

Their eyes held. Something unspoken passed between them.

A crash echoed down the hall.

They both turned.

“Stay here,” Dante said, rising too fast.

Elara stood anyway, fear blooming.

Another crash. Shouting.

Luca’s voice. Guards moving.

Dante grabbed his cane and moved toward the door.

“Dante,” Elara said, reaching for him without thinking.

He stilled.

Their hands touched.

“Stay back,” he said softly.

She nodded.

The noise stopped abruptly.

Luca appeared. “It’s handled.”

“What happened?” Dante asked.

“Nothing serious,” Luca replied. “But we should increase security.”

Dante nodded.

Elara’s heart pounded. Something was coming. She could feel it.

That night, she packed a small bag without knowing why.

Outside her door, footsteps paused.

The handle turned.

Elara held her breath.

The door opened.

And Alicia stepped inside, eyes burning.

“You think you’re safe?” Alicia asked quietly.

Elara backed away.

The door clicked shut behind Alicia.

And the lights went out.

Darkness swallowed the room, thick and sudden. Elara’s breath hitched as her heart slammed against her ribs. She reached for the lamp, but Alicia caught her wrist.

“Don’t,” Alicia whispered. “I want you to listen.”

Elara pulled back, fear sharp enough to taste. “Please,” she said again, hating how small her voice sounded.

Alicia laughed softly. “You always say that. Please. Like it changes anything.”

Elara steadied herself, forcing air into her lungs. “I don’t want problems.”

“You are the problem,” Alicia replied. “You walked in and everything shifted.”

“I didn’t choose this,” Elara said.

“No,” Alicia agreed. “But you’re enjoying it.”

“That’s not true.”

Alicia leaned closer, her perfume overwhelming. “You think because you’re carrying his child, you matter more than me.”

Elara shook her head. “I just want peace.”

Alicia’s grip tightened briefly, then released. “Peace doesn’t belong to women like us.”

Footsteps sounded outside.

Alicia stepped back quickly, smoothing her dress. “Remember,” she murmured, “accidents happen.”

The door opened. Light flooded in.

Luca stood there, eyes sharp.

“Alicia,” he said. “Dante is asking for you.”

Alicia smiled sweetly and walked past him.

Elara sagged against the wall, shaking.

From down the hall, Dante’s voice echoed, calm but commanding.

“Elara?”

She swallowed hard.

“Yes,” she answered.

And knew nothing would ever be the same.

Elara stood frozen for a moment longer, counting her breaths until the room stopped spinning.

Her hands trembled as she adjusted the pillow behind her back, pain dull but present. She wondered how many warnings she could survive before one became real.

Outside, voices overlapped again, tense and hurried. Guards moved. Doors closed.

Orders were given in low tones. The house was waking up to danger, even if no one said the word out loud.

Elara straightened, wiping her face. She would not cry. Not now.

She stepped into the hallway slowly, heart pounding, moving toward a future she could no longer pretend was simple.

Somewhere deep inside her, a quiet certainty settled. Whatever Alicia planned next would not stop.

And Elara would have to decide how far she was willing to go to protect her child. And herself too. Always.