Mag-log inElara "But I’ve been carrying it by myself." I said, my voice still. The words sat heavily in the room after I said them. “For four years, I built Roman's company, solved Roman's problems, and smiled while other people thanked him for my work. The moment I finally walked away, everyone decided I needed saving. But trust me, I don't need another man telling me what to do."Levi was quiet for a moment. Then his voice dropped. "I’m sorry you had to go through all that. But I'm not Roman."Mira looked at the floor. I swallowed hard. "No. You're not."He took a slow breath. "Fine. Then take a loan.""A loan?""Yes. Not too much. Just enough for a secure apartment. You can pay me back whenever.""With interest?" I asked, leaning forward."No.""Then it isn't a loan." I scoffed. He smiled slightly. "Elara.""I'm serious Levi. I just walked out of a marriage where money was the leash. I don't want to sit across a table from you one day and wonder what you think I owe you.""You wouldn't."
ElaraI left my mother's apartment with one bag. Not because I didn't own anything else, but because after everything I’d been through this week, I didn't care about anything else anymore.The police had finished an hour ago. They took photographs, asked their questions, and promised to call if they found any useful information.I didn't believe they would. Whoever came into that apartment got in without touching the front door, they didn’t take anything, they turned the whole place upside down and they left one photograph on the table with words on the back.Stay away from him.I still didn't know what those words were. A warning, or a threat.Mira carried a small bag over her shoulder. I carried my laptop against my chest, because years of work sat inside it and I couldn't make myself leave it behind. "Is that really all you want?" she asked as we stepped outside.I looked back at the building. My bedroom window. The curtains I had hung up two days ago, when I still thought I was
ElaraI tried my best to maintain a steady breathing. I just left Roman with nothing. I didn’t know what I’d do if there was something else wrong with mom. Especially now that we were very low on cash. "Nothing serious." He sighed when I kept looking at him. "I know that her health has been getting worse."I glanced across the room. Mira was talking to the woman in the gold dress, hands moving, laughing at something. "She's fine.""She wants you to believe that. She shouldn't be working this hard. I've been thinking about letting her go."My chest tightened. "What are you saying? You're firing my mother?""No. I'm trying to protect her.""By taking away her job?" I folded my arms. "You don't get to decide what happens to her.""I know." His voice dropped. "I also don't want her collapsing at work."My anger stumbled. "She's been sick?"He hesitated, and the hesitation answered me. "She had trouble breathing at work last week.""And nobody told me.""She asked them not to. Because yo
ElaraI should’ve known the evening wouldn't stay peaceful. The moment I finally relaxed around Levi, the past walked through the door.I smelled Roman before I saw him. His heavy cologne reached me from across the gallery. For one second, I hated myself for still knowing it so well. Then I looked up.Roman Blackwood stood near the entrance with Veena wrapped around his arm. Her fingers rested on his chest like she was holding her place in a line. But Roman wasn't looking at her. He was looking at me.My smile died. Neither of us moved. His eyes traveled over the black dress, my hair, my face, and then landed on Levi, and something dark crossed his expression."Everything okay?" Levi asked."Yes," I said, my voice coming out too tight.He followed my eyes across the room, and I watched him work it out. "Roman Blackwood." He turned back to me. "Is your husband.""Ex-husband."He didn't answer that. He stopped a passing server, took a glass of champagne for himself and a sealed bottl
ElaraIt had been four days since I found out someone had been poisoning me, and I decided I couldn't spend another minute waiting for my life to fall apart. Fear was exhausting. I had cried over Roman, stared at my stomach and prayed to the goddess that my babies would survive, and gone through every meal of the last year in my head trying to work out who did this to me. Now I needed something else. Something I could control.So I worked.My laptop sat on the small dining table in Mom's apartment, surrounded by papers, my notebook, and the breakfast I cooked for myself this morning. I didn't trust anyone else with my food anymore. My fingers stopped above the keyboard when I heard how that sounded inside my own head, and then I kept typing anyway. I wouldn't let whoever did this take my life from me before they even succeeded.I opened the file. LUNE.For four years, I built other people's dreams. Roman's company, Roman's reputation, Roman's empire. I had the ideas. I created s
ElaraI barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Roman, then Veena, then the stranger outside the grocery store. And under all of it, Naomi's message kept repeating in my head. Come tomorrow. Please.By morning, the worry had grown into something I couldn't ignore. I got dressed quietly and left before Mira woke up.The hospital was already busy when I arrived. Doctors moved through the halls with tired faces, nurses pushed carts past me, and somewhere down the corridor, a baby started crying. The sound stopped me in the middle of the hallway. My hand went to my stomach before I could even think about it.My babies.A fragile smile almost reached my mouth. Then I remembered why I was here. Naomi was waiting outside her father's office. The moment she saw me, she straightened up, and that alone made my stomach drop."What happened?" I asked."Come inside first." She took my hand and pulled me through the door before I could argue, then closed it firmly behind us."Is somethin







