The silence in the grand hall was broken only by the sharp, steady tick of the enormous grandfather clock.I stood frozen as Mr. Davies showed in the visitor. My mother.She was elegant, as always, dressed in a tailored coat, but her eyes were tired and lined with worry. She looked at me not with judgment, but with an open, raw fear that instantly reminded me of the worst days after my father died.In her hands, she clutched the old leather-bound box. It was heavy, dark, and smelled faintly of aged paper and cedar—the exact smell of my father's study."Mother," I managed, my voice thin. It had been three years since I had seen her outside of a brief video call.Jasper was instantly beside me. He didn't speak, but his presence was a solid wall of support. He was respectful of my family, but fiercely protective of me.My mother ignored Jasper entirely. Her eyes swept over my dress, my composure, and the wealth of the Blackwood home."Eleanor, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice
Last Updated : 2025-11-28
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