Chapter 50The door swung open before they could even knock, and there was her mother, Carol Wynn, her face lighting up with a warmth so genuine and radiant it felt like a physical blow. It was terrifying."Elara! You're here!" Carol cried, pulling her into a hug that smelled of lavender and home-cooked pot roast. It was so real, so full of unconditional love, that it made Elara's carefully constructed armor feel brittle and cheap. "And Rowan! Welcome, welcome. It's so wonderful to have you here in our home."She pulled back and held Elara at arm's length, her eyes scanning her face with a mother's knowing gaze. There was a new depth to her expression now, a softness that hadn't been there before their first dinner at the estate. She was no longer just welcoming a guest; she was welcoming the man who had supposedly captured her daughter's heart, and she was treating him like family."You look wonderful, sweetheart. Truly glowing," Carol said, her eyes flicking to Rowan, the warmth in
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