جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

Victor looked at her in the soft darkness of the room. The only light came from a thin gap in the curtains, painting a pale line across the bed. Everything else was quiet. Daniel had fallen asleep hours ago, and the whole house felt still.“Elara… can I hold your hand?”She turned her head on the pillow and looked at him. Her eyes were soft, almost shining in the low light. She nodded once.He reached across the small space between them and took her hand carefully, as if it might break. His fingers closed around hers. She felt the slight tremor in his palm right away.“Why are you shaking?” she asked in a low voice.Victor swallowed. “Because it has been so long since I held your hand like this… when I am sober. The last time I held it was on that drunk night, and I didn’t even take responsibility for anything.”“Shhh.” Elara lifted her free hand and gently placed her fingers over his mouth. “We said we should forget about the past. Remember?”He nodded against her fingers. Then he li

Elara’s breath hitched, her hand remaining over her mouth as her heart fluttered with a joy she had not felt in years.From behind the velvet banner, little footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs. Daniel stepped into view first, looking so sharp and handsome in a tiny tailored suit with a neat black bow tie. He held a small satin cushion in his hands, his face lit up with a proud, beaming smile. Right behind him stepped Victor, looking dashing in a matching black suit that fit his tall frame perfectly.Daniel stood to the side with his chest puffed out, while Victor walked slowly toward Elara. As he stopped right in front of her, the smooth, confident man she knew seemed to vanish, replaced by someone nervous and deeply vulnerable. Victor let out a long breath and dropped down onto one knee."Oh my God, Elara," Victor sighed, letting out a nervous laugh as a soft flush crept up his cheeks. "I am feeling so shy right now, and all the words I prepared just flew out of my mouth. I feel l

By the time they finally stepped out of the bridal shop, all three of them were completely exhausted. Victor had originally tried to get out of trying on his own suit, arguing that he could just be measured and go, but Elara firmly insisted. She made both him and Daniel try on several different styles until they found the absolute right match, taking plenty of fun pictures along the way to document the chaos.Because it had been such a long, draining day, Elara suddenly realized she needed a quick break."I'll be right back, please wait here for me," Elara said, turning to her two boys. "Victor, take him to get a small ice cream over there by the kiosk while I run to the restroom."Daniel’s eyes lit up. "Ice cream? But Mom, you always said I shouldn't take too much—"Elara crossed her arms, raising a knowing eyebrow. "Well, well... just so you know, I am fully aware that your dad has been secretly buying it for you behind my back, thinking I wouldn't find out. So go ahead, continue! A

The early morning sun filtered softly through the bedroom window, painting warm stripes across the floorboards. Elara was the first to wake up, stretching her arms quietly as she slipped out of bed. Walking down the hall to check on the boys, a soft, affectionate smile crossed her face.Victor hadn't slept in the guest room at all. Instead, he had climbed into Daniel’s bed sometime during the night, curled up right beside their son. Incredibly, both father and son were fast asleep in the exact same mirrored position, arms and legs tangled together.Elara sighed, looking at them with deep admiration. But then, a wave of reality struck her. Today was a public holiday. If either of them woke up and saw her lingering around the house, they would immediately beg her to stay behind and spend the day with them. And as much as her heart wanted that, she had a mountain of unfinished paperwork waiting for her at the office.*If I sneak out now, I can get it done quickly,* she thought, turning o

Elara gently patted Serene’s back, her own heart heavy as the flat, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor echoed across the quiet room. The doctor lowered his head, stepping forward to gently pull the white sheet over Margaret’s face, officially announcing the time of death.The sterile room instantly erupted into quiet grief. Elara slumped back into the armchair, her mind entirely numb. Serene collapsed forward, burying her face in Elara’s lap as she sobbed uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking violently with every breath. A single tear slipped from Elara’s eye, tracing a cold path down her cheek.A sickening, hollow ache settled deep in Elara’s chest. The woman she had desperately tried to love and accept as a mother figure all those years had secretly plotted her murder. The bitter coldness, the constant insults, the emotional abuse—she could eventually understand why Margaret had never loved her. But the cold-blooded attempt on her life? That was a betrayal too dark to comprehend. Ye