جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Inside the main Harrington estate, especially in the presence of Lady Elizabeth, Liam and Elena put on an absolute masterclass in deception."Mother, this soup was prepared by a new chef I commissioned from France. Elena mentioned you prefer your dishes with a slightly savory profile," Liam noted, ladling a small portion of soup into Lady Elizabeth’s bowl with a manufactured smile."He is entirely correct, Mother. Liam knows precisely how to keep you pleased," Elena chimed in, offering a radiant smile as she gently stroked Liam’s shoulder at the edge of the lavish dining table."Ah, seeing the two of you so remarkably harmonious since returning from Paris makes my heart feel exponentially healthier," Lady Elizabeth replied, her face breaking into a wide smile as she gazed at her son and daughter-in-law.Yet, the exact millisecond Lady Elizabeth retired from the dining room toward her quarters, the smiles on Elena and Liam’s faces vanished without a trace. The affectionate touches they

"Have you entirely lost your mind, Chloe?! Think about what you are actually suggesting!" Liam roared, violently tearing Chloe’s hands from his suit sleeves, sending her stumbling backward."I am not insane, Liam! In fact, I have never been more lucid, and I am utilizing my common sense!" Chloe fired back, her voice climbing to a piercing shriek. "Analyze it logically! It is the absolute solitary escape route remaining for us now!""Eliminate Elena?! That is a repulsive, criminal concept, Chloe! She is the sole heiress of the Vance dynasty—have you completely misplaced your remaining sanity?!" Liam interrogated, his breath coming in shallow, frantic gasps as he stared at her in utter horror."Then what do you expect me to do—just stand idly by and watch our window evaporate?! Do you genuinely intend to let yourself fall into the clutches of that fat sow permanently? Answer me, Liam!" Chloe screamed, her face flushing crimson with unbridled fury."This isn't about letting anyone claim

The master suite descended once more into a suffocating silence, thick with the sharp odor of whiskey, the bitter tang of sweat, and the vivid crimson stain marring the pristine white silk beneath her.Elena slowly pushed herself up, her entire frame trembling violently as a sharp, agonizing ache radiated through her center. Her breath caught in her constricted chest as she methodically gathered the remnants of her shredded dressing gown, desperately attempting to wrap the ruined fabric over her violated skin. With faltering, unsteady steps and tears continuously tracking down her cheeks, Elena dragged herself off the mattress, seeking the farthest corner of the expansive room.She collapsed onto the cold hardwood floor, curling into a tight ball as she locked her arms around her knees. Her muffled sobs finally broke through, agonizing and deeply shattered, as an overpowering weight suffocated her chest. Elena felt a wave of visceral self-loathing wash over her, knowing her innocence

However, the exact millisecond before her finger tapped the screen to send the photograph, Elena arrested her movement. She closed her eyes, drawing a deep, shuddering breath to calm the tempest raging in her chest. "No, Elena. Do not lower your standards," Elena declared firmly in her heart. "You are Elena Vance. The lawful daughter-in-law of the Harrington family. You are not some cheap woman who must resort to fighting over a piece of rotting offal like Liam in the presence of a mistress!" Elena deleted the photograph and closed the chat. She returned her phone to the tabletop face down, completely ignoring Chloe’s message without the slightest intention of offering a single word in reply. To Elena, Chloe was nothing more than an annoying pest who was nowhere near her level. From that day onward, Elena went out of her way to avoid crossing paths with Liam. She chose to submerge herself in the Vance and Sinclair family business ventures. They only exchanged polite greetings whenev

Elena let out a resigned sigh. Her slender fingers moved gently, pressing against Liam’s temples and working through his hair. The man exhaled in relief, thoroughly enjoying the soothing, perfectly targeted massage.In the quiet stillness of the bedroom, Elena gazed at her husband’s face from inches away. The sharp, defined jawline, the flawlessly sculpted nose, and the thick eyelashes now resting closed. Deep down, a ember of admiration that had once consumed her chest flickered back to life, mingling with the fragile hopes she had used to harbor.Then, in the very next instant, flashes of Liam being intimate with his mistress burst into her mind. The affectionate smile on his face as he wrapped his arm around Chloe’s waist, that look of utter adoration he had never once given her—it all slammed into Elena’s chest like a physical blow.Elena knew full well their marriage was forced. Neither of them had been in love. Yet she couldn't quite explain how, when he recited his vows in fron