Elara's povKai’s words followed me all the way from the courthouse to my mother’s front door.I had married a stranger. Not the stranger Mother had selected, which somehow made the situation worse.Kai had asked whether I wanted to return to the registrar immediately. I had said I needed to speak to Mother first, because some foolish corner of my mind still expected her to know how this had happened.The moment I opened the front door, I knew she did not know.Our sitting room had been transformed for company. Boxes wrapped in gold paper covered the side table, flowers filled two borrowed vases, and Mother wore the pearl earrings she saved for people she wanted to impress.Vivienne sat beside a man I had never seen, she looked rested.My stomach turned at the memory of where I had seen her last.Mother was laughing when she noticed me. “Elara, where have you—” Her gaze moved past my shoulder to Kai. “Who the fuck is he?”Every conversation in the room ended.I held the marriage certi
Last Updated : 2026-09-17 Read more