Be more careful around him.
More careful with herself.
Because somewhere between grocery stores, midnight soup and quiet conversations… she had allowed herself to lower her guard slightly and now she was paying for it.
By the time Elena finally returned to the penthouse, it was already late into the night again and she was exhausted.
Not physically… emotionally.
The entire evening with Eleanor had felt less like a family meeting and more like silent psychological warfare disguised beneath luxury and expensive fabric samples.
Rehearsal dinner themes. Guest lists. Jewelry options. Designer outfits.
Eleanor had dragged her through every possible detail with fake elegance and poisonous smiles.
As though Elena's opinion actually mattered… but she knew better. None of those choices were truly hers to make.
The entire meeting had only served one purpose… to remind Elena exactly where she stood.
To keep her controlled. Grounded. Watched.
