157 An Overheard Conversation
“Yes, that’s the one,” she confirmed, her voice soft. “We’ve made significant advances in predictive Al algorithms.”
Ethan closed his notebook. “Thanks for helping me, Elara. I think I understand it now.”
Elara’s chest tightened painfully. She shouldn’t be standing here, eavesdropping on her own daughter’s conversation. Yet something kept her frozen in place, absorbing each word like a slow–acting poison.
Rising from her chair, Elara decided she needed something to occupy her mind. A book would be perfect. She remembered leaving several novels in the bedroom she shared with Damien, as well as in Cora’s room.
“Not right now, sweetheart. I’m still looking for
my books.”
“That’s nice,” Elara murmured, pulling a book from the shelf that was indeed hers.
She stared at the novel in her hands without seeing it. All those hours she’d spent reading to Cora, all those attempts to bond over music or books–and now Vivienne had effortlessly stepped into that role, earning Cora’s adoration with what seemed like
minimal effort.
“I miss you too!” Cora exclaimed. “Next time can we make those special cookies again? The ones with the chocolate chips?”
Each casual revelation was like a knife twist. Elara had been trying to get Cora interested in piano for years.
Piano lessons too. Elara felt increasingly like a stranger in her own family’s life.
“She’s going to help me pick out a dress this weekend,” Cora continued excitedly. “Dad said we could go to that fancy store in the city.”
“I know! I’m so excited for this weekend! Dad promised we could go shopping for a new dress.”
Elara glanced around the colorful room. “I’m missing a few novels. I thought they might be in here.”
“Mom!” Cora sat up, surprised. “You’re out of bed!”
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157 An Overheard Conversation
A pause. Cora was clearly on the phone.
“I’m feeling much better,” Elara replied, her voice carefully controlled. “I came to see if you’d borrowed any of my books.”
He beamed at the compliment, then his expression shifted to excitement. “Oh! Did you see Vivienne’s race last weekend? She placed second at Monaco!”
Elara’s hand dropped slowly to her side. She should walk away. She didn’t want to hear this conversation, yet her feet remained rooted to the spot.
“Love you too!” The words Cora had spoken to Vivienne echoed in her mind. When was the last time Cora had said those words to her with such enthusiasm?
Cora shrugged. “She calls me all the time. She’s teaching me piano too! She says I’m really good.”
The bedroom door remained open. Through it, Elara could hear Cora’s footsteps bounding down the stairs, her daughter’s cheerful voice calling out to Martha about
soup.
Those final words sent a sharp pain through Elara’s heart. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and knocked on the door.
The manor was quiet as she climbed the stairs, her strength mostly returned after days of rest. When she reached the master bedroom, she found it empty. Damien’s absence was unsurprising; he rarely spent time there when at the manor, preferring his study.
“You can look if you want,” Cora offered, already distracted by something on her phone.
“Yes, I finished that book you gave me,” Cora was saying. “The princess was so brave! Just like you in your race car!”
After Ethan left, Elara remained seated, staring out the window. The garden was coming alive with spring blooms, a stark contrast to the heaviness in her chest. She felt restless and confined, despite the spacious manor grounds.
“But I thought-” Ethan paused, confusion crossing his face. “Damien mentioned you watched the Dubai Grand Prix.”
She located one of her books on Damien’s nightstand–a historical novel he’d taken from her side of the bed months ago. She’d never seen him read it. Perhaps he’d simply
157 An Overheard Conversation
moved it while cleaning.
“That’s what my company, YodaVision, specializes in,” she said.
“Grandmother said Martha made soup,” Cora said, changing the subject. “Can we go
have some?”
The book lay forgotten in her lap as she sat motionless, listening to the sounds of her daughter’s happiness–a happiness increasingly centered around a life that didn’t seem to include her.
“You’re welcome.” She gathered the papers scattered across the table. “You’re quite bright, Ethan. You just need confidence in your abilities.”
“Come in!” Cora called cheerfully.
Another pause, shorter this time.
Elara pushed open the door to find her daughter sprawled on her bed, phone still in hand, a bright smile on her face. At eight years old, Cora was the perfect blend of her and Damien–Elara’s gentle features with Damien’s striking blue eyes.
“I was merely recognizing some people there,” she replied diplomatically. “Not following the race itself.”
Book in hand, Elara headed to Cora’s room next. Her daughter had a habit of “borrowing” her books without asking. As she approached the door, she heard Cora’s animated voice from within.
As Cora bounced out of the room, Elara sank onto the edge of the bed. The happy excitement in her daughter’s voice when talking to Vivienne contrasted sharply with the casual indifference she showed toward Elara.
“Bye, Vivi! Love you too!”
Elara made a show of checking the bookshelf, though her mind was elsewhere. “Who were you talking to just now?” she asked casually.
“Oh.” Cora’s expression fell slightly. “I don’t think so.”
“The tech company you founded with Julian Croft?” Ethan asked. “Dami
mentioned
it once.”
157 An Overheard Conversation
“Dad says you know all about fashion, Cora continued. “He says you always look perfect
The mention of Vivienne’s name felt like a sudden drop in temperature. “I didn’t watch it,” Elara replied evenly.
Ethan looked up from his notebook, surprise evident on his face. “Really? I didn’t know
that.”
“Okay, I promise I’ll practice piano before you come. I want to play that song you taught me.”
“You explain things way better than my professor,” Ethan remarked, scribbling down the solution. “Were you always good at physics?”
Ethan seemed disappointed but nodded. “Oh, okay. Well, I’m going to watch some replays.” He stood, gathering his books. “Thanks again for the help.”
“Vivi,” Cora replied without hesitation. “She called to tell me about her race. She came in second place!”
“Physics often seems more complicated than it is,” Elara said with a small smile. “Just remember the basic principles and take it step by step.”
Vivi. The familiar nickname struck Elara like a physical blow.
Elara raised her hand to knock, but Cora’s next words froze her in place.
Ethan’s brow furrowed in concentration. “That makes sense now. I was overthinking it.”
Cora giggled. “I told him that! He said you’re naturally beautiful so everything looks good on you.”
“So the acceleration is found by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval,” she explained, pointing to his calculations.
“You should!” Ethan pulled out his phone enthusiastically. “I recorded the whole thing. The way she handled that final curve was incredible.”
“Really? You’ll help me pick one out?” Cora’s voice rose with excitement. “You have the best taste, Vivi!”
“When are you coming to visit again? Dad keeps checking his phone. I think he misses
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you.”
Elara’s eyebrows rose slightly. Damien rarely discussed her achievements with others.
Elara sat across from Ethan at the small table in the manor’s sunroom, going through his physics homework. Though still recovering from her illness, she’d kept her promise to help him.
“Okay.” Cora headed for the door, seemingly unbothered by Elara’s refusal. “I’ll see you later then!”
So Vivienne had been baking with her daughter. Another detail Elara hadn’t known.
“Will you come downstairs with me?” Cora asked, sliding off her bed.
Elara shook her head. “I’ve already had some. But you should go ahead if you’re hungry.”
“Dad showed me the video of your race. You looked so cool with your helmet off at the end! I told all my friends my Vivi is a race car driver!”
“And then Ms. Peterson said my science project was the best in the class!” Cora was saying.
“I enjoyed it in school,” Elara replied. “But my real passion was computer science and AI development.”
“I see.” Elara replaced another book on the shelf. “I didn’t know you two spoke on the phone regularly.”
Elara recognized the gleam in Ethan’s eyes–the same admiration everyone seemed to have for Vivienne. “I’m not particularly interested in car racing.”
“I’ll be right down,” Elara murmured, though no one was there to hear her.
My Vivi. The possessive term echoed in Elara’s mind.
Elara closed her eyes briefly. Vivienne had been giving Cora books? She hadn’t known.
Of course he didn’t. Nobody in the Thorne family seemed interested in who she was before becoming Damien’s wife.
