43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
The week at YodaVision started lither for Elara. Meetings
any with developers, discussions about project timelines, and strategizing with Julian about their upcoming pitch to potential investors. It kept her distracted from the fact that Cora hadn’t called once since Sunday. Not even a text message.
(1)
She knew where her daughter was with Vivienne. The secret meeting at the park had apparently extended into a multi–day adventure.
“You’ve been glancing at your phone every five minutes,” Julian observed during their lunch break on Thursday. “Still nothing from Cora?”
Elara set her phone down with a sigh. “Nothing.”
“Have you tried calling Damien?”
“And give him the satisfaction of knowing it bothers me? No thanks.”
Julian pushed his salad around with his fork. “It’s not about satisfaction, Elara. It’s about your right to know where your daughter is.”
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She snatched it up, hope flaring, then immediately dimming when she saw it wasn’t Cora.
“Chloe,” she explained to Julian. “She wants to have dinner tonight.”
“Go,” Julian encouraged. “You need to think about something other than work and Cora for a few hours.”
That evening, Elara met Chloe at Lavender & Thyme, a trendy restaurant downtown. The hostess led them to a table near the back, away from the bustling entrance.
“You look tired, Chloe noted bluntly as they settled into their seats.
“Thanks for that stunning observation,” Elara replied dryly.
Chloe grinned. “There’s the sass I’ve been missing. Seriously though, how are your holding up?”
“Fine,” Elara said automatically, then caught herself. “Actually, not great. Cora’s been with Vivienne all week. Not a single call or message.”
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43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
Chloe’s expression darkened. “That woman is playing a dangerous game, using a child.
to get at you.
“The worst part is, I don’t even think that’s her intention,” Elara admitted. “I think she genuinely enjoys spending time with Cora – which somehow makes it worse.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter taking their orders. Once he left, Chloe steered them toward lighter topics – work gossip, a new movie she’d seen, the disastrous blind date her cousin had recently endured.
Halfway through dinner, Elara excused herself to use the restroom. As she was washing her hands, Beck – one of Vivienne’s friends walked in, stopping short when she spotted Elara.
“Oh. It’s you,” Beck said, her tone making it clear she wasn’t pleased by the encounter.
Elara nodded politely. “Beck.”
“I saw Vivienne and your daughter yesterday, Beck continued, applying fresh lipstick in the mirror. “They were shopping for riding boots. Apparently Vivienne’s teaching her to ride.”
The comment was designed to wound, and it hit its mark. Elara had wanted to be the one to teach Cora horseback riding. It was something she’d done as a child with her own mother.
“How nice,” Elara replied flatly.
Beck capped her lipstick with a decisive click. “Vivienne’s so good with her. Almost like a mother already”
Elara met Beck’s gaze in the mirror. “Are we done here? I’d like to get back to my dinner.
Beck shrugged and sauntered out, mission accomplished.
When Elara returned to the table, Chloe took one look at her face and asked, “What happened?”
“Beck happened,” Elara said, reaching for her wine glass. “Let’s just say subtlety isn’t her strong suit.”
After dinner, Chloe suggested they stop by a nearby jewelry boutique. “I need to pick
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43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
up a birthday gift for my sister,” she explained. “It’ll only take a minute.”
The boutique was small but elegant, with display cases of glittering gems under soft lighting. While Chloe spoke with the sales assistant, Elara wandered around, examining the pieces without much interest.
The bell above the door chimed. Elara glanced up automatically, then froze.
Alistair Dubois – Vivienne’s father and the man who had destroyed her mother’s marriage – stood in the entrance. He was older than she remembered, his dark hair now silver at the temples, but still handsome in that polished, aristocratic way that had apparently appealed to her mother all those years ago.
He didn’t notice her at first, walking directly to the counter. “I’m here to collect a custom piece,” he told the sales assistant. “For my daughter. Under Dubois.”
The assistant nodded. “Of course, Mr. Dubois. Just one moment.”
As the assistant disappeared into the back room, Alistair turned slightly, his gaze sweeping the boutique. The moment he spotted Elara, his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“Elara?” he said, taking a step toward her. “My goodness, it’s been years.”
Elara remained where she was, her body tense. “Mr. Dubois.”
“Please, call me Alistair. We’re practically family.”
The audacity of the statement made her jaw clench. “We are absolutely not family.”
He had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Right, of course. I just meant… well, with Vivienne spending so much time with Cora lately, it seems our families are becoming somewhat intertwined.”
Is that what you call it?” Elara’s voice was quiet but razor–sharp. “Intertwined? Because from where I stand, it looks more like history repeating itself.”
Alistair frowned. “I don’t follow.”
“Don’t you? You had an affair with my mother while she was married. Now your daughter is having an affair with my husband.”
“That’s hardly the same situation,” Alistair protested, lowering his voice as the sales
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43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
assistant returned with a velvet box. He quickly signed the receipt and pocketed the box before turning back to Elara. “Your marriage to Damien was already in trouble before Vivienne
e into the picture.”
Chloe had moved to Elara’s side, her expression fierce. “Are you actually trying to justify what your daughter is doing?”
“I’m merely stating facts,” Alistair replied coolly. “Vivienne isn’t the one who destroyed their marriage.”
Elara laughed, the sound brittle. “No, of course not. She’s just an innocent bystander who happens to be sleeping with a married man and playing mother to his child.”
“Vivienne cares deeply for Damien,” Alistair said, his tone defensive. “And for Cora. She would never intentionally hurt anyone.”
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Elara quoted. “Just like intend to destroy my mother’s life, right?”
you
didn’t
Alistair’s face hardened. “Your mother made her own choices. As did I.”
“And the consequences of those choices fell on me,” Elara shot back. “Just like the consequences of Vivienne’s choices are falling on my daughter.”
“Cora seems perfectly happy with the arrangement,” Alistair remarked. “In fact, she and Vivienne have developed quite a bond.”
The casual observation felt like a slap. Elara stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Don’t you dare use my daughter to justify your family’s behavior. The Dubois specialty seems to be taking what isn’t yours and convincing yourselves you deserve it.”
“That’s unfair,” Alistair protested. “When did you become so willful, Elara? You were always such a quiet, reasonable girl.”
–
“When I realized that ‘reasonable‘ is just another word for ‘doormat,” Elara replied. “I spent years trying to be understanding of my mother’s depression after your affair, of Damien’s indifference, of Vivienne’s so–called love for my husband. I’m done being
reasonable.
Alistair’s face flushed with anger. “You’re being hysterical. This is exactly why Damien.
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43 A Father’s Justification, A Daughter’s Fury
“Don’t you people, have no right to speak on matters of loyalty or love.”
dare tell me why my husband doesn’t love me,” Elara cut him off. “You, of all
The boutique had gone silent, the other customers and staff watching their
confrontation with undisguised Interest. Alistair seemed to realize this, straightening his tie in a gesture of composure.
“This is neither the time nor place for such a discussion,” he said stiffly.
“There will never be a right time or place, Elara replied. “Because
YOU
could
say would justify what your daughter is doing – or what you did.”
Alistair’s jaw tightened. “When did you become so willful?” he repeated, genuinely perplexed by her resistance.
The bell above the door chimed again, and Ruby entered the boutique, followed closely by Linda. Ruby’s gaze immediately found Elara, her eyes widening at the obvious tension in the room.
“Elara? Is everything okay?” Ruby asked, stepping forward with concern in her eyes.
Elara felt the weight of multiple gazes on her – Alistair’s disapproving stare, Chloe’s protective presence, and now Ruby and Linda’s curious observation. The small boutique suddenly felt suffocating, the walls closing in on her private pain made
public.
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