4/4
76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth
76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth
Stepping into the hallway, she answered. “Good morning, Gran.”
She splashed her face repeatedly, willing the chill to numb the ache in her chest. After composing herself, Elara showered and dressed with methodical precision, armor against the day ahead.
The table fell silent. Elara felt heat rush to her face.
Eleanor frowned. “Damien, please put that away. We’re having family breakfast.”
“I’m fine,” Elara replied automatically. “Is everything alright?”
Elara swallowed the hurt those words caused. “It’s fine,” she replied, her tone equally. neutral as she sat up. “I understand.”
Damien looked up, his expression softening as it always did for his daughter. “What did you see, princess?”
Her aunt Amelia. Despite their complicated history, Elara had always respected the woman’s independence and strength. Perhaps seeing her was exactly what she needed today.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice flat and controlled. “I was dreaming.”
Cora nodded enthusiastically. “The best! Daddy, did you see what I saw this morning?”
Damien stirred, his arms tightening around her waist. “Where are you going?” he
mumbled, his voice clearer now.
Eleanor brightened. “Lovely! It’s been too long since you’ve seen your family.” She turned to Damien. “Why don’t you accompany Elara? You haven’t been back to the Bellweather estate in ages.”
“Stupid,” she whispered to herself, turning on the cold water. “So stupid.”
“Morning, Grandma. Morning, Coco,” Elara replied, forcing a smile.
The single syllable shattered the fragile fantasy. Of course. He thought she was Vivienne. The realization felt like a knife twisting in her heart.
14:50
1/5
76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth
“Excuse me,” she said, rising from the table. “It’s my grandmother.”
“I went to your room to say good morning, but you were still sleeping,” Cora said between bites. “You were hugging Mommy e this.” She demonstrated by wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
Elara wasn’t surprised. She’d expected nothing less. Still, the quick dismissal felt like another small wound on an already battered heart.
Elara froze. He was awake.
“Good morning, dear,” Eleanor greeted warmly as Elara took her seat.
She tried to edge away discreetly, keeping her movements slow to avoid waking him fully. Each inch of separation felt like tearing off a bandage, revealing the raw wound beneath.
Before Elara could respond, her phone chimed with an incoming call. She glanced down, grateful for the distraction.
“Wonderful! One o’clock at the usual place.”
The challenge in her mother–in–law’s voice made Elara look up in surprise. Damien’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly at being questioned.
Elara’s appetite vanished. She set down her fork, the soft clink against fine china unnaturally loud in the strained silence.
She remained silent, unsure what to say. The room filled with awkward tension as Damien’s body suddenly stiffened. His eyes snapped open, confusion clouding his features as he stared at her.
Breakfast at the Thorne manor was always an elaborate affair when Eleanor was in residence. The dining room gleamed with polished silver and fresh flowers, a stark contrast to Elara’s subdued mood.
Elara ended the call and returned to the dining room, where Eleanor was interrogating
Damien about some business matter.
Damien’s expression closed immediately. “I can’t. I have meetings all afternoon.”
14:50
2/5
76 A Stolen Kiss, A Painful Truth
“What’s so urgent?” Eleanor frowned, her tone sharpening. “You haven’t gone back with Elara for ages!”
Cora continued, oblivious to the tension. “Yo hug Vi–Vi.”
ooked happy, Daddy. Like when you
Eleanor sat at the head of the table, elegant as always in her cashmere sweater. Cora was beside her, happily devouring pancakes shaped like animals.
Eleanor shot Cora a warning look before changing the subject. “Elara, dear, how is work going? That project you mentioned sounds fascinating.”
“Mommy, look! Grandma made me a bunny pancake!” Cora exclaimed, holding up her
fork.
“Coffee, sir?” The maid appeared at his elbow.
He nodded without looking up from his phone. “Black.”
“Vi,” he murmured against her hair, his voice rough with sleep.
Elara remained motionless in Damien’s arms, her mind racing. The gentle kiss he’d placed on her forehead burned against her skin, a sensation both achingly familiar and painfully foreign. For years, she had craved his touch, dreamed of moments like this.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Damien was gone. The rumpled sheets on his side of the bed were the only evidence he’d been there at all.
The air between them crackled with tension as Eleanor stared down her son, waiting for an answer that would explain years of neglect toward his wife’s family.
Eleanor’s eyes widened with delight, darting between them. “Is that so?”
His dismissive tone stung Elara more than it should have. What had she expected? An admission that he’d enjoyed holding her? That was never going to happen.
She didn’t look back as she slipped into the bathroom, closing the door with a soft click. Only when she was alone did she allow her mask to fall, her hands gripping the edge of the sink as she stared at her reflection.
Recognition dawned in his gaze, followed quickly by something else–discomfort, perhaps embarrassment. He released her immediately, rolling away to his side of the bed.
14:50
3/5
76 A Stolen Kiss. A Painful Truth
Elara smiled genuinely this time. “That’s wonderful, sweetheart. Is it delicious?”
Elara held her breath, caught between wanting to hear his excuse and dreading whatever painful truth might emerge.
“That was my grandmother,” Elara announced, retaking her seat. “She’s invited me to lunch. Aunt Amelia is back in town.”
“I’d love to,” Elara said sincerely.
Damien cleared his throat, his face expressionless. “I was asleep, Coco. I didn’t realize.”
“Perfectly fine. I wanted to invite you for lunch today. Amelia is back from her trip to
Paris.”
Damien entered a moment later, freshly showered and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. His expression revealed nothing of their earlier encounter as he took the seat opposite Elara.
Her eyes were too bright, her cheeks flushed. She looked like a woman who had been embraced by her lover, not mistaken for someone else by her husband.
“Elara, darling,” Clara Bellweather’s warm voice filled the line. “How are you?”
With visible reluctance, he set his phone aside. His eyes briefly met Elara’s before
sliding away.
Comment 2
View All >
O Share what’s on your mind!
14:50
Send Gift
