chapter 40
Elena's POV:
Standing on the threshold of what had once been my childhood home, I found myself gripping Sebastian's arm with unnecessary force.
Vivienne's shock was almost comical as she took in Sebastian's presence beside me.
Behind her, I could hear the sharp click of heels against marble—Mother's approach, no doubt drawn by the prolonged silence at the door.
"Vivienne, what's taking so long?" Rebecca Sterling's voice carried that familiar note of impatience, the same tone that had accompanied most of my childhood memories. "Don't tell me I need to come greet our guests myself."
Sebastian's fingers found the small of my back, a subtle reminder of his presence, his protection. I drew strength from that touch, straightening my shoulders as I met Vivienne's wide-eyed stare.
"We're here to see my father," I continued, ignoring her obvious distress. "I believe he's expecting me."
"Elena?" Robert's voice echoed from somewhere deeper in the house, warm with anticipation and joy. "Sweetheart, is that you?"
The sound of my father's voice—so full of hope and love—nearly undid me.
I brushed past Vivienne without acknowledging her shock, stepping into the familiar house.
Robert emerged from the kitchen doorway, wiping his hands on a dish towel, his face lighting up the moment he saw me. He looked older than I remembered, silver threading through his brown hair more prominently now, but his smile was exactly the same—that soft, paternal warmth that had carried me through childhood scraped knees and teenage heartbreaks.
"There's my girl," he said, his voice thick with emotion as he opened his arms.
"Dad," I whispered, the word catching in my throat.
He crossed the foyer in three quick strides, his arms opening wide, and suddenly I was seven years old again, running to him after a nightmare, seeking the safety I'd always found in his embrace.
His embrace was fierce, warm. I breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with flour and vanilla—he really had been baking for me.
The realization brought tears dangerously close to the surface.
"My God, sweetheart," he whispered against my hair, "I can't believe you're really here. Are you all right? Are you safe? I've been so worried..."
"I'm fine, Dad," I managed, my voice muffled against his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't call sooner."
He pulled back to study my face, his hands framing my cheeks with gentle reverence. "Don't apologize. You're here now, that's what matters. "
I could feel Sebastian's presence behind me, patient but alert, and I knew Robert had noticed him too. My father's eyes moved past me, taking in the tall, imposing figure waiting.
"Dad," I said, stepping back but keeping one hand on his arm, "I'd like you to meet Sebastian Vane. Sebastian, this is my father, Robert Ross."
The introduction felt surreal, like announcing the cast of a play to an empty theater.
Sebastian stepped forward with fluid grace, extending his hand with a smile that held just enough politeness to be appropriate for meeting his girlfriend's father—measured and controlled, like everything else about him, but lacking the predatory edge I'd grown accustomed to.
"Mr. Ross," Sebastian said, his accent carrying just enough authority to suggest breeding without being ostentatious. "Elena has told me so much about you. I'm honored to finally meet her father."
Robert accepted the handshake with the kind of careful politeness, but I caught the way his eyes flickered between Sebastian and me, uncertainty creeping across his features.
"I'm sorry," Dad said, his voice carrying that hesitant quality I remembered from whenever he had to ask questions in this house, "but I'm not quite sure... what exactly is your relationship with Elena?"
"Fiancé," Sebastian answered before I could even draw breath to speak. His hand found the small of my back with possessive familiarity.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Vivienne's face went chalk-white, her mouth falling open in a way that would have been comical under different circumstances.
Rebecca, who had remained conspicuously silent since we'd walked through the door, stood frozen near the staircase, her own expression mirroring the same stunned disbelief as she looked between Sebastian and me.
Robert's initial shock gave way to something more searching as his gaze found mine, silently asking for confirmation that this wasn't some elaborate joke or misunderstanding.
I nodded. "We're getting married soon," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt. "I came back to get my birth certificate. We need it for the paperwork."
Robert's gaze shifted to Sebastian with new scrutiny, taking in the expensive cut of his suit, the quiet confidence in his posture, the way he stood just slightly protective of me.
"Why don't you both stay the night?" Robert said, his tone carrying the gentle invitation of a father who hadn't seen his daughter in far too long, though I could read the deeper meaning in his eyes—he wanted time to talk, to make sure I knew what I was doing, to ask all the questions a father should ask when his daughter suddenly appears engaged to a stranger.
Before I could even open my mouth to respond, Vivienne cut in sharply, "There's no room for her here."
Vivienne's voice was sharp with territorial instinct.
"Nonsense," Rebecca interrupted, stepping forward with a warmth I hadn't heard from her in years, if ever. "This house has more bedrooms than we know what to do with. Elena, darling, you can have whichever room you'd like."
The endearment hung in the air like a foreign language.
Vivienne's mouth fell open again, this time in pure bewilderment at her mother's sudden hospitality, while I found myself staring at my stepmother with the same confusion.
Darling? Since when had Rebecca ever called me anything but Elena, and even then only when absolutely necessary?
But I caught the way Rebecca's eyes kept drifting to Sebastian. She'd probably recognized exactly who Sebastian was, my stepmother, and that recognition had clearly recalibrated her entire approach to this situation.
Well, if she wanted to suddenly play the gracious hostess, I might as well take advantage of the shift in dynamics.
"So I could stay in Vivienne's room then?" I asked with studied casualness, letting a small smile play at my lips.
Vivienne's face went scarlet, and I could practically see her grinding her teeth as she struggled not to explode in front of Sebastian.