Chapter 41 – Threads of Revelation
Titan drove them back to the mansion in silence. The hum of the engine filled the car, but between Edward and Elara, the silence wasn’t empty. It carried the weight of everything unspoken–Damien’s presence and questions, the questions Edward hadn’t yet asked, and the unexplainable look Edward had given her earlier.
When they drove into the compound, Titan parked neatly in front of the mansion. Before Elara could step out, Edward’s voice stopped her.
“Titan,” he said quietly, his tone even but edged with something unmissable. “Give us a moment.”
Titan glanced at him through the rearview mirror, then at Elara, before giving a small nod. “Yes, sir.” He opened his door, stepped out, and closed it gently, leaving them in the cocoon of silence again.
Elara shifted uncomfortably, her hand resting on the strap of her bag. She wasn’t sure what he wanted to say, but she could feel the intensity of his stare even before she looked up.
“Tell me,” Edward said finally, his voice low. “What exactly did Damien say to you?”
Elara blinked, caught off guard. “He… he only complimented me, sir.”
Edward’s brows drew together. “Only that?”
She nodded quickly. “Yes, sir. He said I looked different from how I usually look in the mansion. That’s all.”
He studied her face, searching for any flicker of hesitation, any sign that she was holding something back. His chest tightened with a mix of frustration and protectiveness. He wanted to believe her. He needed to.
“You’re sure?”
Elara met his eyes then, steady and clear. “I’m sure, sir.”
Edward leaned back slightly, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The suspicion remained, but he wouldn’t press her further.
To ease the tension, Elara spoke softly, her tone gentler than usual. “You did something remarkable today, sir.”
Edward tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“At the NGO,” she said. “The way you support those children and women. It’s… it’s beautiful, sir.” Her voice trembled slightly, but it wasn’t from nerves–it was sincerity. “You may not realize it, but your generosity keeps them alive. You’re giving them a chance, a future.”
He blinked at her, taken aback. Praise was something he was used to–polished, practiced praise from business associates, investors, or shallow aristocrats. But this felt different. Honest. Real.
Elara lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “I know how much it means. I grew up an orphan. Since I was fourteen, I’ve had to fend for myself. Work, struggle, fight to survive. I know how dark it feels to be alone, with no one to help.”
Her voice broke slightly, and she swallowed hard before continuing. “Seeing those children smile today… it reminded me of what I never had. And you’re the reason they can smile. So thank you, sir. For them. For giving them what I never had.”
Edward sat in silence, stunned. Something inside him softened, an ache forming in his chest. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but his hands stayed still on the armrests of his chair. She had already told him she lost her family in a fire accident in their home but hearing this made her strength all the more admirable.
“It’s good,” he said finally, his voice rougher than he intended, “to do good when you can.”
Their eyes lingered on each other, and for a moment, the world outside the car ceased to exist.
Then Edward cleared his throat, shifting back to business. “The permission you asked for,” he said. “Where are you planning to go?”
Elara straightened. “I… I need to visit my friend Seraphina and her family, sir.”
He studied her face again, searching for deceit, but found none. “Fine,” he said. “Make sure you inform Ma’am Albright before the weekend.”
“I will, sir.” Elara replied softly.
With that, Edward knocked on the car glass and Titan rushed to open the car door and assisted Edward into his wheelchair. Then Edward wheeled himself out, his face calm. Elara followed, watching him retreat into the mansion, before she herself made her way to her room.
Inside her room, Elara sat on the edge of her bed, her heart fluttering for reasons she couldn’t quite name. She thought of the way Edward had looked at her throughout the day–his lingering stares, the softness in his voice when he asked if she was sure about Damien.
She hugged a pillow to her chest, unable to stop the smile tugging at her lips. “He’s not a monster,” she whispered to herself. “Not like his father. Not at all.”
The thought filled her with warmth she didn’t expect, and she shook her head, laughing quietly at herself. “Elara, stop. Don’t be foolish.” But her smile remained.
It was getting late, and she knew Edward hadn’t had dinner yet. She quickly changed out of the white dress and into her simple home clothes before hurrying to the kitchen.
Ma’am Albright was already there, stirring Edwards food in a pot. The older woman looked up as Elara entered.
“Good evening, ma’am,” Elara greeted.
“Evening, dear,” Ma'am Albright replied with a subtle smile. “Back from the outing, I see.”
“Yes,” Elara said, reaching for the vegetables on the counter. “I thought I’d prepare Sir Edward’s dinner.”
Ma'am Albright nodded approvingly, then raised a brow as Elara hesitated. “Something else on your mind?”
Elara inhaled deeply. “Yes. I’ll be leaving the mansion on saturday. Just for a visit. I already asked Sir Edward, and he approved.”
Ma'am Albright’s spoon paused mid-stir, but then she continued. “Very well. You did well to let me know.”
Relieved, Elara set to work chopping vegetables. But as her knife slipped against the cutting board, it grazed her finger.
“Ow–”
And from the cut blood welled instantly… then disappeared just as quickly as the wound sealed itself. Within seconds, her skin was whole again.
Elara froze, her eyes wide.
And when she lifted her gaze, Ma’am Albright was staring at her.
The older woman’s expression wasn’t shock–it was certainty.
“Why are you surprised?” Albright asked calmly, her voice lowering to something almost conspiratorial. “I told you, I knew who you are.”
Elara’s throat went dry. “W-What…?”
Ma’am Albright’s eyes softened, though her voice carried weight. “Elara Landon.”
The name rolled from her lips with deliberate finality.
Elara’s heart pounded in her chest. She stumbled back a step, unsure of what to say, what to deny, what to admit.
And just outside the kitchen door, hidden in the shadows, Callista pressed a hand against her mouth to keep from gasping. Her eyes burned with curiosity.
She saw and heard everything.