Liora had noticed that her mom didn’t call her every day like before and wasn’t always asking about where she was going.
She actually liked this change in her mom.
But recently, she’d also noticed that aside from those things, her mom seed quieter than before whenever they t.
Her mom had beco more silent.
Liora was soone Elodie had raised with her own hands. Elodie knew that she wasn’t a careless person, not really.
The fact that Liora had only now realized her mom was speaking less ant she had simply gotten used to ignoring it. Used to tuning her out.
Elodie looked away, her voice soft. "Mom’s just tired."
"Oh..." Liora replied quietly, her tone uncertain.
Elodie noticed that Liora seed truly tired, so she didn’t ask any further.
---
The night wind today was particularly cold.
As they walked out of the hotel lobby, the biting cold wind hit them, making their faces sting with the sudden chill.
Liora clearly felt the cold and didn’t want to walk any further. She grabbed onto Elodie’s hand and buried her small face into her stomach. "It’s so cold, Mommy, hold ."
Liora was almost six years old now, and she had grown rather heavy.
Elodie felt the strain in her arms, the ache already settling into her shoulders, but she still bent down and picked her up.
Liora wrapped her little arms around Elodie’s neck and buried her face there to shield herself from the cold.
Elodie’s clothes were soft and warm. Liora snuggled up, enjoying the warmth as she rubbed her face against her neck, her breath tickling Elodie’s skin.
Dante had a strong sense of ti.
When Elodie arrived at the parking lot holding Liora, Dante’s car happened to pull in at the exact mont.
Seeing them, the car stopped right next to Elodie.
Upon seeing that Dante had arrived, Liora didn’t get out of her mother’s arms. Instead, she lowered the car window and leaned toward it, her voice now high but sweet.
She called out coquettishly to Dante inside the car, "Daddy, pick up and take inside."
Dante didn’t say anything. He got out of the car smoothly and ca over to pick up Liora.
Liora happily swung her little legs in Dante’s arms, giggling as she settled against his chest.
As Dante leaned in close to take Liora from her, Elodie caught a familiar scent. She recognized quickly that it was Sienna’s perfu.
Unmistakable hers.
Before, when he had sat next to her at the banquet, he didn’t have that scent.
This ant that he had likely gone to the Green family after leaving here. To her.
Elodie’s chest tightened, but her face remained perfectly composed.
Dante looked at her, his expression neutral. "It’s cold tonight. Let’s head back."
Elodie stepped back, her voice even. "Got it."
Liora happily called out over Dante’s shoulder, "Goodbye, Mommy."
"Mm." Elodie responded quietly.
Dante, holding Liora securely in his arms, turned and got into the car. Elodie didn’t wait for them to drive off. She turned and walked to where her own car was parked, her heels clicking sharply against the pavent.
She didn’t look back.
She didn’t let herself.
Behind her, Dante paused for a mont, watching her retreating figure through the rearview mirror. The way her shoulders stayed straight. The way she didn’t hesitate.
He watched until she disappeared from view.
Then he finally looked away and turned to the driver. "Drive."
His car quickly rged into the flow of traffic, taillights disappearing into the night.
And Elodie stood alone in the cold, her breath misting in the air, her arms still aching from where Liora had been.
She waited until the sound of his car faded completely before she let herself exhale.
When Elodie was almost to her car, she heard footsteps behind her, then a voice cutting through the cold air. "Elodie."
She didn’t turn at first, assuming it was just soone passing by. But when she heard her na again, clearer this ti, she glanced back over her shoulder and saw it was Harry.
She blinked, surprised. She figured it was just coincidence, they hadn’t booked the entire hotel, after all. Maybe he had business here. Maybe he was eting soone.
She gave him a brief nod of acknowledgnt and turned back to her car, fumbling for her keys.
But when she looked up again, he was still standing there. Just... watching her.
Her brows knitted together. "Did you need sothing?"
Harry hesitated, like he was choosing his words carefully.
Finally, he said, "Daisy’s been asking about you. She wanted to give you sothing, made promise I’d set up a ti for you two to et. Would you be free soti this week?"
Oh... Daisy.
Elodie’s expression softened despite herself. That little girl had been through hell, and she’d latched onto Elodie like a lifeline after the hot spring incident. She’d said Elodie reminded her of her mother, her late mother.
Elodie genuinely cared about Daisy. If it were any other situation, she’d agree without a second thought.
But eting through *Harry*? That complicated things.
Before she could answer, Harry added, almost casually, "There’s also a business matter I wanted to discuss. I think I could be useful to your uncle’s company."
Elodie went still.
Harry didn’t push. He just said, "No pressure. Think about it. If you’re interested, reach out whenever. I’ll make the ti."
Elodie studied him for a long mont.
She didn’t trust easily anymore. And Harry was close with Sienna and Dante, she’d seen it herself. What if this was just another setup? What if he helped Uncle Jason now, only to pull the rug out later when it benefited them?
Harry seed to read her silence. "I keep business separate from personal drama," he said quietly. "Whatever happens between you and them, it won’t touch what I do with your uncle. You have my word."
Elodie t his eyes. "You’re sure about that?"
"Completely."
She exhaled slowly. Uncle Jason’s company was struggling. Badly. If Harry was being genuine...
"Fine," she said. "I’ll think about it."
"That’s all I’m asking." Harry shifted his weight, glancing toward the hotel entrance. "It’s freezing out here. You should get inside before you catch sothing."
Elodie froze.
It’s cold tonight. Let’s head back.
Dante had said almost the exact sa thing not even ten minutes ago.
But the way Harry said it felt... different. Like he actually cared if she was uncomfortable. Like it wasn’t just sothing polite to say.
She forced herself to nod. "I’m fine. But thanks."
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