Yancy, on the other hand, was thrilled.
He got up from his seat, walked over to Liora, and scooped her up with a grin, teasing her about the silly hat she’d brought back from her trip.
Liora giggled, squirming in his arms.
Then Yancy suddenly turned to Dante and asked casually, "By the way, where’s my sister-in-law?"
When Stella and the others had arrived earlier, they hadn’t seen Elodie. They’d just assud she’d gone with Dante to pick up Liora from the airport.
But now both Dante and Liora were back, and Elodie was still nowhere to be seen.
It was a little strange.
Still, none of them cared enough to ask.
Dante’s expression didn’t change. "She’s busy."
Yancy shrugged and went back to teasing Liora, already forgetting about it.
Nonna, sitting quietly at the head of the table, knew the truth. But she didn’t say anything.
---
After dinner, Liora played for a while, running around the estate with Yancy and showing off her souvenirs to anyone who’d listen.
But eventually, she got bored.
She missed her mom.
So she decided to call her.
---
Even though it was technically a holiday, Elodie had no intention of resting.
When Liora’s call ca through, Elodie was sitting at her desk, reviewing materials Professor Nolan had sent her earlier that day.
She glanced at the screen and saw it was Liora.
For a mont, she just stared at the na.
Then, rembering they hadn’t seen each other in nearly a month, she picked up.
"Hello."
Liora hadn’t actually expected her to answer.
So when she heard her mom’s voice, her entire face lit up.
"Mom!"
Elodie’s eyes stayed on the computer screen. Her tone was flat. Distant.
"Mm."
Liora didn’t notice. She was too excited.
"Mom, I’m back!"
Elodie hadn’t known she’d gone abroad. No one had told her.
She just replied, "Mm," acknowledging it without emotion.
But to Liora, the fact that her mom had answered at all was enough.
She started bouncing on the bed, her voice bright and eager.
"Mom, when will you be done with work? Will you co ho tonight? I want you to hold while I sleep. I have so many fun things to tell you! And I want to eat the breakfast you make tomorrow morning. When will you be back?"
Elodie’s hand froze on the mouse.
She didn’t tell Liora the truth, that she wouldn’t be going back to the Bellini estate. Not tonight. Not ever again.
Instead, she said quietly, "I’m really busy right now. I won’t be back for a while. Maybe next month. I’ll take you out to play then."
Liora’s excitent faltered, but only for a second.
She hadn’t been out with her mom in so long. The idea of even if it was next month made her happy.
But still...
"Next month?" Liora’s voice was small now. "That’s so far away..."
There were only a few days left until next month, but to a kid, it felt like forever.
She didn’t say that out loud, though. Instead, she asked hopefully, "When next month?"
Even through the phone, Elodie could hear the longing. The need. The quiet desperation in her daughter’s voice.
Elodie’s grip on the mouse tightened.
She stared at the screen in front of her, the words blurring together.
After a few long seconds, she finally spoke.
"We’ll see. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided."
Her voice was calm, controlled.
But inside, sothing was breaking.
"Okay..."
Elodie’s voice was quiet. Then she asked, "Have you taken a shower yet?"
"Not yet. But I will soon."
"Go take a shower first. I still have work to do, so I’m going to hang up now."
Liora’s face fell. "We just started talking and you’re already hanging up?"
She glanced at the call tir on the screen.
"Mom, we’ve only talked for two minutes. Can we talk a little longer?"
Elodie closed her eyes briefly. "Next ti when I’m free, if you want to chat, we’ll talk more."
Liora’s shoulders slumped, but she didn’t argue. "Okay... but you have to keep your word."
"I will."
"Then... Mom, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
The line went dead.
Liora stared at the phone in her hand, her chest tight.
She’d forgotten to tell her mom about the gift she’d bought for her. She’d been so excited to show it to her, but now the call was over and it was too late.
Disappointed, she set the phone down and headed to the study to find her dad.
---
Dante was in the middle of a video conference when Liora walked in.
The mont he saw her, he turned off the cara and muted his microphone.
"What’s wrong? Did she not pick up?"
Liora shook her head. "No, she picked up."
Dante pulled her into his lap, his thumb gently brushing over her forehead. His gaze softened as he looked at her eyes, her brows, the features that mirrored his own.
"You got through to her, but you’re not happy?"
Liora’s brows furrowed slightly. "I’m happy, but..."
She trailed off, unsure how to explain it.
She hadn’t talked to her mom in so long. She was happy. But sothing still felt... off.
"But what?" Dante prompted gently.
Liora’s voice was small. "But I feel a little unhappy too."
Dante propped his chin on his hand, smiling faintly. "That’s probably because you haven’t seen her in a long ti. You miss her. Once she’s less busy, she’ll spend more ti with you."
Liora nodded, but her pout remained. "But Mom’s so busy. She said she won’t be able to see until next month..."
"Then you’ll wait until next month," Dante said simply. "Dad will keep you company until then."
"Mm."
Liora was tired. After chatting for a few more minutes, she yawned, slid off his lap, and padded back to her room to rest.
---
The Next Day – New Year’s Eve.
Almost the entire morning had passed, and neither Stella nor Yancy had seen Elodie.
Stella had noticed yesterday, of course. Felix had co back to visit Nonna during the New Year, but Elodie hadn’t shown up even once.
At first, Stella had assud sothing must have happened in the Miller family. Maybe an ergency. Maybe soone was sick.
Even after Nonna was discharged from the hospital, Elodie still hadn’t co.
Dante had said she was busy, and because Stella knew how Elodie felt about her son, how devoted she’d always been, she hadn’t thought too much about it. She figured Elodie would show up eventually.
But today was New Year’s Eve.
Elodie didn’t have the sa kind of demanding career Dante did. Even if she was busy, even if there were major issues in the Miller family, there was no reason for her to not co back even once over the past two days.
So...
Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly as she stood in the hallway, staring at the empty guest room that used to be Elodie’s.
Sothing was off.
Around eleven o’clock, Dante ca downstairs.
Stella, who had been sitting in the living room with a cup of tea she hadn’t touched, couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Did you and Elodie get divorced?"
Yancy, who was lounging on the couch scrolling through his phone, froze.
Over the past two days, he’d genuinely thought Elodie was just busy. That she’d show up eventually.
But now, hearing his mother’s question, he was completely stunned.
Dante paused mid-step. He walked over to the tea table, poured himself a cup, and took a slow sip before answering calmly.
"Not yet. But we’re going through the process."
Yancy’s eyes went wide.
So they were actually getting divorced?
He’d always known Dante didn’t love Elodie. Everyone knew. But he’d just assud they’d keep going like this, just being married on paper, distant in reality.
He didn’t expect them to actually go through with it.
Stella looked at Dante, her expression unreadable.
They had no feelings for each other. In that sense, a divorce made sense. It would be better for both of them.
But if Dante was divorcing Elodie just so he could marry Sienna—
Her face darkened.
She opened her mouth, about to say sothing, but Dante, clearly anticipating it, stood up.
"I have a eting to attend," he said smoothly. "Excuse ."
Before Stella could get a word out, he was already heading upstairs.
---
anwhile, at the Miller Family Ho.
After a busy day filled with cooking, cleaning, and preparing for the evening, the Miller family had just finished their New Year’s Eve dinner.
It was completely dark outside now. The streets were alive with fireworks popping in the distance, children laughing, music drifting from neighboring houses.
Elodie and Hugo were just about to head out into the garden to set off fireworks when her phone buzzed.
She glanced down at the screen.
Harry Becker – Video Call.
Elodie froze.
It was unusual for Harry to call her via video.
So... She answered.
The first thing that appeared on the screen was Daisy’s little face, bright and beaming.
"Aunt Elodie!"
Elodie couldn’t help but smile. "Happy New Year, Daisy."
"Happy New Year!"
Daisy was clearly in a garden sowhere. She held up the little rabbit-shaped lantern Elodie had given her, glowing a warm orange-yellow in the dark.
"The lantern is so pretty! I really, really like it. Thank you, Aunt Elodie!"
"I’m glad you like it," Elodie said softly. "You don’t need to thank ."
Daisy grinned. "Aunt Elodie, Uncle Harry and I are going to set off fireworks later. Do you want to co?"
Elodie assud she ant at the Becker family estate.
"I can’t tonight, sweetheart. I have other plans. Maybe next ti?"
Daisy’s face fell a little. "Oh... okay."
She and Elodie chatted for a little longer, about the trip Daisy had taken with her uncle, about the snacks she’d eaten, about the cartoons she’d been watching.
Then sothing in the background caught Daisy’s attention, and she wandered off, still holding the phone.
A mont later, Harry’s face appeared on the screen.
"Happy New Year," he said.
"Happy New Year."
Now that Daisy was gone, Elodie felt a little awkward. She wasn’t used to video calls with Harry. Didn’t really know what to say.
Harry seed to sense it. He kept his tone light.
"Do you have any plans later? Setting off fireworks? Going out to celebrate?"
Elodie nodded. "I’ll probably go out for a bit."
Hugo and Xavier had been begging to go out and see the big public fireworks display in the city square. She’d likely tag along.
She figured Harry was just making small talk, so she didn’t think too much of it.
Still, she felt like the conversation had run its course.
"I should go," she said. "Let’s talk later?"
Harry nodded. "Alright."
Elodie gave him a small smile, then ended the call.
She set her phone down on the table and headed out into the small garden, where Hugo and Xavier were already lighting sparklers and laughing loudly.
She smiled despite herself.
For the first ti in a long ti, she felt... light.
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