A heavy silence descended over Sebastian's study.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Only the ticking of the antique grandfather clock broke the stillness.
Elara stared blankly at Adrian, unable to comprehend what she had just heard.
"My... aunt?"
The words felt foreign on her tongue.
Adrian lowered his head.
"Lady Victoria Ashcroft."
"Your father's younger sister."
Elara shook her head repeatedly.
"No."
"She couldn't..."
"If she was my family..."
"Why would she want to hurt me?"
Adrian's eyes filled with sorrow.
"Because to people like Victoria..."
"Power has always been more important than family."
Sebastian remained standing beside Elara, his expression unreadable.
But Nathan, who had worked with him for over a decade, noticed the subtle change.
Sebastian's right hand reste
