Chapter Twenty-Nine
*Parting Glances*
The tense, artificial glow of the dining room was replaced by the cool, blue dusk of the evening. The awkward gathering had finally reached its end. They all stood on the grand front steps of the Lax townhouse, the Louis family preparing to depart.
"It was... enlightening to meet you all today," Aurora said, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of social grace. The words were polite, but her sharp eyes held a final verdict.
Leonor Louis, looking older and more tired than when he arrived, managed a stiff bow. "Thank you for your hospitality, Chairwoman Lax. I... I will come by your office soon. There is much I need to discuss with you." His voice was heavy with unspoken things—apologies, explanations, perhaps a plea for his daughter's place in
