**Elena**
"Great, glad you could make it," I said, forcing a smile as I walked toward her. My steps felt heavy, but I kept my head high. "You’ve saved me the stress of coming over."
My tone was sharper than I expected. But I didn’t care.
I stopped a few feet away, eyes narrowing. “What did you do to my father, Mortina?”
She didn’t respond. Instead, her gaze shifted, cold, as she looked past me. Straight at Nick.
"Don't tell me you're still friends with this… thing," she sneered.
Thing? I clenched my fists.
My stomach twisted with a mix of shame and rage. She always did this—tried to reduce me in the presence of others with just a few words.
Nick didn’t flinch. His jaw tightened as he straightened his shoulders. Calm, but firm.
"Watch what you say, Mrs. Downs," he said coolly. "I
