Chapter 11: Fractured Alliances
Adrian's POV
The main house had never felt so small—not with all of them in it. Richard stood rigid by the tall windows, his silhouette sharp against the afternoon light. Eleanor hovered near the side table like she might dissolve into the wallpaper at any moment. Vanessa lingered by the doorway, elegant and poisonous, her gaze tracking every movement in the room like a spider counting flies.
Leo tugged on Elena's hand again, his small voice cutting through the tension. "Can we go see the ducks now? The man by the trees said they were friendly."
The room went still. Every breath seemed to stop.
Elena knelt quickly, her voice dropping to something soft and careful. "What man, baby?"
Leo shrugged, already distracted by a shiny paperweight on the side tab
