Elena no longer had the strength to love another soul. Her heart was empty of warmth. All that remained inside her was a fire of hatred, burning deep.
“Hatred?”
The voice came from the entrance.
Elena’s head snapped around. She kept her eyes on the entrance door until she realized who it was. A gray-haired gentleman stood by the doorway, a wooden tray in his hands with steam rising from a cup of coffee.
Elena knew that face. He was the retired butler of the Farrington family. Richard, Dolphus’s trusted assistant, had once mentioned him. Hawksley the old butler, who had left the estate years ago to manage the farm in Glendale outskirts for the Gamma.
“What?” Elena’s voice was low, as though she expected betrayal hidden below his gentle smile.
Hawksley walked toward her. He set the sma
