Chapter 11.
Soft steps sounded behind the bedroom door. Elara, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, straightened up, her heart automatically racing. The door opened slowly, revealing the figure of Evelyn Vale, who entered with a faint smile on her lips.
"Elara, dear," the woman's voice sounded so warm, almost too warm. "May I have a moment with you?"
Elara stood up politely, holding back her nerves. "Of course, Mrs. Evelyn."
Since her marriage, Adrian's mother rarely spoke to her. Her presence was mostly in the form of a probing look or a meaningful smile at the dinner table. But tonight, Evelyn came alone, in a gray silk dress that fell gracefully, with a calculating look in her eyes.
Evelyn sat in a chair by the window, patting the empty spot beside her. Elara complied, despite t
