“Is she asleep?” The elderly woman’s voice was quiet but firm as she watched a maid step out of Elleri’s room.
“Yes, Señora,” the maid answered politely, lowering her head in respect.
The old woman exhaled slowly, her gaze lingering on the door. When Elleri arrived earlier, she was sobbing and trembling uncontrollably. The assistant who had picked her up from the stadium hadn’t asked any questions either—just brought her home and let her collapse into bed.
“This must be why she was crying,” the assistant murmured, handing over a tablet. On the screen was an article announcing Aster and Adrian’s engagement.
The elderly woman took the device, reading the headline, then the first few lines. Her expression didn’t change. When she finished, she simply handed it back without a word.
“Call t
