"She knew."
My voice cracks on the second word. I stare at the seating chart in Julian's hands, at Mary's neat handwriting curling under the line that just reached into my chest and broke something I thought I had already buried. If Elara says no, tell her the marriage saves her brother.
She knew about Elias.
She knew he was alive.
She knew the marriage was not love. She knew it was leverage. And she sat across from me at that engagement dinner with kind eyes and gentle hands and never said a single word.
Julian folds the chart slowly. His movements are too careful. Too controlled. That is how I know he is breaking too.
Nathaniel steps closer to me. Not touching. Just near. "Elara." I shake my head once. I do not trust my voice yet.
Evelyn looks at Victor. "Did you know Mary had thi
