Chapter 8

The moment Clara ended the call with Belinda, she excused herself from the council meeting and stepped into the corridor. Ignoring the curious looks from the other representatives, she immediately pulled out her phone and called Elena through their private encrypted line.

The call connected almost instantly.

To Clara's surprise, Elena sounded perfectly composed.

"I'm alright," she said with a quiet laugh. "Don't leave the meeting because of me. Finish what you need to do, and then let's have dinner together."

The familiar warmth in her voice eased the tightness that had settled in Clara's chest.

After a brief pause, she smiled.

"Then spend the Winter Gala with me this year."

Every December, the heads of the city's major syndicates hosted an exclusive charity gala—a public celebration that concealed private negotiations worth millions. It had become one of the few occasions where Clara and Elena could spend an evening together without drawing suspicion.

"I'd love to," Elena replied without hesitation. "But don't disappear halfway through the night because someone needs you to negotiate another deal."

Clara laughed.

"I won't. If the meeting can't wait, they can come to my house."

Elena let out an amused hum.

"Some things never change."

The sound made Clara's chest ache for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Now go," Elena said gently. "I'm really okay."

Only after the call ended did Clara return to the council chamber.

**

At the neighboring Vieri estate, the atmosphere had become noticeably heavier.

The video of Elena being assaulted had spread through the underground network at an alarming speed. Every encrypted group chat shared by the city's major families was flooded with arguments, speculation, and outrage.

Once again, Celeste had become the center of attention.

Her personal assistant, Veronica Coleman, stood beside the fireplace with visible unease while Sebastian sat silently on the opposite side of the room, replaying the video on his phone.

Elena's pale face.

Her coat soaked with coffee.

The moment she was shoved onto the pavement.

Every second tightened something painfully inside his chest.

"When did this happen?"

His voice was so quiet that Veronica almost missed it.

"About an hour ago," she answered carefully. "Vieri security arrived shortly afterward and handed several of the attackers over to the authorities."

Without another word, Sebastian stood.

He immediately called Elena.

The call rang until it disconnected.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

His jaw tightened.

Grabbing his coat, he strode toward the front door without another explanation.

Celeste watched him leave until the door closed behind him.

Only then did she turn to Veronica.

Her voice was barely audible.

"This is getting dangerous."

Veronica let out a slow breath.

"The plan was supposed to pressure Don Sebastian into making a decision."

She lowered her voice even further.

"But no matter how much time he spends here, he still hasn't divorced Elena. If the other families start questioning where his loyalty really lies, everything we've done could end up backfiring."

Celeste lowered her gaze without replying.

**

Sebastian drove through the city faster than he normally allowed himself.

For the first time in years, his thoughts refused to settle.

Elena had returned from Sicily without telling him.

She hadn't called to remind him of the promise he had broken.

She hadn't confronted him.

She hadn't even argued.

Instead, she had simply... drifted farther away.

He couldn't explain why that realization left him so uneasy.

Before reaching the legal commission, he spotted a familiar figure walking along the sidewalk.

Elena.

She was alone, pulling a small suitcase behind her.

Sebastian pulled the car to the curb and stepped out.

"Elena."

She stopped walking.

Slowly, she turned toward him.

There was nothing in her eyes.

No affection.

No anger.

Not even disappointment.

Only a quiet emptiness that unsettled him more than any accusation ever could.

Without waiting for permission, he walked over and took the suitcase from her hand.

"I'll carry this."

She neither thanked him nor protested.

She simply let go of the handle.

"You came back from Sicily without telling me," Sebastian said as they walked toward the car. "Why didn't you call? I would've picked you up."

Elena offered no response.

She quietly slid into the passenger seat as though she hadn't heard the question at all.

Sebastian closed the trunk, climbed behind the wheel, and started the engine.

As they drove back toward the Vieri estate, he found himself glancing at her far more often than he should have.

She stared out the window in complete silence.

Her face had grown noticeably thinner.

Even beneath her oversized coat, he could tell she had lost weight.

The realization left an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

After several minutes, he finally broke the silence.

"Have you eaten?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"We'll stop somewhere."

"I'm not hungry."

Her answer was gentle.

Too gentle.

The silence returned, stretching between them until Sebastian finally asked the question that had been haunting him ever since he watched the video.

"Were you hurt?"

Only then did Elena turn her head.

Their eyes met for the briefest moment.

So...

He had seen the video after all.

That explained why he had suddenly come looking for her.

Why concern had finally appeared on his face.

The realization passed quietly through her mind.

To her surprise...

It no longer hurt.