continued his conversation with his guests, acting as if this was the most natural thing in the world. Elara sat rigid, staring at a point on t

arely concealed. Alistair would occasionally glance at Diana,

n more wine," Alistair co

bject, a means to an end – the end being Diana's torment and his own assertion of power. When the dinner finally ended, and the guests began to depar

r small room, needing air, needing to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the house. The large, ornate sw

old water. She gasped, swallowing a mouthful of chlorinated water

oriented. Diana stood at the edge of the po

?" Diana shrieked, her voice distor

her head under the water. Elara thrashed, desperate for air. Diana was trying to drown her. The depth of he

t echoed across the pool area. A security guard

ng speed, she grabbed a sharp decorative stone from a nearby planter and scraped it

by the commotion, arrived moments later, Elara had manag

adling her bleeding arm, te

"Alistair, she tried to kill me! She pushed me, an

er hair, her body trembling from cold and shock.

ra's soaked, shivering form. Elara opened her mouth

, however, were fixed on Diana's bleeding arm, a flicke

ill go to you

nator,

" he

way, her wet clothes clinging to he

came to her room.

s injury is... unfortunate. You are confined to your room

drown me!" Elara cried,

s Diana is an old... acquaintance of t

had chosen to believe her. It was a clear message. Diana, despite everything, still held some sw

hacking cough and a fever from the near-drowning

mall bottle of expensive cough syrup and a box of fever reducers. Not

he maid said quietly,

is 'property'? Mrs. Gable's words about hate and obsession echoed in her mind, but brought no comfort, only more confusion. He was a monster, yet he sent medici

rrifying reality set in. Elara missed her period. Then another. A sicke

mpathetic young maid, bribing her with one of

nes appeared al

h Alistair St

strange, fierce protectiveness washed o

as for this unborn baby. She couldn't bring a child into this toxic, abusive world.

erhaps he noticed the subtle changes in her. H

t," he stated,

y it. She nodded,

t. A flicker of something – surpris

to himself. Then, louder,

er reaction was swift and brutal. There would be no illegitimate grandchil

ion" was

ve her. Elara pleaded, begged Ali

is is necessary, El

otional. They were taking her baby. Her only link to a future, however terrifying, was being forcibly severed.

was worse. That day, something inside Elara broke. Or perhaps, something hardened. Her resolve to escape, to

and malice knew no bounds. She cornered Elara in a quiet corridor of the estate, a

with a baby?" Diana sneered, her e

her, not with slaps this time, but with v

Diana shrieked, her face contorted in a mask of

Kicking, punching. Excruciating pain ripped through Elara's already traum

tor was there, his face grim. Alistair stood in

rds Elara couldn't quite make out. "Severe inter

g. The last vestiges of her hope seemed to drain away, leaving only a co