he formal dining room cast a warm, golde

e, faded gray oversized sweater and black leggings. She walked down

ed the di

at the head of the massive table. His face was lined wi

n, severe storm front over the East Coast. He was trapped at home, and his mood was foul. He star

Elenora walked in, Joleen's eyes widened in panic. She frantically jerked her h

that chair, eager to be as close to Donovan as possi

't even glance at the

d of the long table. She pulled out an empty chair situated at the furth

e thick Persian rug. Elenora sat down, folded h

flicker of mild surprise crossing his stoic features. He didn't say

e slowly turned his head, his dark eyes locking onto Elenora from three meters away. The physical d

to the room. She began serving bowls of steaming

er eyes to the creamy orange liquid, blew on it softly, and took a small sip. She chewed a piec

lver against porcelain. The silence was suffocating. The a

of being treated like a piece of furniture by someone who used

the silence. He want

hoed across the long table. "How much of that SAT prep book did you actua

softly, her hands twisting

poon down on the saucer. She picked up her linen napkin and d

ahogany, meeting Donovan's hostile glare with eyes that

ed. Her tone was crisp and professional, like an employee giving

ll. Her polite, impenetrable armor offered no reacti

linding frustrati

er knife and fork down o

AN

the quiet dignity of the room. Cornelius frowned deeply, h

reeched against the rug. He stood up, his

petite," Donovan

rowing into cruel slits. He wanted to hurt

ed, making sure every word was clear. "I'm flying to Boston ton

ace, waiting for the flinch, the

of her lips twitched upward into a pol

id, her voice light and clear. "

d as if the floor had vanished beneath him. He stood there

and stormed out of the dining room, hi

ished instantly. She picked up her silve