ws, bringing with it a strange scent, somewhere between the scent of damp earth and that of forgotten memories. Three years had passed sin
roudly before her like a monument to the glory of a family which, just like the house, seemed untouchable and solid. Yet bene
ll of polished wood mingled with that of the fresh air coming in through the open door. Everything seemed unchanged, but Elena knew everything was different. Th
oken voice called f
ing him some warmth in this icy house. She moved forward, fighting against the memories that overwhelmed her. The old woman was
na whispered,
a tenderness that melted Elena's heart. "You came bac
her's hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm sorry I didn't com
ng on her lips. "It's never too late," she said, her voice
by the turn of the conver
lth is failing rapidly," she said with a frankness that made El
forming in her stomach. "What d
rching for words. Then she opened them again, fixing El
s. "Get married? With whom ? »
nged marriage," she replied in a calm, but firm voice. "It must
ter everything we had put him through? She wanted to escape, to escape again, but a feeling of obligation
she asked, her voice betraying a
ed soothingly. "The family needs you to get back on their fe
at her intent
age is not what it seems. The future husband is not who you
mind like an impossible riddle. "I don't
closing her eyes. "You have everything you need to navi
a path she hadn't chosen, but one she couldn't escape. "But... who is he? My fut
gmatic smile. "He's waiting for
But at the same time, she knew her grandmother was right. The family was in danger. Their name, their fortune... everything was at stake. And be
the face of her half-sister, Elena saw herself again, as a teenager, being publicly humiliated because of the betrayal of the one she had considered h
veryone who had played with his life. But first of all, there was this upcoming wedding. She wondered if
d. She stood up quickly, heading towards the entrance of the house. It was him. The mysterious
d. He was tall, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, with a figure that seemed to come from another worl
e was the embodiment of power, but there was something about him
ough Elena, but also a strange feeling of... curiosity. A smile touched his lips. "Elena," he sa
Elena knew that her future was