The heavy library doors creaked open.
Elena walked in, her eyes scanning the room. She looked at me, then at Kaelen, and finally, she cast a sharp, cold glare at Adrian.
She rushed past the men and approached me, gripping my hands.
"Big Sister," she asked, her voice tight with worry. "Are you okay?"
I nodded dumbly, still clutching the rolled-up paper.
"My, my, Elena," Adrian interjected, his voice dripping with mock hurt. "Are you so fond of your new sister-in-law that you forgot to greet your own brother?"
Elena didn't even flinch. She turned her head slowly, looking at him with eyes as cold as glass.
"Big Brother Adrian," she said formally. "Mother has summoned you. Right away."
Adrian's smirk faltered for a second, then widened into something sharper.
"Nothing really stays hidden from her for long, huh?" he muttered, pushing himself off the bookshelf.
Elena ignored his commentary. She turned back to Kaelen, her expression softening into genuine concern.
