Chapter 213

ELORA'S POV The moment I parked my car outside the mansion, I knew Lucian wasn't home yet. It was too quiet. I glanced around instinctively, eyes sweeping the long driveway, the familiar dark sedan noticeably absent from its usual spot. Lucian wasn’t back yet. It was barely noon…twelve on the dot. There was no way he’d be home this early. His meetings never ended before evening, not when Weston Technology was expanding the way it was. Relief loosened something in my chest. I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the car, the sound of my heels echoing softly as I climbed the stairs and pushed the front doors open. The house greeted me with its usual stillness. I headed straight upstairs. Our bedroom felt the same as always…too big, too quiet when he wasn’t in it. I dropped my keys on the dresser, tossed my bag beside it, shrugged off my jacket, and let it slide to the floor. My shoulders sagged as I exhaled, the weight of the morning finally catching up with me. I walked toward the walk-in