Chapter149: Facade of Affection

|| Lilac’s POV || The moment Elias left, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. His invitation for a drive wasn’t just a casual suggestion—it felt calculated, like a move in a game I didn’t fully understand. I needed to talk to someone, to get my thoughts in order. So, I called Elara. “Hey,” I said as soon as she picked up, my voice low and urgent. “Elias just asked me out for a drive.” There was a pause on the other end, and then Elara’s voice came through, sharp and alert. “What did you say?” “I said yes,” I replied, my tone tinged with frustration. “I didn’t have a choice. If I said no, it would’ve raised his suspicions.” Elara sighed, her voice thoughtful. “Okay, okay. This could actually work in our favor.” “How?” I asked, my brow furrowing. “Cozy up to him,” Elara said, her tone firm. “Play along. If he thinks you’re warming up to him, he might let something slip. We need to know his motives, Lilac. This could be our chance.” I hesitated, the idea of pretending to be close to Elia