#Chapter 64: Lady of the House

Elara Alaric’s announcement landed like a punch to the gut. “She’s been through so much, Elara,” he said softly, his hand brushing my shoulder and giving it a squeeze that I barely felt. “It’s temporary, just until we figure everything out.” I blinked up at him, unsure whether I had just misheard him. First our wedding had to be postponed due to the fact that his wife was still alive after all these years, our own marriage certificate was rendered null and void, and now this. “You’re giving up the master bedroom?” I choked out, hardly daring to utter the words. “She’s been held captive for years, and she needs the space,” he explained gently. “Plus, when the house burned down, I had it rebuilt to look exactly the same as before. I figured she could use the comfort of her old bedroom.” Comfort. That word lodged itself in my head, and I wondered… What about my comfort? This was my house now, too, and I had already given up so much. Still, I swallowed