Silence swallowed the living room.
It was heavy. Crushing. The kind of silence that pressed against Elowen's ears until her own heartbeat became too loud, too painful. It felt like the walls were closing in on her, slowly, without mercy.
Scarlett's lips were still curved in a satisfied smile, her fingers wrapped possessively around Adrian's arm. Adrian did not pull away. He stood there calmly, looking at Elowen—not with guilt, not with love, but with pity.
That look broke something inside her.
That was the moment Elowen understood.
This was not a dream.
Her fingers trembled as they tightened around the wheels of her wheelchair. She wanted to move. She wanted to stand up, to step back, to turn around and run away from this scene.
But her body betrayed her.
The same way it always did.
Her legs stayed still.
Useless.
"How… when…?" Elowen stammered. Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears, thin and shaking. None of this made sense. "How is this possible?"
She and Adrian were still together this morning. He had texted her.
So how was he standing here now, holding Scarlett's hand?
"Don't you dare cause a scene here," Mr. Whitemere snapped sharply.
His eyes burned with open dislike as they landed on Elowen. The look made her heart tremble. She should have been used to it by now. He had never treated her like a daughter. Not once.
Many times, she had wondered if he was truly her father.
But just one look at the two of them—her and him—would erase all doubt. They looked too much alike. The same eyes. The same nose. The same face shape.
No DNA test was needed.
"Dad, I'm not trying to cause a scene," Elowen said weakly. Her voice shook as she looked at Adrian. "I just… I just want to understand what's going on."
Adrian was all she had.
Growing up as an illegitimate child was never easy. Being born from a mistress had marked her for life. This family never accepted her. They tolerated her at best.
She had endured everything because of Adrian.
He encouraged her. He defended her. When the accident happened, he stayed by her side. He told her he would never leave.
But now, everything was crashing down at once.
Nothing made sense anymore.
"What is there not to understand?" Mrs. Jones snapped coldly.
Her sharp tone made Elowen flinch.
"You should have seen this coming," Mrs. Jones continued, her eyes filled with disdain.
"You can't possibly expect my son to be with a cripple," Mr. Jones said without emotion. "The Jones family and the Whitemere family have a marriage contract. Adrian will settle with Scarlett. She is also a daughter of the Whitemere family."
Cripple.
The word hit Elowen like a violent storm.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"It was already bad enough that you're an illegitimate child," Mrs. Jones continued, her lips curling in disgust, as if she had waited years to say this. "Now you can't even use your legs."
Each word stabbed deeper than the last.
"Let's all calm down," Mrs. Whitemere said softly with a sigh. "This must be shocking for you, Elowen, but—"
"Why are you explaining anything to her?" Mr. Whitemere cut in coldly. "If she doesn't want to accept it, she can leave the family."
His words were sharp and merciless.
"We've done enough for her," he continued. "We sheltered her. We fed her. We paid her bills. What more does she want? Should we lose a marriage contract because of her?"
Elowen closed her eyes tightly.
Her head spun.
Was this really her father?
He never missed a chance to remind her that she depended on this family to survive. That she was nothing without the Whitemere name.
"Elowen," Adrian finally spoke.
His voice made her heart ache.
"I know I should have told you earlier," he said quietly. "That I want Scarlett."
He stepped closer, then suddenly squatted down in front of her, bringing himself to her level. He gently took her trembling hand, his touch familiar and cruel at the same time.
Elowen said nothing.
She only stared at him, her eyes broken, her lips trembling.
"I didn't want to hurt your feelings," Adrian added softly. "That's why I didn't tell you."
"You didn't want to hurt my feelings?" Elowen repeated, a bitter laugh escaping her as tears spilled down her cheeks. "But you just did."
"I know," Adrian said, sounding sincere. "And I'm sorry."
"Why?" Elowen asked, swallowing the sob stuck in her throat. "We were good. We never had problems."
Adrian didn't answer.
His eyes slowly dropped to her legs.
The reason was clear.
Painfully clear.
Elowen straightened in her wheelchair as understanding crashed over her. It felt like her soul had been ripped out of her body.
"But you said you didn't mind," she whispered.
After the accident, he had promised her forever.
"I know I did," Adrian sighed. "But I can't anymore. I'm the CEO of Jones Holdings. I can't end up with someone who can't walk."
Her world shattered.
"No… Adrian," Elowen cried desperately. "I can still walk. I can still be useful. The doctor said today that there's a chance I can walk again after surgery. I just need surgery."
She grabbed his hand tightly, her words rushing out in panic.
He had been the one to find the doctor. He had been the one to encourage her to keep trying.
So why now?
"It's been eight months already, Elowen," Adrian said quietly. "And there's still no progress."
"Please," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "Don't do this. I love you. We can find a way. I promise I'll walk again."
She held onto him like her life depended on it.
Because it did.
Adrian was her brother, her protector, her lover, her everything.
Without him, she had nothing.
"I'm sorry," Adrian said gently, pulling his hand away as he stood up. "I can't."
Her hands fell limply to her lap.
"If you love me," he added coldly, stepping back to Scarlett's side, "you should let me go."