Chapter 53
Elodie’s POV
“Liora p>
The line went dead.
She’d hung up on me.
I sat there in my car, parked on the side of the road, staring at my phone screen. My throat felt tight. My eyes burned.
She was angry. My baby girl was angry at me because I’d said no. Because for once in my life, I’d tried to put myself first.
And I couldn’t even do that right.
I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to hold it together. Trying not to fall apart right here in public where anyone could see.
But it hurt.
Everything hurt.
After a few minutes or maybe longer, I wasn’t sure, I finally pulled myself together enough to drive. But I didn’t go to the estate.
I went back to my apartment instead.
The place was quiet when I walked in. Empty. Just me and the silence and this crushing weight on my chest that wouldn’t let up.
I made myself eat something just instant noodles, nothing fancy. I barely tasted it. Just forced it down because I knew I needed to eat, needed to keep functioning even when everything felt pointless.
I’d just opened my laptop, trying to focus on the research I’d planned to do, when my phone rang again. It was Johnny.
I answered, grateful for the distraction. “Hey p>
“Elodie, there’s a banquet coming up in a few days,” he said. “Important people from several Packs will be there. I’d like you to come with me. I want to introduce you around, start building your network for when you officially join the firm p>
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll be there p>
“Perfect.” He paused. “How’s the handover going at Wilson Group? Any issues p>
“No, it’s going smoothly. Should be done in the next few days p>
“Good. I’m looking forward to having you on the team, Elodie. I think you’re going to do great things p>
His confidence in me felt foreign. Strange. Like he was talking about someone else.
“Thanks, Johnny p>
Isabella hung up the phone and stood there in the hallway, waiting.
Any minute now, her mom would rush through the door, apologizing for being late, already heading to the kitchen to make her favorite crab cakes and sushi.
That’s what always happened.
She waited.
An hour crawled by. It was nearly eight o’clock, and there was still no sign of Elodie.
The butler approached cautiously, concern etched on his weathered face. “Miss Liora, perhaps you should eat something now? Just a little something to tide you over until your mother arrives p>
“No!” Liora’s bottom lip jutted out stubbornly. “I don’t want anything else p>
The reality of the situation was starting to sink in. Her mother hadn’t called. Hadn’t sent a message. Hadn’t come.
The moment the butler tried to persuade her again, something inside Liora cracked. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I only want Mommy’s food! I only want Mommy p>
The butler shifted uncomfortably, torn between his duty and his genuine affection for the child. He glanced toward the stairs, then back at Liora’s tear-stained face.
Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed the Alpha.
It rang several times before Dante picked up. Background noise filtered through, voices, laughter, the clink of glasses. He was at some business dinner.
“What is it p>
The butler quickly explained the situation. Liora was refusing to eat, asking for her mother, and Elodie’s continued absence.
“Put her on,” Dante said after a pause.
The butler handed the phone to Liora. She took it with trembling hands. “Daddy p>
“Eat something p>
Liora sniffled but said nothing, her silence its own form of protest.
Dante didn’t push. He just waited.
The tears came harder now, rolling down her cheeks in streams.
His voice remained calm, unbothered. “I’ll take you somewhere fun this weekend. Your choice p>
The crying stopped abruptly. “Really p>
“Yes. Now eat p>
“Have you eaten, Daddy p>
“I’m at a dinner meeting p>
“Oh Her voice was small.
“Go eat p>
“Okay p>
Liora’s mood had shifted completely. She handed the phone back to the butler and headed toward the dining room, her earlier tantrum forgotten.
Dante returned to the private dining room where several business associates waited. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and took his seat.
One of the men chuckled. “You’re always on that phone, Alpha. Important business p>
Dante lifted his wine glass, swirling the dark liquid. “My daughter was refusing to eat. Had to talk her down p>
The comment landed like a stone in still water.
For years, rumors had circulated about Dante Bellini’s personal life. Some said he was married. Others insisted he was single, that the wedding had never happened. No one had ever seen his wife at public functions. No one knew her name.
And now, casually, over wine and business talk, he’d mentioned having a daughter.
The others exchanged glances but said nothing. No one dared ask follow-up questions. Not to an Alpha like Dante.
After dinner, Liora kept vigil by the window, watching for headlights.
Nine o’clock came and went. She’d already had her bath, changed into her pajamas, but she refused to go to bed.
Any moment now. Any moment, her mother would come.
Around ten, she heard the sound of tires on gravel. Her face lit up instantly.
“Mommy p>
She bolted down the stairs, nearly tripping in her excitement.
But when the door opened, it was Dante who stepped through.
Her expression fell. “Oh. Daddy p>
Dante handed his jacket to the butler, noting the disappointment written all over his daughter’s face. “What’s wrong p>
“I thought you were Mommy p>
He didn’t react to the clear preference in her voice. “She’s probably busy. But she promised to take you to school tomorrow morning, didn’t she? Get some sleep. You’ll see her then p>
That seemed to pacify her somewhat. “Okay p>
She trudged back upstairs, and Dante headed to his study.
Work consumed the next few hours, contracts to review, emails to answer, reports to read. When he finally glanced at the clock, it was nearly midnight.
He assumed Elodie had come back while he’d been working.
But when he entered the master bedroom, it was empty. Untouched.
She still hadn’t returned.
Dante stood there for a moment, something like curiosity flickering through him. It had been days now. Whatever was happening at her family’s place must be serious.
He didn’t dwell on it. Just headed to the bathroom to shower before bed.
The next morning, Elodie woke before dawn.
She’d barely slept, but that was nothing new. She got ready quietly, mechanically, showered, clothes, minimal makeup. Then she forced down some toast and coffee even though she wasn’t hungry.
By the time she got in her car, the sun was just starting to rise.
The drive to the Bellini estate felt surreal. As her car passed through the gates and wound up the familiar driveway, she had this strange, detached feeling like she was watching someone else’s life.
This place had been her home for years.
Now it just felt like somewhere she used to live.