"You left Gavaria right after the ceremony, and in quite a hurry" William continued, his tone carefully measured, each word placed like a chess piece on a board only he seemed to fully understand. "I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye."
Ella sat across from him, her posture composed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. To anyone else, she would have appeared calm and perfectly at ease.
But William knew better.
"Oh… I'm sorry," she replied softly. "I urged Nathan to leave because I was afraid I might fall sick again."
The moment the words left her lips, she pursed them ever so slightly.
There it was. That tiny habit she had never outgrown.
William's gaze lingered on her face for just a fraction longer than necessary before he leaned back in his chair.
"I see…"
Another lie. Not a clumsy one, nor even a nervous one, but it was deliberate… why?
He knew Ella Morrell was not a careless liar. If she was choosing to lie, then she was protecting something.
Or someone.
