Daphne's outburst should have shocked Elena.
Instead, what unsettled her was how little it shocked everyone else.
There were no frantic movements. No cries of alarm. Just irritation—tight shoulders, clipped breaths, eyes already looking away as if this were merely an inconvenience on a schedule they all knew by heart.
"Wonderful," Xander muttered, rising from his chair. "You've all successfully ruined my dinner."
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't look at anyone. He simply stood, adjusted his cufflinks, and walked out.
His own mother was bleeding down her cheek—and he didn't even glance back.
Elena watched him go, stunned.
Harper rushed to Victoria's side. "Mum—God, you're bleeding."
"Yes. That much is obvious," Paul snapped, already annoyed.
"Come on, darling," he said curtly, taking Victoria by the arm. "Let's get you upstairs and clean that up."
Victoria allowed herself to be led away, but not before she glanced back at Harper—offering her daughter a small, steadying look. It was almost maternal. Almost kind.
Then they were gone.
Elena found herself left behind with Harper, Maddox, and their grandfather—who sat silently in his wheelchair, staring ahead, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had just erupted.
His caregiver stepped forward quietly and rolled him out of the room.
The silence felt heavier now.
"Well," Harper said, exhaling sharply, forcing a crooked smile as she turned to Elena, "you've officially met the rest of my fucked-up family."
She started toward the door.
"Harper," Elena called.
Harper paused but didn't turn.
"You are not a failure," Elena said firmly. "Not even close. You're brave. You're ambitious. You're trying to build something for yourself in a family that does everything it can to tear you down. I find you inspiring."
Harper slowly turned back. She just stared at Elena, her lips trembling despite her effort to hold it together.
Then she crossed the room and hugged Elena tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Pulling back, she wiped her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I'm going to bed. God knows I'm exhausted."
She left.
Elena became acutely aware that she was now completely alone with Maddox.
He leaned back against the table, one hand braced on the polished wood, his gaze fixed on her. There was nothing playful in his expression now.
"That was a nice speech," he said, his voice low.
"She needed to hear it."
Maddox pushed himself off the table and stepped closer.
Too close.
"Don't you think I deserve one too?" he murmured, lips curving slightly. "We share the same fucked-up father, after all."
Elena arched a brow. "Maybe after you tell me who Laura is."
He let out a quiet chuckle. "You're a curious little cat, aren't you?"
"I'm not a cat," she replied evenly. "But yes, I'm curious. Your grandmother nearly killed your mother right in front of me while screaming about Laura. You can't expect me not to be."
"Honestly?" His tone softened. "I have no idea. I stopped trying to make sense of my grandmother a long time ago."
His gaze dipped briefly to her lips before lifting back to her eyes.
"But," he added, "I do know what might help refresh my memory."
His hand rose slowly, fingers brushing a loose strand of her hair, twirling it slowly.
"A little kiss," he said, tapping his lips. "Right here. You know, strictly medicinal."
Elena stepped closer. So close it looked like she might actually give him what he wanted.
Instead, she leaned in and whispered against his ear, "Not until you tell me who Laura is."
Maddox smiled slowly, his canines flashing faintly. Elena hated that she noticed, really noticed, how devastatingly handsome he was.
"I find you very intriguing," he said. "Most women fall for my charm on the first night."
"Sadly," Elena replied, unfazed, "I'm not most women. And like I told you the first night we met—I enjoy a good chase."
Maddox moved even closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
"Then I'll chase you anywhere," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin, "and everywhere… until I catch you."
"Good luck with that," Elena whispered back.
"Are we interrupting something?" a voice asked behind them.
They both looked up.
Standing at the entrance were Senator Ryan Armstrong and Lady Helen Armstrong.
The uncle and aunt.
The political power couple.
Maddox immediately stepped back, his entire demeanor shifting.
"Uncle Ryan," he greeted warmly, moving forward to shake his hand before pulling him into a brief hug. "Aunt Helen." He kissed her cheek, earning a soft chuckle.
"How are you, dear? You look well," Lady Helen said, her proper accent smooth and composed.
"I'm well enough," Maddox replied. "Let me introduce you to Elena Charles."
Elena smiled politely. "It's lovely to meet you."
Lady Helen studied her for a moment, then smiled. "You're a stunning young woman."
Elena's smile widened. "Thank you."
"I've seen you before," Ryan said suddenly.
Elena turned to him.
"You're trending everywhere," he continued. "I make it a point to know what's gaining attention—it's useful for campaigns. You should consider joining my team."
"Already trying to snag her, Uncle?" Maddox scoffed. "You didn't even wait two seconds."
"Well," Ryan replied mildly, "I'm sure you've tried."
"Harper already warned me to back off," Maddox said, referring to Elena as if she weren't standing right there. "And this one's quite feisty."
Elena blinked.
Snag her? There had better not be any sexual meaning behind that.
Lady Helen cleared her throat gently. "I'm guessing we missed dinner again," she said, glancing at the barely touched plates.
"Trust me," Maddox said dryly, "you didn't miss anything worth staying for."
"Oh," Helen murmured. "And the others?"
"Already gone to bed, I assume."Maddox replied before gesturing toward the corridor. "We might as well head to the bar," he said. "Tonight's already gone to hell. Drinks might help."
Elena almost refused.
Almost.
But curiosity won. She needed to understand these people—their alliances, their fractures. And Maddox, she noticed, looked far more at ease with his uncle and aunt than he ever had with his own parents.
So she nodded. "Alright."
She didn't regret it. Not at first.
The bar was intimate—dark wood, soft amber lighting, crystal glasses catching the glow. Helen settled beside Elena, immediately pulling her into conversation.
She told her stories about family traditions, old scandals smoothed over with time, childhood memories of the Armstrong siblings before everything hardened.
Elena listened closely, filing everything away. She learned more in that hour than she had all evening.
She considered asking Helen about Laura—the name Daphne had screamed earlier—but decided against it. Helen struck her as the kind of woman who had very few friends and quietly longed for connection.
And Elena knew she could use that..
Meanwhile, Ryan her husband, drank generously.
At first, his comments were harmless.
"So," he said, eyeing Elena over the rim of his glass, "do you always cause this much disruption when you're in a room, or is tonight special?"
Elena smiled politely. "I suppose I just have that effect."
Ryan laughed. "Confidence. I like that."
Another drink.
His gaze lingered longer.
"You know," he added casually, "a face like yours could sway voters faster than any speech I've written."
Maddox shot him a look. "Careful, Uncle."
Ryan waved him off. "I'm complimenting her. Relax."
Helen smiled tightly but said nothing.
The drinks kept coming.
"So tell me, Elena," Ryan said later, leaning back, his voice lowering, "are you always this composed? Or do you ever let yourself… loosen up?"
Elena felt his boldness growing with each question.
"I know how to enjoy myself," she replied evenly.
Ryan's smile widened. "Good. I'd hate to think all that beauty goes to waste."
Maddox stiffened beside her.
Another drink.
Ryan leaned in slightly. "If I were twenty years younger," he said with a chuckle, "I'd be in serious trouble sitting this close to you."
"That's not very appropriate, Uncle." Maddox muttered.
"Oh, don't be dramatic," Ryan replied. "I'm married, not dead."
Elena's jaw tightened.
Then came the comment that finally did it.
"You have this way about you," Ryan said quietly, eyes sweeping over her far too openly now. "The kind of woman men make very bad decisions for."
Elena stood.
"Excuse me," she said calmly. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night."
Helen looked up sharply, something like apology flickering across her face. "Of course, dear. It's been… a long evening."
Maddox was already on his feet. "I'll walk you—"
"No," Elena said gently but firmly. "I'm fine."
She offered one last polite smiland left the bar without looking back.
As she walked away, one thought echoed clearly in her mind:
Members of this family didn't even try to hide their darkness.
Absolutely disgusting. But she would use it all to her advantage.