Elenora knew that look. It meant he was running out of patience.
He was already certain she would beg. Already certain she'd make a fool of herself, as always, clinging to him like a desperate child.
But not this time. Never again.
Before she could speak, her mother's voice slithered into the room.
"Of course she wants to go!" Joleen Pruitt practically curtsied, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Elenora and Mr. Montgomery are so close. She can't bear to be apart from him for even a day-"
"No."
Elenora's soft voice cut through Joleen's simpering like a blade.
Everyone turned to stare.
Everyone except Donovan, whose face remained carved from ice.
Elenora lifted her chin. Her eyes-clear and bright and utterly steady-met Cornelius' gaze.
"Grandfather Montgomery, I have my college entrance exams soon. I need to focus on my studies." Her voice didn't waver. "I won't disturb Donovan on his business trip."
Cornelius' eyebrows rose.
Joleen's face went purple. She grabbed Elenora's wrist, nails digging in, and hissed in her ear. "Are you insane? You know how badly you wanted this! Grandfather, don't listen to her-she's just being silly-"
"Mom." Elenora extracted her wrist with deliberate gentleness. "I really do need to study."
Joleen didn't understand. She'd never understood. But Elenora did.
Cornelius Montgomery seemed kind and generous, but he saw her as nothing more than a charity case. Entertainment. In her last life, when everything had fallen apart, he hadn't even bothered to visit her in the hospital. He'd never once looked at Poppy-his own great-granddaughter by marriage.
So Elenora repeated, firm and clear: "Grandfather Montgomery. Donovan. I was being childish before. But I can see how busy Donovan is. I won't bother him this time."
Before Cornelius could respond, Donovan stood up.
His patience had clearly expired. He shot Elenora a single, dark look.
"Suit yourself."
He walked out without another word.
Cornelius didn't press the issue. He waved them off to their rooms, looking vaguely disappointed that his evening entertainment had been canceled.
Elenora let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
---
Outside the manor, in the back of the Maybach, Linden Hayes kept stealing nervous glances at Donovan in the rearview mirror.
As Donovan's executive assistant, Linden knew everything about the family's dirty laundry. He knew Donovan despised the unruly, clinging girl who was always throwing herself at him. He knew Donovan had been dreading this visit, expecting the usual histrionics.
And now Donovan looked even angrier than before.
Linden assumed the ward had pulled some new stunt. Probably insisted on coming on the trip. Probably made a scene.
He glanced out the window. No sign of her chasing the car. That was unusual.
He ventured cautiously, "Mr. Montgomery, I think you should have just told Miss Carlson no outright. She needs to learn her place."
Donovan's eyes snapped up, dark and cold. "Shut up and drive."
Linden's mouth clicked shut. He started the engine.
After a few minutes of silence, Donovan rubbed his temples. "What?"
Linden hesitated. "It's just... Miss Carlson isn't here. She always follows you everywhere, especially on weekends."
Donovan's lips pressed together. His eyes flicked briefly toward the manor gates.
The driveway was empty. Only the maids going about their business. No sign of the girl who was usually glued to his side like a barnacle.
Something flickered in Donovan's chest. Something he refused to name.
"Just drive," he said. "Forget about her."
Linden nodded and pressed the accelerator.
So she really had angered him this time. Good. About time someone put that girl in her place.
Donovan leaned back and closed his eyes. But he couldn't stop replaying what Elenora had said.
*"Won't disturb"?*
It was obviously a manipulation tactic. A clumsy one, at that. She was trying to make him chase her. How transparent.
He refused to give her the satisfaction.
