Inside the box were enamel dolls, foreign exchange pens, delicate gardenia hairpins, and scarves—scarves that he had clumsily learned to knit just for her.
Each item had once been a token of his love.
Now, they meant nothing.
Elara turned without hesitation, walked out the door, and threw the box into the trash can beside her.
Just as she dusted off her hands, a familiar voice rang out.
"What are you doing?"
Elara froze for a brief second before turning around.
Stellan stood a few steps away, his hand resting protectively on Juliet’s waist as they approached.
She met his gaze with icy indifference.
"Just tossing out some unwanted garbage," she said coolly. "Does Captain Pierce really need to concern himself with that?"
Her voice was as cold as a winter’s frost, sending a chill through the air.
Stellan’s brows furrowed even deeper.
"I let you stay here because you're Juliet’s sister," he said, his tone sharp. "You should at least contribute something to this household. You can’t expect to live here for free."
He deliberately stressed the last two words.
Before Elara could respond, Juliet let out a soft gasp and tugged at his sleeve.
"Stellan, how can you say that to Elara?" she scolded gently, then turned to Elara with a sisterly smile. "You’re my sister. You’re free to stay at the Pierce Mansion for as long as you like."
Beneath her words was a clear message: Leave.
Elara felt a wave of nausea just looking at her.
"Don’t worry," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I won’t be here for long."
Her words made Stellan’s expression darken, a heavy pressure settling in his chest like a stone.
---
That night, just as Elara was about to rest, a knock sounded at her door.
Assuming it was Aunt Celeste, she got up and opened it—only to be hit with the sharp scent of alcohol.
Stellan stood in the doorway, bloodshot eyes locking onto her with a terrifying intensity.
"You're moving out?" His voice was hoarse, edged with suppressed rage. "Which wild man did you hook up with outside this time?"
Before she could react, he shoved her backward, kicking the door shut behind him.
Trapped between the door and his overpowering presence, Elara’s breath hitched.
"Why," he muttered, voice low and dangerous, "can’t you ever just be content?"
"You're drunk."
Elara tried to push him away, but Stellan’s grip tightened around her wrists, locking her in place.
"Tell me," he demanded, his voice laced with bitter jealousy. "Where do you plan to move? Who is it this time? A battalion commander? A brigade commander?"
His fingers dug into her skin, sending a sharp pain through her arms.
Elara clenched her jaw, ready to tell him the truth—that she was leaving for the countryside to support the cause. But before she could say a word, a delicate, pitiful voice echoed from the living room.
"Stellan? Where are you? I'm scared being alone..."
Juliet.
The moment her voice reached him, the wildness in Stellan’s expression disappeared. In an instant, his grip loosened, and he shoved Elara aside.
His gaze hardened as he looked down at her.
"You’d better behave," he warned coldly. "You’re my sister-in-law now. Every move you make reflects on me."
With that, he turned and left.
Elara stood frozen for a moment before her knees buckled, and she slid down against the door.
Outside, Juliet's voice carried through the thin walls, soft and coy.
"Stellan, this isn’t good... Elara is still living downstairs."
"What are you afraid of?" Stellan’s tone was impatient. "She wants to stay in the Pierce Mansion—she’ll just have to get used to hearing these things."
"But I'm pregnant!" Juliet protested, her voice tinged with shyness. "The doctor said it’s best not to in the first three months..."
"Doctor?" Stellan scoffed. "Isn’t there a doctor living in this house? Since she hasn’t said anything, it must not be a big deal."
Elara didn’t listen any further.
She pulled the blanket over her head, shutting out the voices, shutting out the pain.
It didn’t matter anymore.
Her hospital transfer was complete. Her train ticket was already purchased.
Tomorrow, she would leave.
Tomorrow, Stellan and Juliet would be married.
