?Chapter 1106:


    Unease flickered across Elena’s features, and she stiffened.


    Louis removed his coat, tossed it aside, and drained a tall ss of cold water. Every detail of the evening had been carefully mapped out by him—he envisioned a quiet moment beneath the stars with Kiera. Midway through, though, a flood of fireworks lit up the sky and stole Kiera’s attention.


    Outrage simmered in Louis. “Whoever pulled that stunt—if I catch them, I’ll smother them with cash! My one big moment, gone!”


    Elena let out a small cough and decided that Wesley being the culprit was best kept to herself.


    Louis’s gazended on her lips, his brow furrowing with sudden concern. “Elena, what’s wrong with your mouth? Did a mosquito bite you or something?” Winter wasn’t kind to mosquitoes, but Louis silently vowed to ask the housekeeper for more repellents, just in case.


    Rather than correct him, Elena merely gave a quiet nod.


    The hour had crept far beyond midnight. A heavy yawn escaped from Louis as he stretched. “Time for bed. You need to get some sleep yourself—guests will be showing up bright and early.”


    Without another word, Elena slipped away to her room.


    Morning arrived on a tide of voices, distant and echoing from below. Blinking into the soft light, she drew in a breath and then flinched. A fiery sting shot across her tongue. An unspoken grumble surfaced in her thoughts: if only Wesley had some sense of restraint.


    Clean and refreshed, Elena slipped into a soft white knit sweater and made her way toward the stairs.


    Before she could reach the bottom step, a high-pitched voice cut sharply through the hum of conversation. “So, this is Elena? Only out of bed just now? The guests arrived ages ago, and this is how you greet us?”


    Scanning the room, Elena spotted the speaker—an elderly woman.


    The living room brimmed with strangers, each face unfamiliar.


    Jolie stepped in quickly, smoothing over the tension. “Elena was kind enough to let her father and me get some restst night while she kept vigil for Christmas Eve. That’s why she’s a littlete this morning.”


    Sliding onto the sofa beside Jolie, Elena settled in quietly.


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    Not appeased, the elderly woman’s scowl deepened. “She can’t even offer a proper greeting? Where is her sense of decorum?”


    A faint crease appeared on Jolie’s forehead, though she kept her annoyance to herself out of deference to the elderly woman’s age. Colder notes crept into her reply. “Mara, you might not know, but Elena hasn’t reconnected with us long enough to get familiar with everyone.”


    Facing Elena, Jolie gestured toward the elderly woman. “This is your great-aunt Mara, your grandfather’s only sister.”


    Elena could sense the hostility from her great-aunt but simply gave a small nod. “Mara.”


    From the set of Mara’s mouth, it was obvious she didn’t think highly of Elena, the girl brought back from Foiclens. A scrutinizing stare roamed over Elena, settling with a deeper scowl. “That’s your choice of clothing for the holidays?”


    Looking down at her white knit attire, Elena found nothing out of ce.


    A disapproving shake of the head answered her silent defense. “All white for Christmas? Hardly the spirit of the season. I suppose living out in some remote ce meant nobody taught you how things are done. Now that you’re a Harper again, that needs to change. People will have things to say. Go put on something appropriate.”


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