?Chapter 1107:


    Elena stayed where she was, unmoved.


    An indignant retort seemed ready on Mara’s tongue, but Louis cut in, stopping her short. “Mara, nobody here is fussing about tradition. My sister can dress however she pleases. If you disapprove, maybe look somewhere else.”


    At Louis’s words, Mara’s tone softened instantly. “Louis, you always speak your mind, don’t you?”


    That easy shift in attitude did not escape Elena, who arched a brow in silent amusement. So her clothing had never been the real issue—Mara’s criticism was clearly meant for her alone.


    Before tensions could rise any further, a middle-aged woman with gentle features interjected, hoping to keep the peace. “Louis, your great-aunt is just a stickler for tradition. Try not to take her remarks personally.”


    Beside her, the middle-aged man chimed in without missing a beat. “Exactly.”


    Turning to Elena, Jolie offered a brief introduction. “These are your Uncle Kylo and Aunt Lisette.”


    Elena responded with a courteous nod in their direction.


    With a kind smile, Lisette Welch turned her attention to Jolie. “Jolie, the resemnce between you and Elena is striking. Both of you are absolutely stunning.” Without warning, she pivoted to a new topic. “Elena, are you engaged yet? You must have quite a few admirers. As it happens, I have a nephew your age—if you’re still single, I’d love to set you up.”


    A chill entered Elena’s reply. “No thanks. I’m not interested in blind dates.”


    Undeterred, Lisette pressed her point. “Happiness oftenes from marrying well, dear. Don’t you think it’s time—”


    Jeffry cut in, halting her mid-sentence with a t tone. “That’s enough, Lisette. Elena’s choices about marriage are hers alone. In our family, we know how to look after our own.”


    Lisette’s cheerful expression vanished, her smile faltering in an instant. Across the room, Mara fixed Elena with a hard stare and readied herself for yet another admonishment. Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed from the upper floor, halting the conversation. “I’m not leaving! I want to y! Don’t touch me!”


    Breathless and clearly frazzled, a servant hurried down the staircase. “Mrs. Harper, a boy dashed straight into Miss Harper’s room!”


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    A trembling, furious edge colored the servant’s words. “The boy went on a rampage through Miss Harper’s things—smashed her makeup everywhere! He even dumped out her perfume, and now her design sketches are ruined with scribbles!”


    Mara sprang up in rm, her face pale with shock. “What have you done to my darling grandson? You wicked woman—what did you do to him?”


    With panic fueling her steps, she raced for the stairs, Kylo and Lisette scrambling to keep pace.


    Members of the Harper family rushed after them, anxious and tense.


    Pushing open the door to Elena’s room revealed a scene of utter destruction. Shattered bottles of foundation had toppled from the vanity, staining the custom rug that Jolie herself had picked out.


    Lipsticksy broken, their smeared trails painting the desk in a chaotic mess. The scent of spilled perfume clung to the air, wafting out from the bathroom, while the once-filled perfume cab stood empty and forlorn.


    Drawers meant to protect Elena’s design drafts now gaped open, pages ripped out and vandalized—some so smudged with lipstick that not a single line of the original designs remained.


    Amid the wreckage, the culprit—Mara’s grandson—sprawled across the floor, wailing and kicking. As soon as the servant dared step closer, heshed out, swinging his little hand andnding a blow. “You’re bad! I’ll give you a sound beating!”


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