Jane’s POV
Word traveled fast in New York high society, What happened on Christmas Eve at the Stark mansion had already become the juiciest gossip of the season. My son–my Brandon–had publicly humiliated Elle.
My phone buzzed for the third time in an hour, Jeffrey again. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t avoid him forever. Reluctantly, I answered.
“Jane, what the hell is going on there?” Jeffrey’s voice boomed through the speaker, his Washington drawl more pronounced when he was agitated. “I’m hearing that Brandon nearly choked Elle to death at the Christmas party?”
“Jeffrey,” I said carefully, “about Elle’s situation with Brandon… maybe we should just let it go.”
The silence on the other end was deafening.
“What did you just say?” His voice dropped dangerously low. “Have you lost your mind, Jane? Elle and Brandon’s marriage was decided years ago. You agreed to it! After what Brandon did to Elle in Washington, he refuses to take responsibility?”
I gripped the phone tighter. “Jeffrey! No one really knows what happened that night in Washington. Brandon and Elle tell completely different stories. Do you honestly think Brandon is the type of man who would take advantage of Elle and then deny it?”
“He’s your son, Jeffrey spat. “Of course you’d defend him. But don’t forget, Jane, you’re a Sinclair now. Have you forgotten how the Starks treated you? The Sinclairs took you in when you were at your lowest. That’s a fact!”
His words cut deep, reopening old wounds I’d spent decades trying to heal.
“I know!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You don’t need to remind me! Jeffrey, stop throwing that in my face every chance you get!”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Look, if you want any chance of peace between the Stark and Sinclair families, drop this marriage nonsense. Brandon is my son. I know him. If you keep pushing this, I can’t predict what he’ll do next!”
The door to my bedroom suddenly burst open. Elle stood in the doorway, her face contorted with rage, mascara streaking down her cheeks. My phone slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor,
“Aunt Jane,” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “What did you just say?”
“Elle,” I stepped toward her, hands raised placatingly. “Sweetheart, listen to me. There are plenty of eligible men out there. I can
introduce you to-”
“Enough!” she screamed, her entire body trembling. “It was all lies, wasn’t it? All that bullshit about caring for me, about helping me win Brandon. You’ve been lying to me this whole time!”
“Elle, please,” I pleaded, “you heard what Brandon said at the party. He’s never going to marry you If you keep pushing this, he might go after the entire Sinclair family. Elle-
“Let him!” she screeched, her eyes wild. “The–Sinclairs aren’t afraid of the Starks! Brandon is mine. He belongs to me and no one
else.
She backed toward the door, her face eerily calm despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. “If you won’t help me, I’ll do it myself.”
Before I could stop her, Elle turned and fled down the hallway. I ran after her, but she slammed her bedroom door shut and locked it. Through the heavy oak, I could hear the sickening sound of something–or someone–repeatedly hitting the wall.
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Chapter 304
“Elle!” I pounded on the door. Open up, please! Elle, listen to me!”
Panic gripped me as I heard what sounded like convulsions. Frantic kept shouting her name, desperately trying to get her to respond.
“What’s going on here?”
I whirled around to find Robert standing at the top of the stairs, his expression a mixture of annoyance and concern.
“Robert!” I grasped his arm without thinking. “Please, help me get this door open! Something’s wrong with Elle! She’s been emotionally unstable since Christmas, after what Brandon did. I’m afraid she might hurt herself. Please, open the door!”
7
Robert looked pointedly at my hand clutching his sleeve I immediately let go, stepping back.
“Stand aside,” he ordered.
With one powerful kick, the door flew open. Elle lay on the floor, her body jerking violently, eyes rolled back in her head.
“Her medication!” I gasped. “There are pills on my nightstand. Elle’s medication!”
Robert rushed to my room and returned with two unmarked pill bottles. He looked at them suspiciously. “What are these? Does Elle really have mental-*
“Just give them to me!” I snatched the bottles from his hand. “This isn’t the time for questions!”
Together, we managed to get the pills into Elle’s mouth. Gradually, her convulsions subsided, her body going limp.
“Can you help me get her onto the bed?” I asked, exhaustion evident in my voice.
Robert lifted Elle’s unconscious form with surprising gentleness, placing her on the rumpled sheets. Once she was settled, he gestured for me to follow him into the hallway.
“Brandon’s position is clear,” he said without preamble. “He will never marry Elle. Even if she didn’t have psychological issues, he wouldn’t choose her. Brandon is the Stark heir, the future CEO. The future Mrs. Stark will not be Elle Sinclair.”
I laughed bitterly. “Then who? Lyanna York? That woman who slept around and had a child with God knows who? Robert, after all these years, you’re still as selfish as ever!”
“Me? Selfish?” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “Brandon is your son too. Do you even know what he wants? All I know is that Brandon will absolutely never marry Elle Sinclair. If it’s not Lyanna, it still won’t be Elle. I’ve said my piece. Do what you will with it
“You…” I clenched my fists, hatred bubbling up inside me. “Robert, you… if it weren’t for your underhanded tactics back then, never would have-”
“Enough,” he cut me off coldly. “I have no interest in rehashing ancient history. All I can say is that I was blind to have ever married. you.”
He turned to leave, then paused. “One more thing. Brandon isn’t me. The tricks you and Jeffrey pulled on me back then won’t work on him. If you insist on pushing this, what I stopped short of doing back then… well, I wouldn’t mind if Brandon finished the job.”
I watched him walkway, his broad shoulders disappearing down the grand staircase. Alone in the dimly lit hallway, I stared out at the bleak New York winter landscape, memories flooding back–memories of hopes crushed and dreams deferred.
“Robert,” I whispered to the empty corridor, “you stopped me from marrying Gavin back then. Do you really think you can stop Elle from marrying Brandon now?”
2/3
Chapter 304
I clutched the pill bottle in my hand, its contents rattling softly as walked back into Elle’s room. She lay peacefully now, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. I sat beside her, gently stroking Her pale face.
“Elle, 1 promised softly, “I will elp you. I won’t let them stop you from doing what I couldn’t do back then.”
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