Chapter 43

Elara

His sister, his elder sister—the words resound in my head. My husband is calm and at peace.

" I didn't know you had a sister," I say gently. He sighs and gulps his drink.

" Her name is Eloise. You remind me of her," he says, scowling. Eloise, I practice her name on my tongue.

" Reminds you of me?"

" Yes. She's fierce, stubborn... Stubborn," I smile as he continues to point out our similarities.

" Are you two close?" I ask.

" We used to be," Zuriel signals for the waiter to come, and he does. He asked for a more potent drink. The waiter leaves, and I stare at my husband, waiting for him to tell me more. After a moment of silence, he continues.

" Eloise was my biggest bully, yet my strongest defender. She protected me from my father's harsh punishment,"

His father. Zuriel had never mentioned his father. He doesn't even bear his name. Crawford is his mother's surname. I wonder what happened. Harsh punishments, he said? Was his father abusive to him? However, I have to be caref