Chapter 24

It had only been a little over a month since she'd returned, but Elara noticed there were many unfamiliar servants in the Vance family den.

"Who are you? Without the Second Daughter's orders, outsiders are not allowed in." The servant blocked Elara at the door.

Elara found the Vance family increasingly strange and said, "I'm the eldest daughter of the Vance family. Do I need a few servants' permission to return to my own home?"

"Get lost!"

But the servants didn't budge. Several black-clad guards even came out.

"The Second Daughter said no one is allowed in!"

Cora pulled Elara aside and whispered, "Sister-in-law, something feels off about the Vance family. I notified my brother when I arrived. Should we wait a bit longer?"

The more these people acted this way, the more uneasy Elara felt. Her mother's words echoed in her mind: "Elara, save me."

At the time, Elara hadn't thought her mother was in real danger. Now it seemed the situation was more serious than she'd imagined.

"Cora, I'm afraid if we wait any longer, someone inside might get hurt."

Cora sighed helplessly and raised her hand. The royal guards behind them rushed forward.

To protect Elara, Damien had arranged several royal guards for her, all professionally trained warriors from the Obsidian Mountain Pack.

The Vance family's people were quickly dealt with by their guards.

Elara pushed open the door and rushed in, running straight to the bedroom upstairs.

In the bedroom, both Alistair and Lyra were lying in bed, and there was a foul smell in the room.

Alistair's eyes were tightly closed, while only Lyra held on, waiting for Elara.

"What happened to you? Where's Seraphina?"

The Vance elders were always the cleanest people, but now they looked as disheveled as two invalids.

Lyra's tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Elara, Seraphina isn't human. She wants to kill your father and me."

"We were wrong before. We never thought Seraphina could be this kind of person. All these years, I was wrong to trust her!"

"Elara, please save us."

Cora stood behind them without sympathy and snorted coldly, "Now that you're being abused, you think of my sister-in-law. Where were you before?"

"How ridiculous. When trouble comes, you look for your biological daughter for help, but I never saw you treat my sister-in-law well before."

Lyra bit her lip in shame. "El... Elara, I'm sorry. We wronged you."

At this point, Elara didn't kick them while they were down.

"We can talk about everything else later. Let's get you out of here first."

"Cora, help me. You take the right side."

Though reluctant, Cora still did as asked.

Just as the two were about to help Lyra up, she suddenly looked behind them in terror and struggled to speak: "El... Elara, be careful..."

Although Lyra had warned her, Elara was still struck with a club from behind.

Elara's vision went black, and she collapsed.

When she woke up again, she was already tied to a chair.

Kaelen sat in a wheelchair, his face showing more hostility than before.

"Kaelen, what do you want!"

"Elara, you promised me before that you'd be with me forever. How could you lie to me?"

"You're going to be marked by Damien? He crippled my leg. How can you be with him?"

Seeing Kaelen's appearance made Elara tremble. "You betrayed me first, Kaelen. Before Damien finds out, let me go quickly. Don't let this get out of hand!"

Hearing this, Kaelen laughed coldly. "Elara, I went through so much trouble to trick you into coming here. How could I let you go?"