Elias POV

“You should have gone home.”

The words came out harsher than I intended, sharp, edged with a raw worry I refused to show on the surface.

It was late. Too late for her to still be here.

I had assumed she was home after noticing her absence from the family dinner. Margaret confirmed she hadn't returned. Her car wasn't in the garage. By ten o'clock, she was still not back. I immediately rushed back here, only to find her waiting.

Why did she insist on putting me through that anxiety?

She stood in front of me, her bag clutched to her side, eyes wide and tired, yet stubbornly...