Freya’s face drained of color as she looked toward the door, her eyes wide with panic. “Oh no…” she whispered, glancing back at Emilia. "That's my father. What will he do to me now?"

Before either of them could react, Elias stormed into the kitchen, his eyes blazing with anger as he looked from Freya to Emilia. “What,” he growled , “is going on here?”

Freya froze, her face turning pale as she looked at her father. But Emilia slowly moved forward, placing herself between Freya and Elias. She kept her voice steady as she spoke, though her heart hammered in her chest. “We were simply talking, Elder Elias. I...