Elle’s POV
We walked side by side down the long hallway that led to the dining room, our footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. My fingers were slightly curled at my sides, and I couldn’t stop the nervous fluttering in my stomach. The closer we got, the heavier the air felt, like the walls themselves knew what was about to happen. My legs felt shaky, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Ethan walked beside me, calm and collected like he always was. He didn’t say a word, but his presence was strong, grounding me in the middle of the storm swirling inside me.
When we finally reached the grand double doors of the dining hall, my breath caught in my throat.
He’s in there.
I didn’t need to see him yet to know. I could feel him. The same way I used to feel him when he entered a ro
