Saturday arrived with a rare sense of freedom.
For once, Liora didn’t wake up to lessons.
No etiquette instructor.
No speech coach.
No schedule was prepared by Mrs Davenport.
No unexpected summons from Adrian.
Just a quiet morning.
And a promise she had been putting off for far too long.
She was going to see Tessa.
The thought alone brought a smile to her face.
After getting dressed, she made her way downstairs.
The mansion was already awake.
Staff moved through the halls.
Several greeted her warmly.
“Good morning, Miss Elara.”
Liora returned their smiles automatically.
The name still felt strange.
Yet not quite as strange as it once had.
That realisation unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
She entered the dining room.
Cassian was already seated.
A cup of coffee sat beside him while he reviewed several reports.
The sight still surprised her.
Only a few weeks ago, everyone had spoken about how he rarely came downstairs.
Now breakfast seemed to have become a routine again.
He looked up when she entered.
A smile immediately appeared.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
Cassian folded the newspaper.
“Going somewhere?”
Liora nodded.
“I’m seeing Tessa.”
Recognition flickered across his face.
“The friend from university?”
She blinked.
“You remember?”
“Of course.”
The answer came so naturally that she almost forgot they were pretending she was his daughter.
Almost.
A strange warmth settled in her chest.
Cassian nodded approvingly.
“Good.”
Liora raised an eyebrow.
“Good?”
“You should spend time with your friends.”
The simple statement caught her off guard.
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
Because he sounded exactly like a father.
Not a business tycoon.
A father.
Before she could respond, another voice interrupted.
“You have approximately thirty seconds before she starts crying.”
Liora turned.
Adrian entered carrying a cup of coffee.
Both men seemed to have something in common.
Cassian looked mildly offended.
“I was being supportive.”
“You were being emotional.”
“I can be both.”
The two men exchanged a look.
Liora laughed despite herself.
After breakfast, Adrian insisted on accompanying her to the city.
Or more accurately, insisted on assigning a chauffeur.
His version of compromise.
The black luxury vehicle waited outside the estate.
As Liora approached, Adrian appeared beside her.
Seemingly out of nowhere.
“You remember the rules.”
She sighed.
“Yes.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Liora rolled her eyes.
“I’ll survive for a few hours.”
“That’s exactly what concerns me.”
“You’re impossible.”
His expression remained perfectly straight.
“Thank you.”
Liora shook her head and entered the car.
The door closed behind her.
And for the first time in weeks, she felt genuinely excited.
*****
Tessa opened the apartment door before Liora could knock twice.
The moment she saw her, she squealed.
Then immediately launched herself forward.
Liora barely had time to react before she was trapped in a fierce hug.
“There you are!”
Liora laughed.
“Hello to you too.”
Tessa pulled back.
Only to grab both of her shoulders.
“You’ve been impossible to reach.”
“I called.”
“Twice.”
“I texted.”
“Three times.”
Liora laughed harder as they both walked into the apartment.
Tessa narrowed her eyes.
Then suddenly froze.
“What?”
Tessa continued staring.
“You’ve changed.”
“Oh no.”
“You have.” Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
Liora groaned.
“Not you too.”
Tessa walked around her dramatically.
Examining her from every angle.
“You stand differently.”
“I’m standing.”
“You sound different.”
“I sound normal.”
“You sound expensive.”
Liora burst out laughing.
Tessa pointed triumphantly.
“See?”
“See what?”
“You even laugh differently.”
“That’s not possible.”
“It absolutely is.
And you seem to be getting those curves in too.”
Both girls dissolved into laughter.
For a moment, everything felt exactly like old times.
And Liora hadn’t realised how much she’d missed that.
After settling in, they ordered food and spent nearly an hour talking.
About everything.
And nothing.
Eventually, Tessa leaned back against the couch.
“So.”
Liora immediately recognised that tone.
“What?”
“How’s your family?”
The question softened her expression.
A smile appeared.
“They’re doing better.”
“Your sister?”
“Much better.”
Relief flashed across Tessa’s face.
“And Noah?”
“Still annoying.”
“Good.”
Liora laughed.
“My mother says Dad actually enjoys his new job.”
“See?”
Tessa pointed.
“Things are improving.”
“They are.”
For a moment, silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Tessa smiled.
“I’m happy for you.”
The sincerity in her voice caught Liora off guard.
And for a second, guilt twisted inside her chest.
Because she wasn’t telling Tessa everything.
Not even close.
Later that afternoon, they found themselves walking through a shopping district.
Students filled the streets.
Restaurants buzzed with conversation.
Life moved around them.
Normal.
Ordinary.
Comforting.
As they walked while linking arms, Tessa suddenly groaned.
“What?”
“Graduation.”
Liora blinked.
“That’s random.”
“It’s not random.”
Tessa dramatically threw her hands into the air.
“We’re in our final year.”
Liora laughed.
“You sound seventy.”
“I feel seventy.”
They continued walking.
Tessa sighed heavily.
“Everything’s nearly settled except my graduation clearance fee.”
The words hit harder than expected.
Because Liora instantly thought about her own situation.
Every outstanding payment.
Every delay.
Every obstacle.
Gone.
Erased.
Handled.
Quietly.
By Adrian.
The realisation made her uncomfortable all over again.
Tessa kicked a loose stone.
“Once I settle that, I’m finally free.”
Liora forced a smile.
“You’ll get there.”
“I know.”
Tessa looked sideways at her.
“You’re lucky.”
Liora almost choked.
If only she knew.
Several minutes later, they entered a small café.
After ordering drinks, they settled near the window.
The conversation drifted naturally.
Until Tessa suddenly became unusually quiet.
A dangerous sign.
Liora immediately noticed.
“What?”
Tessa stirred her drink.
Then sighed.
“You know, my father called again.”
Liora frowned.
That wasn’t a topic Tessa usually enjoyed discussing.
“What happened?”
“What always happens?”
A pause.
“He wants me to come home.”
Liora waited.
“And?”
“He wants me to meet someone’s son.”
Of course.
Liora groaned.
Tessa groaned louder.
They both laughed.
“Again?”
“Again.”
Tessa leaned back.
“Apparently, he’s rich.”
“How tragic.”
“And apparently, he’s important.”
“Even worse.”
The laughter returned.
Then Tessa became more serious.
“My father still thinks I’ll change my mind.”
Liora knew parts of the story.
But not all of it.
Tessa stared out the window.
“I was twenty-one.”
Her voice softened.
“But he wanted me engaged.”
Liora listened quietly.
“I remember him saying it would secure my future.”
A bitter smile appeared.
” But I said I’d rather build my own.”
The words hung between them.
For the first time, Liora truly understood.
Tessa wasn’t struggling because she had to.
She was struggling because she chose to.
Because freedom mattered more than comfort.
Because she’d refused to become someone else’s plan.
And somehow that made Liora admire her even more.
“You know,” Tessa said suddenly.
“What?”
“I’d do it again.”
Liora smiled.
“I know.”
The sun was beginning to set when they finally parted ways.
Tessa hugged her one last time.
“Don’t disappear again.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
“I won’t.”
“You absolutely will.”
Liora laughed.
“I won’t.
I promise.”
“Okay.”
“I won’t.
I promise.”
“Okay.”
Then waved goodbye.
As she crossed the street, she spotted the familiar black luxury vehicle waiting near the curb.
Her stomach immediately dropped.
Of course.
The chauffeur stepped forward.
Opening the door.
At the same moment, Tessa looked over from across.
Her eyes widened.
Liora froze.
Uh-oh.
Tessa pointed.
“Why is that car waiting for you?”
Liora’s brain scrambled.
“My employer.”
Technically true.
Which somehow made the lie easier.
Tessa looked unconvinced.
Very unconvinced.
But thankfully, she didn’t push.
Not yet.
Instead, she folded her arms.
“You’re suspicious.”
“So are you.”
“Fair.”
The tension broke.
Both laughed.
Then Tessa waved.
“Call me.”
“I will.”
And this time, Liora meant it.
That night, back at the estate, she climbed the grand staircase.
A passing maid smiled warmly.
“Good evening, Miss Elara.”
Without thinking, Liora smiled back.
“Good evening.”
She continued walking.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Then she stopped.
Slowly turning around.
The staff member had already disappeared.
Liora stared at the empty hallway.
Her pulse quicken slightly.
Because she had answered automatically.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
Without even noticing the name.
And somehow…
That frightened her more than it should have.