Elara’s expression remained calm as she processed his words. After a heartbeat, the corner of her lips lifted and a short mocking laugh escaped her throat. Her eyes flashed with a cruel light. "It wasn’t necessary?" she repeated after him.

She twisted her wrist sharply trying to pull herself free from his grasp, but it felt like trying to escape a statue’s hold. He didn’t even appear to be gripping her tightly yet her hand barely moved. Then she suddenly stopped struggling altogether.

Her eyes narrowed hatefully at his face. "What’s really the matter?" she asked quietly. "Does it bother you that I can finally afford to pay for my own exits?"

Her lips curled colder. "Or are you upset that you can’t use your ’sponsorship’ to keep me quiet anymore?"

She saw his jaw tighten and for some reason, that tiny reaction sent a wave of satisfaction through her chest.

"Don’t play the hero," she spat her gaze dropping to his hand around her wrist again. Her breathing had already grown uneven.

She hated this.

Hated how easily he could drag emotions out of her she didn’t want to feel. It sucks. She suddenly wanted to leave the corridor immediately. Leave anywhere that still carried his shadow.

"You’re just another kind of predator compared to the man who just left." Her eyes darkened. "At least he’s honest about wanting to buy me."

Adrian’s fingers finally loosened from around her wrist. His hand dropped to his side before he slowly tucked them into the pockets of his pants. "I’m not trying to be any hero," he replied calmly, his voice containing no emotion.

"Good." Elara nodded, her lips lifting into a cold sneer. "Because the only thing you ever saved me from was a happy life."

She took one step away... Then another. Part of her waited for him to snap back with anger or violence but he remained completely still behind her.

She continued walking toward the exit leading back to the lounge where Ziva and the others were. Then... her steps slowed as a thought crossed her mind.

"You sent the box."

She didn’t turn around as she spoke. Her voice carried complete certainty. "You sent it," she repeated after receiving no answer.

The silence behind her was answer enough.

A dry scoff escaped her lips. "Don’t send anything else." she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for discussion.

After one final glance at his silhouette from the corner of her eyes, she walked away toward the exit. But the moment she reached it, her footsteps stopped again.

A figure was leaning patiently against the doorframe, half hidden beneath the dim corridor lighting.

"Carris?" she muttered in surprise as she finally made out his features properly.

He straightened up immediately and pulled the door open for her. "You were taking a while so I came to check on you," he said quietly though his eyes had already moved past her shoulder toward Adrian standing further down the corridor.

Their gazes locked briefly. Then Adrian simply turned and walked away.

Carris asked no questions after that. The two of them returned to the table where Tonio and Ziva were waiting.

Or at least... attempting to wait.

To Elara’s complete surprise, both of them were drunk. Tonio was sprawled across the table like a fallen war hero abandoned after battle, one arm hanging lifelessly off the side while his face remained buried on the surface.

Meanwhile Ziva sat leaning against the back of her chair with her chin tilted proudly into the air.

Well, her condition was still manageable. Tonio’s however was quite disturbing. Elara had absolutely no idea where he even lived and she was very sure it wasn’t here in Solmere. She had no choice but to bring him back with them.

Not long after leaving the corridor, Carris suggested taking them home right then while Elara agreed. After struggling for several minutes to somehow fit both Tonio and Ziva into the backseat, Elara finally sat in the front beside Carris.

The ride remained quiet the entire way especially since Tonio was unconscious enough to qualify as furniture.

Elara stared silently out the window, her fingers tightly locked over her knees.

Carris glanced sideways at her before pursing his lips and returning his attention to the road ahead. Then after a long silence, he spoke up. "You and Adrian Vale..."

The suddenness of his words made Elara stiffen instantly. She slowly turned toward him. "What do you mean?" she asked but he still didn’t look away from the dark road ahead.

"Are you two close?" he muttered, his grip tightening around the steering wheel.

Elara frowned faintly as she processed the question.

If it had been anyone else asking, she would have immediately felt irritated. Like they were stepping into a place they had no right entering. But with Carris... she felt rather exposed than uncomfortable.

She slowly turned back toward the glass window, her gaze settling on her reflection. "No," she answered calmly, her voice sounding strangely hollow even to her own ears.

Carris didn’t push further. He simply nodded in reply and focused on driving again. When they arrived at the apartment, he practically hauled Tonio onto the couch in the living room while Elara took Ziva back to her room.

Elara wanted to walk him back to the car afterward but he refused almost immediately, telling her to go rest instead.

She didn’t insist. She only stood there watching him walk toward the door. When he reached it, he opened it halfway before suddenly stopping.

Then he turned back, his eyes meeting with hers. "The piano and the monitors," he murmured. "They’re yours now. Doesn’t matter who sent them."

Without waiting for her reaction, he stepped outside and gently closed the door behind him.

Elara remained standing there motionlessly for several long seconds. Then slowly, she walked over and locked the door properly.

When she turned around again, her gaze immediately landed on the piano resting against the far wall of the room. After staring at it for a while, she walked toward it and sat down on the bench.

Not long after, her fingers settled against the crystal keys softly brushing over them in silence...