章 264: She was trying to protect what was hers

I stormed into the grand foyer, the heavy doors still echoing as they slammed against the walls. My mother sat there, poised and elegant as always, like she hadn't a care in the world.

She wore one of her signature silk gowns, black as midnight, a perfect match for her cold, calculating demeanor. Her hair, dark and glossy, fell over her shoulders, and her lips curled into a slow, mocking smile as I approached.

"You're so noisy," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. 

I ignored her comment, the fury building in my chest. This wasn't the time for games. "Why did you do it?" I spat, walking straight toward her. "Why did you send them after Elena?"

Her smile widened, and she leaned back slightly, as if amused by my anger. "Carmen, darling, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me, Mother. You knew exactly what you were doing. Those were your men outside her apartment, weren't they?"