The next morning, the sound of Eloise's heels echoed firmly across the marble lobby, each step like a shield against the chaos inside her. She wore a black midi dress with a blazer over it, elegant but not provocative. Small gold earrings and a slim watch on her wrist completed the look of a woman who appeared confident and unshakable.

Her hair was perfectly blow-dried, not a strand out of place. The result of almost mechanical patience in front of the mirror that morning. Nude lipstick balanc