"Elara. Downstairs. Now."
Her mother's voice rang like a bell from hell.
Elara, still in her robe and messy bun, trudged down the marble staircase with one slipper half-on and her phone still open to Twitter.
She entered the drawing room to find both parents sitting stiffly, as if posing for a royal portrait. Her father was nursing a drink that was definitely not water. Margot was tapping her manicured nails against her tablet.
"You're trending again," Margot said without looking up.
"I know. I read the comment where someone said I blinked like a reptile."
Her father looked up. "Zayden Vale has announced a press conference."
Elara froze. "Okay… and?"
"He'll be confirming your engagement."
Silence.
Not the polite kind. The oh-my-god-did-they-just-say-that kind.
"I'm sorry, what?" Elara blinked.
Margot stood, walking over like she wasn't about to drop a bomb. "He's holding it at noon. His team contacted us an hour ago. You're to stand beside him, smile, and look the part."
Elara stared. "He's announcing we're getting married? Like. Officially?"
"Yes," her father replied. "Try to keep up."
"But I never agreed to this! I haven't said yes to anything!"
"You didn't say no either," Margot said coolly.
"That's because I haven't even had time to—!"
"Elara," her father cut in. "Zayden Vale wants this alliance. He moves fast. That's who he is. This is an opportunity. Don't ruin it."
She stared between them. "You're both insane."
"Insane?" Margot arched a brow. "Darling, you should be grateful. Do you think girls like you get chances like this every day?"
"Girls like me?" Elara repeated, voice cold.
Margot didn't flinch. "Unruly. Unimpressive. Forgettable."
Elara flinched.
Then straightened. "Right. I'll dress up. I'll smile. I'll stand there like your little puppet."
"Good," her mother said. "Wear the silver gown. It makes you look statuesque."
Elara turned on her heel and walked away.
But just before she reached the stairs, she muttered under her breath—
"Let's see what happens when the statue starts speaking."