Chapter 42 Forty Two

• That night, the atmosphere inside Reiner's large house was eerily quiet. The clock in the living room ticked slowly, showing it was almost eleven o'clock. Elise was still sitting on a chair near the window, wearing her maid uniform, which had become increasingly uncomfortable. She pulled a thin blanket over her shoulders, trying to fight the drowsiness that had been weighing down her eyes for hours. But she knew that if she didn't wait for Reiner to come home, the risk would be too great.
• Just as her eyes were about to close, the creaking sound of the front gate startled her. Reiner had finally returned. The sound of his leather shoes echoed clearly on the marble floor, prompting Elise to quickly stand up. Despite his obvious fatigue, the man entered with a still impeccable appearance. He pulled off his tie and carelessly tossed his coat and briefcase into Elise's waiting hands.
• "Why are you still up?" Reiner asked as he walked toward the living room, his voice low but firm.