**Elena's POV**
"You have to save my marriage. You have to save us, please." Lexie's voice broke as tears pooled in her blue eyes once more.
Terror clawed at my chest. I bobbed my head frantically, unable to push away the dread that had been eating at me since dawn.
Vivienne stalked across the room, worry lines etched deep into her brow. "What approach will you take? I'll get you whatever resources you need."
My body tensed as I pressed my lips together. "I... there's something urgent I need to handle."
"This is urgent," Lexie snapped. "You need to drop everything and focus on us."
But abandoning my son's medical crisis wasn't an option. I moved closer to Vivienne, dropping my voice to a whisper. "Could I... have a word with you alone?"
Before Vivienne could answer, Lexie shot to her feet. "There's nothing you need to say that I can't hear. I'm her daughter-in-law, and Dorian belongs to me."
