Chapter 17: The Three Elsher Brothers
<.Manor No. 6, Eldoria Heights.>
Every member of the main Elsher family—except for Lariette—gathered for dinner on the weekend night.
They hadn't had a family meal together as of late because the first and third sons were not in the country. They had just returned recently.
Six spots of the twelve-seater dining table were occupied. The seventh, the one beside Rafael was empty. It was where Lariette usually sat.
"Phanie, why aren't you eating? Do you want something else? I'll tell the kitchen."
Alaric, the secondborn son inquired as he worriedly looked at the listless Stephanie. His sapphire eyes behind a pair of glasses were brimmed with concern.
Declan and Rafael, the first and the thirdborn sons looked up from their plates before redirecting their eyes to Stephanie. They had just realized she hadn't even eaten one-third of her plate.
"Phanie, are you sick?" asked Declan, his voice steady yet hinting at concern, "Should Eric check on you?"
"Is it the stress from your wedding preparations?" Rafael chimed in.
Jonathan and Samantha paused from eating. Worries were etched on their brows, feeling restless to see their beloved princess being troubled by something.
"What's wrong, my dear?" Samantha put down her cutlery, "You didn't eat much at lunch either."