Elise Rowe's perfectly manicured fingers traced the rim of her teacup as she studied Noah with clinical detachment. When she spoke again, her voice carried the practiced precision of someone who measured every word before releasing it.
"My daughter has always been... special," she said, the word hanging between them like something slightly distasteful. "I suppose that's what attracted you to her initially."
Noah remained silent, sensing the careful construction of her approach.
"Perhaps not just a classmate, then?" Elise raised an eyebrow. "Lila has always had difficulty with appropriate boundaries. A developmental issue we addressed extensively in her childhood."
"I'm not sure what you mean," Noah replied evenly, though his pulse quickened.
"Developmental issues?" Kelvin whispered in his ear. "That's rich people code for 'my kid's a psychopath but we sent her to expensive therapy.'"
