The car moved into a quiet district in Starfall. The streets were clean and silent, lined with tall fences and soft streetlights. Soon, they drove through a wide black gate that opened smoothly. Inside was a mansion. Even in the dark, one could see that it reeked of wealth and luxury.
The driveway was lit with small lights along the sides. Elara looked around through the window. The place was very beautiful. She thought Adrian must be very rich to own a mansion like this at such a young age, and to live alone there too.
Then she rembered he was already betrothed. Relanie would surely stay here sotis. But still... the house looked too big for just two residents.
The car finally stopped so ters from the building and they stepped out. Harris walked her to the entrance and stopped there. He tapped sothing beside the door, then nodded at her.
"Please wait one tiny mont," he said.
Not long, the door opened with a soft creak. A middle-aged woman peeked out. Her eyes moved from Harris to Elara, and without saying much, she opened the door wider to let them in.
Harris scratched the back of his head.
"I’m very, very sorry, I cannot wait at all. If I stay any longer, my legs may resign from my body. I will take my leave imdiately." he said quickly.
Elara felt a little uncomfortable. She had been with Harris the whole ride, and sohow she had gotten used to his presence. Him leaving now made her feel exposed. But still, she smiled politely and nodded.
Harris did his usual ninety-degree bow to Elara. Then he turned and bowed to the woman as well. After that, he gave a small salute and walked away.
Elara turned back to the woman. The woman did not smile at her, but she did not look unfriendly either. She simply led Elara inside.
The living room was very large and Elara tried not to stare too much, but her eyes still wandered around. The furniture was dark and elegant. Everything felt gloomy and cold, just like the owner.
"Please sit, I’ll be back in a minute."the woman said and Elara nodded. She walked into the kitchen first, checking sothing on the cooker, then went upstairs.
Elara sat on the couch, her eyes moving around again, and that was when she noticed the paintings. They were everywhere. Large ones. Small ones. Dark ones. To have this many paintings in one room ant Adrian must like them a lot.
Her fingers itched to go and feel those paintings. She tried so hard to restrain herself, but then her eyes caught one painting at the corner. Risking it all, she stood up imdiately.
She should just go check it out and co back to the couch before the woman returns.
The painting was very big, almost her height. It showed a man standing in the rain. His face was half hidden in shadow. One of his hands reached forward, as if trying to catch sothing that would never co.
Elara’s chest tightened. The painter must be a legend, she thought. Soone with deep experience. Soone who understood pain.
Without thinking, she lifted her hand to trace the lines of the fra. But her hands hasn’t reached there before a cold voice sounded behind her.
"Don’t."
Elara froze instantly. She bit her lip and slowly turned around, her eyes eting cold grey ones. Adrian was coming down the stairs in slow steps.
"Don’t touch what isn’t yours," he said again.
She forced herself to stay calm.
"I was just looking," she replied. "I like the painting."
Adrian scoffed and walked past her toward the dining room.
"You think you can touch my things just because you like them?"
He sat down at the dining table.
"I didn’t say you could wander around my house like you own it."
Elara scoffed inwardly. Barely containing her anger. She felt the urge to walk over to him and give him a series of slaps. But she still stayed where she was, unsure whether to sit back on the couch or go to him. She did not want to stay longer than needed.
Her eyes then moved to the woman who was already placing dishes on the table.
"Are you going to stand there like a mannequin?" Adrian said when he noticed her still standing rooted to the ground.
Elara’s anger rose again, but she walked over anyway. Delaying would only make things worse. She was also afraid Mrs. Vale or Relanie might appear suddenly.
She sat on a chair a little far from Adrian. The table was so full that Elara wondered if soone else was coming. Aurelian dishes covered it. Golden sun-grilled sea at, honey-charred moon prawns, soft crystal bread, and bowls of sauce that slled rich and delicious.
Adrian picked up a piece of opened fla lobster and ate it elegantly and neatly. Elara only realized that she had been staring at him when he lifted his head and their eyes t. She looked away at once.
"Not hungry?" he asked.
She clenched her jaw. She couldn’t possibly say they should get things done quickly so she could leave. Could she?
When Adrian saw that she won’t answer, he spoke up again.
"Eat."
He then returned to his food.
Elara sighed. Her gaze dropped back to look at the dishes again, and her mouth watered uncontrollably. She finally made to pick up the spoon and fork in front of her slowly. But she hadn’t done so before she quickly ca back to her senses. She paused, staring at the food in front of her for a mont.
This was not why she was here. And sothing like this was never part of her plan. She knew if these continued, sothing would really happen. She finally garnered enough courage and lifted her head to look at Adrian.
"Why did you call ," she said quietly, asking the question that had been in her mind since yesterday’s event, "when you already have a fiancée?"
For a second, she thought she imagined it. But Adrian’s fingers stiffened around his cutlery, and the air in the room seed to drop several degrees.
Elara remained calm, not nervous, if anything, she anticipated his reaction and reply.
Adrian finally spoke. His voice seems colder than before. "That’s none of your business."
Elara did not look away. Sohow, her courage grew.
"I don’t want to be dragged into soone else’s ss." she said, staring straight at him. Fearlessly.
It seems Adrian had lost his patience for he slamd his fork onto the table.
"Watch your words."
Before she could respond, he spoke again, more calmly.
"Stop pretending to be innocent when you’re clearly calculating."
Elara snapped. She no longer cared that he was her sponsor, neither did she care if the woman standing silently in the kitchen could hear everything.
"You invited , Yet you act like I forced my way into this house." she said sharply.
Adrian’s eyes hardened, but he quickly regained his usual nonchalance.
"You ca because you wanted sothing from . You kissed like you wanted more, and now you’re acting innocent."
He leaned back slightly.
"You should be grateful I even gave you my ti."
Elara stared at him. Her eyes burned red, and for a mont, she could not find her voice. She really hates situations like this. Ah, what was she even thinking then. Then she spoke again,but slowly.
"So money gives you the right to look down on people?"
Adrian went silent. After a brief pause, he said, "You know nothing about . Or about this house."
Anger rose fast and sharp in her chest.
"This house feels empty, Like a museum. No life in it at all." she said without any hesitation, and that seed to struck him, for he stared at her for so seconds. His expression unreadable.
Then he slamd his hand against the table. When he spoke again, though his voice remains calm. The anger in each word was unmistakable.
"Get out."
Elara also did not hesitate. She stood up at once, not sparing him another glance. As she reached the door, his voice stopped her.
"Don’t think you can escape ."
She did not turn back. She quickly walked out, and the door shut loudly behind her...
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