Elara pushed open the café door, the familiar jingle of the bell echoing through the room. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed this little world until now.
"Look who's back!" Her boss, Mr. Hammond, appeared from behind the counter, a wide smile on his face. "Elara! Haven't seen you in ages. How was… wherever you've been?"
Elara smiled nervously. "I… I had some things to sort out. But I'm glad to be back."
"Sort out?" Her coworker, Marissa, leaned over the counter with a playful smirk. "You mean important adventures, right? Don't keep secrets from your friends, Elara."
Elara laughed softly, shaking her head. "Nothing like that. Just… family matters."
Mr. Hammond patted her shoulder warmly. "Well, it's good to have you back. We've missed your energy around here. Plus, I'm counting on you to whip up your famous cappuccinos again."
She followed them to the counter, slipping into her apron. The motions felt natural, comforting even, as if she'd never left. Yet beneath the familiar rhythm, her mind drifted to Adrian—the man she was now married to in name, the stranger whose house she now called home.
Marissa leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, "You seem… different. Happier? Or maybe just… more mysterious."
Elara felt heat rise to her cheeks and busied herself arranging the pastries. "Mysterious?" she echoed, trying to keep her voice light.
Marissa grinned knowingly. "Yes, mysterious. I like it. But don't go changing too much. The café isn't ready for a whole new Elara just yet."
---
After her shift ended, Elara walked home, the evening air cool against her skin. Her steps slowed as she approached the familiar grandeur of Adrian's house. Inside, the polished floors and soft lighting greeted her, yet the home still felt foreign—a world she had been thrust into unexpectedly.
"Welcome back, Mrs. Cole," a deep, polite voice said. Elara looked up to see James, the butler, bowing slightly, his expression respectful but unreadable.
Elara blinked, startled. "Mrs… Cole?" she repeated softly, her cheeks flushing.
James inclined his head. "Yes, ma'am. It's an honor to have you here. If there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to ask."
Before she could respond, several people entered—Adrian's coworkers. Each greeted her formally, some with bright smiles, some with quiet nods.
"Mrs. Cole, welcome," one young woman said warmly. "We've heard a lot about you."
Elara's lips curved into a small smile. Despite the formality, their cordiality made the house feel less intimidating. She nodded to each of them, still feeling slightly awkward but determined to hold her ground.
Adrian watched silently, arms crossed, a faint smirk on his face. "Dinner will be served shortly. You two can eat in peace," he said, dismissing his coworkers with a wave.
---
Later, the dining room was quiet except for the soft clink of cutlery. Candlelight flickered across the polished table, highlighting Adrian's sharp features. He poured wine into her glass, then his own, and finally leaned back, studying her.
"Long day?" he asked, his voice calm but deliberate.
Elara nodded, still adjusting to the surreal normalcy of this life. "Yes… but good. It felt… nice to be back at the café."
He raised an eyebrow. "You enjoy the small world there, I take it."
"I do," she admitted, watching the way his eyes softened slightly when he smiled. "It's… familiar. Comforting."
A moment of silence passed, filled only by the quiet hum of the evening and the occasional clink of cutlery. Elara felt her heart rate increase subtly, awareness prickling at the closeness of him across the table.
"You're handling this… better than I expected," Adrian said finally, his tone almost teasing. "Living here, meeting people… managing all of it."
Elara looked up, surprised by the faint admiration in his voice. "I… I'm trying," she replied softly, her fingers brushing the rim of her glass.
For a heartbeat, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them—tension, curiosity, and perhaps a spark of something more.
The rest of the meal passed in polite conversation, but the quiet undercurrent lingered. Elara realized that this contract—this strange, forced marriage—was far more complicated than she'd ever imagined. And yet, for the first time, the thought of facing it alongside Adrian didn't feel entirely unbearable.