Elara sat quietly in her room at Adrian Cole's house—the space that had been set aside for her ever since their marriage arrangement began. It was elegantly furnished, far more luxurious than anything she had ever called her own, yet it still felt unfamiliar.
She stood before the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of her soft blue dress. To anyone else, she appeared composed, graceful even—but beneath the calm exterior, her heart wrestled with unease.
When Adrian appeared at the doorway, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorframe, his eyes lingered on her longer than usual.
"You're ready early," he said smoothly, as though it were nothing.
Elara turned, masking her emotions with a small, polite smile. "I didn't want to waste the morning."
But Adrian noticed—the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her hands hesitated before clasping her necklace. She was putting on a brave face. He didn't ask why, but the silence between them carried questions neither of them voiced. Still, as she walked past him with practiced poise, Adrian felt the gap between them widening. And though he told himself it shouldn't matter, something about her quiet distance tugged at him.
---
Later that afternoon, Elara made her way to her café. The familiar scent of roasted coffee beans and warm pastries enveloped her as soon as she stepped in, bringing a sense of comfort she desperately needed.
Her boss, Mr. Raymond, greeted her warmly, though his sharp eyes observed her closely.
"Elara," he said, smiling but with a tinge of curiosity, "you've been glowing lately… but today you seem a little… distracted. Everything alright?"
She forced a soft laugh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm fine, Mr. Raymond. Just… a lot on my mind."
Unknowingly, she had forgotten to remove her wedding ring before coming to work. Mr. Raymond's gaze briefly caught the faint shine of it, his brows lifting slightly, but he said nothing. Elara quickly slid her hand into her pocket, pretending not to notice.
---
The café's bell chimed and the door swung open. A familiar voice rang out, so loud that half the customers turned.
"Elara Morgan?!"
Elara froze. She turned sharply, eyes widening as she saw the woman rushing towards her.
"Clara?" Elara gasped, recognizing her childhood friend immediately.
Clara threw her arms around her, squeezing tightly. "I can't believe this! After all these years—you're here, and I had to hear it from Maya? You kept this from me?"
Elara laughed nervously, trying to shush her, but Clara suddenly caught sight of the ring glinting on her finger. She stopped cold, her mouth falling open.
"Elara… you're—married?!"
Her voice rose again, and Elara quickly pulled her outside to a quiet alleyway beside the café, where fewer eyes could pry.
"Please, lower your voice," Elara begged, cheeks flushed. "People are watching."
Clara crossed her arms, still staring at the ring. "You'd better explain this."
Elara sighed, her eyes softening with exhaustion. "It wasn't a marriage of love, Clara. It was because of my mother. She was sick… and Adrian's family offered help. I had no choice. I did it for her treatment."
For a moment, Clara simply blinked—until Elara hesitated and finally whispered the full truth.
"My husband… is Adrian Cole."
Clara's jaw dropped. "Wait. Adrian Cole?! As in Cole Enterprises—Adrian Cole? The billionaire CEO?"
Elara nodded faintly, guilt flickering across her face. "Yes."
Clara's hand flew to her mouth, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "Elara, do you have any idea what this means? The whole city knows who he is! He's practically untouchable in the business world—and you're his wife?"
Elara's shoulders sagged, her voice quiet. "On paper, yes. But in reality, it's not what you think. We're not really a couple—it's just an arrangement. And sometimes… sometimes I feel like I don't belong anywhere. Not in his world, not even in mine."
Clara's expression softened as she reached out and squeezed her hand. "You should have told me sooner. I don't care if he's Adrian Cole or not—you're still Elara to me. And I'll stand by you."
Elara smiled faintly, relief easing some of her burden—but Clara's tone quickly grew serious.
"Elara… you can't keep this kind of secret forever. Someone will find out. And when it comes to someone like Adrian Cole, secrets don't stay hidden. People dig. People talk. And when they do… it might not just be you who gets hurt."
The words lingered in the air, heavy and unsettling. Elara lowered her gaze, clutching her ringed hand tightly. For the first time, she realized that the fragile distance she had been building around her heart might not be enough to shield her from what was coming.