The Cole mansion was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, filling the marble halls with warmth. In the kitchen, Elara stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up, quietly rinsing the dishes she had used while helping to prepare breakfast. James, the butler, had gone out early to buy groceries, leaving her to lend a hand.
She hummed faintly to herself, trying to focus on the simple rhythm of work. The quiet steadied her heart — until the heavy double doors at the front of the house creaked open.
The echo of heels clicking against the polished floor carried down the hall. Elara stilled, her breath catching, before the sound grew nearer.
"Adrian!" a familiar voice rang out, rich with confidence.
Elara turned, and there she was — Samantha. Dressed elegantly in a fitted cream outfit, her hair swept to perfection, she moved through the house as though she owned it. A smug smile touched her lips as her eyes settled on Elara standing by the sink.
"Well," Samantha said slowly, her voice edged with mockery, "I didn't expect to find you here, of all places." She tilted her head, her gaze trailing pointedly from the dishes in Elara's hands to her face. "So this is how Mrs. Cole spends her mornings?"
Elara straightened her posture, refusing to show the sting her words carried. "James is out. I was only helping."
Samantha smirked. "Helping… or proving your place?"
Before Elara could respond, another voice entered the room — Helena's. She stepped inside gracefully, her round belly unmistakable beneath her soft blue dress. The glow of her pregnancy gave her a natural radiance, but her eyes flicked between the two women with quiet wariness.
"Samantha," Helena greeted, her tone polite but cool. "You're early. I thought you'd come later in the day."
Samantha's expression softened instantly, the mask of sweetness slipping back in place. "I couldn't wait. It's been too long since I visited Adrian. Besides," she added, casting another glance at Elara, "I was curious to see how things have changed."
Helena sensed the underlying sting and immediately tried to redirect. "Breakfast is ready. Why don't we sit down? I was hoping to tell you both about the plans for my baby's gender reveal."
Elara silently exhaled, grateful for the shift. She dried her hands and followed them to the dining room, though Samantha's lingering smirk stayed etched in her mind.
---
They gathered around the long mahogany table, where steaming dishes filled the air with warmth. Adrian sat at the head, his posture straight, his suit jacket neatly resting across his chair. He glanced up briefly at Samantha's arrival, his expression unreadable.
Elara sat to his right, carefully composed, though the tension in her chest grew with every passing second. Helena filled the silence with chatter about her party, but Samantha had no interest in baby showers.
The sharp tap of Samantha's fork against her plate broke through the conversation. She leaned back with a smile that was anything but kind.
"The food is wonderful, Elara. Who would've thought Adrian's wife could double as his housemaid?"
The words landed like a blade. Elara forced a polite smile. "I'm glad you like it."
Samantha's smirk deepened. "It must be convenient for Adrian. A wife who can scrub pans in the morning and dress up for society events at night. Very efficient."
Elara's breath caught. She glanced instinctively at Adrian, desperate for even a flicker of defense. But he remained silent. His jaw tightened slightly, his eyes fixed on his plate. He neither acknowledged Samantha's jab nor spared Elara a look of reassurance.
The silence stung worse than Samantha's words. Elara lowered her gaze, her throat tight, hiding the disappointment burning in her chest.
Helena's voice cut in, firm but warm. "Actually, Elara has been a huge help to me. She's been wonderful with the gender reveal plans. I don't know what I'd do without her."
Elara's eyes flicked toward Helena, startled by her defense. "I'm glad to help," she said softly.
"Of course," Samantha murmured, her tone dripping with dismissal.
Helena ignored her and steered the conversation back to baby names and decorations, determined to shield Elara from further attack. But for Elara, Adrian's silence weighed heavily. Each insult endured without his defense left her quietly stung, forcing her to sit there with her head high — enduring, surviving.