After some time had passed since the gender reveal party, Elara was quietly tidying the café, the morning sunlight streaming through the large windows. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air, and for a brief moment, the world felt peaceful—until two familiar voices broke it.
"Surprise!"
Elara jumped, spilling a little of the coffee she was holding. Her eyes widened as Maya and Clara grinned at her from the doorway.
"Maya! Clara! You scared me!" Elara laughed, quickly putting down the cup and rushing over to hug them.
"We had to! We couldn't let you enjoy this quiet life without saying hi," Maya said, laughing. "Before I leave for the UK , for my PhD program—I had to come see you. I can't believe I'm leaving so soon!"
Clara hugged her as well. "And someone has to make sure you're still glowing and not buried under work," she teased.
Elara chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You two are impossible. But I'm so glad you came… I wasn't expecting this at all."
Maya plopped into a chair, her tone half-serious. "I had to see you one last time before I disappear into library hell for the next few years. You've been working so hard!"
Clara leaned on the counter, a teasing glint in her eyes. "And I have to ask… how's your husband treating you? Since, you know… it's a contract marriage. Is he… actually nice, or just cold and calculating like we imagined?"
Elara laughed softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Honestly? Adrian is… nothing like I expected. Calm, protective, thoughtful… He's made life easier in ways I didn't anticipate. And yes, he's genuinely kind". Even do she knew she was lying deep down but she had to pretend not to make her friends worried.
Maya's eyes lit up. "See! That's what I wanted to hear. You're glowing because he treats you right, isn't it?"
Clara grinned knowingly. "I could tell even before you said anything. There's a brightness about you, Elara. And it's obvious it's him."
Elara smiled, a little shy. "I guess… maybe it's a little of both—life changing and him being… well, him."
Maya laughed softly. "I'm happy for you. You deserve it, truly."
Clara added teasingly, "And don't worry, we won't tell anyone how nice he really is. Your secret's safe with us… mostly."
The three friends shared a warm laugh, the café feeling bright and cozy despite Maya's imminent departure for the UK.
Then the café bell chimed. All three turned—and froze.
Daniel had walked in.
He scanned the room until his eyes landed on Elara, a slow, deliberate smile forming on his face.
"Daniel?!" Elara exclaimed, her heart skipping a beat.
Maya and Clara exchanged quick glances, immediately moving slightly closer to Elara.
"Fancy seeing you here," Daniel said, his voice smooth but sharp. "I didn't even know you worked here. Small world, huh?"
Elara took a deep breath, trying to stay composed. "It's… a nice surprise, I guess."
Maya frowned, stepping forward. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Clara's tone was protective. "Do we need to call security?" she joked lightly, but her eyes were serious.
Daniel chuckled. "Relax, ladies. I'm not here to cause trouble… at least, not yet." He took a step closer, fixing his gaze on Elara. "But let's not pretend the past doesn't exist. Remember how loyal you were to me? Begging me to come back when I was leaving, refusing to… you know… share yourself with me? All in the name of… morality?"
Elara's stomach twisted. Why is he bringing this up?
"I… I don't want to talk about the past, Daniel," she said firmly, trying to hide the flush creeping up her cheeks.
Daniel tilted his head, smirking. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you've forgotten already. You were so stubborn… so loyal… yet here you are, glowing and happy, married to someone else. Funny how life works, isn't it?"
Maya crossed her arms, stepping closer. "Back off! You have no right to mock her like that!"
Clara's voice sharpened. "Yeah, leave her alone! You're being cruel!"
Daniel laughed lightly, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Ah, I see. You've got friends now. So protective, so loyal… I almost feel sorry for you. Almost."
Elara's hands clenched at her sides, her patience thinning.
Trying to regain composure, she straightened her back and met his eyes. "Daniel, the past is behind me. I'm living my life now. Maybe you should try it too."
Daniel's eyes lingered on her, a spark of curiosity—or maybe irritation—hidden beneath his playful smirk. "Hmm… bold words. I like that. But don't think this ends here."
He turned and walked toward the door, giving a casual wave. "I'll leave you to your coffee… for now."
Elara exhaled slowly, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering tension.
Maya patted her shoulder. "You handled that so well. I don't know if I could've."
Clara smirked. "And just think… Adrian doesn't even know about this yet. I bet he'd have a field day if he did."
Elara's lips twitched into a small smile, but her mind wandered elsewhere—thinking about Adrian's subtle protectiveness, the calm way he handled tension, and how different he made her feel compared to Daniel.
The café returned to its peaceful hum, but Elara knew one thing for certain: Daniel's shadow would linger, and her life was about to become a lot more complicated.