A few days later, the weekend arrived. Maya was leaving for the UK to pursue her PhD, and the house buzzed with a mix of excitement and bittersweet emotion.
Elara helped Maya check her luggage, while Clara hovered nearby, fussing over last-minute details.
"I still can't believe you're leaving for UK!" Elara said, tying a scarf around Maya's neck. "It feels… unreal."
Maya hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you so much. But this PhD… it's everything I've worked for. I know you'll be fine here. And Clara will take care of you."
Clara grinned. "Exactly. And don't worry—I'll make sure you don't forget Adrian's soft side."
Elara laughed softly. "He really has been… different lately. I feel… happy around him."
Clara nudged her playfully. "See? You glow when you talk about him. Just be careful—jealous people love to stir trouble."
Maya patted her hand. "Promise me you'll enjoy today. Let's make it memorable before I leave."
The three friends shared a final group hug. Soon, Maya was off to the airport, waving from the taxi window as it pulled away.
Elara stood in the doorway, feeling a mix of pride and emptiness. "She's going to do so well," she whispered to herself
Later that weekend, Adrian stayed at home with Elara. The familiar calm of his presence filled the space with ease.
"Hey," he said softly, leaning against the doorway. "How are you holding up?"
Elara smiled shyly. "Better than I expected. It feels… emptier without Maya around."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "It'll take some getting used to. But I'm here if you need me."
She looked at him, heart fluttering. "Thank you. You've… changed since the gender reveal. Softer, gentler. I notice it."
Adrian's eyes softened. "Good. That's exactly what I intended. Don't worry, I'll keep it up."
Their hands brushed briefly—a quiet, comforting gesture that left a warm glow between them.
"Do you want some tea?" Adrian asked, stepping toward the kitchen.
Elara nodded. "Yes, please. That'd be nice."
As they settled with tea, the conversation drifted to lighter topics and quiet jokes. The easy rhythm between them felt like a gentle reassurance that things were slowly returning to normal after the tension of the gender reveal.
---
Later that night, Samantha and Daniel met at their usual club, plotting in the neon-lit shadows.
"I can't stand seeing her so… happy," Samantha hissed, swirling her drink. "And Adrian… he's mine! How can she have him when I've wanted him forever?"
Daniel leaned back, amused. "That's why we're here. Subtle, careful steps. We'll unsettle him, make him question her."
Samantha's eyes flashed with jealousy. "Exactly. I want Adrian to feel uneasy. To doubt her… doubt what he thinks he knows. And he'll see I'm serious. He belongs to me!"
Daniel smirked. "Perfect. Anonymous messages, small hints, little coincidences… nothing obvious, just enough to make him question."
Samantha leaned back, plotting silently. "Good. He won't see it coming."
---
The next day, Adrian was at the office, buried in paperwork, when his phone buzzed. He glanced down and froze. A new anonymous message flashed on the screen:
"Don't be fooled by her innocent face. She's a liar, a cheat, a manipulator. She's been pretending to care—but it's all an act. Watch closely—she's not what you think. Be careful… you might regret trusting her."
Adrian's stomach tightened. He knew Elara. He trusted her—he really did. Yet… he couldn't deny that a part of him was still uncertain about his feelings. Was he in love with her yet? Did he even want to be?
The message pressed on those doubts, twisting them, whispering that maybe he hadn't seen the whole truth. He clenched the phone, trying to shake the unease.
"Adrian?" his assistant's voice pulled him back. He forced a composed expression. "I'm fine… just… distracted."
But inside, the words gnawed at him. Cruel, deliberate, and personal, the message attacked Elara's character, planting seeds of uncertainty in his mind. He trusted her.