Ella thought Ben had changed. He seemed more open, more approachable than in the previous days, yet as she noticed the increasing number of letters trooping into the house, the sense of calm she had felt began to fade.
At first, she ignored them, assuming they weren't important. Yet the next morning, during her routine walk around the house, a single envelope caught her attention. It was unopened, sitting slightly out of place, almost as if waiting for her. She knew it wasn't meant for her, but curiosity gnawed at her. Carefully, she picked it up and slid it open.
The contents left her frozen. It was from his toxic ex, a woman who had been threatening to expose him unless he complied with her demands and divorced Ella.
Ben had once carried out a shady deal in the company at his father's orders—illegal drugs, weapons, even human trafficking. His ex had always been around, fully aware of every detail. Their toxic relationship had ended because of her manipulative and controlling nature. But now, she was back, tormenting him, making his life miserable.
"Wow…" Ella whispered, speechless. Her hands trembled slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Deep inside, she felt a flash of jealousy, but there was nothing she could do. She was trapped between wanting to confront Ben and letting things unfold naturally, curious to see how he would handle the situation.
Ben had sacrificed so much for his family, striving to be recognized and respected. But over time, he realized no one cared about him—love had no place in his family. All they valued was money, regardless of the means by which it was acquired. By the time he saw the truth, it was too late to change. He knew nothing about love.
Ella, sensing his burden, began to care more. She initiated conversations, joined him when he sat alone, laughed with him, and cracked jokes to lighten the atmosphere. Ben smiled and laughed in return, moments of warmth breaking through his usual coldness.
Yet, whenever a good atmosphere was forming, Ben would pull back, becoming cold again, testing her patience.
"Is he doing this out of fear, hatred, or is he just using people when needed?" Ella asked herself silently.
But she didn't stop. Day by day, she continued showing care and affection. At first, Ben tried to ignore her, acting as though nothing had changed, but slowly, he became more comfortable. He initiated conversations, went for walks with her, and allowed himself to feel happiness again.
For the first time in years, Ben felt loved, cared for, heard, and understood. This bond strengthened between them, making it impossible for him to imagine life without Ella.
That weekend, Ben took Ella to dinner at a fancy restaurant. It was a beautiful, almost magical evening. They laughed, shared stories, and felt connected. But despite the fleeting joy, pressure from his ex and the ever-demanding family loomed over him, threatening to pull him back into his old world of coldness and control.
Ella, however, chose to remain close, determined to navigate the storm with him, no matter how difficult the path ahead. She never, for once, thought of leaving him when he needed someone the most.
"I know this isn't an easy road, and I'll be by your side through it all," Ella said to Ben as she held his hands and looked into his eyes.
B…b…Ben trembled.
"I know it's a fake contract marriage. I have that at the back of my mind, so don't worry. But as long as I'm here, I'll be here for you," she continued.
Ben froze without saying a word. His ego refused to let him utter "thank you," but the warmth in his eyes betrayed the gratitude he felt. He just smiled as they ate, the unspoken understanding between them heavier than words could ever convey.