Noah opened the car door for us.
I slipped inside and took my seat, but my eyes stayed on Adam.
He still hadn't moved from his spot.
For a moment, his eyes met mine again, and he almost looked thoughtful before breaking eye contact and shifting his gaze to Noah.
Noah started the engine. The low hum of the car filled the silence between us.
Adam finally took a step back.
"Have fun," he muttered before turning and walking back inside.
The drive was filled with Nora babbling about all the wedding tasks that were still unfinished. She looked completely frazzled.
And who wouldn't be?
It was her wedding after all.
Noah tried easing the stress with his usual banter, and I helped where I could.
But that wasn't all.
Despite being occupied with everything around me, my thoughts kept drifting back to Adam.
I wasn't used to this… but maybe, just maybe…
I pulled out my phone.
For a brief second, I hoped to see a text from him.
But there was nothing.
My heart sank at my own expectations.
Was I reading too much into his earlier words?
I was spiralling in my own thoughts when Noah nudged my shoulder with his.
"What's wrong with you lately?"
"Hm?" I blinked before reaching for the fabric in front of me.
"This one looks nice," I said, turning it over in my hands as if I had been paying attention the whole time.
Noah's hand shot out and caught my wrist before I could move any further.
I was caught off guard by the firmness of his grip.
I looked up at him, searching his face for an explanation.
"Come with me…"
He gently pulled me outside.
My gaze flickered toward Nora for a moment while my feet moved along with his.
"What's going on, Noah…?" I asked once we were outside.
My gaze dropped to his hand still wrapped around my wrist, and his followed a second later before he quickly let go.
He ran a hand through his hair, and for the first time, I could see hesitation written across his face.
"Seriously…" he muttered, looking away.
"Elina… you really have no idea?"
He stepped closer, carefully, and for a moment it felt strange seeing him this hesitant around me.
Something about him felt different.
"You're beating around the bush again," I said, studying him.
His expression softened almost immediately.
He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he took a deep breath.
When he opened them again, he stepped back slightly, slipping back into his usual self.
"Let's forget it, okay?" he said with a small smile.
I stayed silent.
I had a feeling something was going on inside his head, something that was bothering him… but he wouldn't tell me.
His eyes lingered on my face, and his smile faltered.
"Let's go back inside before Nora kills us."
He walked past me, retreating inside first, but the moment our shoulders brushed, my hand shot out and caught his arm before I could think.
"Noah…"
He froze before slowly turning toward me.
I saw his throat bob as he swallowed.
"You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"
I asked, searching his eyes for an answer.
"Elina… I…" he started softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
I shook my head lightly, encouraging him to speak.
"I think I'm…" his voice faltered.
"You two are here? I've been searching everywhere inside."
Nora's voice reached us from a distance.
I turned and saw her walking toward us.
When I looked back, Noah blinked and took a small step back, something in his expression fading.
I let go of his arm.
Nora's gaze flicked between us before she asked,
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing… we were just talking," I said as I walked toward Nora.
"I'll wait in the car. Hurry up."
Noah didn't look at either of us as he spoke before walking away.
Nora glanced at her wristwatch before looking back at me.
"It's already past five… we should check out."
With that, she headed back inside.
I stayed frozen for a moment, my eyes lingering on Noah's retreating figure until he disappeared into the distance.
Then, pushing the strange feeling aside, I followed after Nora.
After a while, we returned home.
Nora was busy unpacking and showing everyone the things we had bought.
Noah had already disappeared into his room the moment we came inside.
My eyes drifted toward the upper floor, searching for any sign of Adam.
"Thanks for today," Nora said, patting my shoulder. She looked a little more relieved as she took a seat beside me on the sofa.
My dad glanced at us and chuckled.
"Elina always wanted an elder sibling…" he started.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I looked at Nora. Her eyes lit up, and she gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before pulling me into a side hug.
"She was always so sweet when she was little," Nora added.
Dad smiled faintly as he spoke.
"When she was younger, she wouldn't leave her mother's side."
Aunt Jenna walked in carrying a tray of desserts she had prepared for all of us.
"Kids grow up in the blink of an eye," she said, looking in our direction.
Aunt Jenna gently handed each of us our dessert.
"Nora is getting married… and Adam has finally joined the company," she added.
Her eyes drifted toward the closed door, and I knew she was looking for Adam.
Taking my chance, I spoke.
"Noah and Adam…"
Before I could continue, Uncle Valor walked in from the garden, cutting me off.
"No need to call them."
He sat down beside my dad and adjusted his sleeves.
"If they want to be here, they'll come."
I sat there quietly, listening as the conversation drifted.
Noah's door slid open, and he walked downstairs looking a little exhausted.
My eyes immediately followed his movements as he made his way down the stairs.
My mother noticed and smiled faintly.
"Elina used to be terrified of going to school for the first few days," she recalled.
"It was only after Noah started going with her that she finally stopped crying and started enjoying school."
My attention returned to my mother, and I scratched the back of my head, slightly embarrassed.
Noah walked in, seemingly not paying attention to the conversation, and took a seat beside Nora.
He was unusually quiet, and my mother noticed instantly.
"Noah… you look pale. Are you feeling alright?"
Nora reached over and placed the back of her hand against his forehead, checking for fever.
I frowned, studying his tired face.
He did look unwell.
While Noah had everyone's attention, Aunt Jenna suddenly spoke with a smile as if she had remembered something.
"Adam was scared too…" she said softly.
Our eyes shifted toward her.
"The first time he started going to school, he even got a fever."
My heart stirred at her words, and I realised how little we actually knew Adam.
He had stayed with us until he was twelve. But after he left to study abroad, my parents rarely talked about him. Somehow, Noah and I didn't remember much either.
Noah finally looked up, his eyes fixed on Aunt Jenna's face, but he didn't say or ask anything.
For a moment, the room fell quiet before Nora broke the silence.
"I'll go call Adam."
She was halfway through getting up when Aunt Jenna stopped her.
"Let him be…"
Nora paused and looked at her.
Aunt Jenna's eyes drifted toward Adam's bedroom door before she lowered her gaze and started gathering the empty plates.
"He hasn't left his room since morning."
She stacked one plate over another before adding softly,
"He's probably buried in something again."
Uncle Valor added simply, even though there was a hint of pride lingering in his eyes that faded as quickly as it appeared.
"He's probably working on the construction project. There's still a considerable amount of paperwork pending."
Despite his exhaustion, Noah finally spoke.
"I heard Adam replaced Mr. Mark."
I spoke up, recalling the little I knew.
"I think Adam had some disagreement with Mr. Mark over paperwork…"
I paused before adding,
"He said he had his reasons."
My dad looked thoughtful before speaking.
"But Mr. Mark has been with Valor Group for years…"
He frowned slightly.
"I wonder what made Adam take that step."
Noah cut in gently.
"Then there must've been a reason."
He leaned forward slightly before adding,
"Adam isn't someone who acts impulsively when it comes to business."
Before anyone could continue, Nora suddenly groaned dramatically and leaned back against the sofa.
"Can we please stop talking about work for one evening?"
Laughter followed, and the conversation slowly moved elsewhere.
By the time I looked at the clock again, the sky outside had already darkened.
I stood up and stretched lightly as I made my way to the kitchen, realising Aunt Jenna had slipped away before any of us noticed.
I stood there, hoping to help her with something, but she wouldn't let me lift a finger.
Dinner had already been prepared, and the kitchen staff were setting the table.
I lightly swung my arm as I walked out, having nothing else to do.
"Elina…"
My gaze lifted as I saw Aunt Jenna beckoning me.
My feet moved on their own.
"Elina… my dear, I need a little help," she said softly.
I looked at her curiously.
"Of course…"
She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel before smiling apologetically.
"I forgot to bring out the silver serving set from my room while sorting things."
She glanced toward the dining area before adding,
"Could you bring it for me?"
I nodded almost immediately.
She smiled.
"It's on the side table beside the wardrobe."
I made my way upstairs toward her bedroom door.
I turned the handle and found it unlocked.
The room was dimly lit, and I couldn't help but notice the intricate detailing carved into the wooden panels.
Every piece seemed to belong exactly where it was.
For a second, I stood there admiring the room, completely forgetting why I had come upstairs.
The soft click of a door pulled me back, and I turned my head.
The bathroom door beside the wardrobe opened, and a faint cloud of steam escaped into the room before Adam stepped out.
My body went still.
He was drying his hair with a towel while another was wrapped low around his waist.
His shoulders were slightly slouched, and he looked unusually relaxed.
He stopped.
And then our eyes met.
My breath caught. I turned away so quickly I almost stumbled over my own feet.
"I'm… I'm sorry."
He let out a small scoff.
"Barging in without a knock…" he said.
"How rude."
"I thought it was Aunt Jenna's room," I replied nervously.
I lifted my head as the thought finally caught up to me.
"Wait… it is Aunt Jenna's room."
Before I could excuse myself, the space behind me suddenly felt warmer.
Charged with his presence.
"And?"
His voice came softly from behind me, close enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"Can't I take a shower at my aunt's place?"
My lips parted before I realised I had nothing to say.
He stepped closer.
His arm brushed lightly against mine, and a hundred thoughts crossed my mind all at once.
What was he doing?
What was he trying to…
And then he reached past me toward the bed where his clothes had been neatly laid out.
I instinctively turned my head just enough to look before immediately dropping my gaze again.
Heat crept up my neck.
I could feel his eyes on me.
After a moment, I slowly lifted my eyes again.
An amused smirk tugged at the corner of his lips and, for a moment, time seemed to stop.
Our faces were closer than I realised. His arm still lingered beside me, and I could feel the warmth of him at my back.
He didn't look away.
And the amusement in his eyes softened into something I couldn't name.
He opened his mouth to say something when a knock echoed through the room.
I almost jumped, stepping away from him immediately.
"Elina… did you find it?"
Nora's voice came through the door.
My eyes quickly scanned the room.
Side table… wardrobe…
Found it.
The silverware box sat neatly on top of the side table, just where Aunt Jenna said it would be.
I picked it up almost immediately.
Without looking back again, I walked toward the door and reached for the handle.
My fingers tightened slightly around the box before I stepped outside.