Elena woke before sunrise.
The apartment was quiet—so quiet she could hear the faint ticking of the clock in the hall. No fever, no dizziness. Just the chill of the sheets and the ache of muscles that hadn't moved much in days.
She sat up slowly, careful not to make noise. She didn't know if Aiden was home, or if he'd spent the night somewhere else again. Not that it mattered.
She wasn't going to wait for him.
A hot shower helped. Steam loosened the tightness in her chest. She stood under the water until her skin turned pink, then wrapped herself in a towel and leaned on the sink, watching her reflection form in the mirror.
Still pale. Still thinner than she used to be.
But her eyes—they were sharp again. Present.
She was still in there.
Elena got dressed in something simple. A soft blue sweater and a pair of clean jeans she'd found folded neatly in the closet. Thankful all her things were in the closet. And done new things in her style was added,filling up the walk in closet.
How her size was decided perfectly with her knowledge was surprising,she didn't care but she appreciated it.
The penthouse was too big for one person. That thought had crept in more than once over the past few days. The floors didn't creak, the windows didn't let in sound, and the silence wasn't peaceful. It was hollow.
She moved through the space quietly, not out of fear—just habit. She found herself gravitating toward the couch, pulling the soft blanket around her shoulders. There was still a dull ache in her back, but nothing she couldn't handle.
She picked up the book she'd bought at the bookstore the day before. A novel she'd read before, back when things were simple. It was the kind of story that made her feel seen—something about the quiet resilience of the main character.
She flipped to the first page,and started reading and for a while, she forgot where she was.
---
An hour passed. Maybe two.
She didn't hear him at first.
Just the sense—like pressure on the air.
When she looked up, Aiden was standing in the doorway of the living room.
He didn't say anything at first. Just looked at her.
Shirt unbuttoned at the top, no tie, sleeves rolled. His hair was a little messy, like he'd run his hands through it too many times.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
And he was looking at her like he didn't know what to make of her.
"What are you reading?" he asked. His voice wasn't cold. Not warm either. Just… curious.
She held up the cover without speaking.
"A novel," he said. "Didn't know you liked those."
Her expression didn't change. "Why wouldn't I?"
He shrugged one shoulder. "You didn't seem the type."He said simply
"What type is that?" She asked defensively.
"I don't know. Quiet. Shy. Practical."
She set the book down. "That doesn't mean I don't read."
Aiden didn't reply. He stepped further into the room, walking slowly around the back of the couch, then stopped near the windows.
"You went out yesterday."
"Yes."
"Alone."
"I left a note."
He turned to face her. "That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"You're not supposed to just disappear."
Her brow lifted. "You make it sound like I ran away." she dropped her book" And we've talked about this yesterday"
He opened his mouth to retort but it seemed to click that truly they've talked of it the day before. He looked away from her briefly "Well...."
He was lost for words
"well what??" Elena's brow rose,enjoying his lack of words.
"You don't know this city."
"I wasn't exactly deep in the underworld, Aiden. I went to a bookstore." She said calmly,resting deeper into the cushion.
His eyes narrowed, jaw tight. "And saw someone."
She froze.
How? How did he know that?
"You were followed?"
"No," she said slowly. "I wasn't followed. She just… appeared."
"Who was it?"
Elena hesitated."That woman. From the charity gala. The one in the red dress."
Aiden didn't say anything, but something changed in his face. His posture tightened.
"What did she say?"
Elena looked away. "That I'm not your type." she said simply.Silence stretched.And then: "She's not wrong." he said looking square into her eyes
The words hit her like a slap.
She kept her face calm, but her stomach twisted.
And something suspicious creeped up her throat.
"Good to know," she said and her voice shook slightly even as she tried to not show how much his words hurt., reaching for the book again she mummured"Thanks for the reminder."
"Elena."Aiden called softly,watching her with something like amusement and a tiny smile in his eyes.
"What?"She snapped,eyes red and watery. She snapped out of hatred for herself.
It shouldn't hurt
His words shouldn't make meaning to me. But it did. And it hurts. So bad.
Aiden stepped closer. "You're not like her."He said softly,almost a whisper,she froze.
"You're not like Isabella either."
Her heart clenched.
"I know," she said quietly. "I never tried to be."
He exhaled, a rough sound. "I don't know what I expected when I saw you at the altar. But it wasn't… this." He said in a rough voice,like he was forcing himself to tell a secret
"This?"
"You're calm. Smarter than I thought."
She raised an eyebrow. "Flattering."
"I mean it."
She watched him carefully. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because," he said, voice low, "you confuse me."
Her breath caught.That wasn't what she expected.
And he looked just as surprised as she felt.
He looked away first. Ran a hand through his hair. "Forget it."
"No." Her voice was steady. "Say it."
He looked back at her."I don't want to care," he said. "But I do."
The air changed.
He didn't say it like a confession. He said it like a curse. Like he hated every word coming out of his mouth.
Elena didn't move.
"You don't have to care," she said softly. "You've made that clear."
Aiden stepped back. "That's not what I—" He stopped himself. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore." he admitted and the vulnerability was clear. For the first time,he felt human to her
Her voice dropped. "Neither do I."
The silence between them stretched and deepened.Then Aiden said, "Come to dinner with me tonight."
She blinked. "What?"
"Just dinner. That's all."
"Are you asking me?"
He looked at her. "Yes."
"Why?"
He paused. "Because if I don't, I'm going to keep standing here wondering why I care that you were gone for twenty minutes yesterday."
She stared at him.He stared back.
Finally, she nodded. "Fine."
And then, because she couldn't help herself—
"But I'm not changing who I am for you, Aiden."
He didn't flinch.
"Good," he said quietly. "That's what's driving me insane."
---
That night, after he left the room, she sat back and stared at the book in her lap the words on the page blurred.
She wasn't supposed to feel anything,she wasn't supposed to be anything more than a stand-in.
But now, Aiden was starting to see her.
And that was the most dangerous thing of all.
---