로그인Julia's and Elena's heads snapped to Ary with wide eyes, the shock clearly written on their faces.He remained quiet like he hadn't said anything. Then Elena turned her gaze to Julia, who seemed to be studying Ary's unreadable face, and after a few seconds turned back to her.“That's doable. A different environment is good,” Julia said at last.Elena couldn’t hold back the question inside her head. “Has it ever been held here before?”“No, first time. But, it'll be even more special for that reason.”A hush fell over the table, the first time since they sat. Elena had sensed Julia’s surprise in the way her fork hovered mid-air. Was Mr. Banks doing this for her? The thought tightened her chest as Ary calmly chewed.When dinner was over, Julia stayed for a while in the sitting room to chat with Ary. Elena served them drinks before excusing herself to go tend to Sky.“Well, that was… unexpected,” Julia said once Elena was out of earshot. “Are you sure you want the entire Family C
It was her.He knew it before he opened his eyes. Everything unfamiliar around him was related to her.Ms. Nolan.His eyes flicked to the wall clock. It was just a little past 2 PM. The knock came again, this time, not as light.He got up to go open the door. Elena stood there with a tray bearing a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a steamy bowl of spicy broth. The faint warmth from the broth traveled upwards. She cleared her throat lightly. “It didn’t seem like you were going to come out any time soon,” she said, avoiding his eyes. “You need to keep your strength up after the fever.”He didn't take the tray and kept standing in the doorway.“You made food?” he asked, surprised at her. “I told you to go back to sleep.”“It’s not that simple.”“You’re of no use to Sky, sick,” he cut me off with a slightly sharp tone, startling me.“I'm really fine. I… I had to make something, and you have to take it while it's hot,” she responded, pushing the tray forward.“You’re somethi
Third Person POV Dina was still reeling from the sting of her failed plan. She had everything worked out. She was going to work Ary to the point where something inside him would break because no one knew his insecurities better than her. And she did. Maybe too much. Ary broke but exploded, and the next thing she knew, old Jim bundled her out like yesterday's trash. She clenched her fists at the memory. She'd gone there prepared to spend the night, tend to him, and eventually coax his trust. If all had gone as she planned, she'd have been in his house by his side. Instead, she paced her living room, frustration riding on her every breath. Ary was stronger than she gave him credit for. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, thinking of what else she could do to gain entry back into her son's life. Suddenly, she slowed down to a stop, considering the next obvious option. Julia. Ary's anchor. If Julia was out of his life, he would be crushed. He'd have no spirit l
The light from the kitchen lit up the hallway. Ary headed toward the kitchen. Elena was there cleaning surfaces that were already spotless. Her hands moved with precision, wiping down counters and rearranging cutlery, but her tensed shoulders betrayed her agitation. She worked as if she could scrub away the exchange that just happened between them. “Ms. Nolan.” His low tone cut through the quiet. She stopped mid-motion, then turned slowly to face him. “Sir…” He wasn’t ready to hear another stinging word from her, so he said the first thing that came to mind, if only to silence her, while he sorted out his thoughts. “Coffee, please.” Her eyes flicked up, disbelief flashing at the absurdity of the request, but she obeyed.While she worked, Ary busied himself with making tea. The air stayed taut with tension. Neither spoke. Neither looked at the other. When she finally the cup of coffee before him, he took it and, in turn, gave her the tea he’d made. Elena stare
Elena made a very simple dinner: white rice, pork stew, and boiled eggs. She moved in the now foreign kitchen as if an invisible force guided her hands. While she served his dinner, her mind was a thousand miles away, yet she was painfully self-aware, barely making it through the process. Ary let her be. He didn’t trust himself with words, and this time, he wasn’t ashamed to admit to himself that he didn’t know what to do. Better to stay silent than say something that might push her farther away. After dinner, Elena put Sky to bed, and slipped out quietly. Because she had slept until late afternoon, she couldn’t fall asleep. She decided to walk outside, hoping to clear her head. Remembering the encounter at the pool, she decided instead to go sit at the patio. The night wind howled quietly as she stepped into the patio, blowing cold against her face. She stood for a moment, taking in the burst of air. “Can't sleep?” Ary’s voice startled her. Her heart skipped in fri
Elena returned after about forty-five minutes with a tray, placing it on the bedside table top. Ary stepped out of the bathroom, and two bowls stared back at him, steam curling upward, aromas mixing in the air. One was with chicken and the other with fish. He'd asked for either chicken or fish broth. She'd prepared both in such a short time after pulling an all-nighter watching over him. He turned to look at her. “We'll see how well your appetite does now, huh?” Elena asked, a smile tugging at her lips, pleased at the flicker of surprise he couldn't hide. Ary felt something pull tight in his chest at the sight. But he said nothing. He sat and picked up the spoon, tasting the chicken first. The meat was steeped in its broth alive with heat and spice, which spread through his veins like a revitalizing force. It reminded him of the comfort of Julia's meals, yet it was undeniably distinct. Next, he savored the fish. It was softer, more delicate, nuanced with the sharper not
Third Person POV Ary returned his attention to the little girl quietly waiting for him. “Ruby, you should have the last one,” he said as he cut the slice into a smaller size for her. “Open up,” he instructed as he lowered himself and gently placed the slice into her open mouth. “Mmm…,” Ruby moa
Elena's POV After I fed Sky and laid her back in the crib, my eyes landed on Mr. Banks’ robe. I lifted it, the soft fabric slipping through my fingers. Without meaning to, I brought it to my face. The now familiar scent returned to me like a wave.It was crisp, masculine, and charged with someth
Third Person POV. A soft knock at the door sounded. Ary turned from the window as Julia stepped inside the study, her gaze searching his face, already expecting to find trouble there.“Goodness, did anyone sleep in this house last night?” she asked in a light manner.“Don't start,” he said as he
Third Person POV Ary slipped in and out of awareness and every time he surfaced, Elena was there.She'd call his name, begging him to wake up.At other times, she scolded him for scaring her half to death.Cool towels pressed against his skin, shifting from his forehead to his neck, his arms, even







