5

“No?” Genevieve(his grandmother) questioned. She noticed the awkward tension between them and noticed something we're wrong.

Elara’s lips parted slightly,What has she done? Alex looked at her coldly. His grandmother is so smart, he's sure she's noticing already.

“I mean he shouldn't kiss me, I will do that. Right baby?” Elara said quickly and Alex forced a smile.

Genevieve nodded. “Kiss my grandson, it's your choice.”

“She might be a shy granny.” One of the family members said.

“Kiss! Kiss!”

Elara glared at Alex who returned the glare. She's not shy, she hates the fact that he'd kiss her, because of how he kissed her unexpectedly.

She grabbed him by the tie, Alex submissively moved closer to her, his family members screamed, Genevieve gasped with excitement.

“Kiss him! Kiss him!”

Elara rolled her eyes, her hands wrapped around his shoulder and their lips met. Alexander lost his mind immediately, he pulled her waist with his right hand and his other hand cupped her right cheek.

He bit her lips forcing her to open up while his hands pulled him even more closer.

Phone cameras were lifted in the wedding hall to capture the beautiful moment between Elara and Alex.

Even though it's their beginning it feels like an ending.

***

Alex drove her to his gigantic mansion, he parked his car in his garage. Then got down, to open the door for his wife.

His jacket was on his shoulder, his tie loosened already and two buttons undone from his shirt.

Elara was fast asleep already, he pulled the car door open for her, he didn’t even notice in the car. He waved at her, her eyes didn't open.

“Listen, we're both tired. Open your eyes, I don’t have the strength to carry you out of this car.” He said, staring at her.

“When I first saw you, I was surprised to know why a man like you was abandoned at the courthouse by his bride.” Elara opened her eyes.

“What do you mean by that?” He asked, his eyes cold.

Elara stepped out of the car and he jammed the car door angrily.

The maids are already carrying her suitcases out of the car.

“I mean, why would any woman choose to settle for a man like you?” she said sharply, eyes narrowing with contempt. “You’re cold, completely nonchalant, like nothing in this world actually moves you. No warmth, no effort, no presence. You stand there like you’re above everything, but really, you’re just empty. There’s nothing magnetic about you. And you think that makes you mysterious?”

Alex looked around not to laugh. “Coming from you who only married me to avoid humiliation. I guess you don't even know who I am or you're just pretending.”

“I do not know you and I do not want to know who the fuck you are!” She yelled back angrily.

Alex grabbed her shoulders tightly and she flinched.

“Let go of me!” Elara groaned.

He dropped her shoulder roughly, she staggered. Their eyes locked, anger visible both in their eyes.

“I hate you, hate myself for not thinking before marrying. I was crying and all you could say was I'll be fine.” Elara said, her voice filled with emotions.

He took a step back, creating space between them like a boundary being drawn.

“We got married because we were both cornered by humiliation. That’s it. You were standing on the edge of public disgrace, and I was already buried under my own. So we made a deal, we're just two people saving face. Nothing more.”

“Oh yeah…I forgot that.” Elara whispered, nodding her head in agreement. He said it before the vows that it's just for a year, he's right, she just thought he was a nice person.

“ Elara. Don’t confuse proximity with attachment. Don’t confuse marriage with care. And don’t confuse my silence for obligation.” He said, his voice cold. “I don’t owe you love. I don’t owe you warmth. I don’t even owe you understanding. What I agreed to was a name on paper, not a life intertwined with yours.”

A beat of silence stretched between them. Elara swallowed, her fist clenched at her sides.

“And if you’re waiting for me to suddenly become the kind of husband you imagined in your head, stop. That man was never part of this arrangement. So stay within your limit.”