Chapter 3

The bright London morning sun pierced through the gaps in the silk curtains, hitting Liam Harrington right in the eyes. He groaned, stretching his stiff, aching limbs-the agonizing receipt of spending the night cramped onto a short velvet sofa. Bolting upright, Liam rubbed his face and instantly shot a glance toward the center of the room. The grand four-poster bed was already neatly made and entirely empty.

“Where did that rigid cow wander off to this early?” Liam wondered, a spark of curiosity flared. “Or was the mattress simply too narrow to contain her massive frame?”

He shook his head violently, scoffing at his own train of thought.

“Why on earth do I care?” Liam muttered to himself. “Even if that walking mountain of blubber vanished from my life forever, I wouldn’t give a damn. In fact, it would be better. It means this contract marriage wraps up ahead of schedule.”

Twenty minutes later, Liam was impeccably styled in a sharp grey suit, anchored by a sleek Patek Philippe watch.

As he strode down the grand staircase, his confident steps halted at the muffled, chaotic noise drifting from the kitchen. Intrigued, he veered down the corridor and stepped into the expansive space. There stood Elena. Her full figure was draped in a loose house dress, partially covered by an apron, and she was busy plating food alongside two kitchen maids.

Liam crossed his arms, leaning heavily against the doorframe, his expression darkening into pure fury.

“Do you not know your place in this household, Elena?”

Elena paused her hands for a fraction of a second, offering him a flat look, before returning to arranging the crisp strips of bacon without a word. Her stubborn, statue-like silence only caused Liam’s jaw to tighten.

Liam marched right up to her.

“Watching your stout body cluttering up my kitchen first thing in the morning is genuinely making me sick to my stomach,” he hissed.

Elena remained silent.

“Are you really so starved that you couldn’t wait to stuff food down that massive belly of yours?” Liam sneered.

Elena still didn’t say a word, though her hands kept busy, transferring the final hot dish from the stove onto a serving platter.

“This house employs a five-star chef and a dozen heavily compensated kitchen staff! And you are the wife of the Harrington heir, not some heavy-set new maid hired to scrub the counters at dawn. This behavior is embarrassing-it degrades my honor!” Liam growled in a low, furious undertone.

“And which honor would that be, Liam? The honor of letting the servants see her husband sleeping on the sofa?” Elena retorted smoothly, keeping her voice so soft it was meant for his ears alone.

“You-” Liam’s jaw locked, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse.

“What? Am I mistaken?” Elena cut him off, her tone impossibly calm, a near-whisper devoid of any real emotion. “If you are so deeply concerned about your precious honor, perhaps buy a longer sofa so your legs don’t dangle off the edge. Or, at the very least, learn to lock the bedroom door from the inside so the staff doesn’t have to discover where you actually sleep.”

“Watch your mouth, Elena!” Liam barked in a harsh whisper, his eyes flashing with volatile anger as he took an intimidating step closer to her. “Do not lecture me, and certainly do not mock me in front of the servants!”

“I am not lecturing you. I merely think that the heir to the Harrington fortune sleeping on a settee is not a good look for your invaluable reputation.”

“You-” Liam balled his hands into tight fists at his sides, his teeth grinding in sheer frustration. “Don’t play clever with me. Do you honestly think making breakfast is going to win my heart and extend your stay here? Listen to me very carefully, you mountain of fat. The moment this one year is up, I will personally throw you out of the Harrington gates.”

Elena’s lips curved into a razor-thin, icy smile that only stoked the flames of Liam’s temper. “A year is an incredibly long time to feel sick to your stomach every morning, Liam. I do hope your health holds up.”

“You-” Liam glared, his temper boiling over.

“Are you awake, Liam? How did you sleep? You seem exceptionally lively this morning.” Elizabeth’s elegant voice cut through the air, forcing Liam to swallow his anger whole.

Lady Elizabeth glided into the kitchen with absolute grace. She walked straight over to Elena, resting a fond, affectionate hand on her daughter-in-law’s full shoulder.

“Mother, look at what she’s doing,” Liam complained irritably. “This house has rules, and she shouldn’t be-”

“Let it be, Liam,” Elizabeth cut him off gently. “Elena wanted to cook this morning as a gesture of devotion to the family.”

“But, Mother-”

“Elena has mastered countless traditional British and French recipes. And for your information, she prepared this entire breakfast menu herself. The chef and staff only assisted with the prep work. You must try it; your wife’s cooking is truly exquisite.”

Liam let out a harsh scoff, averting his gaze. “I’m sure the food is swimming in grease, just like her appearance,” he muttered cynically. “I don’t have time for home-cooked meals.”

“Sit down, Liam Harrington. I did not raise you to be a man who shows disrespect to his own wife,” Elizabeth commanded, her voice rising an octave, leaving absolutely no room for defiance.

With his blood boiling, Liam was forced to take his seat. Elena joined them, carrying a platter laden with a fragrant, herb-infused Full English Breakfast. Without a word, she spooned a premium sausage, a poached egg cloaked in a glossy hollandaise sauce, and a side of sautéed mushrooms onto Liam’s plate.

“Eat,” Elena said simply, before settling her heavy frame into her own chair.

Liam cut a small, reluctant piece of the egg and sausage and popped it into his mouth. But the moment the flavors hit his tongue, his eyes widened subtly.

The combination of flavors was spectacular-hearty, perfectly balanced, and carrying a warmth he had never experienced before. Liam was stunned. For years, he had dined on cuisine prepared by the world’s finest chefs, yet Elena’s cooking somehow felt vastly superior, utterly captivating his palate.

“Well? Delicious, isn’t it?” Elizabeth asked, noting her son’s changing expression with a knowing, triumphant smile.

Liam cleared his throat, desperately trying to mask his surprise. “It’s ordinary. Too many herbs.”

Yet, despite his dismissive words, his hands couldn’t seem to stop moving, rapidly clearing his plate. His hand even reached out entirely on its own to grab a few more slices of Elena’s freshly toasted bread.

Seeing this, Elizabeth smiled in quiet satisfaction at her daughter-in-law’s small victory. As his mother, she knew exactly how minimal Liam’s appetite usually was in the morning. But today, her son had eaten twice his normal portion.

After swallowing the last bite, Liam dabbed his lips with a linen napkin and stood up abruptly. “I have to head to the office now.”

“To the office?” Elizabeth frowned, her disapproval clear. “Liam, you are newlyweds. Take some leave and spend the week at home with Elena.”

“The work in the City cannot wait, Mother. There is a hotel share acquisition that requires my signature today,” Liam argued firmly, grasping for the most logical excuse to escape.

“But, Liam-”

“It is quite alright, Mother,” Elena interrupted smoothly, offering her mother-in-law a gentle look. “Liam is right, his work is important. I don’t mind staying home.”

Liam shot Elena a triumphant, smug smirk. “See that, Mother? Even my wife doesn’t mind. I’m leaving.”

“Then how about Elena comes with you to the office?” Elizabeth suggested, catching Liam by the arm just as he turned to leave.

Liam’s eyes went wide.