CHAPTER 5

Elle's POV

“I’m glad that your husband agreed,” my grandmother, Esmeralda, commented as she helped me pack clothes for Japan.

“You know very well, Grandma, that when it comes to Navid’s parents, he can’t say no,” I replied while placing sweaters into my suitcase.

Grandma paused and looked at me seriously. “Be honest with me, Elle. Is Navid treating you well?”

Without stopping what I was doing, I smiled. “Navid treats me well, Grandma. It’s just that our marriage isn’t like other couples’, but he has never, not even once, hurt me or laid a hand on me.”

Not unless we’re in bed, I wanted to add, but chose not to.

Grandma took a deep breath and shook her head. “You really love that boy, don’t you?”

That made me stop. I looked at her, gave her a sincere smile, and nodded. “He is a good man, Grandma. I saw that in how he treated you—and me, before. It’s just that things happened, and those things led us to this situation.”

I lowered my gaze, my smile turning bitter.

“And it was my fault. He was drunk, while I was sober. I should have avoided it. I should have stopped things from happening. But I didn’t. So here we are… stuck in this loveless marriage. He’s stuck with me, someone he doesn’t love.”

Grandma stood up from the bed and walked over to me. She wrapped her arms around me and gently stroked my hair while I buried my face against her stomach.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly. “It’s not your fault that you fell for him.”

She pulled back and cupped my face, smiling warmly.

“It’s never a sin to love, Elle. Besides, Navid is very lucky to have you as his wife. He’s just too blinded by anger to see the good in you.”

I smiled at her words.

She always knew how to calm me, how to make me feel safe, how to make me smile.

I was only five when my mother passed away from sickness. My father left soon after and went off with another woman. From then on, my grandmother was the one who raised me.

Everything I am today… I owe to her.

I was about to start college when she brought me to the Axton mansion. I still remembered how she asked Amanda and Samuel to let me stay there while I studied. I also remembered how she cried in happiness when they agreed.

Amanda and Samuel even offered to support my studies after finding out I had graduated as valedictorian from high school.

Grandma let go of me and went back to arranging clothes in another suitcase. “Alright, no more drama. Let’s finish this so you can rest early,” she said.

I just smiled and continued packing.

We finished quickly, so we decided to cook dinner together, something we hadn’t done in a long time. Cooking had always been our bonding time, but after I got married, I became busy as a housewife, and our time together became less frequent.

I was setting the table when I heard a car horn outside.

Grandma paused from stirring the escabeche sauce and turned to me. “Looks like your husband has arrived. Go welcome him and bring him here so we can eat together.”

I hesitated. “Oh… it’s fine, Grandma.”

In a year of being with Navid, I had already learned what he didn’t like, and greeting him when he came home was one of them.

He had told me clearly that he didn’t want me taking care of him.

'I don’t need someone like you to take care of me. Stay away from me and from my business.'

Grandma raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean it’s fine? That’s one of your duties as his wife. Welcome him, prepare dinner, ask about his day—those are things you should be doing.”

Both my grandmother and Navid's family were very traditional. And so am I. I would love to become a traditional wife too, serving my husband and taking care of him. But again, Navid doesn't want me to do any of that.

She frowned at me. “Don’t tell me you don’t do those things for your husband.”

“Well, it’s just… you see, Grandma—”

Before I could finish, we heard the front door open.

Grandma shook her head. “Finish this. I’ll go meet your husband,” she said, handing me the ladle before leaving the kitchen.

I sighed and continued mixing the sauce.

I was placing the escabeche on the table when Grandma and Navid entered the dining room.

I looked at them.

Grandma was holding onto Navid’s arm as they walked in, both smiling as they talked.

I couldn’t help but stare at my husband.

He was looking at Grandma with a soft smile, listening to her stories attentively.

That smile…

It was the same smile he used to give me before that night, before we got married.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. They both looked at me.

“The food is ready,” I said with a smile. Then I looked at Navid. “Let’s eat.”

Just like that, his smile disappeared the moment his eyes met mine. The warmth in his gaze turned cold, and it made my chest tighten.

He really hates me.

Grandma seemed to notice, so she guided him to the table and made him sit. She even served him food and poured him a glass of water.

Navid chuckled softly. “That’s a lot, Grandma.”

Grandma shook her head. “Of course not. Have you looked at yourself lately? You’ve lost weight.”

I sat on the third chair, leaving the seat beside Navid for Grandma.

But when she saw me, she frowned. “What are you doing there? Sit here,” she said, patting the chair next to Navid.

“I’d rather stay here, Grandma. I’m comfortable here. Why don't you sit there instead?”

Her frown deepened. “No. You sit here, and I’ll take your place. You’re married. You should sit beside each other.”

I glanced between her and Navid. She gave me a firm look, while Navid remained cold and silent.

“What are you waiting for? Come here so we can eat,” Grandma said sharply.

I bit my lower lip, then stood and sat beside him.

Grandma took the seat next to me, smiling. “Let’s eat.”

We started eating. I stayed quiet while Grandma chatted with Navid, who responded politely.

At least one thing hadn’t changed—his closeness with my grandmother.

And for that, I was grateful.

After dinner, Grandma prepared to leave.

“Why don’t you stay the night, Grandma?” I urged as we stood in the doorway of the living room.

“Thank you, but I’d rather go home,” she said.

After my marriage, Grandma had stopped working at the mansion and returned to our hometown. She now owned a small convenience store that kept her busy enough.

If it were up to me, I would have asked her to live with us, but she always refused.

“But I insist, Grandma. Just stay for tonight,” I pleaded.

“I’m going home,” she said firmly.

Navid sighed. “Alright, Grandma. I’ll take you home.”

But she shook her head again. “No. You just got home, and needed some rest. Call Jason instead. He can take me home.”

“But—”

“No buts. Call Jason.”

Navid sighed again, then called for our driver.

We said our goodbyes with tight hugs.

“Navid, take care of my granddaughter, alright?” Grandma said before getting into the car.

There was a subtle warning in her tone.

Navid simply smiled.

When she looked at me, she gave me a playful wink, and I just shook my head.

Once the car drove away, I headed back inside.

I was about to go to the kitchen to clean up when Navid’s voice stopped me.

“Prepare yourself,” he said before walking upstairs.

My chest pounded.

I knew exactly what he meant.

It was going to be another night of me fulfilling my husband’s needs.