CHAPTER 1

Elysia worked like a machine in the kitchen, sautéing, simmering, frying and cooking different dishes at once, if there was one thing she was good at, it was making magic with dishes and that night she had purposefully gone all out to curate magic for her husband.

"Set the table, we have less than half an hour." She glanced at the digital clock in the kitchen as she worked and gave instructions to those that assisted her.

She had an apron over her dress and a chef's cap hid her soft brown hair, her pair of mittens hung on the oven's door, she had long taken out the fish she had put in it and didn't have need for it anymore.

Carefully, she sprinkled the already cut pepper and onions in the pot and left it to steam for a while before adding her vegetable and stirring.

The island in the middle of the space provided her with a kind of feeling that often made her feel like she was in a cooking show as she moved with skill beating the hands of the clock.

"Done," she exhaled excited giving a high five to the members of staff that had aided her. Excited was one emotion she couldn't contain; only the day before, she had visited the hospital and got the best news of her life.

She was carrying a child.

What made it even more exciting was the fact that the father of her child and husband who had been on a month's long trip was finally returning home, hence, her charade of a lavish dinner to welcome him and break the news to him.

Elysia sat at the table with her hands crossed on her lap when she heard the door open. Suddenly the butterflies in her stomach formed a knot, she became nervous soaking the back of her dress in a cold sweat.

Yes, she longed to break the news to him but Orion Steelhart was not a predictable man at all.

"Hi," he greeted casually when he found her at the dining table with dinner already served.

"Hi," Elysia flushed pink, though they had been married for a year, he still had the effect he had on her when she was just a young teenage girl.

"I see you went through the stress to throw a banquet, what's the party about?" He threw a light comment at her as he took his seat directly opposite her and fixed his napkins properly.

"No occasion really, I - I was just..." she stuttered not knowing where to start from.

Though Orion had a cold personality to the rest of the world, he was always soft and gentle with her yet she couldn't find the words to say to him.

She noticed he was distracted as he picked his plate without eating.

"You don't like the food?" Her heart skipped a beat and she was ready to fix him something else if he asked.

"It's great," he paused and dropped his fork.

She thought it was either that or he was exhausted from his trip.

"Elysia, there's something I have to tell you," He shut his eyes and breathed, away on his trip a lot had changed and he thought it wise to inform her.

"Me too," she saw it as an opportunity to finally say what was on her mind as she looked up at him expectant.

The stoic look on his face made her cower, her heart suddenly beat irregularly and her stomach churned, she was curious to know what had happened. Whatever he was going to say didn't sound like good news.

"Alright you go—"

"No please, you first. Mine can wait." She pleaded, big puppy brown eyes gently compelling him as she forked farfale ready to feed her mouth.

"She's back, let's get a divorce." The words that rolled off Orion's lips made her choke on her saliva causing her to drop the fork to the plate with an unexpected clang resounding.

"Elysia,"

"I'm fine," she immediately composed herself and took a sip of water biting back the tears that threatened to fall.

That was the last thing she had expected to hear, she knew their union had conditions but everyday she woke up and said a prayer to the man in the sky to let her keep him forever but one year seemed like the meaning of forever.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears so she looked away and bit her lower lip to stop them from falling. She had loved Orion every single day of her life but she knew their marriage hung on a thread even if he never treated her badly.

"Hey, you don't have to get uncomfortable. I'll still take of you and granny like I've always done. You're still my family and this changes nothing at all, you won't lack any thing and no one would dare—"

"Are the papers ready?" She asked pulling herself to her feet as she straightened her gown forcing a smile.

He frowned, that wasn’t the response he expected.