Elena POV The car felt too quiet, like even the hum of the engine didn’t want to break my thoughts. I held the paper tighter than I needed to, fingers curled around it like it could crumble into ash if I let go.Catherine’s voice kept echoing constantly in my head. Her every sentence, and that one line. “Ninth of April, ring any bells?”God, how did she know about them?I stared out the window, but I wasn’t really looking. My mind was miles away, back on Fremont Street, back to horrors and terror as they rushed my parents into the hospital.How things went silent from then on till they brought the news to me.I bity lips slightly trying to hold the tears from coming out as my heart thudded louder than the car's tires on the road.I know her aim is to break me and Alex up and I shouldn't trust or think about anything she said but the thought of Alex ever been connected to my parents death was rather concerning.Everything just didn't make sense. I mean after they died, they immediate
Elena POVIf someone had told me Alex Donovan would turn into this doting, gentle giant, I’d have laughed them off. But here I was, standing in the kitchen, watching him fuss like some overworked mom.“You missed a spot,” I teased as I perched on one of the stools.He sniffled and blinked rapidly, turning his face toward me so I could see the tears streaming down his cheeks.“Onions,” he muttered like they were his mortal enemy.I bit my lip to hide my laugh. “Poor baby,” I cooed.“Shut up,” he grunted, swiping the back of his hand across his face.He went right back to dicing the onion into rather unneat little chunks, trying so hard to look like a pro even though he kept wincing like someone was peeling his soul.And that was just one of many hilarious scenes these past few days. Every morning was like my own personal comedy show. Alex fussing about food, rubbing my feet, even consulting Madam Wayne like she was some pregnancy whisperer.We still went to every appointment together,
Elena POV I followed him, grinning like a kid who just won candy.By the time we hit the kitchen, he was rubbing his face like a tired dad. “Alright. Cheesecake. From scratch,” he mumbled as I plopped myself onto the counter.“You can do it,” I cheered, chin in hands.He pulled up some YouTube videos and cursed under his breath as flour went everywhere, and at one point he tried to mix too fast and splattered cream cheese on his shirt.“You’re a mess,” I laughed.“You’re enjoying this too much,” he shot back, finally sticking the wobbly cheesecake in the oven like it was a ticking bomb.While we waited, he boiled water and stirred together a cup of hot chocolate, hands still covered in powder and looking a little grumpy but also kind of cute.I just sat there, hands on my chin, watching as his expression shifted from confused to baffled to surprise then to annoyed.I couldn't help but smile a little. It was really a good thing knowing that he's trying his best. At least for now I gue
Elena POVWe stayed under that oak tree for a long while, hands laced together like we didn’t even realize it at first. The sun had shifted higher, warm and golden against my face.“You mean it?” I asked him after a while, my voice small but hopeful.He glanced at me sideways, brow lifted. “Mean what?”“That you’ll talk to your mom,” I murmured, feeling my throat tighten.Alex was so still for a moment that I thought he’d shut me down. But then he sighed and nodded.“Yeah,” he answered. “I will.”Some of the weight I’d been carrying all morning seemed to loosen in my chest.“Thank you,” I whispered.He didn’t reply. Instead, his thumb brushed across my knuckles, his palm warm. It wasn’t much, but coming from him — someone so careful with feelings — it was everything.When we finally left the cemetery, my heart felt lighter.---The drive home was mostly quiet. Alex kept one hand on the wheel and the other resting lightly on my knee. Every so often, I’d catch him glancing over at me li
Elena POVEarly the next morning, the air was crisp as Alex pulled up to the cemetery gate. I held a small bouquet, hands trembling against the green plastic wrap. My heart felt heavy. Every inch of me wished my parents were still here, holding my hands, telling me everything would be okay.“You ready?” Alex asked quietly.I nodded, even though my legs felt like jelly. “Yeah,” I whispered.He parked and came around to my side. No words. Just a strong, warm palm hovering at my back like an unspoken promise as we made our way up the narrow path.That’s when I saw it.Sunflowers. Bright yellow petals against the gray marble of my parents’ grave. They hadn’t been here the last time. I stopped walking.My throat closed up as I stared at them, their blooms so alive, their colors so loud it felt like they were humming.Sunflowers.A tear slipped before I could catch it.There was only one person who knew.Nick.Nick was the only one who knew my mom loved sunflowers. Dad used to call me his
Elena POV“I am your what now?” I turned to him fully, brows raised so high I felt my forehead crease in disbelief.Alex didn’t flinch. His hand still held mine, resting firm and warm on my lap like he had every right to be touching me. His other hand gripped the steering wheel a little too tight.“My wife,” he said again, slower this time. “That’s what you are.”I blinked at him. Then blinked again. “Are you drunk?”He actually smiled. That irritating, confident smirk that made me want to throw my shoe at him sometimes. “No, Elena. I’m just stating the obvious.”“Obvious?” I scoffed. “You mean the contract marriage obviously? The one you keep reminding me is just ink on paper?”He didn’t answer right away. Just drove in silence for a few seconds, his jaw twitching. I could feel the air between us thick with tension.“You didn’t answer,” I pressed on not allowing him to escape this afternoon, ruining my meeting with Damien.His voice dropped, rough and low. “ Because, I’m tired of pre