Chapter Nine

Aaron didn’t come back.

Not that night.

Not the next morning.

And not by afternoon.

At first, Elara noticed.

Then… she stopped expecting him.

⸻

The mansion felt different now.

Not just quiet.

Empty in a way that pressed against her chest.

Elara sat by the window again, her book unopened in her lap. The same position. The same silence.

But something had changed.

She wasn’t waiting anymore.

Not for conversation.

Not for kindness.

Not for anything.

Aaron’s words replayed in her mind whether she wanted them to or not.

You don’t fit into this world.

Do you have any idea what people see?

She exhaled slowly.

For the first time, she didn’t cry.

She just… felt tired.

⸻

Her phone buzzed.

“Elara.”

Maya’s voice came through immediately.

“I’m coming over.”

Elara didn’t argue this time.

“Okay.”

⸻

Maya arrived less than an hour later.

The moment she walked in, she knew.

“You cried.”

It wasn’t a question.

Elara looked away.

“I’m fine.”

Maya’s expression darkened.

“He said something.”

Silence.

That was answer enough.

Maya clenched her jaw.

“I swear—”

“Maya, don’t,” Elara said softly.

Maya stopped.

But she didn’t calm down.

Instead, she took a deep breath and made a decision.

“Get dressed.”

Elara blinked.

“What?”

“We’re going out.”

Elara shook her head immediately.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t feel like—”

“I don’t care what you feel like right now,” Maya said firmly.

Elara looked at her, surprised.

“You’re not staying in this house replaying whatever nonsense he said to you.”

Elara hesitated.

“I’m not in the mood to go anywhere.”

Maya stepped closer.

“Good.”

Elara frowned slightly.

“What?”

“Because today isn’t about your mood.”

Maya reached for her hand and pulled her gently up.

“It’s about reminding you who you are.”

⸻

An hour later, they stepped into a different part of the city.

Not the intimidating luxury strip from before.

This one felt… warmer.

Stylish, but alive.

Creative.

The boutique Maya chose had large glass windows, soft music, and racks filled with bold, beautiful pieces.

Not restrictive.

Not limited.

The moment they stepped inside, a voice rang out—

“Well, well.”

Maya stopped.

Elara noticed immediately.

“Oh,” Maya muttered under her breath. “Of course.”

A tall woman approached them, her heels clicking confidently against the floor.

She was stunning in a sharp, effortless way.

Short natural hair, glowing skin, and eyes that carried both amusement and challenge.

“Maya Thompson,” she said with a smirk.

“Didn’t expect to see you back in the country.”

Maya crossed her arms.

“Zara Cole.”

Elara blinked slightly.

The tension was immediate.

“Oh,” Elara said quietly, glancing between them. “This is interesting.”

Zara’s gaze shifted to her.

“And you must be the famous wife.”

Elara gave a polite smile.

“Elara.”

Zara studied her for a moment.

Not with judgment.

But curiosity.

Then she nodded once.

“Nice to meet you.”

Maya scoffed lightly.

“Don’t act like you’re polite now.”

Zara smirked.

“I am polite. Just not to you.”

Elara looked between them again, a small smile forming.

“Okay… what is this?”

Maya sighed.

“We used to know each other.”

Zara raised a brow.

“That’s one way to put it.”

Elara’s smile widened slightly.

“Oh, you used to know each other?”

Maya shot her a look.

“Don’t start.”

Elara laughed softly.

“I’m just saying… there’s clearly history here.”

Zara chuckled.

“There is.”

Maya rolled her eyes.

“Can we focus?”

Zara crossed her arms, still amused.

“Fine. What are you doing here?”

Maya glanced at Elara.

“Shopping.”

Zara looked at Elara again.

Then at her outfit.

Then back at Maya.

And something in her expression shifted.

“Good,” she said.

Then she turned toward the racks.

“Come with me.”

⸻

The next hour felt… different.

Zara moved through the store as if she owned it, pulling pieces off the racks with precision.

“This,” she said, handing Elara a dress.

“And this.”

“And definitely this.”

Maya nodded in approval.

“Yes. We’re not hiding anything today.”

Elara hesitated slightly.

“These are a bit… bold.”

Zara turned to her.

“Exactly. Bold is the new sexy baby girl.”

She stepped closer.

“You don’t dress a body like yours to disappear.”

Elara blinked.

“You dress to be seen properly.”

The words settled somewhere deep.

Maya added, “We’re done with oversized things that hide you.”

Elara looked down at the clothes in her hands.

For once…

She didn’t immediately reject them.

⸻

Inside the fitting room, Elara changed slowly.

She stared at herself in the mirror.

The dress hugged her curves.

Not hiding them.

Not apologizing for them.

Highlighting them.

Her first instinct was discomfort.

But then—

Something else.

She stepped out hesitantly.

Maya’s eyes lit up immediately.

“There she is.”

Zara nodded.

“Exactly.”

Elara shifted slightly.

“It’s… a lot.”

“It’s you,” Maya corrected.

Elara looked at herself again.

For the first time…

She didn’t immediately look away.

⸻

They didn’t stop there.

After shopping, Maya dragged her to a salon.

Hair styled.

Soft waves falling perfectly around her face.

Then to a spa.

Warm water.

Relaxing scents.

Quiet laughter.

For hours, Elara forgot.

Forgot the mansion.

Forgot the whispers.

Forgot Aaron.

She laughed.

Genuinely.

Easily.

And each time she caught her reflection—

She paused a little longer.

Looked a little closer.

Not with criticism.

But curiosity.

⸻

By the time they stepped out into the evening air, Elara felt lighter.

Not because anything had changed in her life.

But because something had shifted inside her.

Small.

Fragile.

But real.

Maya glanced at her.

“Better?”

Elara nodded slowly.

“Better.”

Zara smirked slightly.

“Good. Because we’re not done with you yet.”

Elara laughed softly.

And for the first time since the wedding…

The sound didn’t feel forced.

⸻

Back at the mansion later that night, Elara walked in carrying shopping bags.

The house was still quiet.

Still empty.

Aaron still hadn’t returned.

But this time…

The silence didn’t feel as heavy.

She walked past one of the large mirrors in the hallway.

And paused.

For a moment, she just stood there.

Looking at herself.

Really looking.

Then, quietly—

She smiled.