Elara’s Bold Confession

Lucian shifted, his grip tightening as he prepared to shut the interrogation down.

But Elara spoke first.

“He was a regular customer at the café where I work.”

The reaction was immediate, and everyone had a horrifying face.

“What?!”

"What did you just say?"

“In a café?!”

“He was a customer?!”

"Our Lucian?"

Every head snapped toward Lucian as if he had just confessed to living a secret double life.

“When did you start going to cafés?” his sister demanded incredulously.

"Bro! You're getting good at this, huh?" Felix said and wiggled his eyebrow at him.

Lucian rolled his eyes at them. They’re being dramatic, his expression clearly said.

His mother wasn’t done.

“So,” she said sharply, turning back to Elara, “how exactly did you and my son get married? Don’t tell me you’re one of those girls...”

She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to. The message was clear enough. 'A gold digger!'

Elara closed her eyes briefly and inhaled.

She refused to let the sting reach her heart.

When she opened them again, her gaze was fearless.

“I love him,” Elara said simply and genuinely.

The words left her lips quietly, without dramatics, without flourish, yet they landed in the room like a thunderclap.

Every head snapped toward her. Even Lucian’s.

For a split second, the world seemed to tilt. Did he hear her correctly?

Lucian’s breath hitched, shocked and unguarded, as he turned to stare at her.

His mind froze, then spiraled, thoughts colliding violently with one another.

He had loved her for ages, silently, fiercely, hopelessly, but he had never once allowed himself to believe that she would ever feel the same.

She had always felt untouchable in that way. Close enough to ache for, but too distant to hope.

Even when she had asked him to marry her, he had agreed without hesitation, not because he understood, but because it had been his wish for so long that logic had ceased to matter.

He would have followed her anywhere. Said yes to anything she asked. But deep down, he had told himself there must be another reason.

Maybe she wanted to escape the Vaughn family.

Maybe she was desperate.

Maybe marriage had been the only solution she could see.

But love? He had never dared to assume that.

She could have asked for his help. She could have asked for protection, money, influence, anything. He would have given it to her without question. And yet she hadn’t.

She had asked him to marry her.

Lucian’s chest felt tight, almost painful, as the meaning of her words slowly sank in.

‘I love him.’

That was what she said, right?

Not I’m grateful.

I don't need him.

But rather... I Love Him.

Before he could form a thought coherent enough to cling to, Elara continued, oblivious to the quiet devastation she had just unleashed in him.

“I wanted him,” she said, her voice unwavering, steady as stone. “And I got him. I’m married to him. He’s my husband. And I’m not going to change that forever.”

The finality in her tone left no room for doubt.

Lucian’s fingers tightened around hers, instinctive, possessive, as if his body was reacting before his mind could catch up.

His heart was thumping so violently against his ribs that he was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

He wanted to hear more.

God, he wanted to hear more. 'Claim me! Take me! Make me yours!' That was what his brain wanted to tell her.

He felt like the way a child waits breathlessly for another piece of candy on Christmas Eve.

The way a starving man clings to the promise of food. Each word from her felt like something he had been denied his entire life and was only now being allowed to taste.

“I will respect him,” Elara added, turning slightly toward Lucian now, her gaze firm and loving. “I will appreciate him, be there for him, cherish him, care for him, be faithful to him, protect him. And I would appreciate it if you could accept that.”

Her voice didn’t tremble. She didn’t falter.

There was no hesitation, no shame, no attempt to soften her declaration or make it more palatable.

She just spoke the truth, raw and unapologetic.

The confidence in her words sent shockwaves through the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

No one interrupted her. No one scoffed. No one dared to speak.

They were in awe of her.

For the first time since they had walked into the Hale mansion, the air wasn’t heavy with judgment or disbelief.

It was heavy with realization.

They weren’t just looking at her as a weak stranger. They were seeing her for who she was... Strong and determined.

And Lucian... Oh boy!

Lucian was barely holding himself together because, in that moment, with her hand in his and her words echoing in his chest, he realized something that stole the breath from his lungs entirely.

He hadn’t been alone in his love after all.