Elena Returns

I spent most of the night thinking about Elena’s return. She had been away for months, but her absence had never changed what existed between her and Arthur. Even while I lived under the same roof as my husband, I knew there was another woman he wanted, and that woman was coming home.

By the following morning, Victoria was already busy preparing for her daughter’s arrival. When I came downstairs, she was speaking to one of the house staff about Elena’s bedroom, making sure everything was in place before Elena arrived.

“Sophie, could you help me upstairs?” she asked when she noticed me. “I want Elena’s room ready before she gets here.”

I followed her, helping to straighten the bedcovers, arrange the cushions, and put a few things back where Victoria wanted them. She seemed unusually cheerful, talking about how much she had missed Elena and how glad she was that her daughter would finally be home again. I listened without saying much, although I couldn’t help wondering how different things might have been if I had received even a fraction of the affection she showed Elena.

By the time we finished, the room was ready. Victoria gave everything one last look before heading downstairs, and I returned to my own bedroom.

Elena arrived shortly after noon.

I heard a car pull up outside while I was downstairs. Victoria immediately made her way to the entrance, and I followed her. Elena was just stepping through the front door as one of the staff brought in her luggage.

“Elena! You’re finally home.”

Victoria embraced her warmly, kissing her cheek and asking about her journey. Elena laughed as she answered, looking around the entrance before her eyes settled on me. The smile on her face weakened.

“I see she’s still here,” she remarked.

Victoria glanced in my direction. “Of course she is. This is her home too.”

Elena offered no response. Instead, her attention shifted when Arthur appeared from the hallway. Whatever displeasure she had shown at seeing me disappeared as she walked straight toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

Arthur returned her embrace, his hand resting against her back. “I missed you too.”

Watching them together brought back memories I had spent months trying not to dwell on. Nothing about their affection surprised me anymore, but seeing them behave so freely in front of everyone still hurt. I was standing beside the man who was supposed to be my husband, yet I had never been the woman he wanted.

Victoria turned to me before I could retreat.

“Sophie, please take Elena’s luggage upstairs. She must be tired.”

I picked up her bags and carried them to her bedroom, with Elena following behind me. After placing them beside the wardrobe, I started toward the door, but she spoke before I could leave.

“Is that how you’re going to welcome me home?”

I looked at her. “Your mother asked me to bring your things upstairs. I’ve done that.”

Elena examined the room, apparently satisfied with the arrangements. “Well, at least someone made sure everything was ready.”

I didn’t respond. I had no interest in arguing with her, especially not on the day she had returned. I reached for the door again, but she stopped me with another question.

“So, how has married life been?”

I turned around slowly. “You already know what my marriage is like.”

“I’m asking because I want to hear it from you.”

“What difference would my answer make?”

She gave a small smile and leaned against the edge of the dressing table. “I suppose you’re right. Arthur and I have been together long enough for me to know what he’s like.”

My fingers tightened around the door handle. “You got what you wanted, Elena. You’re with Arthur. What more do you expect from me?”

“And you’re his wife,” she replied. “You have his name and live in his house. You seem to have forgotten that there are people who would be grateful for what you have.”

“You know I never wanted this marriage. You know why I ended up here.”

Her expression hardened. “Yet you’re still here, Sophie.”

I had nothing more to say to her. I left the room, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of watching me argue or defend myself.

When I returned downstairs, Arthur and Elena were sitting together in the sitting room while Victoria listened to them talk. Elena was telling them about her time away, and Arthur seemed interested in every detail. He occasionally asked her questions, smiling in a way I rarely saw when he spoke to me.

Victoria noticed me standing near the doorway and invited me to join them. I reluctantly took the empty seat across from the couple, hoping to avoid drawing attention to myself. For a while, I listened as they reminisced about things that had happened before my marriage, occasionally exchanging looks that made it clear how much history they shared.

At one point, Elena rested her hand on Arthur’s arm and laughed at something he said. He didn’t move away or seem concerned that I was sitting directly opposite them. I lowered my eyes, trying to concentrate on what Victoria was saying, but their closeness kept drawing my attention back to them.

Eventually, I decided to leave.

“I’m going upstairs,” I said as I rose from my seat.

I had almost reached the doorway when Elena called after me.

“Wait, Sophie. There’s something we need to discuss.”

I turned to face her, wondering what else she wanted from me.

“Now that I’m back, I don’t intend to continue living the way we have been,” she said, her gaze moving briefly toward Arthur.

I folded my arms. “What exactly are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about my relationship with Arthur. We’ve spent months apart, and I’m tired of having to pretend that everything is fine whenever we’re together. I don’t want to keep sharing him with you.”

I stared at her. “You’re already with him. You have never hidden that from me.”

“Being with him behind closed doors isn’t enough anymore.” Her voice became firmer. “I want to be acknowledged as the woman he loves. I want to stand beside him without having to pretend I’m just his friend or someone from his past.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to look away. “And what does that have to do with me?”

Elena held my gaze. “You’re his wife, Sophie. As long as you remain in that position, nothing between us can change.”

I looked toward Arthur, expecting him to intervene. He had been listening without saying a word, his expression giving nothing away.

“You cannot expect me to leave just because you’ve decided you want my position,” I said.

Elena’s lips curved into a faint, humourless smile. “I haven’t asked you to leave. I’m telling you that things are going to change.”

Before I could answer, Arthur finally stood.

“That’s enough,” he said, looking first at Elena and then at me. “Both of you, come to my study.”

He walked out of the sitting room without waiting for either of us. Elena rose immediately and followed him, leaving me with no choice but to go after them.

When I entered the study, Arthur was standing behind his desk. He waited until Elena and I were both inside before closing the door.

Then he looked at me.

“Elena has made her position clear,” he said. “Now, I want to hear your response, Sophie.”