5. An Uncomfortable Limit

“You’re home this late?” Zayne asked.

Elmy, who had just finished a call with her assistant, immediately turned toward the voice. Zayne was standing not far from her car. Honestly, she hadn’t noticed him arrive. She glanced back at the black Mercedes parked away from the garage. No wonder, she thought.

“Working late?” Zayne asked again.

“I had to check a lot of design drafts, so I couldn’t leave earlier,” Elmy replied, rubbing her tense shoulders. Zayne didn’t bother with small talk. They walked in silence. The only sound was the click of her high heels against Zayne’s Oxford shoes.

Elmy sneaked a glance. Zayne was beside her, carrying a black bag, his jacket slung over his shoulder. She swallowed hard, suddenly nervous walking so close to him.

To steady herself, she quickened her pace. Elmy gripped the strap of her bag as she felt Zayne’s cold gaze nearly pierce through her back.

“What’s the rush?” Zayne called from behind.

“I just want to rest quickly,” Elmy replied, opening the front door.

Something felt different when she saw Sunny waiting in the living room. Her outfit was neat yet casual. The soft smile she offered made Elmy’s chest tighten—not because she was impressed, but for another reason.

Elmy gave a brief greeting before heading upstairs to her room. She glanced back and saw Sunny taking Zayne’s bag and jacket. Before Sunny arrived, it had always been Elmy’s job to greet Zayne, even if he usually responded coldly.

Seeing Zayne refuse, Elmy thought the cold treatment was better than rejection. When Zayne looked up toward the stairs, Elmy quickly turned. Behind her, she heard his steps follow—quick and precise.

At her door, she reached for the knob, but a firm, flat voice behind stopped her. She turned to see Zayne a few steps away, loosening his tie.

“Where are you going?”

“Of course, to my room.”

Zayne glanced briefly at the red-brick door behind Elmy. “That’s not your room anymore.”

Elmy raised a neat eyebrow. “What do you mean? This has been my room since I married you.”

“Sunny will be occupying that room from now on. Starting tonight, you’ll sleep in the master bedroom.” He nodded toward his room. “My room.”

Elmy’s heart raced. Her whole body heated at one thought. The contract… flashed through her mind.

“This soon?” Elmy murmured, uneasy.

“The contract goes into effect from the moment we signed it,” Zayne replied bluntly.

“But you could have at least told me my room would become Sunny’s,” Elmy protested.

“For what?” Zayne asked coldly.

Elmy let out a short, sharp laugh that turned into a heavy exhale. She couldn’t believe it—Zayne was making this decision without consulting her. Even if it wasn’t the first time, she was still upset.

“You said you play by the rules, right?”

That question struck at Elmy’s core. Her lips twitched. “Of course,” she replied shortly. “I’ll follow exactly what’s written in the contract,” she said coldly, stepping closer and pointing at Zayne’s chest. “But let me make one thing clear. Keep your boundaries.”

Zayne simply nodded, calm, with no intention of arguing. He stepped forward first, opening the bedroom door and gesturing for Elmy to enter. For a moment, Elmy stared at him with sharp eyes, her soft lips pressed together.

“All my things have been moved?”

Zayne’s only reply was a short hum. Calmly, he hung his jacket and bag. As he loosened his belt and removed his shirt, Elmy, still standing in the middle of the room, instinctively turned her back. In a year of marriage, she had never seen Zayne’s body like this—but she knew he was in good shape.

“You said you wanted to rest quickly,” Zayne teased from behind. “Why are you still standing there?”

Elmy closed her eyes. It would be embarrassing if he thought she was staring. So she covered her face with her bag and walked toward the bed, sitting down.

Just as she felt relief, Zayne walked toward her. Reflexively, Elmy looked up. Seconds later, her cheeks burned as she saw Zayne half-naked—his body toned and athletic. She swallowed hard.

A playful huff escaped him. “Acting like you’ve never seen a man before,” he said flatly.

He draped a towel over his shoulders and pointed to the walk-in closet. “All your things are in there.”

Elmy just nodded.

“Get used to it.”

“For?”

“For everything that’s never happened between us,” Zayne said softly before disappearing into the bathroom.

Elmy covered her face and walked to her vanity mirror. She cursed herself when she saw her reflection. Her cheeks were flushed. Reflexively, she slapped them.

“How embarrassing! Staring at Zayne like a starving person, Elmy!” she scolded herself.

Her body jolted when Zayne came out of the bathroom earlier than she expected. Once again, she avoided eye contact. Especially now, Zayne only wore a towel around his waist.

The faint scent of his soap made her lower abdomen tense. She sat facing the mirror, but he casually walked behind her. The reflection of his back reaching for pajamas in the closet was crystal clear.

Elmy swallowed hard when she saw him drying his hair with a small towel. He turned, and their eyes met in the mirror.

“I’ve filled the bathtub with warm water. You can soak,” Zayne said, flashing a faint smile. “You… seem tense,” he added teasingly.

Elmy gripped the hem of her clothes, choosing not to respond. 

Zayne put on his pajamas and left the room. Elmy exhaled deeply, resting her face on the vanity table. Sharing a room with Zayne felt like a whole new test.

Not long after, a knock came at the door. Elmy got up to find Gianna, the middle-aged housekeeper who had witnessed their loveless marriage for a year, holding a cup of warm chamomile tea.

“For whom?”

“Mr. Zayne told me to bring it to you,” Gianna said.

Elmy took the cup, stunned. Zayne?

“Wait,” she said, stopping Gianna. “Where’s Zayne?”

Gianna pointed to Sunny’s room.

Elmy’s knees went weak. She tried to smile at Gianna and quickly shut the door. The small gesture of Zayne’s care meant nothing now that she knew he chose to be with Sunny in her room.

Elmy placed the tea on the small table in front of the long sofa near the window. She decided to soak in the tub, relaxing her chaotic body and mind. Yet the thought of Zayne spending the night in Sunny’s room made her sob silently. She should be strong. She was the one who suggested this, yet she wasn’t ready herself.

Elmy submerged her entire body in the water, screaming until bubbles rose to the surface. She stood up, out of breath. The bathroom door opened, and Zayne barged in, looking panicked.

“Elmy!”

Silence fell. Elmy glared. Zayne blinked at her. The next moment, she covered herself with her hands while he turned to face the wall. She saw he ears turn red.

“Why did you come in all of a sudden?”

“I heard you scream; I thought something happened.”

“I-I’m fine,” Elmy replied weakly.

Zayne straightened and left without another word. Elmy hid her face. Outside, she found him reading on the bed. Their eyes met again.

Elmy cleared her throat. “Sorry about earlier.”

“I should apologize for barging in,” Zayne said, swallowing hard, his jaw moving up and down. “Get dressed and sleep soon.”

Elmy chose the most modest nightgown she had and joined Zayne in bed. She lay stiffly, staring at the ceiling that now seemed to mock their awkwardness.

It was their first time sleeping in the same bed. The mattress shifted as Zayne joined her. There was no sound except the ticking clock. Their heavy breaths mingled, as if something were trapped in their chests.

That night, nothing changed for Elmy, except one thing: she no longer slept alone.