Chapter Four

ELENA’S POV

I shoved Adrian backward, whispering, “Hide! Please, just go!” My voice shook as I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around myself.

He looked at me with his face full of disappointment then his lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. “Really, sweetheart? You’re going out there? Aren't you scared he'll smell me on you?”

“Adrian, please!” I hissed, pushing him toward the bathroom. “Don’t make this worse! Just stay there quietly, I beg you.”

He held my gaze for a moment before finally stepping back into the bathroom.

I shut the door quickly. My handshake was trembling so bad that I thought it might fall off.

The knock came again. “Elara? Are you in there?”

“I…I’m coming!” My voice cracked. I took a deep breath, fixed my towel tighter, and rushed to open the door

Aldric stood there, tall and composed as always, dressed in a simple black shirt with his sleeves rolled up.

His dark gray eyes swept over me, pausing briefly on my damp hair, then back to my face.

“You look… startled,” he said quietly. “Did I interrupt something?”

My heart jumped to my throat. “No! No, of course not,” I said too quickly, “I just got out of the shower. That’s all.” I forced a smile

He studied me for a moment, “May I come in?” His unreadable expression turned to a soft and pleading one.

Every nerve in my body jerked up in protest;

But I forced a shaky smile. “Sure… of course.”

I stepped aside, praying that Adrian would be quiet and Aldric wouldn't notice that someone was hiding something in my bathroom.

Aldric walked in slowly, his gaze sweeping around the room before settling on me again.

“Was someone in here?” His brow scrunched slightly, “Your room smells different,”

My breath caught, but I didn’t allow myself to be caught off guard.

It's Aldric Harrison, he's very sensitive.

“It's probably the new skincare product I'm trying out. The smell is really strong,” I lied smoothly without hesitation.

He just nodded.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said softly. “I just… needed to talk.”

“Talk about what?” I lifted my head to look at his face, as I clutched my towel tightly.

He hesitated, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck. “About us.”

“Us?” Confusion etched on my face

He sat on the edge of the bed, with a nervous posture, “Elara, I owe you an apology.”

My breath hitched. An apology? Why was he apologising to me

“I’ve been terrible to you,” he continued, his voice low and filled with raw pain, “I thought that was how marriage was supposed to be. Transactional and Pleasure.”

I blinked, unsure how to respond. “Aldric…”

He shook his head, cutting me off. “Let me finish, please.”

Something in his tone made me stay silent.

He sighed, his hands clasped together. “I’ve been going to therapy.”

My brows furrowed. “Therapy?”

He nodded. “Marriage therapy, actually. I've been going alone for a week now, I didn't tell you because I wasn't ready to face you.”

His eyes softened, “After three months of our marriage, I knew something wasn't right. You weren't happy no matter what I bought for you; I heard you crying alone or to your sister sometimes and I figured that I was the problem.”

My throat tightened painfully. I was stunned by the confession and just stood rooted in front of him;

He leaned forward slightly. “You probably think I’m a cold person, who is incapable of feeling anything. You’re not wrong. I was raised that way. My father loved my mother with gifts and status, never affection and she was happy with it. So I thought sex and money were enough to keep a woman satisfied. But watching you flinch from my touch, watching you avoid my eyes with fear and hearing you cry quietly; it broke something in me.”

He sounded so sincere that it twisted my heart;

“I don’t know what love is,” he continued quietly. “But I want to learn. I want to understand what makes you smile, what makes you feel safe. I want to make things right.”

He stood up and loomed over me; His focus was entirely on me. “I’m not asking you to forget everything,” he said. “Just… don’t give up on me yet.”

My heart squeezed painfully. Elara misunderstood him.

I lowered my gaze, unable to look him in the eye. If only you knew I wasn’t her at all.

He came closer, his movements slow, hesitant like he was afraid. “Elara, please don’t push me away anymore,” he said, voice breaking slightly. “Teach me how to love you. How to make you happy. Don’t treat me like I’m some stranger in my own house.”

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

Inside me, guilt and fear battled like wildfire.

“I…I…” I was confused dumbfounded, I didn't know what to say

“Elara…” he whispered my sister’s name like it was a prayer, his eyes locked on mine. “Please, let me in.”

My breath trembled as I stared at him and my mind drifted to Adrian, hiding in the bathroom;

I was torn between two men;

A husband who was learning to love me and a brother who already knew my body, and awakened forbidden desires in me.

Before I could speak, his hand lifted to my face. The warmth of his palm brushed my cheek, and my heart cracked under the tenderness of his touch.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, barely audible. “For everything.”

And then his lips were on mine. I didn't flinch or push him away.

I felt something I never imagined I'd feel with a man like Aldric; warmth.

His kiss deepened slightly, slow and trembling, as if he was afraid I might vanish if he tried too hard.

My hands, still clutching the towel, loosened unconsciously.

His hand went around my waist, pulling me closer to him and my hand moved out of impulse, wrapping around his neck.

The kiss was filled with emotions and a plea for affection.

My entire body melted into the kiss and my heart relaxed like I was in a safe zone.

When Aldric finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine. We were both breathless

He rubbed my cheek with his fingers. “I’ll take it slow, I won't force you to do anything against your will,” he whispered.

“No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you to finally see me and love me as your husband.”

My pulse was still uneven as he turned toward the door.

He hesitated, then faced me again, “Elara, can I stay here tonight? I promise, I won’t do anything you don’t want. I just… want to hold you.”

My heart pounded painfully. Adrian’s in the bathroom.

But the plea in his eyes disarmed me. “Okay,” I breathed before I could stop myself.

His lips curved faintly. “Thank you.”

I turned away quickly, changing into my nightwear with trembling fingers. God, what am I doing?

When I slipped into bed, Aldric lay beside me, his arm wrapped around me protectively. “Can you move into my room? I don’t want us sleeping apart anymore,” he murmured.

I managed a weak smile. “If I refuse, you’ll just keep coming here, won’t you?”

He chuckled softly. “Exactly.”

We laughed quietly before silence filled the space between us again.

“Thank you for coming into my life,” he said.

“And thank you… for trying to love me right,” I whispered.

He kissed my forehead gently, and we drifted to sleep.

The morning light broke. I woke to his fingers caressing my hair.

“Good morning, love,” he murmured,

“Good morning,” I smiled with sleepy eyes.

He took the blanket off his body and got out of bed;

He was already halfway when I realised he was headed towards the bathroom.

‘Oh my God!’ Adrian was still in there.

I jumped out of the bed in panic; my heart pounded like it was going to burst out of my chest.

“No, Adrian, wait!” I screamed as I rushed to stop him;

But I was too late;

He opened the door and walked in before I could reach him