Chapter 116
116
~Elara’s POV
Darlon placed a hand on the back of my chair like he was grounding me there with him, and he said it casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
“I bought you food,” he said, as if the day hadn’t already been overflowing with problems and broken trust. “David, go to the car and bring the bags in p>
David nodded immediately and headed outside, while Janae clasped her hands like someone who had just seen a miracle fall from the sky.
“Thank you, Sire,” she said with a bright smile. “Honestly, this is perfect timing, because I actually have a suggestion p>
I turned slowly to look at her, already preparing myself for something that would make no sense. My eyes narrowed just a little.
“You should not say anything unreasonable,” I warned, because with Janae, you needed a soft reminder before she jumped off a cliff of excitement.
She cleared her throat dramatically, like she was on a stage, like people were paying her to speak.
“I think you two should have an elaborate wedding,” she said with that tone of someone who believed every idea she had was destiny. “I want you to have your dream wedding, Elara. And I have a lot of people I want to show off to, that my friend is a Luna and she is very rich, and she deserves everything p>
I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide it.
“Janae, please. We have fashion week in two weeks and an entire stolen collection to rebuild. I had an intimate wedding, which is fine, and an elaborate wedding planning is not p>
“She is actually making sense,” Darlon cut in gently, his voice calm, his eyes focused on me. “We should have a proper wedding. Something elegant. Something that suits you. We can get a big event planner to handle everything p>
Janae let out a scream of excitement like someone had just handed her a crown.
“Yes! Yes, exactly! Thank you, Sire! See? He understands! I said it from the beginning that you needed a fairytale wedding! And I think we should hold the wedding in the Maldives p>
I stared at her like she had grown a second head.
“The Maldives?” I repeated slowly. “Janae, we are planning for fashion week, not a royal vacation p>
“Why not both?” she asked, eyes sparkling like she already booked tickets. “You can walk down the aisle near the water with the wind blowing and everyone choking on their jealousy because you are finally living the life you deserve p>
I didn’t say anything for a moment, partly because I didn’t know what to say, and partly because Darlon was watching me with a small smile that made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t know how to handle.
David returned with bags of food, arms full, face slightly red from how heavy everything looked. He placed everything on the table, and Janae gasped like the smell itself was a blessing.
“You bought half the world,” she laughed.
“I did not know what she would want,” Darlon answered simply, looking at me. “So I got everything p>
I looked at the bags, stew, rice, fried plantain, roasted chicken, puff pastry, and soups.
“You didn’t have to buy all of this,” I murmured.
“I wanted to,” he replied. “And I will keep wanting to p>
He reached for my hand without asking, like it was something that belonged naturally between his fingers.
David and Janae were whispering to each other, pretending to focus on the fabric samples but failing miserably.
Darlon leaned closer.
“You do not like the idea of a Maldives wedding?” he asked.
“It is not about the place,” I said quietly. “It is about everything suddenly moving fast, like I am trying to hold water in my hands, and it keeps slipping. Fashion week. The stolen designs. Our company. Lira. Linda. Ronan. My past. My future. You p>
His thumb brushed the back of my hand, slow and steady.
“I know,” he said. “And I am not rushing you. I am just asking you to let yourself imagine something good… even if we do not choose it now p>
The honesty in his voice made something in my throat tighten. I looked away before my face betrayed too much.
Janae, who clearly didn’t believe in quiet moments, stepped forward again.
“Elara,” she said, her voice softer this time. “I know everything is overwhelming. I know the company is heavy on your shoulders, and I know that you are fighting battles most people will never understand. But you deserve joy too. You deserve a day that belongs to you p>
I sat down again slowly, because there was nothing else to do but breathe.
“Let us survive fashion week first,” I said finally. “Then we will see p>
Janae clapped like she had won an argument.
“That is almost a yes p>
“It is not a yes,” I corrected.
“But it is not a no,” Darlon added.
I glared at him without heat. “Do not join sides with her p>
He chuckled. “I will always join your side. But I am allowed to like her ideas p>
David slid an arm around Janae’s waist.
“Then we should get your dream dress ready too,” he said to her with a grin.
Janae gasped, turning to me instantly.
“Elara, I want feathers. Real feathers. And sparkles. And maybe a dramatic train that makes me look like I am levitating p>
“Focus on your job before I sew the train to your office chair,” I muttered.
We gathered around the food.
“Eat,” he said quietly, his voice soft like it was meant only for me. “You have not eaten all day p>
I sighed, picking up a plate.
“All right. But only because I do not want to faint before fashion week p>
“Then I will keep bringing food,” he said.
“You do not need to p>
“I know. I want to p>
He said it so simply, like caring for me wasn’t a task, like it wasn’t a burden, like it was something he just…did.
Janae and David sat on opposite sides of the table, already opening containers. They looked like a couple who had forgotten the world outside existed. David pulled Janae closer by the waist and kissed her cheek, whispering something I did not hear, but her laugh answered it.
I shook my head lightly.
“You two are making the room feel like a honeymoon suite,” I said.
Janae smirked, not even pretending to be ashamed.
“Let us enjoy our romance in peace, please. You and Alpha Darlon already look like you are about to melt into each other p>
Darlon chuckled low in his throat.
“Maybe we are,” he said, and my eyes flew to his face like I needed to confirm he actually said that.
“Do not say things you cannot take back,” I muttered, even though there was no heat in it.
“I do not plan to take anything back,” he replied.
For a second, neither of us spoke. Then he leaned closer, close enough that his breath brushed my hairline.
“You know,” he said, tone dipping warmer, “we never really got to enjoy our honeymoon p>
My heart stuttered. “Because everything happened so fast p>
“Because,” he corrected gently, “you were not free with me. Not entirely. You were always holding yourself back, like you were waiting for permission to breathe p>