Chapter 117
117
~Elara’s POV
I didn’t know what to say to that. Maybe because he wasn’t wrong. Back then, I was tangled in fear and the feeling that I didn’t deserve happiness, not the way others did. Not the way he offered it.
Darlon’s hand brushed mine, almost cautiously. “I think we deserve to try again. Properly this time. No tiptoeing. No distance. Just us… actually enjoying what we should have had p>
I sighed and lowered my eyes. “It was not that I did not want to be free with you,” I said softly. “I just did not know how to trust happiness. Every time I tried to relax, something told me it would be taken away, so I stayed tense and careful, like I was protecting myself p>
Darlon watched me with a calm expression that made it hard to look away. “Then let me give it back to you,” he said. “Piece by piece, until you are not afraid of losing it again p>
I felt my throat get tight, and I nodded slowly, and even though I wanted to stay serious and heavy because of the moment, I still found myself whispering, “You make it sound easy p>
“It will not be easy,” he said honestly. “But it will be worth it p>
Right then, Janae suddenly cleared her throat loudly, the way someone does when they feel invisible. David did the same, but his was more awkward like he did not want to interrupt, yet he also refused to keep pretending he was not there. I blinked and jerked back a little because I had actually forgotten we were in the same room.
“We are still here,” Janae said, her voice light but her eyes wide, like she could not believe she had to remind us. “Unless you plan to finish the honeymoon right on this dining table, please remember we exist p>
David shook his head slowly and muttered, “I am begging both of you to remember we have eyes and ears. I am already traumatized enough in this job p>
Heat rushed to my face, and I pressed my hands to my cheeks. “Oh my goodness. I am so sorry,” I said quickly. “I was not thinking, I just… I was caught up p>
Darlon did not look even a little embarrassed. He only chuckled and shrugged. “They can leave if it is a problem p>
Janae gasped. “Absolutely not. We are eating. This food is expensive. Romance quietly p>
We all laughed then, and the heavy air loosened. For a second, it almost felt like we were just normal people having a normal day, as if we were not surrounded by responsibilities and threats and consequences waiting outside the walls.
We continued eating after that, trying to act like nothing had happened. The food was warm and soft, and the plates clinked gently, and David wiped his face like he was recovering from stress that nobody asked him to carry. Darlon sat close beside me, but this time he did not lean in too much. He just stayed near, like his presence was a comfort instead of pressure.
He ate quietly for a moment, then spoke without looking at me. “I will take you home today. You need rest. You will resume work tomorrow p>
I stabbed a piece of meat slowly and shook my head. “No. I am not going with you. I need to work,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “I still have sketches to finish, the lineup to adjust, and I need to prepare for tomorrow. I cannot afford distractions right now p>
He blinked at me like he thought he heard me wrong. “Why not? I can take you home. It is late p>
“I said no,” I repeated, clearer this time. “I have work to do. I do not want to leave yet p>
His expression fell, not in an angry way, but in a way that made him look almost lost. “I can take you there and wait,” he offered. “Or take you home, and you can continue your work. Just… let me do something p>
“No,” I said again. “I do not want to go home right now. I need to stay here because this is where my work is. I am not leaving the office until I am done p>
For a moment, he just looked at me, then he pouted. It was ridiculous, almost dramatic, like someone who had never been refused in his entire life. His bottom lip pushed forward, his eyes narrowed sadly, and he sighed like the universe had betrayed him.
“Sweetheart,” he murmured, like saying my name might change my answer. “Please p>
I shook my head. “Do not start,” I said. “I know what you are doing. It will not work this time. I need to work. You can go home. I will be fine p>
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated but trying not to show it. “You are working yourself too hard p>
“I do not have a choice,” I answered quietly. “Fashion week is close. I cannot relax because I feel like everything depends on this p>
He stared at me for a long second, then nodded slowly. “Fine,” he said at last. “If you need to work, then work. I will not drag you out p>
“Thank you,” I said softly.
“But,” he added, voice low, “I am staying. I will stay right here until you are done, and then I will take you home. Not to interrupt you and not to control anything, but because I want to. Because I want to make sure you are safe. Let me do only that. Nothing more p>
“Fine, I will go home,” I finally give in.
He smiled immediately, like he already knew I would give in. “Good p>
We ate for a while after that without talking much, until something heavy pushed itself into my thoughts, and it would not leave. I set my fork down and touched my forehead. It was Lira. Her face. Her voice. The things she did. The damage she caused. My appetite faded.
I looked at Darlon. “Is there any update about Lira p>
He stopped chewing and set his cup down slowly. “Why p>
“Because she needs to be jailed,” I said, the anger slipping through my tone before I could soften it. “She is dangerous. She is not someone who should be walking freely. I know we all have things happening in our lives, but she is not supposed to be difficult to catch p>
He nodded once, then turned to David. “Any news p>
David cleared his throat. “The team is working on it. They have leads p>
Darlon narrowed his eyes a little. “Working on it is not enough. Are they competent? Because she should not still be out there. She is one person, not a whole army p>
David blinked quickly and lowered his head. “I am sorry. I will instruct them to hurry up and to focus. They will handle it immediately. I promise p>
I watched him, and even though I understood pressure was part of his work, I still felt frustrated. People like Lira always seemed to slip through cracks that should not exist. I rubbed my fingers together and sighed. “Please do. She has done enough damage already p>
David nodded again. “They will move faster. I give you my word p>
We went back to eating after that, trying to act normal again, but the tension still lingered like a shadow behind us. Eventually, the plates were empty, and the cups were drained, and we all leaned back like the chairs were holding us together instead of wood and nails.
Finally, we stood and left. Outside, the air smelled like night and trees and the start of something confusing. David walked ahead and opened the car door for us. Darlon guided me inside, his hand gentle on the small of my back.
David drove us to our mansion, the road humming under the wheels while Janae sat on the other side, humming to a song only she could hear. When we reached the mansion, David helped us down and nodded once like a silent guard before turning to take Janae home.
And suddenly, it was just Darlon and me.