Elio Novan has it all-wealth, power, and the success of YUI, the world's leading tech giant. But beneath the surface, his life is anything but perfect. Haunted by a tragic past and a betrayal that left him shattered, Elio has built walls around his...
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The wedding ceremony's echoes still seemed to linger as Laure and I walked through the dimly lit hallways of the mansion. The place was vast and imposing, with its high ceilings and elaborate decor, making the silence almost unbearable. We walked side by side, our hands linked more out of obligation than out of real affection. The gravity of what we had just committed to was starting to sink in, heavy and undeniable.
As we approached the master bedroom, I began to pull my hand away, but she held on gently, yet firmly, making it clear she wasn't ready to let me go.
I stopped and looked down at our joined hands, my face beginning to show confusion and uncertainty. "Elio..." Her voice was soft, almost fragile. "I-I think... I should... spend the night here with you..."
I kept my gaze straight ahead, not looking at her. "No," I said quietly. "D-don't you... maybe think it's time we start sharing the same space? I-It might help us... get used to this."
My eyes widened a bit, and she could see the struggle on my face as I tried to understand what she was asking. We had been living like strangers, and this sudden change felt jarring. I wasn't sure how to respond.
After a while, she let my hand go. "...I-I'm s-sorry, I should go," she said, her voice trembling.
Still avoiding her gaze, I replied, "...Alright."
She looked at me for a long moment, her lips pressed tight. I couldn't see it at the time, but she had a faint smile on her face, finally.
I opened the door to the master bedroom and led her inside. The room was huge, with a small kitchen, a separate room with a luxurious walk-in shower, and a separate room with a bed that seemed almost too big. There was also a cozy dining nook and a small office tucked away in the main room area—or bedroom, whatever you'd like to call it. It felt like its own little world within the mansion.
After we entered, I started to rethink my decision—what I had done and said. I was not ready for this at all!
As Laure took in the room, she moved cautiously, clearly trying to find her place in this unfamiliar setting. The sheer size and luxury of the space only seemed to heighten the emotional distance between us, making her look even more overwhelmed and out of place.
Laure drifted to one side of the room, moving with a quiet hesitance that spoke volumes. Her actions, though fluid, were tinged with a caution that made each step seem heavy. I watched from a distance as she changed from her wedding dress into a plain nightgown, her back to me. Her posture was stiff, as though she was afraid to make any sudden moves—afraid to disrupt some fragile balance.
I decided to retreat to the small office, a space that was supposed to offer some refuge. It was filled with paperwork and illuminated by the soft light of a desk lamp. I needed to escape from the reality of the situation, to lose myself in the mundane details of work, rather than face the discomfort of sharing a bed with Laure. "Why... did I agree to this...?"
