The afternoon sun cast warm light across the mansion's gardens, but Isabella felt a chill she couldn't shake. She wandered along the stone pathways, pretending to admire the roses, the fountains, and the perfectly trimmed hedges. Every corner of Ashwell Mansion screamed wealth, order, and control — yet her mind was in chaos.
Why does he feel so familiar? she wondered again, pressing her palm to her forehead. And why does it feel like I've already been part of this… somehow?
Her thoughts kept drifting to Elijah. Every glance she had exchanged with him, every soft word, every silent gaze that lingered too long. And the strange pull she felt, as if a thread had already tied them together.
Who was he really? she asked herself. And why did he step in at breakfast, like he owned the day… or me?
Her hands tightened on the railing of the balcony, and she forced herself to breathe. She knew something was off — something significant — but she couldn't place it.
Footsteps approached. She tensed, though she already knew who it would be. Elijah appeared again, calm and confident, as if he belonged wherever he walked.
"Isabella," he said softly, his dark eyes watching her closely. "You seem… distracted."
"I'm just thinking about the day," she replied lightly, trying to keep her voice even. "So many places to see, so little time."
He moved closer, just enough to be near, without invading her space. "Some things," he said slowly, "don't need plans. They find you."
Her pulse quickened, and she couldn't stop herself from looking at him. There was an intensity in his gaze that both frightened and fascinated her. "I… I suppose so," she murmured.
Elijah's expression softened, just slightly, and he inclined his head. "You're not alone in this," he said quietly. "Even if you don't see it yet."
Her stomach tightened. Not alone? she thought. She didn't know why the words struck her so deeply. "What do you mean?" she asked, hesitantly.
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he gestured toward the gardens. "Walk with me. There are things here you haven't seen. Things that might help you understand… slowly."
Isabella followed, her steps hesitant but curious. The pull between them was almost tangible, like gravity. She wanted to ask who he really was, about last night, about the wedding — but words failed her.
Along the path, Elijah subtly kept pace with her, a quiet presence, always near, always protective. When a branch brushed her sleeve, he was there to steady her, his hand lightly on her back. She felt a shiver at the touch — a mix of surprise and something deeper, unspoken.
"Why… why are you here?" she asked softly, finally risking a glance at him.
He met her gaze evenly. "Because I promised. I will not let anything happen to you. And I will not let anyone undo what is meant to be."
Her chest tightened. There it was again — the certainty in his voice, the conviction that frightened her as much as it reassured her. What does he mean?
And then, in a fleeting moment, she noticed the subtle way he watched her, the way his eyes lingered on her hand, her face, her posture. Protection. Interest. Something more.
Her thoughts spiraled. Could it be… could I…? But she stopped herself. She didn't know enough. She didn't understand the whole picture.
"Elijah…" she whispered, almost without thinking.
"Yes?" he replied, calm and steady, the weight of his presence grounding her even as it stirred every nerve in her body.
"I… I feel like there's so much I don't know," she admitted.
He inclined his head slightly, a shadow of a smile tugging at his lips. "And that's true. But some truths reveal themselves at the right moment. Until then… trust me, even if you don't understand."
Her chest tightened again. She wanted to question him, to press for answers, to demand the truth. But the sincerity in his eyes made her pause. She felt herself yielding, slowly, unknowingly, to the pull between them.
Something tells me I'm already part of this, she thought, and I don't even know it yet.
Elijah fell into step beside her, their shoulders almost touching, the proximity charged but respectful. In that silent walk through the gardens, Isabella realized the day had changed everything.
Not the wedding.Not the mansion.Not the city.
Her heart.Her thoughts.Her entire world had shifted — and it was only the beginning.