The last clinks of cutlery faded as the dinner came to an end. Guests slowly began to leave the table, retreating to sitting rooms or the garden terraces. Isabella stayed seated for a moment, her hands clutching the edge of the table as her emotions bubbled to the surface.
All evening, she had maintained a composed mask — polite smiles, careful nods, measured glances — but now, with the eyes of others no longer upon her, she could feel the tension release. Her chest ached with the mix of shock, confusion, and… something more she wasn't yet ready to name.
Elijah remained beside her, quietly observing. When the room emptied enough for them to have a moment alone, he finally spoke, his voice gentle but firm.
"Isabella," he said, "you don't need to hide it anymore. I can see everything you've been holding in."
She swallowed hard, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I… I just… I don't understand," she admitted, finally letting a tremor of vulnerability show. "All of this… the wedding, sitting here… I don't even know who I'm supposed to be marrying. Everything happened so fast, and I…"
Her words faltered as a shiver ran through her. "I've been trying to stay calm, trying to… pretend I understand, but I don't. I feel like everything I thought I knew… is gone."
Elijah reached out, placing a reassuring hand over hers. "I know," he said softly. "And it's natural to feel this way. Nothing about this is ordinary. Nothing about this… is simple."
He paused, letting her breathe for a moment before continuing. "There's a reason you were brought here. Your father, my father… the arrangement that was made long ago.
"Your father signed a contract with my father that you would marry me, and in return, my father gave him money so that his company wouldn't go bankrupt."
You didn't know, and you weren't told, because it wasn't yet the right time. But it was always intended — you and I are connected in ways you didn't yet understand."
Isabella's eyes widened, absorbing the words. "Connected? I… I don't even know you. How am I supposed to feel this… this certainty you speak of?"
Elijah's gaze softened. "You don't have to feel it all at once. That's why we're here now — to give you the chance to understand, to see, to live it before you're expected to act. And I'll be here to guide you, not to rush you, but to make sure you're safe in all of it."
She let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly as the weight of the evening began to settle. The shock hadn't disappeared — far from it — but hearing his calm, controlled explanation allowed her mind to begin processing the truth.
"I… I need time," she whispered, looking down at her hands.
"You will have it," Elijah replied gently, lifting her chin so their eyes met. "I promise."
For a long moment, they simply sat in silence, the glow of the chandeliers reflecting off the polished table and the quiet hum of the mansion surrounding them. Isabella felt a small spark of understanding, a fragile thread of trust beginning to form amidst the chaos of the evening.
And though the future remained uncertain, for the first time since arriving at Ashwell Mansion, she didn't feel entirely alone.