The sleek black car moved like a silent predator through the winding, forested roads that led away from the city. Inside, Elara sat, her hands folded neatly in her lap, watching ancient trees blur past her window. A formidable, silent guard sat in the passenger seat, a tangible presence of Cassian's care—or perhaps his worry. He had ensured she was accompanied, not just for safety, but to make the journey comfortable, a small bastion of his world in the one she was about to enter.
Her mind drifted to Sophie's tear-streaked, ecstatic face from the day before. 'We have to tell everyone! Right now!' Sophie had squealed, clutching Elara's hands. But Elara had been firm. 'No, Sophie. Not yet. This news… it belongs to Cassian first. He should hear it from me, before anyone else in the world. We will tell everyone, but only after he returns.' The weight of the secret was both a terrifying and a precious burden nestled deep within her.
The car slowed, turning onto a gravel path that crunched softly under the tires. And then, the Thorne family mansion came into view.
Elara's breath caught. It was not the cold, modern fortress she had imagined. It was an old, majestic Japanese-style compound, all sweeping, pagoda-like roofs of dark grey tile, pristine white walls, and vast, sliding paper screens. A serene, koi-filled pond glittered beside a meticulously raked Zen garden. It was a place of quiet power and immense tradition, a world away from the steel and glass of the city.
Stepping inside was like entering a different realm. The air was scented with hinoki wood and faint incense. The main living room was vast, with tatami mat flooring and minimalist decor, yet it was teeming with people. A vibrant, noisy gathering of the entire Thorne clan. Her escort melted away into the background as Elara stood just inside the doorway, feeling dozens of pairs of eyes turn toward her.
She quickly took inventory. Cassian had four uncles and two aunts, all with the sharp, discerning Thorne eyes. There were seven cousins—a mix of men and women, some with young children clinging to their legs, some accompanied by their own spouses, and two who appeared to be still single. It was a sprawling, complicated family tree she was expected to graft herself onto.
At the far end of the room, seated on a raised dais in a simple but elegant chair, was Lady Theodora. She was not merely old; she was ancient, a carved statue of wisdom and authority. Her gnarled hands rested on a polished wooden stick, and her sharp eyes missed nothing.
As if reading Elara's overwhelmed thoughts, Theodora lifted her stick and brought it down twice on the wooden floor. Thud. Thud.
The room fell into an immediate, respectful silence.
"Thank you," Theodora's voice, though aged, was clear and carried effortlessly, "to all my family, for making the journey to this old house to humor an even older woman. I appreciate that you have all come, despite the tremendous pressures of your own lives." Her lips quirked in a knowing smile. "However, I am not so senile that I am unaware the main attraction today is not my impending birthday, but the arrival of my grandson Cassian's new wife."
A soft, knowing chuckle rippled through the room.
"Unfortunately," Theodora continued, "Cassian is detained on urgent business. He will join us later. But…" She paused, her gaze sweeping the room before landing squarely on Elara, pinning her in place. "We are not so unfortunate. For we have with us, the reason my grandson finally saw fit to rejoin the land of the living. We have the new Mrs. Elara Thorne."
Every head turned to look at her. Elara felt her cheeks grow warm.
"Do not let her quiet demeanor fool you," Theodora announced, her voice gaining a proud, ringing quality. "This is the woman who stood in a den of liars and thieves at the Sterling Gala and, with nothing but her intellect and courage, exposed them all. She discerned true value from clever fakes. She protected our family's interests and its honor with a precision that would make any of you seasoned executives blush. She is not just a bride; she is an asset. And we are lucky to have her."
A wave of genuine, impressed applause filled the room. Elara, utterly mortified but deeply touched, could only give a small, humble bow of her head, her face flaming.
Later, seeking a moment of respite, she found herself in a smaller, adjacent room where the younger cousins had congregated, chatting and laughing. She felt like an outsider, a satellite drifting into an established orbit. Taking a steadying breath, she approached a young woman who was sipping tea near the doorway.
"Hello," Elara said, a bit nervously. "I'm Elara."
The woman, with Cassian's same dark hair and intelligent eyes, turned. A slow, teasing smile spread across her face. "Oh, we know who you are. You're the celebrity. I'm Amelia." She gestured to the group. "So, you're the new sister-in-law."
A male cousin, lounging on a floor cushion, chimed in with a mock-serious tone. "You know, it's a strange feeling. You're just living your life, and then suddenly, boom, the family gets bigger. Someone new is added to the group chat. It's very disruptive." He winked, his expression full of playful challenge.
They were testing her, giving her a bombastic side-eye, waiting to see how she would handle their brand of humor. Elara, who had braced herself for a storm, felt her whole body stiffen, ready with a retort.
But before she could speak, the entire group burst into uproarious laughter.
Amelia, clutching her stomach, managed to gasp out, "Sister-in-law, your face! You were so stiff! Come on, we were just joking!"
Another female cousin, named Clara, came over and linked her arm with Elara's. "We've heard all about you, of course! We admire you so much. Anyone who can leave Aris sputtering in a boardroom and then take down a room full of con artists is a legend in our book."
The tension shattered. One by one, the seven cousins introduced themselves properly.
"I'm Michael, the eldest of this brood," said the one who had teased her. "This is my wife, Sarah, and our two terrors, Leo and Mia." He pointed to the two young children chasing a paper ball.
"I'm Daniel," said another, quieter man. "And my wife, Hannah." His wife gave a warm smile.
"I'm Clara, single and perfectly happy about it," announced the one holding Elara's arm.
"And I'm Thomas," said the other single cousin, raising his tea cup in a salute. "Also single, but slightly less happy about it than Clara."
Amelia, the first one Elara had spoken to, finished, "And I'm the baby of the family. For now, anyway."
They were… nice. Genuinely nice. The teasing was their way of welcoming her. By the time dinner was announced, Elara was laughing easily with them.
The dinner was a grand, multi-course Kaiseki meal served in a vast hall. Elara found herself seated between Uncle Robert, who she remembered from her intimidating 'interview,' and Aunt Patricia.
"You'll have to forgive our initial sternness, my dear," Uncle Robert said, his eyes twinkling. "When Cassian, of all people, suddenly married, we had to be sure. We were just testing your mettle. You passed with flying colors."
Aunt Patricia, a lively woman with a sharp tongue, leaned in. "Yes, yes, we're all very impressed. And we're delighted to have you. You're welcome here as long as you like." She then added with a casual, joking wave of her chopsticks, "As long as you're not pregnant, of course! We can't have any little surprises causing a fuss."
The air at the table instantly stilled. Elara's fork froze halfway to her mouth. She slowly set it down.
"I'm sorry?" Elara asked, her voice dangerously calm. "What do you mean by that, Aunt Patricia?"
Aunt Patricia's smile faltered. She glanced nervously down the table toward Lady Theodora. "Oh, I… well, I just assumed… Elara, dear, didn't Cassian tell you about the… the family decree?"
At the head of the table, Lady Theodora's voice cut through the silence like a whip. "Patricia." The single word was a command. Her face, usually a mask of serene authority, was tight with warning. "We will not discuss family business at the dinner table. We are here to relax and enjoy our meal. Is that understood?"
The look she gave Aunt Patricia was terrifying, leaving no room for argument. Aunt Patricia shrunk back into her seat, muttering a quiet, "Yes, Mother."
The conversation slowly, awkwardly, resumed, but a heavy, unspoken tension now lay over the table. Elara picked at her food, her mind racing. A family decree? About pregnancy? Why would that cause a 'fuss'? Cassian had never mentioned anything.
As she sat there, surrounded by the now-subdued chatter of her new family, a strange, cold feeling crept over her. The warmth and acceptance she had felt just moments before now felt fragile, like thin ice over a very dark, very cold lake. The secret she carried, which had felt like a joyful light, suddenly cast a long, ominous shadow.