Elara felt her face burn up and her resentment towards Eli increase, she just couldn't understand why he had to show up for this party, now she was spending every moment defending him and getting into trouble with her family, she was certain if she kept this up, her grandma might end the event on time, and the rift between them would worsen.
"I believe Cassian is right, I think Eli really did cast a spell on her, look at how he looks and she is still defending him."
"See all the people begging for her attention and she wouldn't even look at them, deciding instead to stick with that urchin."
Murmurs and whispers filtered from around her into Elara's ears, bringing a satisfied smile in her heart, at least this wasn't for nothing, and she could continue to pretend to be the good wife, while watching Eli suffer.
"I think we should leave love – clearly we are not wanted here." Elara turned to face Eli, grieve and pain written all over her face.
"Who said you are not wanted here, it is clear that we have issues with Eli alone." Genevieve Morreau spoke, a huge frown on her face, there was no way Elara was really planning to leave the party she had taken time to plan.
"Eli is my husband Grandma, I am not trying to offend you, but if he can't stay here without being insulted every minute, I am sorry, but I have to leave with him.
"Don't even think about it Elara Celeste Morreau – you will not fight the Morreau family because of that urchin you call your husband." Selva Morreau spoke suddenly, giving Elara a disapproving look.
"Mom, please, don't make this hard for me, I am not trying to fight with the Morreau family, all I am asking is for respect towards my husband, even if it's a little– and my name is Thorne now, not Morreau."
"Hmmph, what a weakling husband, all the insults he is getting and he still can't fight for himself, he is relying on his wife to do that, I wonder just what Elara sees in that man." A guest said from the crowd, causing another series of gossips, mockery and laughter.
"If you leave this event tonight, you can consider yourself a non member of the Morreau, and every privilege you have enjoyed will be withdrawn immediately." Gevieve spoke up, no longer able to endure the embarrassing comments that came at her from every angle.
Elara felt her heart skip when her brain registered what her grandma had just said, had she gone overboard with her acting, what would she do if Eli insisted she followed him, she couldn't afford to live without the privileges the Morreau name brought.
"Elara, that's enough, do not fight with your family members because of me – what kind of husband would I be if I didn't let you enjoy your birthday party. The insults don't move me, I just want you to be happy. You don't have to leave with me, after your party, we can have our own mini birthday party – just the both of us, but please do not have issues with your family members." Eli spoke from beside Elara, making her breath out in relief.
"But Eli…" she protested, her face filled with pain and her eyes getting wet.
"Really, I don't mind– please don't cry and enjoy your day." Then he leaned closer to her whispering, "I got a birthday gift for you, I am sure you would love it."
"Really…" Elara asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, so please enjoy your party, after, we can enjoy our party." Eli responded, pecking Elara on her cheeks before turning to leave.
Elara sighed, a look of relief on her face as she watched Eli leave, at least now she could stop her acting and focused on her party.
After Eli left, with no one to pick on and nobody to gossip about, the hall fell into silence, most people forgetting his existence, while the remaining half who couldn't forget the shameless orphan who relied on his wife for everything, kept recounting the events of the day so they could have story to tell people who hadn't made it to the party.
"Elara, I do not understand why you do not want to divorce that husband of yours and give all this suitors a chance — with your look, wealth and me solidly behind you, you can get any man you want. Take for example – Dominic Vaughn, he is a gentleman and has constantly shown interest in you." Genevieve Morreau whispered beside Elara as she continued to mention men she was certain were suitable for her granddaughter.
"I do not like Dominic grandma, and he is no gentleman." Elara responded, an angry scowl passing through her face.
"Okay, not Dominic, how about Noah." Her grandma said quickly.
"Grandma please, I wasn't taught to divorce our partners – you and grandpa stayed for a really long while, same with Mom, even if Dad's dead now, so I can't divorce Eli, no matter how bad our situation is. Elara responded, her face revealing extreme sadness, like this topic was too painful for her to talk about. Of course, she didn't love Eli and wanted not more than to dissolve her marriage, but she didn't want to be the one to initiate it, so all she had to do was hope Eli would get fed up with the insults and move on himself.
Genevieve looked like she wanted to say something else, but decided against it. She still had enough time to convince Celeste, today she was going to let Elara be.
Eli stepped out of the hall, exhaling as he felt the night breeze on his skin, his mind went through the events of the day and how he had gotten insult from different people that day, it wasn't the first time, but for some reason it got to him more today, may be because it was their wedding anniversary and he had hoped that the day would somehow be good for him, but the universe and everybody around him had always made sure to make his day bad.
He remembered the first day, the caretaker at the orphanage had told him he was an orphan and nobody wants him,,how that had been the beginning of his misery and he had always had to struggle to get the littlest of things, he recounted the first time he had seen Elara, how his heart had skipped and how he wanted her to be his wife. He had been certain she was going to reject him, but for once the universe had been on his side, and she had said yes, he remembered the days he spent courting her, and how she had always brought a smile to his face. His wedding day, although very small, with no guests, except for her family members and some people from the orphanage, had been the happiest day of his life. Elara extended family members had been against the marriage, but he hadn't seemed to mind, since Elara had wanted him and her Dad had approved their marriage
His mind continued to recall different memories, both good and bad, …. when someone bumped into him, cutting through his thoughts.
"Sorry." The person said quickly, walking off without turning back.
Eli shrugged it off, bending down to wipe the specks of dust that was left on his shoes from the stranger stepping on him, when he noticed a brown envelope at his feet.
He picked it up immediately, searching his environment for who the stranger was and where he could have walked off to because he was certain the envelope belonged to the stranger, when he noticed the writing on the other side of the envelope.
Shock and uncertainty crowded his face when he read
the message that had been scribbled there.
'To Eli Thorne.'