Chapter 67: The dinner with his grandfather

Outside the house...

Elias stood stiffly, pressing the phone against his ear. "What is it?" he grumbled, his tone cold. "Why are you calling me?"

"Elias, I heard you got married," a woman cried from the other end of the line. "My parents saw it on the news. I was shocked. How could you marry someone else?"

"I can marry whoever I want. It’s none of your business." A scowl darkened his face. "Stop calling me. It’s annoying."

"How could you say that?" the woman cried. "We have known each other for years. We grew up together. You know I’ve always liked you. And I’ve always wanted to marry you." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Tears choked her voice. "And now you are married to someone else? This is unfair."

A look of impatience crossed his face.

"Stop it, Vivian," Elias snapped, his jaw flexing. "I never liked you. I treated you well because you were my sister’s friend. And I’ve always regarded you as a sister."

His tone thickened with growing annoyance. "But you—you kept imagining things, calling yourself my girlfriend."

Exasperated, he let out a snort.

"I thought you would’ve matured after spending all these years abroad. Instead, you are still living in your fantasies. You haven’t changed at all."

His tone turned heavy with warning.

"I am married now. If you trouble me again, I won’t be polite."

"Elias. How could you talk to me like that?" Vivian sobbed. "The Rowan and Sterling families have been friends for decades. My parents always wanted us to get married. I grew up, hoping I would become your wife one day. And now... You are saying you never liked me?"

She broke into dramatic sobs. "Elias, don’t be so heartless."

Elias pulled his hair in frustration. His patience had completely run out. "Think whatever you want. But stop troubling me."

He ended the call without waiting for her response. "Crazy woman," he muttered.

"Elias." Elena’s sudden voice from behind startled him.

He spun around and saw her standing on the porch. His heart instantly dropped. He didn’t know how long she had been standing there and how much she had heard.

"Elena?" His mind went blank. He was afraid she would misunderstand him.

Seeing how pale he was, she frowned. She had already sensed something was wrong, and his flustered expression only deepened her suspicions.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, stepping toward him. "You look disturbed."

"Me? Disturbed?" He smiled awkwardly. "No... Not at all."

He quickly pocketed the phone.

"Are you sure?" She searched his eyes. "Is something wrong at work?"

The tension in his heart dissolved straight away as he realized she had not heard anything. "It’s nothing that I can’t handle."

He took her hands in his and asked gently, "Why did you come out? Are you bored?"

Elena chuckled. "The dinner has been served. I came to call you."

A smile immediately surfaced on his face. "Okay. Let’s go in then."

They walked back into the house.

Arthur was already seated at the dining table, waiting for them. "Come, sit down. Let’s eat."

Elias pulled out a chair for Elena before taking the seat beside her.

Arthur’s eyes were gleaming with joy as he watched them. "Elias, I am glad you fulfilled my wish this time and married such a nice girl. But I still have one more wish."

"And what is that?" Elias raised an eyebrow curiously.

The old man smiled. "I want to hold my great-grandchild in my arms. Grant me that wish before I die."

"Grandpa... What? Baby?" Elias looked caught off guard.

Elena’s face paled instantly. The word "baby" pierced her heart like a knife. Her lost unborn child flashed through her mind.

The pain she had buried deep inside suddenly resurfaced. Her fingers clasped her dress tightly under the table.

Elias immediately caught the shift in her expression. He gently covered her hands with his. He then turned to his grandfather.

"We aren’t planning a baby right now," he said. "We just got married. We need time to get to know each other."

Elena tilted her head toward him, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.

Starting a new marriage after everything she had endured was already the biggest step she had ever taken. At that moment, she was not ready to think about having a child, not physically, nor mentally.

Yet Elias seemed to understand without her saying a single word.

She still remembered a seven-day ultimatum he had given her. She had assumed he would insist on having a baby. But instead, he was protecting her feelings.

A strange warmth spread through her chest. She tried to smile, but tears gradually gathered in her eyes.

Arthur looked disappointed, but he didn’t push the matter. "Fine. I won’t force you. I was just hoping..."

"Grandpa," Elias cut him short. "You should focus on staying healthy. Don’t think about anything. And your birthday is coming."

He changed the topic. "You should start contacting your friends and inviting them."

Arthur snorted. "You brat." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "You learned well how to manipulate me. Fine. Let’s start eating."

The dinner ended peacefully.

Afterward, Arthur returned to his room to rest.

Elias and Elena were the only ones sitting in the hall.

Elias’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before asking, "Are you tired?"

Elena shook her head. "No."

"Then come with me." Elias’s lips stretched widely. "I want to take you out."

"Where?"

"Just for a walk."

Surprise flickered across her face.

Elena recalled the old man saying about his habit of taking a walk every evening. And Elias had always accompanied him. Perhaps it had become his habit as well.

She nodded slowly. "Okay. I will come with you."

The two of them stepped out into the night together. They walked through the massive gate and onto the road.

Tall trees swayed in the breeze. The streetlights stood far apart, leaving some parts of the road dark, while others glowed beneath pools of golden light.

Everything felt peaceful.

The chilly wind bit her skin. She shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around herself.

Elias removed his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Elena’s breath caught in her throat. His warmth instantly surrounded her. The coat carried his scent. Her heart started racing.

"Are you cold?" he asked, his gaze gentle and warm. "If you are, let’s go back."

"No, I am not cold anymore," she replied. "I am actually enjoying it."

They continued walking side by side. Neither spoke. The silence between them felt comfortable.

"Elias."

"Yes?"

She looked at him. "Thank you."

Elias paused, surprised. "For what?"

Elena held his gaze. "For understanding me."

Elias stared at her for a moment before saying, "I do want a baby someday, but I won’t force you. I can wait. All I want is you by my side."

He gently held her hand, his thumbs brushing over her knuckles. "Not because you are grateful to me. Not because you feel obligated to. But because you start falling for me—because you will realize you can’t imagine your life without me."