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1352 Words
Elena’s heart was pounding so hard she was certain both men could hear it. Patrick’s question hung in the air like a trap waiting to snap shut. She knew she had to answer. Anything. Even the smallest hesitation could expose them. But her mind had gone completely blank. Every answer she had rehearsed suddenly vanished.
Patrick sat quietly, watching her and waiting for her answer.
Alexander remained silent beside her.
Then, before she could stop herself, the words slipped out.
“Alexander hates talking about his mother.”
The moment she said it, panic flooded her chest. What had she just done?
The room fell completely silent.
Elena slowly looked from Patrick to Alexander. Neither man spoke. Her pulse raced. Had she ruined everything? Had she touched a subject she wasn’t supposed to mention?
She could barely breathe.
The silence stretched on for what felt like forever before Patrick finally leaned back in his chair.
“That is true.”
Elena blinked.Relief hit her so suddenly that she almost slumped against her chair.
Patrick picked up his wine glass and swirled the contents lazily before taking a sip.
“Alexander rarely talks about his mother.”
Beside her, Alexander remained expressionless, but Elena caught the brief glance he sent her way. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
Patrick set his glass down and folded his hands together.
“Why does he rarely talk about her?”
The question caught Elena completely off guard.
Her stomach dropped.
She hadn’t expected that.
Patrick’s sharp eyes remained fixed on her face. She swallowed hard before answering skeptically but firmly.
“Because Alexander hates being emotional,” she said carefully. “And thinking about his mother makes him emotional.”
The room became quiet again.
Alexander’s gaze shifted toward her.
For a second, Elena worried she had gone too far.
Then Patrick slowly nodded.
“Interesting.”
The old man leaned back in his chair.
“So tell me, when exactly did you realize you were in love with my grandson?”
Elena nearly groaned inwardly. She forced herself to remain calm.
This one question, they had prepared for.
At least, somewhat.
She glanced briefly at Alexander before looking back at Patrick.
“I don’t think there was a specific moment.”
Patrick raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
Elena shook her head.
“Sometimes it isn’t one big thing. It’s the small things.”
Patrick remained silent, allowing her to continue.
“At first, I thought he was cold.”
Alexander looked mildly offended. Elena ignored him and continued speaking.
“I thought he was arrogant too.”
Patrick’s lips twitched.
“But the more I got to know him, the more I realized there was another side to him.”
She paused. Choosing her words carefully.
“Alexander is caring in a way most people don’t understand.”
The room became strangely quiet.
Even Alexander seemed to be paying attention now.
“He doesn’t show it openly. He doesn’t talk about it. But it’s there.”
Without meaning to, Elena thought about Daniel.
About the hospital.
About the surgery that had finally been paid for.
About the impossible problem Alexander had solved with a single signature.
“He helps people even when nobody is watching,” she continued softly. “And before I knew it, I found myself falling in love with him.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then suddenly Patrick laughed.
A genuine rib cracking laugh.
The first real laugh of the evening.
Elena froze. Alexander sighed heavily.
“That can’t be good.” She thought inwardly.
Patrick shook his head and then the smile vanished from his face.
His eyes settled on Elena, sharp and cold.
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
The question hit Elena like a slap.
Her breath caught.
“What?” She whispered, confused.
Patrick leaned forward. The warmth in his voice was gone. Completely gone.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” He repeated.
Elena’s hands tightened beneath the table.
“No…I..I don’t understand.” Elena stuttered for the first time that evening.
Patrick’s gaze never left her face.
“You don’t love my grandson.” The words landed like a bomb.
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Across from her, Alexander immediately stiffened.
“Grandfather—”
Patrick ignored him.
“You’re acting.” He continued.
The accusation hung heavily in the air.
Elena’s heart hammered painfully against her ribs.
Had he figured everything out?
Was it over?
Had she failed?
“You can’t be the judge of that.” Alexander’s voice cut through the tension.
For the first time that evening, he sounded genuinely irritated.
Patrick slowly turned toward him.
“Oh?”
“You asked me to get married within three months,” Alexander said firmly. “You wanted stability. You wanted commitment.”
Patrick said nothing. Alexander continued.
“I gave it serious thought. And I realized I was already in love with someone.”
His gaze briefly moved toward Elena.
“And she’s sitting right here.”
Elena stared at him.
For a second, she almost forgot this was supposed to be an act.
Everything about his voice sounded convincing.
Too convincing.
“There is no reason to make this harder than it already is,” Alexander finished.
The room fell silent once more.
Patrick’s eyes narrowed.
He studied his grandson carefully.
Then Elena.
Then Alexander again.
As if searching for a crack in their story.
Finally, he asked, “And when exactly did you realize she was the one?”
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze settled on Elena.
Something unreadable flickered across his face before he finally spoke.
“When I realized she wasn’t afraid to argue with me.”
Elena blinked.
Patrick blinked too.
“I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by people who tell me what I want to hear,” Alexander continued. “Elena doesn’t.”
The room became strangely quiet.
“She challenges me. Even when she shouldn’t.”
His eyes remained on hers.
“And that’s when I knew.”
A long silence followed.
Patrick leaned back in his chair.
“Hmm.”
That was all he said.
One word.
Yet somehow it felt heavier than an entire speech.
Nobody could tell what he was thinking.
Whether he believed them.
Whether he didn’t.
Whether they had passed or failed.
The uncertainty was torture.
Then suddenly Patrick pushed back his chair and stood.
Elena immediately tensed.
Her pulse quickened.
The old man walked toward the massive windows overlooking the city. His hands rested behind his back as he stared at the lights below.
For several moments, he said nothing.
The silence stretched painfully.
Then finally he spoke.
“Do you know what the problem is?”
Elena’s throat tightened.
Neither she nor Alexander answered.
Patrick slowly turned around.
His face was unreadable.
“I can’t decide whether this relationship is a very good idea…”
He paused.
His gaze moved from Alexander to Elena.
“…or a very dangerous mistake.”
The words settled heavily over the room.
Elena’s heart sank.
Patrick’s eyes lingered on her for a long moment before a slow smile appeared on his face.
A smile that immediately made her uneasy.
“And unfortunately for you, Elena…”
The smile widened slightly.
“…there is someone who will never make it easy for you.”
Elena frowned.
Alexander’s jaw tightened. Patrick noticed it and smiled even more.
“Vanessa Laurent.”
The name landed heavily in the room.
Alexander’s expression darkened instantly.
Patrick folded his hands behind his back.
“Vanessa did not spend years believing she would become Mrs. Vale only to watch another woman take her place.”
His eyes returned to Elena.
“Trust me, young lady.”
The smile disappeared from his face and he continued speaking.
“Vanessa Laurent will not let Alexander go without a fight. And for what it’s worth, she is very fierce.”
A chill ran down Elena’s spine.
And suddenly, she had the terrifying feeling that Patrick wasn’t warning her at all.
He was promising her a hard time.
- Writer
