Married to Julian Grey

Elena's POV It was the same dream again. I found myself standing in the middle of a vast bedroom. Silence enveloped the room, so complete that it almost felt alive. There was no sunlight , no chandelier, no lamp, yet a gentle golden glow filled every corner of the room as though the light itself existed without a source. The ceiling soared high above me, fading into soft shadows where the warm golden light could no longer reach. Tall windows draped in heavy cream-colored curtains stretched along one wall, concealing whatever lay beyond them. Intricate patterns of gold curled across the walls, shimmering whenever I looked at them for more than a moment. The polished stone floor reflected the warm light beneath my feet, while four massive pillars stood at the corners of the room, each carved with the same elegant designs. And then I saw him. He was always there. Every dream began the same way. I never remembered seeing him enter the room. One moment I was alone, and the next he was standing before me as though he had been waiting all along. Watching. He carried himself with quiet confidence, tall enough to command the room without making any effort. Broad shoulders disappeared beneath a long black robe that flowed almost to the floor. The rich fabric hung loosely, revealing part of his chest where defined muscles caught the golden light. Something about him felt achingly familiar. I tried to focus on his face, but the details slipped away every time. It was as though my mind refused to remember them. Yet I could feel his eyes on me. The weight of his gaze tightened my chest and held me in place. I didn't move. I never did. He crossed the room with slow, unhurried steps, as though he already knew I wouldn't run. And he was right. The closer he came, the quieter everything became. My breathing slowed, and the world beyond him seemed to disappear until there was nothing left except the space between us. He stopped just inches away. Close enough that I had to tilt my head to meet his eyes. Slowly, almost reverently, he lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips against my jaw. A shiver coursed through me. It wasn't fear. It was something far deeper—something my body recognized even if my mind couldn't understand it. He leaned closer. Then he kissed me. The kiss was slow, deep, and unhurried, as though he had done this countless times before. It carried a quiet certainty that stole every coherent thought from my mind. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, his fingers threading gently through my hair as he drew me closer. The world around us faded. I could no longer see the towering pillars or the shimmering gold patterns that adorned the walls. There was only the warmth of his lips against mine and the steady rhythm of my racing heart. Without speaking, he guided me forward. I followed without hesitation. A large bed draped in deep crimson silk stood at the center of the room. The rich fabric shimmered beneath the golden light, its bold color striking against the room's soft gold and cream tones. He eased me down until I was sitting on the edge of the mattress. The cool silk brushed against my skin as he lowered me back, one arm cradling my head with surprising tenderness. His other hand drifted slowly along my side, tracing the curve of my waist before resting lightly against my hip. Wherever his fingertips touched, warmth spread through me like a quiet flame. When his lips found mine again, the kiss deepened. I melted into it before I could stop myself. My fingers tightened around his shoulders as though they belonged there, while every breath became more difficult to catch. His presence surrounded me completely, steady and reassuring, awakening emotions I couldn't explain. His lips lingered at my jaw before trailing slowly to my neck. The gentle brush of each kiss sent a pleasant shiver through me, and before I realized it, a soft breath escaped my lips. His hand settled against the small of my back, drawing me closer until there was scarcely any space between us. Everything else disappeared. There was only his touch... His warmth... The strange familiarity that made my heart ache with longing for someone I had never met. Just as the moment threatened to become something more— A shrill sound shattered the silence. Beep... Beep... Beep... My alarm. The dream dissolved like mist beneath the morning sun. My eyes flew open. For several long seconds, I lay perfectly still, staring at the ceiling above my bed while my breathing gradually returned to normal. Yet the sensations refused to disappear. I could still remember the warmth of his hands. The softness of his lips. The way my heart had responded to him as though it had always known him. I swallowed hard and slowly sat up, pressing a hand against my forehead. "It was just a dream," I whispered to myself. But the words sounded hollow. The dream had felt far too real. Reaching for my phone on the bedside table, I glanced at the screen. Then my eyes widened. 8:17 A.M. "Oh no..." I threw back the blankets and jumped out of bed. The next few minutes descended into complete chaos. I brushed my teeth while rummaging through my wardrobe for something to wear, nearly dropped my phone twice, and abandoned any hope of eating breakfast. By the time I grabbed my bag and rushed out of my apartment, I was already hopelessly behind schedule. The city was already wide awake by the time I stepped outside. Cars crawled through the busy streets, their horns blending with the chatter of pedestrians and the rumble of buses weaving through traffic. The noise crashed over me like a wave, a stark contrast to the unsettling silence of the dream I'd left behind. I tightened my grip on my bag and hurried toward the bus stop, weaving through the growing crowd. If I was any later, Mr. Lawson would definitely have something to say about it. I glanced at my phone and groaned. Late. Definitely late. "Perfect," I muttered under my breath. Just then, a loud horn ripped through the morning bustle. It was sharp. Urgent. Far too close. I turned instinctively. A city bus came hurtling around the corner, its tires screeching against the asphalt. In the middle of the road stood an elderly woman, frozen in place as panic filled her eyes. For the briefest moment, everything slowed. The frantic movement of the crowd. The blaring horn. Even the roar of the engine seemed distant. Then my body moved before my mind could catch up. I lunged forward, seized the woman's arm, and pulled her toward me. The bus thundered past barely a heartbeat later. A powerful gust of wind whipped my hair across my face as the vehicle sped by, missing us by mere inches. Gasps erupted from the people gathered nearby. The elderly woman clutched my arm, her body trembling as she struggled to steady her breathing. "Oh my God..." she whispered. I placed a reassuring hand over hers. "You're alright," I said gently. "It's over." She nodded, still shaken. "Thank you... Thank you so much." A small smile found its way to my lips, but as she regained her composure, my attention drifted to my own hands. The timing had been... Perfect. Almost impossibly so. I had moved before the danger truly registered. Before anyone else had reacted. A familiar uneasiness settled over me. It wasn't the first time. Moments like this had happened for as long as I could remember. Catching a glass before it slipped from someone's hand. Stepping aside just before another person bumped into me. Reaching for something an instant before it fell. Always a fraction of a second too early. As though some hidden part of me already knew what was about to happen. I had stopped trying to explain it years ago. The old woman thanked me once more before carefully making her way to the sidewalk. I watched until I was certain she was safe. Only then did I check the time again. A groan escaped me. Now I was really late. Adjusting the strap of my bag, I hurried toward Aurelius Group Tower. The sleek glass skyscraper rose high above the surrounding buildings, its polished exterior catching the morning sunlight until it seemed almost unreal. It stood apart from everything around it, elegant and imposing, like something that belonged to another world. The moment my eyes settled on it, an odd sensation stirred deep within me. Warm. Unsettling. Strangely familiar. The same feeling that had lingered since the dream. As though some forgotten part of me recognized the building... even if I didn't. For reasons I couldn't explain, my heart skipped a beat. Then, taking a steadying breath, I walked toward the revolving doors.