Finally, Xavier couldn't help but sigh. "I just don't want to see you get hurt or you hurt yourself looking for a rebound…"
He patted Elleard lightly on the shoulder and turned back into the dining room. He had come here to talk to Elleard to reconsider his decision to marry the girl he had only met a few times.
However, it seemed that this time Elleard was really stubborn. Back when he was about to kill Lisa's husband, Xavier could still convince him to reconsider the consequences of his revenge-based decision, but now it seemed that Elleard didn't care about Xavier's words.
If it continued like this, Xavier could only let it go. Maybe later Elleard would realize for himself that what he did was wrong.
Or he'd get tired of this and learn to accept the fact that he's never going to get Lisa back, and marrying a woman who just looked like Lisa won't bring him back to the past when he and Lisa were still together and happy.
Or…
Maybe something unexpected would happen. Elleard might really fall in love with Elena and their marriage would become a real one.
Xavier shook his head. For some reason the thought made him uncomfortable.
***
This morning Elena was standing in front of her parents' graves. Her face looked sad because she remembered that her parents would not attend her wedding.
She then placed a bouquet of flowers on each grave. This time she brought fresh flowers from the garden in the mansion. Apparently, Elleard had a lot of pretty flowers that he could have brought to put on his parents' graves. However, he preferred to buy flowers from Elena and helped the girl earn money.
Ah, this thought made Elena feel moved. She felt lucky that Elleard was so good to her. Who would have thought that such a poor and simple girl would be able to attract the heart of a handsome and wealthy man like Elleard?
"Father, I'm getting married next week. I wish you could be there to give me away," Elena spoke to her father's grave between her sobs.
"Mom, how am I going to learn to become a wife? I don't know anything about being a good wife. I wish you could be here and told me how to understand my husband. Elleard is very nice to me but I don't even understand why he asked me to marry him. We haven't even known each other for that long..."
There was no one in this world that she could talk to and pour her heart out to other than the two people who had died and were now buried in these two graves. Elena was not close to her aunt and cousins. She also had no real close friends.
Lately, she had become quite close to Greta, her personal maid, but Elena thought it was inappropriate for her to pour out her heart about Elleard to Greta.
That's why Elena could only keep it all in and only talked to her parents when she visited their graves. Elena sat there and cried for almost an hour.
When her cry subsided and she couldn't shed any more tears, she left the cemetery and walked towards the management office which was located not far away. The office was only one floor with a yard filled with shady green plants. When Elena arrived in front of the building, two staff came out of the office door.
Elena remembered the two of them were the cemetery staff who almost dismantled her parents' graves. She nodded toward them and greeted the two men awkwardly.
"Good morning, sir," said Elena with a slight bow of her head.
The two men couldn't hide their surprise when they saw Elena's current appearance. She looked completely different from the last time they met.
Elena batted her eyes when she saw their confused expression. She looked down at herself from her fancy shoes to the expensive black dress she was wearing. Was there something wrong? Why were they looking at her like that?
"Good morning, Miss," said one of them. "Can we help you?"
"Uhm… I want to meet the manager here. Mr. Russo," said Elena politely.
"Oh… he's in his room, you can go straight in," explained the man.
"Oh, thanks. I'll go in first then."
"Have a nice day, Miss." The two men quickly left. After they passed her, Elena could hear the two talking about her with a faint sound.
"That was the girl from that time, wasn't she?"
"Yeah, wow… she looked like a wealthy young miss today. Money really can change everything."
"Where do you think she got so much money for her expensive clothes?"
"She's a pretty girl. A person like her would, of course, be able to make easy money if she wants to."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, rich sugar daddy, or a job in modeling. Could be anything."
Their voices grew fainter and fainter and, finally, they could no longer be heard. Elena shook her head and ignore their words. She continued her steps into the office lobby and then looked for a room that said the manager in front of the entrance.
KNOCK
KNOCK
Elena knocked on the door several times. After she heard a voice from inside inviting her in, she opened the door. Mr. Russo, who was busy writing something on a notepad, looked up from his note and stared at Elena questioningly.
"Can I help you?" he asked politely as he watched Elena's steps.
"Good morning, Sir. I want to pay the lease for my parents' graves, the Neri couple," said Elena politely.
"Is there any problem?" The man with glasses opened the data from his laptop. He looked up for Elena's parents' information there. He noticed that the lease for the graves in question had been paid. So, why did this girl want to pay again?
Elena cleared her throat and replied, "At that time you told me I still need to pay another 100 euros. I want to pay it now."
"Everything's been paid for for the next 20 years. I don't understand why you'd want to pay again," said Mr. Russo in astonishment.
Elena was stunned to hear the manager's words. She frowned and asked Mr. Russo to repeat his words.
"Can you explain again, sir?" asked Elena in surprise. "I only came here today, because you gave me a week. I needed some time to get the money."
"Well... you don't need to pay. It's already been paid for," Mr. Russo said again.
"Huh? Then who paid for it?"
Mr. Russo read his notes and replied, "Mr. Elleard Salvator Osbart already paid for it, Miss."
"Oh, I see," Elena nodded.
Her heart fluttered when she found out Elleard had paid for her parents' graves without her even needing to ask. He was really thoughtful.
"Miss?!"
The man's voice moved Elena from her daze. She got up and smiled at him. "Ahh, yes. Thank you for letting me know, Sir. I'll excuse myself then."
After Elena left the management office, she texted Elleard's cell phone number. It was the only number already saved on her new phone.
[Thank you for paying the lease of my parents' grave. I really appreciate it.]
Elena felt she had to show that she was a grateful person. Hence she hastily sent the message to Elleard. She had just walked a few steps when she heard an incoming message from the cell phone that Elleard had given her. Elena saw Elleard's name and immediately opened the message.
[You're welcome. Now, why don't you go to the mall and buy whatever you want.]
Elena furrowed her brows. Go to the mall? What could she possibly need? She had everything provided that she didn't think she need to buy anything.
[I don't want anything.] Elena replied.
[You can just go and see stuff and buy whatever you want. You're going to college soon. Aren't you going to buy college supplies?] Elleard sent another message.
Elena chuckled softly. Elleard was right too. She was completely unprepared for college. Maybe she should go to the mall and see if there's anything she could buy.
Before she got into the car, Elena suddenly thought it would be nice if Elleard could meet up with her at the mall. They could have lunch together. It would be fun spending time with him like the time he took Elena to lunch at the cafe, even though he only had coffee. That's when he asked her to marry him.
This time, it would feel like… a date.
Was it not? They were getting married in a week and they weren't even dating. Never been on a date either. Well, unless that one time counted.
Elena sighed softly. Even though she didn't really know her future husband, Elena wanted to open up to getting closer to Elleard and try to find out more about the man who would soon be her husband.
After she decided to accept Elleard's proposal and stay at his house, they hadn't spent any more time together. Now, Elleard told her to go to the mall and shop as she pleased.
[Would you like to meet me for coffee at the mall?] Elena asked. [Or we can also have lunch together.]
She stared at her phone for a long time after sending the message. But Elleard's reply didn't come. She bit her lip and wondered if Elleard was too busy to reply to her text. In that case, he would be too busy to have lunch with her at the mall.
Finally, Elena put away her cell phone and decided to go back to the mansion. She didn't want to go to the shopping center. Why would she go to the mall if she would just wander aimlessly alone? It would feel so lonely.