Elara remained quiet throughout the entire journey home, and Vincent couldn't help but steal glances at her. When the car finally parked, she quickly got out and walked in. Vincent sensed that something was bothering her, but he chose not to ask, allowing her the space she seemed to need.
Elara, without a word, went straight to her room. As she scanned the surroundings, a realization struck her—something was amiss. All her things were not there. The room that had once been a sanctuary now seemed unfamiliar, and the absence of her belongings left a void that echoed with unspoken questions.
Elara walked out of her room, finding Vincent in the living room engrossed in his laptop. Sitting down, she confronted him, "Where are my things?"
Vincent, seemingly caught off guard, replied, "What things?"
"Everything. There is nothing in my room," Elara asserted.
Vincent, equally surprised, put his laptop aside and admitted, "I don't know." He immediately called Isaac, their butler, and inquired, "Isaac, what happened to her things?"
Isaac responded, "Sir, your mother asked the maids to move madam's things to your bedroom."
Elara erupted, "What?"
Vincent, frustrated, held the space between his brows and ordered, "Get the maids to return her things to her room."
Before Isaac could act, a voice interrupted, "No." Mrs. Holloway and Angela entered, with Mrs. Holloway asserting, "Isaac, you are not moving her things. Have you ever seen a married couple sleeping in different rooms?"
Vincent uttered a hesitant "Mom," as Mrs. Holloway turned to Angela, instructing her to go to bed since she had school the next day. Angela giggled and headed to her room, leaving Vincent and Elara alone with Mrs. Holloway.
Addressing the awkward situation, Mrs. Holloway spoke earnestly, "Listen, to make a baby and strengthen love, a couple must share a bed... do you understand?"
Vincent, trying to hide his discomfort, replied, "We know, Mom. We are not kids." Elara, feeling a rush of embarrassment, buried her blushing face in her hands, unsure of how to react.
Mr. Holloway interjected, "Listen, I may not know or understand the reasons behind your marriage, but sharing a room is crucial now that you're married. I need grandkids, Vince."
Vincent sighed and said, "Mom, you should have spoken to me before making that decision."
Mrs. Holloway, unyielding, retorted, "What is there to discuss? You are such a brick wall; I doubt I will ever have grandkids if I don't push you."
A chuckle escaped Elara's mouth upon hearing Mrs. Holloway playfully referring to Vincent as a "brick wall." The generational clash and differing perspectives added a touch of humor to the otherwise awkward situation.
Vincent, in an attempt to address the situation, uttered, "Mom." Mrs. Holloway, however, ignored him and turned her attention to Elara, asking, "I am sure you don't mind sleeping close to your husband now, do you, honey?"
Elara, feeling the pressure, stammered before reluctantly replying, "No, Aunt." Mrs. Holloway insisted, "You should call me Mom too." Elara, in a moment of surrender, agreed, "Okay, Mom." Mrs. Holloway's joy radiated in her eyes as she walked away with a smile.
Feeling the weight of the awkwardness, Elara turned to Vincent, asking, "So, how will this work?" Vincent, unsure, responded, "What do you mean?"
Elara clarified, "Us sleeping in the same bed."
Vincent, also uncertain, replied, "I don't know."
Elara, sensing the discomfort, decided, "I will take the couch then, since you need the comfort." Before Vincent could say anything, Elara stood up and left. Entering Vincent's bedroom, she was stunned by its all-black interior. Shaking her head, she prepared to go and shower, navigating the uncharted waters of this new arrangement.
Uncomfortable with the idea of showering in Vincent's bedroom, Elara opted for a quick shower, changed into her pajamas, and emerged from the bathroom. Noticing Vincent's absence, she decided to immerse herself in work, pulling out her laptop to refine new designs for Enchanted Entertainment.
Carefully crafting a new logo, she poured her creativity into the digital canvas. Once satisfied, she promptly emailed everything to Henry, her focus unwavering even in the unfamiliar surroundings. As fatigue eventually settled in, she found solace in the spaciousness of the couch.
Settling into a comfortable position, she covered herself with a quilt, grateful for the generous size of the couch. The day's challenges slowly faded away as she drifted into a deep and much-needed sleep, cocooned in the embrace of creative comfort.
Meanwhile, Vincent, unable to shake off the weight of his mother's decisions, had shifted his work to his study. The idea of a real marriage with Elara wasn't part of his original plan; he only sought to fulfill his debt. However, his mother's interference was making things more complicated. A man of complete stature, the thought of sharing a bed with Elara every night posed a challenge.
As the clock ticked past 1:00 AM, Vincent decided to call it a night. Wheeling himself to his bedroom, he was met with the sight of Elara peacefully asleep on the couch. The quilt had slipped, revealing her long, slender thighs. Battling inappropriate thoughts, he pushed them aside and proceeded to the bathroom for a much-needed bath. The midnight reflections of his complicated situation lingered as he prepared to retire for the night.
The next day, Elara awoke and stretched, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings of Vincent's room. As the reality dawned on her, she realized she was no longer on the couch but rather lying on the king-sized bed. A brief panic set in, but she quickly checked herself and sighed with relief that everything was intact. She assumed Vincent must have arranged for someone to help her into bed since he couldn't do it himself.
Rapidly freshening up, Elara prepared for the day ahead. Today marked her auditions, and she aimed to arrive early before the place became crowded. Opting for a simple outfit, she made her way to the dining room, eager to face the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. The new day held promises of auditions and, perhaps, a fresh perspective on the complexities of her ever-evolving relationship with Vincent.
Elara joined Mrs. Holloway and Angela at the breakfast table, announcing, "Mom, I have an audition today, so I'll be out the whole day." Mrs. Holloway, expressing genuine enthusiasm, responded, "That's great news! All the best, honey." Elara smiled in gratitude, replying, "Thank you," before quickly starting her meal.
As Angela departed for school, Mrs. Holloway and Elara were left alone. Mrs. Holloway, breaking the silence, mentioned, "Vincent left early today." Elara, caught off guard, almost choked on her food, managing only a hesitant, "Okay." The dynamics of the family were becoming increasingly intricate, and Elara couldn't help but wonder about the implications of Vincent's early departure.
Mrs. Holloway, attempting to steer the conversation, remarked, "You two will have really cute babies." Elara, feeling a bit uncomfortable, started to say, "But Mom, I still want to—" before Mrs. Holloway finished her sentence, saying, "You still want to focus on your career. I get that. But I would be happy if you two put children in your plans."
Elara, eager to escape the awkward conversation, responded quickly, "Okay," and hurriedly finished her breakfast. She announced, "I have to go now before the place gets crowded."
Mr. Holloway offered, "I will get someone to drive you there." Elara declined, saying, "It's okay; I will drive myself."
Mrs. Holloway hesitated but eventually agreed, "Okay." Elara dashed out, ready for her very first audition. This marked the beginning of exciting possibilities for Elara, and she couldn't wait to see where this audition would lead her in the world of entertainment.
Mrs. Holloway, sporting a smirk, felt a sense of accomplishment. Step one in her plan was complete. However, she knew her son too well and was aware that initiating the second step was crucial. Determined to see the couple fall in love, she was ready to play her maternal role in guiding their path to happiness. The intricate dance of matchmaking had just begun, and Mrs. Holloway was prepared to lead the way.