Early one morning, the sound of the doorbell startled Elara Quinn. She wasn't expecting anyone.
When she opened the door, a young woman stood there, beautiful and self-assured. Her long wavy hair framed her face, and she was dressed in a youthful, fashionable way. Her expression was cool and confident.
"And you are?" the woman asked sharply.
The woman ignored her answer and stepped inside without waiting for permission.
"You can't just walk in," Elara began, but before she could stop her, Adrian was already descending the stairs.
"Adrian! I missed you so much!" the woman cried, rushing forward and looping her arm through his.
Elara froze, startled by the sudden familiarity between them. For a moment, she could only watch in silence. Adrian's expression, however, remained calm and distant.
"Yuki? You're back," he said quietly.
"Yes," she said, her voice bright and sweet. "I came straight from the airport. I couldn't wait to see you."
Then her gaze fell on Elara. Their eyes met for a brief second before Elara quickly looked away, unsure why she suddenly felt small under the other woman's scrutiny.
"I'll be taking care of Adrian today. You can take the day off," Yuki said flatly.
"What?" Elara blinked, caught off guard.
"She's right," Adrian said after a pause. "You can rest today. I will let Yuki help me."
Elara nodded, forcing a smile that did not reach her eyes. "All right," she said softly, then turned and went back to her room.
Once inside, she sat on the edge of her bed, the quiet pressing around her. She hugged a pillow to her chest, trying to steady the tight feeling that had risen there. Why did Yuki's presence unsettle her so deeply? She reminded herself that she was only his caregiver, nothing more. Yet the thought of someone else standing beside him, guiding him, taking her place, filled her with a quiet ache she could not name.
*****
When Yuki accompanied Adrian to his office later that morning, her interest in his work lasted less than an hour.
"Adrian, this is boring. Let's go out instead," she complained.
"I thought you wanted to help," Adrian said, trying to keep his tone steady. "That's the only reason I told Elara to take a break."
But as he said her name, something tugged at him. He remembered Elara's soft voice, the hint of disappointment in her tone earlier. He wondered if giving her the day off had been the right decision.
"I don't remember you ever bringing your caregiver to the office," Yuki said, her voice edged with jealousy.
"She's different," Adrian replied simply. "She's been a great help."
"I don't want to hear that!" Yuki snapped.
"Yuki," he said firmly, "I've told you before I see you as family. Nothing more. You're like a sister to me. There are better people out there for you."
Yuki folded her arms, stubborn and defiant. "I don't care what you say. I'm not giving up."
Before Adrian could respond, his phone began to ring. Elara's name appeared on the screen. As he reached for it, Yuki snatched it up and answered first.
"Yuki!" Adrian said sharply, realizing what she'd done.
"Adrian, are you coming home for dinner?" Elara's voice came through the line, warm and unsuspecting.
"No," Yuki said coldly before Adrian could speak. "He'll be with me tonight." She hung up before Elara could reply.
Elara stared at her phone, startled. Yuki's voice had caught her completely off guard. She sighed and set her phone aside, lying back down on the bed. Maybe it was better this way, she told herself. She needed to start thinking about her future, about what she would do after this job ended. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to Adrian.
Did she like him? The question made her heart twist. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
*****
"Who was that?" Adrian asked, his voice tight.
"Your caregiver," Yuki said.
"What did she say?"
"She asked if you were coming home for dinner. I told her no."
Adrian clenched his jaw. "Next time, ask me before you touch my phone. You may be my cousin, but that doesn't excuse you."
"Stop treating me like a child!" Yuki shouted. "I'm not a kid anymore! I'm a woman now!"
"Then act like one. Because I could never have any feeling for someone who behaves this way." His words came out sharper than he intended, but he didn't take them back.
Yuki's eyes filled with tears. "I hate you, Adrian!" she cried before storming out of the office.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. The silence that followed was deafening. His thoughts drifted back to Elara, her quiet presence, her patience, her calm. Without thinking, he reached for his phone to call her, but she didn't answer.
He frowned, then called Rowen. "Pick me up. I'm going home."
*****
Rowen glanced at Adrian from the driver's seat as the car moved steadily through the late afternoon traffic. Sunlight flickered across the dashboard. "So, what happened?" he asked carefully.
Adrian stayed silent for a while, his posture composed but tense. "Yuki crossed a line," he said at last. "She answered a call meant for me and spoke to Elara without asking."
Rowen frowned. "That doesn't sound like much, unless there's more to it."
"There is," Adrian said quietly. "She has feelings for me. But I don't see her that way."
Rowen gave a low whistle. "That explains the tension."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "She's family, Rowen. My cousin. I care about her, but not like that. I thought I made it clear, yet she keeps pushing."
"Sounds like she's having trouble accepting it," Rowen said, glancing briefly at him. "She's young, and you're… well, you. It's easy to see how she could get attached."
Adrian exhaled slowly, his voice quiet but firm. "She said she hates me before she left. I suppose that was easier than hearing the truth."
Rowen kept his eyes on the road. "She'll calm down. Feelings like that burn fast. Give her space."
Adrian leaned back in his seat, the sunlight shifting across his face as they passed under the trees. "Maybe. But she needs to understand that there is no future in that kind of affection."
Rowen's lips curved into a faint grin. "And that's why you suddenly decided to rush home?"
Adrian turned his head slightly. "What are you getting at?"
"I'm just saying," Rowen replied, glancing at him with amusement, "for someone who claims not to need anyone, you seem unusually restless when she doesn't pick up."
Adrian's expression stayed calm, but his jaw tightened. "You're reading too much into it."
"Am I?" Rowen chuckled softly. "I've known you for years, Adrian. You don't drop everything and go home over a missed call. Not unless it matters."
Adrian leaned back, silent for a moment. "She's my caregiver. If something happened, it's my responsibility to check."
Rowen gave a short laugh. "Right. Responsibility. That's what we're calling it now."
Adrian turned toward the window, pretending not to hear him.
*****
When Adrian entered the house, the air felt too still.
"Elara?" he called, his voice echoing faintly through the hall. There was no response. He knocked on her door. Nothing.
Then he heard a faint vibration, the sound of a phone, coming from the back garden. He followed it slowly, guided by the soft hum and the scent of flowers carried on the breeze.
"Elara?" he called again.
She was there, kneeling beside a bed of small white blooms, her earbuds in, lost in her own world. She did not notice him until his shadow fell across her hands. Startled, she turned too quickly, lost her balance, and stumbled on the uneven ground.
"Ah!"
Adrian reacted instinctively, reaching out. His hand found her arm, steady but firm. The movement pulled her off balance, and she fell against him. They both landed in the soft grass, her body pressed lightly against his.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The only sound was the rustle of leaves and the faint rhythm of their breathing. Elara could feel his heartbeat beneath her palms, steady and warm. His hand, still resting at her back, held her protectively.
"Elara, are you hurt?" he asked, his voice quiet but filled with concern.
"I'm fine," she whispered, her breath unsteady. "I had my earphones in. I didn't hear you."
Relief softened his tone. "I'm just glad you didn't get injured." His hand brushed her hair back gently. "You should be more careful."
Elara stayed there a moment longer, unable to move. The warmth of his touch and the calm steadiness in his voice made her chest ache in a way that felt both unfamiliar and inevitable. She finally sat up, her cheeks warm.
"Why are you home so early?" she asked softly.
Adrian hesitated before answering. "Because you didn't answer your phone."
Her eyes widened slightly. "I'm sorry," she murmured, guilt and something tender flickering in her voice.
"What were you thinking about out here?"
"I was thinking about my future," Elara said honestly. "After my time here ends, I'll need to find another full-time job."
"Elara, I still need you," Adrian said quietly. "I don't want you to leave."
"But someday, I have to," she replied. Her voice wavered as she gently pulled away from his arms.
Adrian sat up, listening to the space between them settle into silence.
"Are you going back to the office today?" she asked.
"No. I'll stay home," he said.
"Are you feeling all right?" Elara asked, worried. It was the first time she'd ever seen him skip work.
"I just need to rest," Adrian said softly.
"I'll walk you to your room," Elara said, helping him toward the stairs.
"Have you eaten?" she asked as they reached the landing.
"Not yet," he admitted.
"Then rest first. I'll make you something," she said with a small smile, letting him go on ahead.
As Adrian climbed the stairs, he realized how glad he was that he had come home. The moment when Elara had fallen into his arms replayed in his mind again and again. He could still feel the warmth of her against him, the soft tremor in her breath, the quiet closeness that had left his thoughts unsettled.
For the first time in a long while, he felt afraid, not of darkness, but of the thought of a day when Elara Quinn would no longer be by his side.