Now You Want Me? Too Late

The moment his lips touched hers, Elena’s breath caught.

The kiss was gentle. There was no urgency, no force. Yet it was consuming her far more completely than any demanding kiss ever could.

Elias kissed her as if she were something precious—something he had found after searching for a lifetime. His hand slid into her hair, his lips moving against hers with maddening gentleness.

Elena had intended to stop him.

But the familiar scent of his cologne surrounded her, intoxicating her. The heat radiating from his body seeped into her skin. Every brush of his lips sent shivers cascading through her.

Her thoughts gradually blurred. The pain of her heart, the disappointment, anger, and hatred—everything disappeared at that moment. All she could feel was him, only him.

Every nerve in her body seemed to awaken at once. A tingling sensation raced through her chest and spread to every cell of her body. Her heartbeat thundered wildly.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened against his shirt. The restraint she had been desperately holding onto began slipping away little by little.

She wanted to pull back. She wanted to stop this. Yet she found herself leaning closer instead.

The warmth of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart, and the comfort of his presence drew her in completely.

Just when she felt herself surrendering to this moment, he pulled away. Both of them were left breathing hard.

He rested his forehead against hers.

Their breathing mingled. For a moment, neither of them said a word.

Elena’s entire body hummed with restless energy. Heat coursed through her veins. Her legs felt strangely weak, forcing her to lean against the wall for support.

She could still feel the lingering sensation of his kiss. Her cheeks grew warmer.

A smile tugged at Elias’s lips as he looked at her flushed face.

"I have something for you," he said softly.

Elena blinked, surprised. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

Her curiosity instantly grew.

He opened it.

A diamond ring rested inside. The stone sparkled under the light.

Elena’s eyes widened, her hands to her mouth.

The diamond was stunning. It was larger than the one Noah had once given her.

For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

"Elias!"

"This is for you."

She looked at him with a mix of awe and joy.

He took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger carefully. The fit was perfect.

Elena held her hand up and regarded it with surprise. A warmth spread through her chest.

"It’s beautiful," she whispered, her eyes shining.

Elias finally smiled. The sight of his smile made her heart skip a beat.

Reaching out, he gently caressed her cheek. His expression softened. He thought it was time to tell her about his real identity.

"Grandpa’s eighty-fifth birthday is coming up in a few days," he said.

"A party?"

"It’s a private gathering. I don’t want too much attention. Only a few relatives and close friends will be there."

He took her hands in his. "I have a surprise for you."

Elena’s eyes instantly lit up. "What kind of surprise?"

The excitement in her voice made him smile again. "You’ll find out at the party."

Before she could ask more questions, he pulled her into his arms.

Elena melted into the embrace. His strong arms made her feel protected.

Elias rested his chin lightly on top of her head. "I’ll give you everything you want." His voice was low but filled with absolute certainty. "And I promise... I won’t let anyone hurt you again."

Elena closed her eyes. Slowly, she started to believe him. She felt safe and warm. The future with him seemed secure.

"He wants to see us. He invited us for dinner." He released her slowly. "Go get ready. We will be leaving soon."

"Okay." Elena nodded. "Give me a few minutes. I’ll be ready soon."

She walked up to her room.

Elias watched her retreating form with a smile lingering on his face. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Elias... Are you bringing my granddaughter tonight?" The old man’s excited voice rang through the phone.

Elias’s lips stretched wide. "Yes, Grandpa. We will be there and have dinner together."

"Hahaha..." The old man laughed loudly. "Good, good... I’ll be waiting for you."

The call ended.

Elias lowered the phone and shook his head with amusement. "Thank you so much, Grandpa, for finding her and bringing her into my life."

"Who are you talking to?" came Elena’s voice from behind.

He turned around and froze.

Elena was walking down the stairs.

She wore a simple cream-colored dress that fell gracefully to her knees. The design was modest yet elegant without being flashy. Her long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, framing her beautiful face.

There was nothing extravagant about her appearance. Yet, somehow, she stole his breath away.

To him, she looked breathtaking. He kept staring at her, unable to look away.

His breathing grew uneven. He forgot what she had just asked.

Elena crossed the hall and stood in front of him. "What?" She raised an eyebrow. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Uh..." He blinked, snapping back to reality. Embarrassed, he scratched his head. The truth was, he had been too busy admiring her to hear a single word she had said.

"Sorry," he admitted sheepishly. "I didn’t hear you."

Elena smiled teasingly. "You were talking to yourself."

"No..." he denied it straight away.

"I heard it."

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Grandpa called. He is excited about tonight’s dinner."

"I am too."

Elena had not seen the old man since their first meeting. There were so many things she wanted to say. Most importantly, she wanted to thank him personally for sending Elias to save her that stormy night.

"Let’s go." He held out a hand to her.

She placed her hand on his without hesitation. Elias’s fingers curled around hers, and together they walked out.

An hour later, the car arrived at its destination.

The car slowly came to a stop before a sprawling estate.

Elena stepped out and looked up.

The estate before her was even larger than the Sinclair family’s mansion.

Nestled within vast grounds surrounded by towering trees and lush greenery, the property looked serene. The perfectly trimmed lawn stretched endlessly before her. Hedges around the building had been meticulously shaped.

The air was fresh and crisp. Elena inhaled a lungful of air, still looking around in a daze.

"Is this your family estate?" she asked, wondering just how wealthy his family was.

"Yes," he replied, casually slipping his hands inside his pockets. "This is one of our family estates."