Now You Want Me? Too Late

Elena pursed her lips. Yet she couldn’t stop the smile from appearing on her face.

It was overwhelming to know that she had such a great impact on his life and how long he had carried those feelings for her. She felt lucky to have found someone who loved her so deeply.

She could distinctly see the difference between the man she loved and the man who loved her. This realization only deepened her admiration for Elias.

"Elena..." Evelyn extended her hand.

Elena immediately took it.

"I heard everything that had happened at the birthday party," Evelyn started regretfully. "I never imagined Vivian would cause such a scene. She is obsessed with Elias. But Elias has nothing to do with her. The only woman who has ever mattered to him is you."

Elena squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I trust Elias. I promise I’ll never doubt him. And don’t be concerned about Vivian. I know how to deal with someone like her."

Evelyn laughed. "Now you are talking like the bold girl Elias first met. I am confident that my brother is now in safe hands."

"You are exaggerating, Evelyn."

"No, I am only stating the fact."

"Yeah, right." Elena rolled her eyes playfully. "Come on. Let’s pay for these before your brother gets bored waiting for us."

Laughing together, the two women headed toward the billing counter.

~~~~~~~~~

Elena and Evelyn arrived at the Grand Meridian and went straight to the restaurant on the top floor of the luxury hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering city skyline.

Soft piano music drifted through the air while guests conversed quietly over the tables. The scent of freshly baked bread, grilled seafood, and exotic spices lingered pleasantly throughout the restaurant.

Elias arrived a few minutes later and found Elena and Evelyn already seated by the window. The table offered a breathtaking view of the city below. But all his attention was on his wife, who looked stunning even in her formal wear.

"Good evening, beautiful ladies," he said as he approached the table.

"Elias, you are here," Evelyn beamed. "You are quite quick."

Her smile turned mischievous. "You might have missed your wife a lot. Couldn’t wait to see her?"

"Evelyn..." Elena interjected. "We work in the same office. Remember?"

"Eve is always dramatic." Elias sighed as he sat down beside Elena. He reached out and held her hand.

Elena stiffened in her seat. She whipped her head toward him. When she met his playful gaze, her stomach fluttered. She tried to pull her hand back, but he tightened his grip around her hand.

A waiter approached in the meantime. "Good evening. Sir. Madam. He handed them menus.

"Thank you." Elias took the menu. "I’ll call you once we decide."

"Sure, sir."

The waiter barely left when Evelyn launched into a story from their childhood.

"You know, despite everything, Elias and I are complete opposites when it comes to food."

Elias smirked as he browsed through the selections.

"Really?" Elena grew curious.

"Oh, absolutely," Evelyn laughed. "I love sweet things. Cakes, pastries, candies, ice cream—you name it—especially anything with a strawberry flavor. But Elias doesn’t like that flavor at all. He acts as though it is poison."

Elena turned toward him, her mouth falling apart. She remembered him eating strawberry ice cream with her. Why would he eat that if he hated that flavor?

Elias rubbed his forehead. "That’s not true."

"It is true," Evelyn argued immediately. "When we were kids, I would order strawberry milkshakes, and he would spend the entire meal making fun of me."

"Because they were ridiculously sweet," Elias countered.

"They were delicious," Evelyn immediately said.

Elena chuckled as the siblings bickered.

Evelyn wasn’t finished. "I like spicy food, while he prefers creamy pasta. I enjoy fruit salads, and he says they are rabbit food. I like cheesecake, and he claims it’s an assault on taste buds."

"It is," Elias muttered.

"See?" Evelyn pointed accusingly.

A laugh escaped Elena. The siblings looked so different from one another, yet there was an undeniable closeness between them.

"The funny thing is," Evelyn continued, "despite all this, we can sense each other’s emotions and even feel each other’s pain almost miraculously. If I’m upset, he somehow knows. If he is hurting, I can feel it too."

Elena’s smile softened. "It’s not that he doesn’t like what you prefer to eat. It’s just that he likes to tease you."

"No, you are wrong at this, Elena. He literally hates whatever I love to eat."

"That’s because your taste is questionable," Elias said dryly.

Evelyn gasped dramatically. "My taste is excellent."

"Alright..." Elena held up her hand. "I don’t want to be stuck in the crossfire tonight. We’ll order whatever Evelyn likes."

"No..."

"No!"

Both siblings said at the same time.

Elena flicked her gaze between them, her mouth agape.

"We’ll order whatever you like to eat, Elena," said Elias with a smile. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Right," Evelyn said. "In this way, we won’t fight over our preferences."

Elena was stunned momentarily. Then she laughed. "No... You don’t have to do that. I don’t want you to curse me after dinner for eating something you don’t like."

"That’s not going to happen," Elias said. "I like whatever you like."

Elena remembered their first dining out together. He had ordered whatever she liked. And he was willing to do the same tonight.

Emotion surged.

"Oh, God," Evelyn rolled her eyes dramatically. "I am caught between two lovers. I need some fresh air. Order whatever you want."

She stood up with the stick in her hand.

"I’m coming with you," Elena said, standing up and holding her hand, guiding her way.

"You don’t have to come," Evelyn said. "I can manage."

"I know you can," Elena said. "But I can’t let you go alone. My conscience wouldn’t allow it."

Those words filled Evelyn’s heart with warmth.

At first, she wasn’t sure about Elena. She had accepted her only because Elias liked her. But deep down, she was still skeptical about her. She had even wondered if Elena was the right choice for her brother.

There had been a fear that Elias had made a mistake by marrying Elena. But now, all her doubts and fears melted away. She was now sure that Elena was perfect for Elias.

"You are such a sweet person, Elena. I am glad that you are my sister-in-law."

"And I am glad that I got a sweet sister like you," Elena said, guiding her into the restroom. She ushered her into a cubicle. "Call me if you need help. I am right outside."

Elena took out her phone and found Elias’s message.

’Would you like to have some pasta?’

She smiled, remembering he liked pasta. She sent the reply quickly: ’Yes, I love it.’

’Okay then.’ His message came almost immediately. ’What else do you like to eat? Grilled lamb? Or kebab? Or steak?’

She typed quickly and hit the send button. ’I’m not picky. Choose whatever Evelyn likes.’

A smiley popped up on the screen, followed by his message.

’You are a good sister-in-law. I envy Evelyn. I wish you would also love me the way you love my sister.’

Elena’s smile widened. She did feel something for him. But she wasn’t sure whether it was love or not. Just as she was about to reply, a big palm pressed her mouth from behind.

Panick seized her almost instantly. She wriggled to break free, but her body went limp. Her vision blurred from the corners. Soon, she lost consciousness.

The phone slipped out of her grip with a dull thud.