Elian had been glued to his study until well past three, maybe even four in the morning, before he finally stepped out to whip up a late meal. Once everything was done, Clarissa was still fast asleep.

The bedroom was pitch dark, clearly showing she'd been out cold for a while. He quietly flicked on the bedside lamp.

Under the soft, warm light, her petite face looked hazy, almost fragile.

He sat gently down beside her and called softly, "Clarissa, hey, wake up."

She stirred, clearly annoyed at being disturbed. Her brows furrowed, and her small hand patted the blanket aimlessly, mumbling something incoherent.

Elian leaned closer, trying to catch what she was murmuring.

But instead, she suddenly rolled over, and her lips brushed lightly against his cheek.

Time just... stopped. The silence was so thick, he could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his chest.

He was thrilled-but nervous too.

It felt fragile, like reaching for the moon's reflection in water; too beautiful to last.

After a beat, he swallowed hard, then leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Clarissa scratched her cheek with the back of her hand.

Elian called her name again, closer this time.

"Clarissa, wake up."

He gently brushed aside the messy strands of hair sticking to her face. Slowly, Clarissa started to stir, eyes fluttering open, and the first thing she saw was a ridiculously handsome face.

Wait... was she dreaming? Why was there a hot guy sitting by her bed?

"You look just like someone I know..." she mumbled drowsily, a goofy smile spreading across her face like someone deep in a fangirl fantasy.

Elian couldn't help but smile. She looked adorably ridiculous right now.

Still, he quipped, "Clarissa, I get it-you're a sucker for a pretty face. But no need to be shy about it. We're married, after all."

That snapped her right out of her daze.

She shot up in bed, smacked her own cheeks like she was trying to wake up properly.

"What are you doing in here?"

Elian chuckled. "Came to check on a certain someone who's dead to the world. If I didn't wake you now, you'd be starving later."

Clarissa fumbled for her phone at the edge of the bed. One glance, and her eyes widened-it was already past six.

"Fine, I'm getting up."

But, of course, she made no move to actually get out of bed. Still lying there, unmoved.

From the doorway, Elian turned to glance outside. The sky hadn't lit up just yet.

He asked, "Hey Clarissa, what time is it now?"

"Six twenty-five."

"You've got five minutes."

"What do you mean, five minutes?"

Clarissa finally looked up from her phone and saw Elian casually leaning against the doorframe.

He stretched a bit and said, "Four minutes now. The city lights'll flick on outside soon."

Clarissa blinked, then suddenly threw off her blanket and ran to find something to wear-she was only in a camisole dress, and it was chilly out of bed.

She hustled to the floor-to-ceiling window, sat cross-legged on the carpet, eyes fixed on the clock on her phone.

Elian silently walked over and knelt behind her, his hand tightening slightly in his pocket.

She started counting down, voice soft but excited: "Five... four... three... two... one!"

When she looked up, it wasn't just the city skyline and bridge lights that caught her eye.

A delicate pink necklace, sparkling with tiny diamonds, slipped from Elian's palm into view.

She froze.

Her heart began thudding wildly-not sure if it was the surprise or the man who gave it.

The room, though empty, was suddenly full of something she couldn't quite name.

She whispered, "What's this?"

Turning to Elian, clearly curious, but making no move to take the necklace from him.

It was literally their first day seeing each other again-where would he even find time to prep a gift?

Could it be something he bought for another woman before and just never gave her?

Seeing Elian's hesitant face only reinforced Clarissa's suspicions. She was just about to speak when he interrupted.

Elian leaned in and clasped the necklace around her neck. A sudden cool touch brushed her collarbone, making her start just a little.

The design was nothing flashy-definitely not the latest style-and it wasn't worth that much either, not even close to any of the fancy jewelry Sebastian had used to throw her way during those half-hearted attempts.

Still... for some reason, she felt it was beautiful. Special, even. Way more meaningful than anything she'd gotten before.

"Seriously though, when did you even have time to buy this?"

His fingers paused just slightly after fastening the clasp. He took a moment to smooth her hair back down, voice quiet.

"Got it a long time ago. It was supposed to be your birthday gift that year. Dropped it on the way, found it again going home, but never got the chance to give it to you."

Clarissa had run through a dozen different scenarios in her head, but she never thought... this.

A gift he'd kept all these years-how do you not forget something like that?

Wait-what year was that even?

"You mean that time you came by to bring me Plumie? You're telling me you've held onto this necklace since then? That's seriously petty," she teased, raising a brow.

Elian gave a soft smile. Back then, the necklace had cost him a decent sum.

But more than the price, it had been tied up with disappointment.

Not that she'd ever really know.

Hearing her name, their cat, Plumie, shuffled lazily into view and rubbed up against Elian's leg affectionately.

Clarissa smirked, half-laughing as she teased the cat. "Traitor. You were mine first."

A calm moment passed before Elian finally spoke again.

"Clarissa, I'm serious. I really am petty. You promised that year-you said if I gave you a birthday gift, you'd owe me one for mine. I've been keeping that receipt this whole time. You still owe me."

Her hand paused mid-air over Plumie's head. Was he for real?

Small-minded much?

She tried to remember-had she really said that?

Before she could sort through her thoughts, Elian cut in: "Stop playing, go wash up. Food's gonna get cold."

Clarissa set down the toy and dusted herself off before hurrying into the bathroom.

Over dinner, she showered Elian with praise about his cooking while her mind drifted back.

It was during senior year, some random elective where they had to jot down wishes on slips of paper.

Most classmates scribbled stuff like getting into college, making money.

Clarissa had written: [I want to get a birthday gift that actually comes from the heart.]

Her parents loved her, truly. But birthdays were always rushed affairs, the gifts too predictable, like they didn't even bother thinking about them.

She could close her eyes and guess what she'd get every time.

That's why she made that wish.

And Elian, being the most mischievous boy at the time, had peeked at her paper when she wasn't looking.

He joked, "Hey Clarissa, I'll get you a gift this year. And when it's my birthday, you better get me something too, deal?"

She hadn't taken it seriously. His birthday came after hers, anyway-if he really followed through, she'd just return the favor.

Seemed fair.

She honestly thought it was just a joke. Never figured 18-year-old Elian would mean it.

But here he was at 25, still holding on to it.

And 25-year-old Elian... had finally gotten the girl his 19-year-old self couldn't stop dreaming of.

Problem was, 18-year-old Clarissa never got that birthday present.

And 19-year-old Elian had crossed an ocean before he could give it to her.

Clarissa had seriously never imagined her sleeping posture could be this... tragic.

The sky was just starting to brighten when she stirred, and right as she shifted a little, she realized-her arms and legs were wrapped tightly around Elian.

Honestly, the whole scene screamed desperate clinginess.

She recalled how before bed last night, Elian had said, "I won't do anything, can I at least give you a hug?"

Awkwardly scooting a bit closer to him, she mumbled, "Why is your mind always in the gutter lately?"

He chuckled lowly, pulling her into his arms. "Well, twenty-something years without a girl, finally got a wife-I mean, can't I cut loose a little?"

It did sound reasonable... if not for the awkward situation between them.

But somehow, when she fell asleep, it was him hugging her. And now? The roles had totally reversed.

She carefully tried to extract herself, cautiously sliding her leg off him. Curious, she ducked under the blanket for a quick peek-only to discover that this man was...

Wearing nothing but pants.

Her face instantly turned tomato red as she ducked her head back out, holding her breath like even the slightest noise might wake him.

Unfortunately, her efforts were pointless.

Even before she made a sound, he was already stifling laughter, eyes still closed, lips curled up as if he couldn't hold it in anymore. His whole body was trembling from choking it back.

Clarissa instantly felt like she was lying to herself-classic ostrich approach.

"Don't hold it in too hard... you might explode or something."

Sure, she realized how ridiculous the whole thing looked. But honestly? If he was gonna laugh, might as well do it to her face.

Elian finally opened his eyes, propped himself up on one arm, and just watched her silently.

There was this oddly serene vibe in the air.

But to her, that gaze was nothing but teasing.

Blushing harder, Clarissa edged back to get up, only to lose her balance the moment her foot missed the edge of the bed.

Panicking, she instinctively grabbed onto something random-turned out to be Elian's arm.

He reached out with one hand, holding her by the waist just in time to stop her from falling.

The blanket that had been covering his chest slipped off when he moved, revealing his bare torso.

Clarissa's eyes had no idea where to look. With the heat of his breath brushing her skin and their faces this close, she was about to short-circuit.

She thought-wait-was he planning to do something?!

Then suddenly, his arm around her back tugged, pulling her toward the center of the bed.

And then he just let go.

Just. Let. Go.

Her brain instantly went into overdrive, trying and failing to decode his motive.

He let out a silent chuckle and said casually, "Don't worry, I won't touch you without your permission. No need to be so..."

His eyes flicked downward meaningfully, and Clarissa realized there was a breeze-on her shoulder.

Her spaghetti strap dress...

"AHHHHHH! Elian, you freaking creep!!"

She spun around and scrambled to fix her dress.

But Elian braced himself with both arms beside her, leaned his chin on her shoulder, and said in an even voice, "Morning, babe."

Clarissa went stiff on the spot. Her ears flushed bright red and the color crept all the way up to her cheeks, giving her a surprisingly radiant glow.

She had no idea when he'd left, only that her heart was beating way too fast.

And it's not like she was some shallow girl who'd fall for a guy just for his looks or voice.

She was convinced he just scared the hell out of her.

Yeah. Just biology freaking out. That's it.

Otherwise, why did it kinda feel like Elian actually liked her?

*****

Clarissa had just finished her morning routine when she stepped out and saw the table filled with breakfast.

There it was-a crisp breakfast wrap with carrot.

It'd been forever since she last had one of those. She picked up her fork and took a bite.

Yup, still tasted just as good.

She looked at Elian and asked, "How do you know how to make this?"

This used to be her go-to breakfast back in high school. After getting to college, she couldn't find it anywhere and gradually gave up eating breakfast altogether.

Elian paused briefly, his voice low and calm. "I just do."

He'd always known how.

Clarissa chuckled, not thinking much of it. "So you learned from that lady near school or what? Tastes exactly the same."

Elian didn't respond-just kept eating.

After breakfast, he was about to head to the office. Right as he turned to ask about her plans for the day, her phone buzzed.

The screen clearly showed: Margaret Hamilton.

Sebastian's mom?

Elian's gaze lingered on the screen, his thoughts momentarily drifting.

Clarissa blinked when she saw the caller ID too, then walked off to take the call in private.

Elian was heading out, but his fingers trembled a little on the doorknob. He glanced back-she was looking down, messing with her slippers.

It was his place, yet somehow it still felt a bit unreal to him.

About half an hour later, he came back in.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Clarissa already dressed up, standing at the door putting on her shoes.

She glanced at the clock, eyes widening. "You haven't left yet? Aren't you gonna be late?"

"Forgot something," he answered.

She nodded slightly. "Then go on."

She was just about to step out when he grabbed her wrist. Brow slightly furrowed, he asked directly, "Where are you headed?"

Clarissa wasn't sure what was up with him-he seemed kind of off.

"Uh... Mrs. Hamilton asked me to come over for a bit," she replied.

Only after saying it out loud did she remember-the whole thing with Sebastian.

"But it's nothing to do with Sebastian, he's still in Hawaii with Aria. I'm just going to see his mom, nothing else."

Worried he might overthink it, she added that last part.

Elian knew she and the Hamiltons were close. The families had ties too, and cutting things off completely wouldn't be easy.

Plus, Sebastian was one thing; Margaret was another. She'd always treated Clarissa kindly.

He nodded. "I'll drive you."

"Huh?" She clearly didn't expect that. "Don't you need to get to work?"

"I don't draw a paycheck. I'm the boss," Elian replied smoothly.

So basically, go when he wants, stay when he wants.

Alright dude, you win.

She hadn't even told him where the Hamilton place was, but Elian didn't pull up GPS or anything-just drove as if he already knew.

She almost asked but let it go.

If she did, he'd probably just say, "Good memory."

When they reached the Hamilton residence, Clarissa unbuckled her seatbelt, gearing up to say goodbye, but Elian beat her to it.

"You coming home tonight?" he asked.

Huh?

"Yeah... I mean, it's my home too, y'know?"

Her voice trailed off toward the end, carefully watching his reaction.

When he heard "my home," he couldn't help a faint smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

It was gone in a flash, but Clarissa caught it.

She smiled to herself too.

"I'll swing by to pick you up later," he added.

Clarissa nodded-she actually liked the idea.

The area wasn't exactly central; having him come get her felt safer.

Before closing the door, she even waved at him with a grin.

Clarissa headed straight to the small garden behind the villa as soon as she arrived-it was where Margaret usually spent her afternoons.

By the time Clarissa got there, everything was already set-delicate snacks and freshly brewed tea.

Margaret was always refined, and she lived each day with a kind of quiet elegance. Malcolm Hamilton had treated her the same way for decades.

Clarissa could never quite figure out how two such impressive people ended up with someone like Sebastian.

As soon as Margaret saw her, she greeted her warmly. Clarissa, as naturally as ever, walked over and sat down on the low chair to the side.

Margaret carried herself with grace, and her every movement had that unmistakable aura of old-money sophistication.

Steam curled from the teacups on the table, the scent of black tea fragrant in the air.

Clarissa took a sip, smiled lightly, and asked, "Madam, is this tea new?"

Margaret saw she noticed and didn't bother hiding it. "Sebastian sent it over. No idea what he's busy with these days... and why he didn't bring you along."

Clarissa froze slightly, fingers tightening just a bit around the teacup.

Clearly, Sebastian hadn't told his mother about the trip to Hawaii with Aria.

And honestly, even just hearing his name-let alone drinking tea he picked-made her skin crawl lately.

Clarissa didn't want to talk about Sebastian. And it definitely wasn't the right time to bring up her engagement.

So, she smoothly switched topics. "Actually, Margaret, I've been learning a new tea-art set lately. Mind giving me a few tips?"

Margaret would never say no to that. Clarissa had always had a knack for tea-making since she was little, something Margaret adored about her.

So she smiled gently and said, "Of course, I'd love that. If you end up liking this tea, why not take some home later?"

Clarissa shook her head. "No, that's okay."

The refusal came so fast it felt instinctive.

Margaret caught it. After all, she'd lived long enough to notice these things-more years and more insight than the younger ones could match.

She asked carefully, "Did you and Sebastian have a fight?"

She knew Clarissa had been in love with Sebastian for a long, long time. So she didn't jump straight to asking if they'd broken up.

When Clarissa and Sebastian first got together, no one had been more thrilled than Margaret.

She had always treated Clarissa with genuine warmth. To Clarissa, she was almost like a second mother.

Margaret always reminded Clarissa of her own soft-spoken and kind-hearted mom.

When Clarissa didn't reply, Margaret sighed.

Her voice carried a hint of sadness. "You're just like your mother-too gentle for your own good. Always swallowing your feelings. You don't have to talk if you don't want to. I'll have a word with Sebastian when he's back."

She gave Clarissa's hand a soft pat, full of affection.

Whenever Clarissa came to visit, Margaret could instantly tell if she was feeling down. She used to blame Sebastian for that, which over time made him think Clarissa was always going home to complain.

Now that they'd broken up, Clarissa actually felt more at ease. At least there'd be no more misunderstandings on his part.

She gave a small, calm smile. "We broke up."

Her tone was flat-not the tearful, heartbroken kind.

"You... you broke up?" Margaret was clearly taken aback.

It took her a moment to come to terms with it.

Then she asked quietly, "Did Sebastian do something that really upset you?"

Even though he was her own son, Margaret knew better than anyone what kind of person Sebastian was. If someone like Clarissa really wanted out for good, then he must've seriously screwed up.

Clarissa hadn't planned on saying anything-it wasn't her place. Margaret would know the truth soon enough when Sebastian came back. And he'd definitely bring Aria with him.

But dragging things out would just make things messier. And then there was Elian-keeping things hidden from him forever wasn't fair.

"Margaret, do you know Sebastian's in Hawaii?" Clarissa asked casually, unlocking her phone.

She pulled up a photo and handed it over with a small smile.

"You recognize this girl, right? Sebastian never really liked me. He just went along with everything because of pressure from both our families. But there was nothing real there-feelings like that don't last. He's always had a soft spot for Aria."

"She's been getting treatment overseas for years, and his medical charity work? That's never stopped. They've been tangled up for so long, I've lost count. It's messy and I'm tired of it. So, Margaret, just let it be. There's no chance for us."

She got it all out in one breath. If she didn't lay it all out, Margaret might keep trying to play matchmaker.

Being stuck between Margaret and Sebastian had worn her down.

Margaret zoomed in and out on the picture several times, her face darkening each time. There was no denying it-that really was Sebastian and Aria.

Her jaw clenched. She looked like she wanted to march over and beat Sebastian with her own hands.

"Margaret, don't get mad. Try to think of it another way. He should be with the person he actually likes, right? Honestly, he seemed miserable when we were together. And look, I know my parents asked you to look after me, and I appreciate that. But I don't need to marry Sebastian for that to matter. Even without him in my life, I'll still see you and Malcolm as family."

She smiled as she said it. Talking about Sebastian didn't hurt the way she thought it might. If anything, she just felt a bit relieved.

Margaret's face softened a little. She shook her head with a heavy sigh before finally saying, "He owes you. From now on, keep your distance. I won't try to push anything again."

She gently brushed a strand of hair away from Clarissa's cheek, her heart sinking. She had a bad feeling-that without Clarissa, Sebastian would regret it for the rest of his life.

The air had turned awkward, and with dusk setting in, Margaret didn't ask Clarissa to stay for dinner.

As Clarissa was heading out, she bumped into Malcolm coming home.

She greeted him politely, "Hi, Malcolm."

Always the warm one, he nodded and smiled. "Here to see Sebastian? He hasn't been around-probably caught up with work."

Margaret shot him a glare from the side. Clarissa only smiled, not taking it to heart.

"I actually came to check on Margaret. Bye."

*****

After Clarissa left, Margaret turned to her husband. "Next time Clarissa visits, don't you dare bring up our sorry excuse for a son."

Seeing how furious she was, Malcolm's tone softened. "What happened?"

Margaret was fuming, her voice shaky from anger. "They broke up! She told me herself-and asked me not to try and set them up anymore. Do you even realize your idiot son went off to vacation with that ex of his? Does he have no shame? I am so done. Having a son like him is the biggest regret of my life."

And with that, she stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the house.