Time passed quickly. Nearly two weeks had gone by since Elara Quinn became Adrian Vale's caregiver. In that short time, she had learned the quiet rhythm of his days, the calm order of his mornings, and the silence that filled the house like a soft current. She moved through his routines almost by instinct now, understanding the small pauses in his speech, the way he tilted his head when he was listening closely, and the faint crease that appeared between his brows when he was deep in thought.
The distance between them had grown familiar, even comfortable. Yet beneath that calm, something unnamed had begun to take root.
That afternoon, as sunlight pressed gently against the curtains, Adrian's voice broke the stillness.
"I want to swim," he said suddenly.
Elara looked up, caught off guard by the change in his tone. There was quiet certainty in his words, as if the thought had been resting in his mind for a while, waiting for the right moment.
Rowen arranged a private indoor pool for the entire afternoon.
When Adrian stepped out of the changing room wearing only swim shorts, Elara's breath caught. His body was lean, strong, perfectly balanced between grace and power. Heat rose to her face before she could stop it. She turned away quickly, thankful that he couldn't see the way she blushed.
"I'm here," she said, her voice steady though her pulse wasn't.
"I ordered orange juice for both of us," she added, as if small talk could calm the wild flutter inside her chest.
"You're not swimming?" he asked, turning his head toward her voice.
"I don't know how," she admitted.
"Next time, bring your swimsuit. I'll teach you," Adrian said.
"That's not necessary," Elara replied quickly.
"Why? Are you afraid of water?"
"No, just…" She trailed off. Words tangled in her throat. She could not admit it, not when her pulse was already quickening. The thought of being that close to him unsettled her in ways she could not name. Ever since she had stumbled into his arms that day in Chinatown, every accidental brush of his hand, every quiet exchange, had left a warmth lingering under her skin. It was a quiet ache, soft and unfamiliar, and it frightened her how much she felt it.
"It's all right," Adrian said, his tone gentler now. "If you ever change your mind, I'll teach you."
"Thank you," she said softly.
He slipped into the pool with practiced ease, each movement smooth and confident. Elara stood by the edge, watching him glide through the water.
If he still had his sight, she thought, he would be the kind of man everyone noticed, tall, capable, impossibly handsome. But it was not just his looks that unsettled her. It was his calm, his quiet strength, and the trace of sadness that never quite left him. Whoever ended up with him one day would be lucky.
"Adrian," she asked after a while, "did you ever have a girlfriend?"
He paused mid-stroke, then turned his face toward her. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm sorry. I was just curious," she said quickly, already regretting the question.
"I did," he said after a moment. "But after I lost my sight, she ended it." His voice was quiet but steady, as if the memory no longer hurt the way it once had.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine. It's the past." Adrian climbed out of the pool, water streaming down his skin in thin lines. He reached for a towel and ran it through his hair, the simple motion unhurried, almost meditative.
Elara watched him, then asked carefully, "Have you ever thought about getting surgery? Maybe a transplant?"
"I have. But there hasn't been a suitable donor."
"What's the first thing you'd do if you could see again?"
He let out a low laugh. "You sound like a reporter."
"I'm just curious," she said, smiling. "You can ask me questions too if you want."
He was silent for a moment before replying, "The first thing I'd do is look at my parents. I'd tell them I'm sorry for making them worry."
Elara felt her chest tighten. "Don't worry, Adrian. I'll pray for you. I really hope the right donor comes soon."
Without thinking, she reached out and patted his shoulder lightly.
Adrian laughed, the sound warm and disarming, breaking the quiet tension between them. Elara smiled too, until she realized her hand was still resting against his bare skin. The sudden awareness sent a rush of heat to her face, and she drew back at once, her heart stumbling in her chest.
"After this," Adrian said, amusement touching his tone, "we should get some dessert. My turn to ask questions."
"Deal," she said, laughing softly. She hadn't expected him to enjoy sweets.
Later, when Adrian came out of the changing room, showered and fresh, Elara found herself staring again. He looked effortless, every movement marked by quiet confidence. The clean lines of his shirt, the way his hair still held traces of moisture, made him seem both composed and untouchably distant.
Her pulse quickened before she could stop it. She turned away, forcing her voice to stay even. "Ready to go?"
He nodded, and she led him to the car. On the drive home, she kept her eyes on the road, though her thoughts refused to settle.
She wasn't sure when care had started to feel like something else.
*****
Elara and Adrian arrived at a small café. The moment they stepped inside, several women turned to look. Adrian's tall frame and striking presence drew attention immediately. Elara could feel curious eyes following them as she guided him by the sleeve to the table the waitress had assigned.
"He's so handsome," someone whispered nearby.
Elara heard a few other comments too, all about Adrian. She wondered if he could hear them as well. Pretending not to notice, she opened the menu and began listing the desserts available. Adrian listened and chose pancakes while Elara ordered waffles for herself.
When the dessert arrived, Elara guided his hand gently to the utensils.
"Here," she said. "Let me add a bit more ice cream on top." She used the spoon to spread the melting scoop over the warm pancake. The soft sound of her movements made Adrian smile faintly.
"Try mine too," she said playfully. "Open your mouth."
Adrian hesitated, then obeyed. Elara placed a small piece of pancake between his lips, careful not to touch him.
"Yours tastes better," he said after swallowing. "I should have ordered the same."
Elara laughed and went back to her own plate.
"You've got cream on your lips," she said, reaching for a napkin before he could respond. She leaned closer and wiped the spot away.
The simple gesture startled him. Her touch was gentle, familiar in a way he had not felt in years. He froze, unsure how to respond to the sudden nearness. Elara realized it too and quickly drew her hand back.
"Thank you," Adrian said quietly.
"No problem," she replied, noticing the faint tension on his face. "I'm sorry. I might have gone too far. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'll be more careful next time."
"It's all right," Adrian said, his tone softening. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
After a pause, he added, "My turn to ask questions. Tell me about yourself."
Elara hesitated, then smiled faintly. "I grew up in a single-parent home. My mother was everything to me. She got sick when I was sixteen. I started working part-time to pay for her treatment. Thankfully, she had insurance, but it was still hard. After high school, I wanted to quit studying, but she insisted I go to college. I worked hard, studied harder, and somehow made it through. She passed away not long after I graduated. I think she waited to see me finish before letting go."
Her voice stayed calm, but her eyes glistened.
"You've already done more than most daughters ever could," Adrian said quietly.
Elara looked at him, caught off guard by the warmth in his words. No one had ever said that to her before.
The sudden voice made her jump. A woman stood by their table, bright-eyed and loud, her perfume arriving before her smile.
"Milly?" Elara said, startled.
"I knew it was you!" Milly exclaimed. "Wow, he's handsome. Is he your boyfriend?" Her gaze shifted openly toward Adrian, curiosity sharp and unfiltered.
"No. He's not," Elara said quickly, her voice catching slightly.
"Then introduce us," Milly said eagerly, leaning closer with an expectant grin.
Elara froze, unsure what to say. Her pulse stumbled. She could see Adrian's expression change—his shoulders tensed, and his jaw tightened just enough for her to notice. A quiet ache spread through her chest.
"I'm sorry, Milly," she said, keeping her tone steady. "This isn't a good time."
"Come on, Elara, don't be like that. We're old classmates. It's just friendly," Milly insisted, still smiling as if she hadn't sensed the tension that now hung in the air.
Elara's face burned with embarrassment. Before she could find the right words, Adrian spoke, his voice low and controlled.
"I'm not interested in making friends. Please leave us alone."
Milly's smile faltered. She hesitated, then muttered something under her breath and walked away, her steps quick and annoyed.
"I'm so sorry," Elara said at once. "I didn't expect to run into a college classmate here."
"Don't worry about it," Adrian replied. His tone was calm, but something in it felt distant, like a door quietly closing.
The rest of the afternoon passed in uneasy silence. Guilt pressed heavily against her chest as she drove home. She kept her eyes on the road, her hands tight on the wheel, stealing glances at him whenever she dared. His expression stayed unreadable, turned slightly toward the window, lost somewhere in thought.
Back in her room, Elara sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts heavy and restless. She pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady the uneven rhythm of her heartbeat. She reminded herself that this was only temporary, that she was here to help him heal, nothing more. When Adrian recovered his sight, her work would be done. She would leave, as she always knew she would.
*****
Adrian lay in bed, his mind drifting back to the conversation with Elara earlier that day, the moment when she had asked about his ex-girlfriend. It had been almost two years since Luna left him.
"I'm sorry, Adrian. I can't stay with you anymore. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life taking care of you," Luna had cried.
"Luna, it's all right. You don't have to force yourself," Adrian had said quietly.
"I'm sorry, but I still can't accept this. I don't want to waste my youth living like this. There are things I still want to do. I don't want you to become my burden."
Her words had been sharp enough to cut.
"If you really want to leave, I won't stop you," Adrian had replied, his voice steady but hollow. "But I hope we never see each other again."
The memory still stung, even after all this time. He had never blamed her, but the disappointment had lingered, quiet and persistent, a wound that never quite healed.
Now, as he lay in the stillness of his room, his thoughts shifted to Elara, her calm voice, her patience, the way she guided him without pity. There was something steady in her presence, something that eased the quiet ache he had carried for so long. Though they had known each other only a short while, being around her felt natural, almost like they'd known each other for years.
"Ah!"
A sudden scream from downstairs shattered his thoughts. Adrian sat up immediately and hurried toward the sound.
"Elara? What happened?" he called.
"Elara!"
He heard quick footsteps, then the sound of someone rushing out.
"Adrian! There's a cockroach in the bathroom!" Elara's voice trembled as she ran straight toward him. Wrapped hastily in a towel, she stumbled into his arms before realizing what she'd done.
Adrian caught her instinctively, his hand coming to rest on her bare back. The unexpected contact froze them both. Her skin was warm against his palm. He drew in a sharp breath, startled.
"Elara," he said after a second, trying to steady his tone. "Why don't you use the upstairs bathroom? I'll see what I can do down here."
Only then did Elara realize her state of dress, or rather, undress. Heat rushed to her cheeks, turning them crimson. Without a word, she gathered her clothes and hurried upstairs, her heart thudding with every step.
Adrian let out a helpless sigh and took out his phone. "Rowen," he said when his friend answered. "I need you to come over."
Rowen sounded surprised. "Everything all right?"
"Just come," Adrian said quietly.
About twenty minutes later, Rowen arrived, still slightly out of breath from the quick drive. "You sounded serious on the phone," he said as he stepped inside. "What's going on?"
Adrian turned his head toward the sound of his friend's voice. "There's a cockroach in the toilet at ground level."
Rowen stared at him in disbelief. "You called me over for that?"
Adrian's expression stayed calm. "Elara was there earlier. It startled her."
Rowen sighed, though amusement touched his tone. "You're unbelievable." He set down his jacket and headed toward the toilet. A moment later, there was a quick sound, then silence.
"Got it," he said, sounding pleased with himself. "I can't believe this is what I rushed over for."
"Elara's terrified of them. I couldn't just ignore it," Adrian explained.
Rowen chuckled. "Things are getting lively in your house. I like it."
Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Elara came down from the second level, properly dressed this time. She paused when she saw Rowen standing near the hallway, holding a tissue and looking rather proud of himself.
"Thank you," Elara said, her cheeks warming slightly. "I feel bad to trouble you to come all the way here for that."
Rowen laughed lightly. "It's no trouble. Adrian made it sound like an emergency.".
"Stay for dinner," Elara offered politely.
He waved a hand. "Can't. My wife's waiting at home."
"You're married?" Elara blinked in surprise.
"Of course. When you meet the right person, there's no need to wait or doubt," Rowen said with a grin. "Anyway, I'm off. See you both."
After Rowen left, Elara turned to Adrian, still a little flustered. "I'm sorry about earlier. I overreacted."
"It's fine," Adrian said, amusement softening his voice. "I didn't know you were afraid of cockroaches."
"Well… I am," Elara admitted shyly, her eyes lowering.
He laughed quietly, then reached out and gave her head a gentle pat. The simple touch made her breath catch and her heart beat faster.
"What about you?" she asked, trying to sound casual. "What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing," he said with a small, knowing smile.
"That can't be true," she said, pouting slightly, her tone turning playful.
"You really dare to talk to your boss like that?" Adrian teased, reaching out and lightly pinching her cheek.
"Ow! That hurts!" Elara yelped, swatting his hand away, though she was smiling now.
"You've got soft cheeks," he said, laughing. "Hard to resist."
Elara's heart fluttered wildly at the sound of his laughter. It filled the quiet space around them, warm and alive, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe.
"Stop teasing me. I'll go make dinner," she said, trying to hide her smile as she turned toward the kitchen.
Adrian listened to her footsteps fade, his smile lingering. For the first time in a long while, his quiet house no longer felt empty.