The party continues as guests and other people come to talk to them. A man in his mid-fifties approaches the couple. "Hey Adrian, who's this lovely lady?" He asks, kissing the back of Elena's hand. "I'm Elena, I'm-" before she can say anything, Adrian interjects, "My Wife".
The man is taken aback. "My my, congratulations, you two. You got a good one, Adrian, she is beautiful," he says as he leaves them alone.
"That was rude," Elena says, sipping her champagne. "He is looking for a fifth wife, do you want to be one?" Adrian saying chuckling at Elena's reaction. Elena chokes on her drink lightly but quickly recovers. Adrian looks at her face and leans closer, taking out his handkerchief.
"What are you doing?" Elena asks, leaning away from his touch.
Adrian still leans closer now, and lifts the handkerchief to her lips and cleans it off. "There, you had some champagne on your lips," he says, not moving back. Elena stares at him for a while, then breaks eye contact by moving back. "Thanks."
After that, they interact with more people until a gorgeous woman, with blond hair and hazel eyes, wearing a pink glitter gown approaches them. "Adrian… I didn't expect to see you here tonight." (eyes shift to Elena) "…or with company." "Then consider it a surprise," Adrian says calmly.
She directs her eyes towards Elena. "You must be new. I don't think I've seen you around before."
"That's because I wasn't," Elena replies, shortly irritated by her tone.
"These events can be… overwhelming. The woman says, "People tend to get lost in places like this." She continues.
"Only if they don't belong."
"So you think you do belong here?"
"I don't think." (small pause) "I know."
"That won't be necessary." Adrian cuts the tension without raising his voice.
"I was just trying to understand…" she says, looking at Elena, "…how sudden changes happen."
"You don't need to understand," Adrian says too calmly. "You just need to respect it."
"She's my wife. That's all the explanation anyone gets."
The woman wavers for a moment but quickly recovers herself. "…Of course." She says with a forced smile. "Welcome."
"Thank you." Elena replies, smiling slightly, "I plan on staying."
The woman left them alone.
"Thank you for backing me up," Elena says quietly.
"No need to thank me, you're my wife," Adrian says back.
And just like that—
It was over.
Or at least, it looked like it.
For a moment, the space around them felt lighter.
The tension faded just enough to breathe.
But Adrian didn't move.
His gaze lingered in the direction the woman had gone, thoughtful, distant.
Calculating.
Elena noticed.
"Friend of yours?" she asked.
"Something like that," he replied.
Not an answer.
She didn't push.
Her attention shifted instead—to the room.
To the way people looked at her now.
Not with curiosity anymore.
With awareness.
Recognition.
Careful respect.
It was subtle.
But it was there.
And she felt it.
Across the room—
A different shift was happening.
Elena's eyes landed on Daniel again.
This time—
Something was off.
He wasn't surrounded anymore.
No easy conversations.
No effortless attention.
Just small pauses.
Short responses.
People are leaving a little too quickly.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"That's strange," she murmured.
Adrian followed her gaze.
Of course he did.
His expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
But there was something in his eyes.
Something quieter.
Sharper.
"You did this," she said.
Not a question.
A realization.
Adrian took his time before answering.
He set his glass down first.
Then turned to her.
"He made his choices."
A pause.
"I'm just making sure they matter."
Elena held his gaze.
Searching.
Measuring.
"And this?" she asked softly, glancing back at Daniel. "This is just the start?"
Something in Adrian shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
His voice, when he spoke, was lower.
More certain.
"This?" he said.
A beat.
Then—
"This was just an introduction."
Her breath slowed.
Not fear.
Something else.
Anticipation.
Dangerous.
He stepped slightly closer.
Not enough to draw attention.
Just enough for his presence to settle around her again.
"Tomorrow," he added quietly,
"Things get serious."
Elena didn't look away.
Didn't step back.
Because for the first time—
She understood exactly what she had stepped into.
And part of her—
Didn't want to leave.