Awkward Breakfast

Elara woke up the next day, the events of the previous night lingering in her thoughts. An air of tension and uncertainty hung in the mansion, and she couldn't shake off her concern for Vincent. Hesitant to ask about his condition, she silently sat at the dining table, lost in her own thoughts as she ate her breakfast.

The sound of the approaching wheelchair interrupted her contemplation, and soon, Vincent appeared. Despite the undeniable pallor in his complexion, his striking features still held a commanding presence. He began to eat in silence, and Elara followed suit, avoiding unnecessary conversation.

After Vincent finished his meal, breaking the silence, he said, "Don't come to my study without permission next time."

Elara, undeterred, replied, "Don't make noise in the middle of the night next time."

"This is my house," Vincent asserted.

Elara, without hesitation, retorted, "Then I can move out immediately. It's not that I like staying here."

Vincent fell into a contemplative silence, unsure of how to respond to Elara's straightforward declaration. The air in the room remained charged with unspoken tension, leaving both of them grappling with the complex dynamics of their shared living arrangement. The unspoken words hung in the air, a testament to the underlying tensions and unresolved issues that continued to shape their interactions.

Suddenly, the tranquil atmosphere was disrupted by the sound of approaching voices. Isaac, recognizing Elara's confusion, quickly explained, "It's Madam and Miss; they just came back." Elara nodded in acknowledgment and continued sipping her orange juice.

Before long, a young girl, appearing to be 18 or 19, rushed towards Vincent, enveloping him in a tight hug. Elara couldn't help but notice Vincent's clenched teeth, revealing a smile that seemed forced. Finding the scene slightly amusing, she chuckled, drawing the attention of both the girl and the woman behind her.

The girl, Angela, turned her head, glancing at Elara for a few seconds before asking, "Brother, who is this?" Madam Holloway, Vincent's mother, wore a warm smile as she inquired, "Yes, son, who is this beautiful girl?"

Vincent, clearing his throat, responded, "Mom, Angela, this is my wife, Elara Morgan."

Madam Holloway couldn't contain her surprise and exclaimed, "What?" Vincent reaffirmed, "Yes, Mom, I got married."

Angela, brimming with excitement, exclaimed, "Wow, this is great news! Now I can be an aunt. She is so beautiful; she will give me beautiful nieces and nephews."

Elara, taken aback by Angela's exuberance, choked on her food. Madam Holloway, sensing her discomfort, walked closer and offered her a glass of water. The room buzzed with a mixture of surprise, joy, and a touch of awkwardness as the unexpected revelation settled in. The dynamics in the Holloway mansion seemed poised for a shift, and Elara found herself navigating through the unexpected turns in her newfound role as Vincent's wife.

Madam Holloway gently chided, "Let go of your brother, Angela. You're ruining his suit." Angela, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at the realization, pouted in an attempt to hide it, releasing her hold on Vincent. Madam Holloway then turned her attention to Isaac, instructing, "Get us something to eat."

"Yes, ma'am," Isaac replied promptly and walked away to fulfill the request. As the room settled into a momentary quiet, Madam Holloway took a seat close to Elara and, with a warm smile, inquired, "So, tell me more about yourself."

Elara, caught off guard by the question, hesitated momentarily. Vincent cast her an apologetic glance, seemingly aware of the discomfort. Elara observed a surprising contrast in Vincent's behavior around strangers compared to his interactions with his mother and sister.

Struggling to find the right words, Elara began, "Well, I... I'm Elara Morgan. From the Morgan family." She paused, uncertain of how much to reveal, and glanced at Vincent, silently seeking guidance.

Madam Holloway nodded, encouraging Elara to continue. The room was filled with a mixture of curiosity and expectation as Elara navigated the delicate task of introducing herself to Vincent's family, realizing that the dynamics within the mansion were more complex than she had initially thought.

Madam Holloway's revelation about Elara's mother Genevieve left Elara stunned. "You are Genevieve's daughter?" she asked, surprised by this unexpected connection.

"You knew my mother?" she asked, surprised by this unexpected connection.

Madam Holloway nodded. "Know her? We were good friends. You were too young to notice, but I was there during her funeral."

Elara felt a pang of sorrow hearing about her mother's funeral, the mention of that solemn event touching her deeply. Sensing the shift in mood, Angela swiftly changed the subject. "Okay, let's move on, Mom. What do you do for a living, Elara? And when will you and my brother have kids?"

Elara, caught off guard by the abruptness, coughed uncontrollably, her face paling. Vincent shot Angela a pointed look, and Angela continued, undeterred. "Don't look at me like that, brother. You're not getting any younger. You must have kids."

Madam Holloway chimed in, "Well, I agree with Angela on this one, son."

Elara, realizing she couldn't evade the question, gathered herself. "For now, I want to get into the entertainment industry, and then we'll take it from there," she replied, trying to steer the conversation away from the pressure.

Angela's curiosity shifted to Elara's aspirations. "You want to sing or act?" she inquired.

"I actually love both, but acting more," Elara responded.

Excited by the prospect, Angela exclaimed, "That's great! My brother's wife is going to be a movie star, and I can walk the red carpet with you."

Madam Holloway interjected with a more serious tone, "Don't take too long. I want to hold my grandkids before I die."

Vincent, growing uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, intervened, "Enough, Mom. Let Elara enjoy her breakfast, please." His attempt to redirect the conversation was a subtle indication that the topic was off-limits, at least for the moment. The air in the room shifted, the tension easing as breakfast resumed in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.

Elara gave Vincent a grateful nod, and he reciprocated with a silent acknowledgment. As Vincent mentioned he had to leave, Angela proposed celebrating their marriage with a dinner. Vincent hesitated, but Angela insisted, "No brother, I want us to go out and celebrate. Mom has been asking you to get married for years, and now you finally did, so that calls for a celebration."

Madam Holloway supported the idea, stating, "Well, she is right. I will make arrangements. I will text you the details; you can meet us there from the office." Vincent sighed, accepting the impending celebration, and replied, "Okay."

Elara, sensing an opportunity to excuse herself, stood up. "I have to go somewhere; I'll be back soon," she announced. Vincent offered, "You can ride with me."

Elara, determined to maintain her independence, declined, saying, "No, I'll drive." Madam Holloway, interjecting with a touch of authority, declared, "No, you can't drive. You are husband and wife. He should drive you anywhere you want to go, and if he can't, he should get people to drive you."

Vincent, realizing the futility of argument, nodded in agreement. "Fine, I'll drive her," he conceded. Elara, a bit surprised by the sudden insistence, reluctantly accepted, understanding that navigating the intricacies of the Holloway family dynamics required some compromises. With the dinner celebration on the horizon, the mansion buzzed with preparations and anticipation for an evening that promised to be both celebratory and revealing.

As soon as Elara and Vincent left, Angela shared her observation with Madam Holloway. "Mom, they are not in love," she remarked.

Madam Holloway, ever perceptive, responded, "I can tell, but we can make them fall in love."

Excitement gleamed in Angela's eyes as she exclaimed, "Yes, I love romance stories."

Madam Holloway gently corrected her, saying, "This is not a story, sweetie. This is real life."

Angela, displaying an earnest desire for her brother's happiness, stated, "I know, but I just want to see brother happy."

Madam Holloway smiled warmly and said, "Let's rest a bit and get ready for our mission." In a playful manner, Angela imitated an army salute, declaring, "Yes, ma'am." Their laughter echoed in the room, the shared happiness evident on their faces. The day they had been eagerly anticipating, the day Vincent finally got married, had finally arrived, and they were ready for the adventure of fostering love in the midst of this unconventional union.