Chapter 43 Unwanted Gratitude
Elara's POV
I descended the staircase and immediately spotted Nolan standing near the sitting area, speaking in hushed tones to Aurora on the sofa. She was out of the hospital apparently, wrapped in an oversized cardigan that made her look smaller and more fragile than usual, her face pale and drawn.
The moment she caught sight of me on the stairs, Nolan's voice cut off mid-sentence, his head whipping around to face me. Aurora's eyes locked onto mine, and within seconds they began to glisten with unshed tears, her hands clasping together in her lap with deliberate delicacy.
James stood near the hallway entrance, his arms crossed tightly over his chest and his face set in hard, unforgiving lines. When his gaze landed on Aurora, something cold and dismissive flickered across his features before he turned as if preparing to leave entirely.
"Elara..." Aurora's voice was soft and trembling as she slowly pushed herself up from the sofa. "That day you rushed into the abandoned hospital and saved both me and James... I never got the chance to properly thank you..."
I stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked at her without expression, my face carefully blank as I took in the performance. After a long moment, I gave her a single, curt nod, acknowledging her words without actually responding to them.
From across the room, James let out a sharp, derisive laugh, the sound cutting through whatever atmosphere Aurora had been trying to create. Nolan's head snapped around immediately, his eyes narrowing as he shot his younger brother a warning glare.
Aurora took another small step closer to me as she continued, "I was thinking... perhaps I could cook lunch as a way to show my appreciation? I know my body is still weak from everything that happened, but..." She paused to cough delicately, one hand coming up to cover her mouth. "I want to do something for you. What would you like to eat? I can make anything you want."
"Not necessary," I said flatly, my tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Aurora's face crumpled immediately, her expression shifting to one of wounded confusion as she bit down on her lower lip, her eyes going wide and hurt. "But... you saved my life, Elara. I can't just do nothing. Please, just let me—"
"I said not necessary." My voice dropped even colder, each word sharp and unmistakable in its dismissal. My eyes locked onto hers, and I let her see exactly how little her performance was affecting me.
Aurora's face went chalk white, all the color draining from her cheeks as her body swayed slightly, her hand reaching out to grip the back of the sofa for support. The tears that had been threatening finally broke free in earnest, sliding down her face as she stood there looking devastated. "I just... I only wanted to show you how grateful I am..."
"Elara." Nolan's voice cut through the tension, sharp with disapproval as he took a step toward me, his jaw tight. "Don't you think your attitude is a bit excessive? Aurora is only trying to express her gratitude for what you did. There's no need to be so harsh with her."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Nolan," James shot back immediately, his voice defensive and irritated as he moved away from the wall. "You weren't there, so maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself."
Nolan's frown deepened, his attention shifting to James with clear frustration. "How can you say I don't understand? I know exactly what happened that day. Aurora nearly died protecting you!"
"Protecting me?" James's laugh was bitter and sharp, his eyes narrowing as he met Nolan's gaze with open hostility. "Is that the story she's been feeding you?"
"It's not a story, it's the truth!" Nolan's voice rose slightly, his hand gesturing toward Aurora. "She put herself between you and danger. She could have been killed!"
James took a step forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "What actually happened was that she grabbed me and shoved me in front of her the second those things appeared! I was her human shield, not the other way around!"
Aurora's face went even paler, her body swaying more dramatically as she pressed both hands to her chest, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow. "James... please don't say that..." Her voice was barely a whisper, broken and pleading. "I know you were terrified, and I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you better, but I swear I tried—"
"You didn't try anything!" James's voice cracked with anger and hurt. "You used me as a meat shield and then ran! Elara was the one who actually saved us, not you!"
Nolan moved immediately to Aurora's side, his arm coming around her shoulders to steady her as she seemed on the verge of collapse. "That's enough, James! I don't know what's gotten into you, but this is completely unacceptable. Aurora was injured trying to help you!"
"She was injured because she's a coward who pushed a kid in front of her!" James shot back, his face flushed red with frustration. "Why won't you believe me? Why do you always take her side?"
"Because unlike you, I'm not being an ungrateful brat!" Nolan's voice thundered through the room. "Aurora has been nothing but kind to this family, and this is how you repay her? With lies and accusations?"
James's eyes widened with disbelief and hurt. "They're not lies! I'm telling you exactly what happened!"
Aurora leaned heavily into Nolan's support, her head dropping as more tears fell, her voice coming out in broken gasps between sobs. "It's okay, Nolan... I don't blame him... James was so scared that day, and trauma can make people remember things differently... I understand he needs someone to be angry at..."
"You're so full of it," James spat out, his voice shaking. "Stop acting like some kind of saint. You know exactly what you did!"
"James Sterling!" Nolan's voice cut through like a whip, his face dark with anger. "I won't have you speaking to her like this! Apologize right now!"
"Apologize? For telling the truth?" James looked at his brother with something close to betrayal in his eyes. "You weren't there, Nolan! You didn't see what happened! But sure, believe her over your own brother!"
"I believe the evidence in front of me," Nolan said coldly, his arm tightening protectively around Aurora's shoulders. "Aurora is the one with injuries. Aurora is the one who nearly died. You don't have a scratch on you, so clearly she did something right."
"Yeah, she used me as bait!" James's voice cracked with emotion. "The only reason I don't have injuries is because Elara got there in time, not because Aurora did anything to help!"
Aurora's sobs intensified, her entire body trembling as she pressed her face against Nolan's shoulder. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry I wasn't strong enough... If I had been braver, if I had been faster, maybe James wouldn't hate me now..."
"He doesn't hate you," Nolan said firmly, shooting another furious glare at James. "He's just being an immature child who doesn't understand gratitude."
"I understand perfectly," James said through gritted teeth. "I understand that she's playing all of you, and you're too blind to see it!"
"That's it!" Nolan's voice rose to a shout. "Go to your room, James. Now. I don't want to hear another word from you until you're ready to apologize properly!"
James opened his mouth to argue further, his entire body tense with the need to defend himself and make someone believe him, but then his eyes flickered to me and whatever he saw in my expression made him freeze. I hadn't moved, hadn't said anything, but I gave him a calm look that carried enough weight to make him understand this wasn't the time to push further. He visibly struggled with himself, his jaw working as he fought to swallow his anger, before finally turning away sharply and stalking toward the hallway without another word.
Nolan watched him go with a mixture of anger and disappointment before turning his full attention back to Aurora, his voice immediately softening as he spoke to her in soothing tones. "I'm so sorry you had to hear all that. He's young and doesn't understand what you went through. Please don't take his words to heart."
Aurora lifted her tear-stained face from his shoulder, her voice small and broken. "I just wish... I wish I had been stronger that day. Strong enough to truly protect him. Then maybe he wouldn't feel this way..."
"You did everything you could," Nolan assured her, one hand coming up to gently brush tears from her cheek. "Anyone with any sense can see that. You're recovering from serious injuries because you put yourself in harm's way for my brother. That's all that matters."
"But Elara..." Aurora's eyes turned to me, still glistening with tears. "She must think I'm so weak and useless. That's why she won't even accept my thanks..."
I had stood through enough of this performance. Without a word, I turned toward the staircase.
"Elara, wait!" Aurora's voice called out, desperate and pleading. "Please... I truly only wanted to thank you properly. I never meant to cause any trouble or upset anyone..."
I stopped on the bottom step but didn't turn around, my hand resting on the banister as I spoke over my shoulder. "I don't need your thanks. When I saved you, it wasn't because I wanted your gratitude or expected anything in return."
"But I owe you my life," Aurora protested, her voice thick with emotion. "How can I just... how can I do nothing after what you did for me?"
"You can do nothing by literally doing nothing," I said flatly. "That's what I'm asking for. Nothing."
"Elara, that's cruel," Nolan interjected, his voice carrying a note of reproach. "Aurora is only trying to express basic human decency and gratitude. The least you could do is accept it graciously instead of throwing it back in her face."
I turned my head slightly, just enough to meet his eyes with a cold, level stare. "I didn't ask for her gratitude, and I don't want it. What I did had nothing to do with her."
Aurora made a small, wounded sound, and I could practically feel Nolan's disapproval radiating across the space between us. "That's incredibly harsh, Elara. She nearly died, and you're treating her like she's nothing."
Nolan's voice rose with frustration. "She's part of this household, and she's been through a traumatic experience. The least you could do is show some basic compassion!"
"Compassion and gratitude are two different things," I replied, my tone unchanged. "I don't require one, and I don't want the other."
Aurora's crying had reached a new pitch, her sobs echoing through the hall as she clung to Nolan's arm. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for being such a burden... I should never have asked... I should have known better..."
"You're not a burden," Nolan said firmly, his arm tightening around her protectively as he glared at me. "And you have nothing to apologize for. Some people just don't understand basic human kindness."
I didn't bother responding to that. Instead, I simply turned back to the stairs.