Chapter 77 Chapter 77: Nicholus Finally Said What Everyone Else Was Thinking
Chapter 77 Chapter 77: Nicholus Finally Said What Everyone Else Was Thinking
Nicholus leaned back lazily against the leather seat, one arm stretched across the headrest, but the amusement on his face had changed now. It looked sharper. Meaner somehow. Like he had realized exactly where to press to get a reaction out of Elara. And unfortunately for her, he clearly wasn’t finished yet. “You know,” he drawled slowly, tilting his head toward her, “most women would be slightly concerned if their fiancé looked ready to jump out a hospital window the second marriage got mentioned.” His mouth curved faintly. “But maybe that’s just me having standards.”
Elara’s eyes snapped toward him instantly. “And maybe that’s just you being immature,” she replied coldly. Her voice stayed calm, but the irritation beneath it had become impossible to miss now. “Auren has responsibilities you wouldn’t understand.” Nicholus let out a quiet laugh under his breath. “Responsibilities?” he repeated mockingly. “Interesting word for emotional avoidance.” He sat forward slightly then, resting his elbows against his knees while watching her carefully. “Come on, Elara. Even Grandfather noticed it. The man practically announced your wedding date from a hospital bed, and Auren looked like someone handed him a prison sentence.”
“Auren was overwhelmed,” Elara shot back immediately. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want this marriage.” Her jaw tightened slightly. “Unlike you, some people don’t treat serious conversations like entertainment.” Nicholus gave her a long look before smiling humorlessly. “No,” he agreed. “Some people just leave the room entirely instead.” The words landed hard enough that even I felt the shift beside her. But Elara refused to back down now. “You don’t know anything about our relationship,” she said sharply. “So stop acting like you understand him better than I do.” Nicholus raised both brows innocently. “I understand enough to notice when a man looks miserable.”
The air inside the SUV became suffocating after that. Even the driver glanced nervously into the mirror before quickly looking away again. Elara crossed one leg over the other slowly, every movement controlled despite the anger rising beneath her composure. “Auren loves me,” she said firmly. “And yes, he wants this marriage.” Her voice softened slightly at the last part, but the certainty behind it sounded almost forced now. “He’s spent eleven years. Eleven years. People don’t stay that long if they feel nothing.” Nicholus immediately snorted. “Rich families absolutely do.” He shrugged carelessly. “Half the men in our circles marry women they barely tolerate because their parents shook hands at a dinner table twenty years ago.”
Elara’s expression hardened dangerously. “You’re disgusting.” Nicholus grinned without shame. “I’m honest.” He tilted his head slightly while studying her face. “Which one’s worse?” Then his eyes narrowed faintly. “Tell me something honestly, Elara. When was the last time Auren looked excited about this wedding without someone else bringing it up first?” Silence hit the SUV immediately after that question. Sharp. Brutal. Because for the first time since the argument started, Elara didn’t answer right away.
Nicholus noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
“Oh,” he murmured softly, leaning back again. “That bad, huh?” Elara finally looked at him again, and this time there was actual anger burning behind her eyes. “You think you’re clever because you flirt with women and avoid commitment like it’s a disease,” she snapped. “Meanwhile Auren has spent his entire life carrying responsibilities you couldn’t survive under for five minutes.” Nicholus gave a low whistle. “Damn. Defending him like a loyal wife already.” He smirked faintly. “Very traditional of you.”
“Elara,” I whispered carefully, worried the situation was getting worse.
But Nicholus suddenly looked toward me instead.
“Well, Sera?” he asked casually. “You’ve been sitting there quietly through this entire emotional disaster. What do you think?” His eyes narrowed playfully. “Does Auren look like a man desperately in love and excited to get married?” My stomach tightened immediately at the attention turning toward me so suddenly. Beside me, Elara looked toward me too now, though her expression remained unreadable.
I swallowed once before answering carefully.
“I… don’t think my opinion matters here.”
Nicholus smirked faintly. “Smart answer. Boring, but smart.”
I lowered my gaze toward my hands. “I work for Miss Elara,” I said quietly. “That’s all. Their relationship isn’t my business.” Elara stayed silent beside me, but I could still feel the tension radiating from her now. Meanwhile Nicholus watched me for another long second like he was trying to decide whether I was avoiding the question or genuinely refusing to take sides. Then finally he leaned back again with a quiet sigh. “Fantastic,” he muttered dramatically. “One emotionally defensive fiancée, one traumatized assistant, and one future groom currently missing in action.” He shook his head slowly while rain continued falling outside the SUV windows. “This wedding is going to be an absolute catastrophe.”