Chapter 15 Damsel by the Window
Elena was finally arriving home after a full day at the hospital.
“You should have spent the night, just to make sure the doctors look after you," Julian said in a voice that told her he wasn't very pleased.
“I don't like hospitals," she replied softly and he nodded with a sigh.
The car rolled through the tall iron gates of the mansion slowly, the tires crunching softly against the gravel driveway.
The sight of the familiar estate should have brought relief, but instead, all she felt was exhaustion finally taking over the shock.
Her body ached in places she hadn’t realized could ache, and her mind felt like it had been part of a train wreck.
So many thoughts invaded her mind all at once.
The moment the car stopped, he was already reaching for her door.
“Take it easy,” he said quietly as he helped her out. “You don’t need to rush.”
She nodded, gripping his arm more than she meant to as she stepped down. Her legs still felt weak, though she refused to say it out loud.
The doors to the house opened almost immediately.
“Welcome home, sir. Welcome home, ma’am.”
The butler bowed as they got in.
“Thank you," Julian replied as he shut the door.
“Dinner is ready,” he said smoothly. “And your bath has been prepared, madam.”
Elena barely registered the words.
“I’ll take it down here,” Julian replied before she could speak.
She took a step forward, then stopped.
“I don’t think I can eat,” Elena said quietly. “Or bathe. I just want to sleep.”
The butler inclined his head. “Of course, ma’am. Whatever you wish.”
Julian turned to her. “You should eat something. Even a little.”
She shook her head slowly. “I’ve had a very tiresome day,” she said, the understatement almost laughable. “I just want to lie down. Everything still feels unreal.”
He studied her face. “You’re still in shock.”
“I think so,” she admitted. “I keep thinking about it. About how someone actually tried to hurt me. I didn’t do anything wrong, Julian. I was just driving home.”
His jaw tightened.
“Do you have any idea who it might have been?” he asked carefully.
She hesitated, then nodded. “They came directly for the diamonds.”
His eyes sharpened. “The ones from the boutique?”
“Yes,” she said. “They knew exactly what they wanted. They didn’t hesitate. They asked for them by name.”
Julian exhaled slowly through his nose. “So they followed you.”
“I think so,” Elena replied. “From the boutique.”
He was quiet for a moment. “They asked where I bought the necklaces for you?”
“They called the name of the place,” she said. “They knew. Everything.”
Her voice trembled slightly as the memories surfaced again. “I had to give it to them, Julian. I didn’t think. I just wanted them to leave me alone.”
“You did the right thing,” he said immediately.
“They even took my favorite one,” she added softly. “The one I liked the most.”
She lifted her hand instinctively to her neck.
Julian’s gaze followed the motion, and his expression darkened.
A red mark was visible where the necklace had been yanked from her skin, slightly bruised against her pale flesh.
He reached out slowly, gently brushing his fingers near it without pressing.
“I’m sorry all this happened to you,” he said, his voice low. “I should have been more careful.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said quickly. “I don’t want trouble. If Madam Matilda and Camille really wanted the necklaces, they could have just asked.”
Julian’s hand stilled.
“If she has a hand in any of this, then Camille has crossed the line,” he said flatly.
She looked at him. “Julian—”
“This is no longer about jewelry,” he continued. “This was an attempt on your life.”
“I don’t want trouble,” Elena said again, more firmly this time. “We’re newly married. There’s already been enough scandal with the media already. The last thing I need is some other jealous ex drama.”
“I never had sex with Camille," he stated boldly.
Elena flushed and looked away.
He turned to face her fully. “This is my business to take care of.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he raised a hand, silencing her gently.
“Go upstairs,” he said. “Eat something light if you can. Get some rest.”
She looked at him, searching his face. “Promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”
“I promise I’ll handle it,” he replied. “You don’t need to worry about this.”
He guided her toward the stairs himself, his hand steady at her back.
When they reached her room, the lights were already on, the bed neatly made. The room looked untouched, peaceful, as if nothing in the world could ever intrude here.
Julian helped her sit on the edge of the bed.
“Lie down,” he said.
She did, too tired to resist.
He pulled the covers over her carefully. “Try to sleep.”
She nodded faintly. This time, she didn’t ask if he was coming to bed with her.
“Good night, Elena,” he said quietly.
“Good night,” she replied.
He turned off the light and left the room.
Elena lay there for a long while, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to stop racing.
This marriage felt like a cage.
Not because Julian was cruel. But because nothing about her life felt like her own anymore.
Everything had changed so fast, and she wasn’t sure where she fit in any of it.
Eventually, she pushed herself out of bed and walked to the window, too troubled to sleep.
Outside, the estate was dark and cold and it was almost midnight.
She folded her arms around herself, shivering slightly from the chill.
She turned away, deciding she should at least try to sleep.
That was when she heard it.
The screech of tires coming from the estate gate.
Her heart jumped.
She rushed back to the window just in time to see the gates slide open below and two cars drove in.
The first stopped and a driver stepped out, walked around, and opened the door.
He bowed deeply just as a woman emerged.
She was dressed in a blood red dress that shone even in the dark.
Elena froze at the sight.
Somehow, the woman must have sensed her eyes because she looked up briefly directly at her window.
Elena gasped and jerked away from the window.
Then when she peeked again, she was out of the driveway and walking straight into their home.