Chapter 7 What A Coincidence

Faces in the crowd lost their smiles as surprise spread across them.

For a moment, Travis went still and made a point of looking at Elena's bare hands, and then he chuckled. "You have really worked hard to invent reasons to turn me down."

Elena knew that nobody believed her. She couldn't parade Greyson around to prove it.

"I'm honestly not inventing stories just to get rid of you," Elena said quietly.

"How about you introduce me to your husband?" Travis suggested, his smile still carrying that calm warmth.

She bit down on her lip, searching for the right words. "He's got his hands full lately..."

"Look, Elena, you know I transferred from the headquarters to the branch for you. I've always been honest about how I feel."

Travis didn't give a damn about what anyone else thought; everything he said came straight from the heart. "If you're truly married, I'll wish you nothing but happiness. And if you only said that to push me away, there is no need for it. Please give me, give us, a chance. I like you more than you know, and I want to stay by your side."

People nearby looked moved.

To them, it made no sense that Elena would turn Travis down, since he had so much going for him.

"At least consider him," someone chimed in.

Others, still savoring the feast Travis had arranged just to win her over, echoed the sentiment and urged Elena to reconsider.

Right then, Elena's phone lit up with a call.

The name on her screen made her eyes shine.

Without waiting, she answered the call.

"Sweetheart..."

The sweetness of the word drained the color from Travis' face, while startled glances passed among the onlookers.

Relief washed over Elena. No matter how much Greyson disliked such endearments, he was the one reaching out now.

"We've wrapped up here. Are you done with work yet?" Even when silence lingered on the line, Elena continued, "I'm at Entophia Restaurant. Sure, I'll hang around and wait for you."

Truth be told, she did not expect him to come, and she even forgot to ask why he called. Maybe he had dialed the wrong person.

Once the call ended, Elena gave a thin, uneasy smile. "That was my husband just now."

Travis blinked, his tone sharp with disbelief. "So you're actually married?"

"That's right."

A shadow fell across Travis' face.

Laughter broke out from someone nearby, teasing, "Marriage is no small matter, Elena. You've kept it hidden so well that none of us would have known if we hadn't asked today. Since there's finally a chance, shouldn't we get a look at the man lucky enough to claim you?"

The suggestion found eager support.

It was clear to Elena they only wanted proof.

An uneasy prickle settled in her chest.

Sure, the marriage was real, but introducing Greyson was an impossible feat.

What kind of wife couldn't even summon her own husband?

A stiff smile tugged at Elena's lips as she tried to mask her nerves. "Maybe another time. He's caught up with work right now, and I don't know when he'll come to pick me up."

"That's fine. We've got all the time in the world. We'll stay with you until he's done," Travis replied, refusing to back down.

Her laugh came out strained. Surrounded by so many eyes, she couldn't even whisper to Mina to find a stand-in.

"It's starting to rain," someone remarked.

Through the wide window, Elena noticed the droplets streaking the glass, softening the glow of the city lights.

Rain gave everyone a perfect excuse to wait longer.

The longer they stayed, the hotter Elena's cheeks burned.

Her marriage was real, and Greyson's absence was just as real.

But somehow the truth itself felt like the cruelest lie.

Rain kept falling in a steady drizzle, thinning the crowd on the street.

Her phone buzzed again, sharp against the hum of voices.

The name flashing across the screen made Elena's chest tighten.

She steadied her breath and answered. "Hello?"

Greyson's voice came through, cold as ever. "How much longer are you going to hide inside?"

Caught off guard, Elena glanced at the window. "You're outside?"

"All this is rather pathetic."

Her teeth pressed into her lip, but even his biting tone was enough to free her from the suffocating situation.

Snapping her phone shut, she looked up and said to everyone, "My husband's here. I need to go."

"At least let us walk you out."

Elena forced a polite smile.

It puzzled her why Greyson, who insisted she keep their relationship private, would show up in person this time.

Suspicion lingered as she stepped out into the night, where wet pavement glistened under the streetlights.

A sleek black Maybach stood by the curb, hazard lights blinking in the rain.

Hesitating, Elena reached for her phone, but the driver's door swung open before she could dial.

Frank approached with an umbrella raised high. "Mrs. Wilson."

Elena's colleagues looked at each other, whispers running through the group.

Heat rushed to Elena's cheeks.

"Mr. Wilson is waiting for you inside," Frank said smoothly.

"Alright." Facing her colleagues, Elena offered a small farewell. "I'll be going. Let's catch up another time."

Frank shielded her beneath the umbrella, leading her to the car.

When he opened the back door, she found Greyson seated inside, eyes closed as if the world beyond the car meant nothing.

Sliding in beside him, Elena settled into the seat as Frank shut the door.

With the umbrella tucked away, he climbed into the front and started the engine.

From the doorway of the restaurant, onlookers watched the sleek car glide into the distance.

One of them remarked, "Looks like Elena really landed herself a good catch."

"If that's true, why hasn't her husband ever shown his face? Who exactly is he?"

"The way that driver carried himself, the man inside must be someone important. Maybe he's hiding his identity, which is why he doesn't come out."

"Or maybe he doesn't care about her at all. What kind of man marries in secret, never lets anyone know, and even when he comes for her, refuses to step out? Doesn't sound like love to me."

Elena could imagine what they might say, but she didn't care.

What puzzled her more was why Greyson had chosen to appear tonight, rescuing her from the crowd, even if he refused to be seen.

"Thanks for coming," Elena said, her voice soft.

Greyson's eyes opened at last, his voice steady and cool. "Someone's chasing after you?"

Startled, Elena turned her head toward him.

Back at the restaurant entrance, Travis hadn't taken the flowers or made a showy scene, and they hadn't walked together. How could Greyson possibly know?

The answer came to her in a rush. Her eyes widened. "You saw it?"

So that was why he called. He had known all along.

Excitement flickered across her face, though he gave no reply.

"Yes," Elena admitted without hesitation.

"Then why not marry him instead?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line before she whispered, "Because I won't marry a man I don't love."

Greyson's stare grew heavier, shadows deepening in his eyes. "What a coincidence."

She blinked at him, uncertain. "What do you mean?"

"I hate marrying someone I don't love, too."

The words silenced Elena, and she turned her eyes back to the road ahead.

Their exchange cut off without warning, the silence heavy in the car.

Greyson's thoughts surely drifted to the woman who had dumped him for another life overseas.

His luck in love seemed cursed.

Facing a ticking clock on his life, cast aside by the woman he loved, then shoved into a marriage by family pressure...

Elena could see why he kept his guard up.

"Pull over," Greyson said suddenly.

Frank eased the car to the side, waiting for directions.

Greyson demanded, "Get out."

His words weren't for Frank. His head tilted slightly toward Elena.

Her lips tightened. The request startled her, though it didn't truly surprise.

Greyson had already done her a favor tonight. There was no reason to expect a ride all the way home.

Without complaint, Elena opened the door and stepped into the misty rain.

Rain, soft but relentless, peppered her clothes with tiny drops until they clung to her skin.

Closing the door gently, she remained at the roadside.

The Maybach pulled forward, then halted again.

Frank stepped out, an umbrella in his hand. "The rain's too heavy. Please take this."

"Thanks," Elena replied, accepting it without protest.

He climbed back in, and the car slipped into traffic.

She stood still, eyes following until the Maybach disappeared from sight.

Inside, Frank cast a look at the rearview mirror. "If you meant to help her, why sent her out in the rain?"

"Because I don't want her here."

Greyson's eyes stayed fixed on the blurred scenery outside. Rainwater streaked across the glass, the roads gleaming like mirrors.

Frank kept silent after that.

The reason was as simple as that-he didn't like her.