The lighting within the Cullen Manor remained dim, casting a warm glow on the inviting sofa in the living room. Elinor Dashwood, startled by Edward Cullens sudden outburst, felt a sense of foreboding that seemed almost expected. The two of them had been entwined in a long dance of deceit.
"You, all of you, I will make you all pay," Edwards eyes turned ominous, his expression submerged in a sea of hatred that Elinor would never forget in a lifetime.
She furrowed her brows, unable to comprehend his words. "Pay?" she queried, collecting her thoughts amidst the confusion.
Edward responded with silence, his footsteps heavy as he ascended the stairs, beads of sweat like peas rolling down his forehead, tracing a path along his neck to his collarbone.
"Is something wrong?" Elinor, watching his weary back, sensed that things might not be ordinary and cautiously inquired further.
Her attempts were met with no response. She followed him until he disappeared into his room.
"Tell me, whats happening!" She detested the feeling of being kept in the dark, desperately seeking answers, yet more fearful of the hatred she saw in Edwards eyes, a look she had never witnessed before.
"Ha." Edward merely sneered, offering no explanation.
Watching Elinors flustered state, her eyes filled with worry and fear that couldnt be concealed, he could, for a moment, confirm that the woman before him was indeed deeply in love with him.
Elinor took a step back, steadying herself on the soft bed behind her.
Edwards sudden kiss was aggressively possessive, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. Within seconds, she closed her eyes, began to succumb, and reciprocated with fervor.
He, however, seemed tainted and immediately pulled away...
"Leave." Edward moved away from her, lay down for a moment, then rose abruptly, uttering a single word.
Her eyes remained closed, a bitter smile playing on her lips as she lay there quietly. She found the situation ridiculous and began to straighten her disheveled clothes before sitting on the edge of the bed.
The atmosphere in the room remained heavy; Edward treated her as if she didnt exist, undressing nonchalantly, his perfect musculature on display as he revealed each button of his shirt.
Without expression, he strolled into the bathroom, followed by the sound of running water.
Elinor, restless and curious, glanced at the phone in the distance, unable to suppress her urge to investigate.
She watched the silhouette of the man in the bathroom; the water was still running, and she knew she had to act before it was too late...
Finally, she picked up the phone. As expected, there was no password鈥擡dward had always despised complications. Elinor easily accessed his phone, hoping to find some clue that would explain his unusual behavior today.
Call log, empty.
Text messages, 121, all filled with messages addressed to "wife."
"Wife? Wife? Wife!" Elinors eyes widened in shock as she looked up at the silhouette on the glass door.
She put down the phone, got up, and walked towards the door.
Edward emerged from the bathroom at that moment, wrapped in a bath towel, drying his hair with another towel. His eyelashes drooped, and his swordsman-like eyebrows were exquisite.
"Are you still here for something?" His peripheral vision caught sight of Elinor at the door, then was drawn to the light from the phone screen on the bed.
He dropped the towel, his pace still languid, but his eyes held more confusion, even dissatisfaction.
"Ill leave right away." Elinors expression was tense, silently blaming herself for not being cut out to be a detective.
Edward had already picked up the phone, the screen filled with texts to "wife."
"Stop." Before she could reach the door, Edwards voice commanded.
"Someone just texted, so I..." Elinor struggled to lower her head, unable to continue the lie.
She turned away, not wanting him to see her embarrassment.
"Ha," Edward looked at the messages, a cold laugh escaping his lips, "Oh? A text? Where?"
His gaze fixed on Elinors back, his tone filled with mockery as he asked, "Where is it?"
She began to regret her foolish actions, wondering how she could have been so naive as to not understand Edward better. Now that she had given him leverage, she could only imagine the ridicule he would throw her way.
Elinor felt warmth behind her, his breath close to her ear.
She sensed him drawing closer, his breath on her lobe, the water droplets from his hair falling on her forehead.
"Do not try to investigate me, and do not try to get close to me," Edward whispered, the words sending a shiver through Elinor.
Even with such a venomous warning, his voice still held an enchanting power.
"I understand, Im sorry," Elinor murmured without turning back, quietly opening the door and leaving the room that made her so uncomfortable.
Edward watched her leave with an indifferent air, a sneer rising in his heart. It wasnt directed at Elinors blunder but at the fact that they had somehow developed the dynamics of an ordinary couple.
He couldnt indulge in this amusement, though; he had to push her away with his irritating remarks.
"Maybe I could let go?" Edward thought to himself, but the moment was fleeting, and he immediately dismissed the ridiculous notion, reminding himself that the hatred could never be forgotten, not in a lifetime.