"Elena." He intentionally sounded harsh.
"I made chicken noodle soup."
Silence… no reply from his side.
Then softer this time… "And garlic bread."
God.
She really was using food as emotional manipulation. Does she think I'm a child?
Unfortunately… it was slightly effective.
Alaric rubbed his temple tiredly before responding more firmly.
"I said leave it outside."
Another moment of silence followed.
Then quietly she said, "It'll get cold."
His patience finally snapped slightly.
"Elena, for once can you stop forcing things on me?" Silence again. "I don't need someone hovering around me every second pretending to care because my grandfather ordered it."
The words came out colder than intended and immediately afterward… The silence outside the room became heavy.
Too heavy.
For several long seconds, Elena said nothing at all. He thought she must have left but then finally… her voice came again.
Much lower now.
"I wasn't pretending."
