"Look at this comment," she said before clearing her throat dramatically. "'His face says annoyed but his eyes say husband.'"
Alaric looked personally offended. "My eyes say nothing."
"They absolutely do."
"This is defamation. I'm gonna sue that person whoever said that."
"No," Elena corrected calmly while scrolling further down the posts. "This is public approval."
Alaric walked toward her with narrowed eyes. "You planned this."
"I simply existed beautifully in public."
"This happened because you pulled my hood down."
"And thank God I did because now the internet thinks you're emotionally unavailable but deeply devoted."
"That is somehow worse."
Elena laughed again, the sound filling the quiet penthouse easily.
And annoyingly… watching her laugh this freely first thing in the morning made something inside his chest loosen unexpectedly.
Then suddenly, her laughter faded.
Just slightly.
Alaric noticed immediately.
Her eyes had paused on something on the screen.
"What?"
