The next morning, the rain had stopped, but the storm inside Elena's heart hadn't.
Alex was feeling better. He was back to his usual chirpy self, snuggling between Ethan and Elena on the couch, watching cartoons with a blanket wrapped around him like a burrito.
"Daddy, Mummy," Alex giggled, "You both look like a movie couple!"
Ethan and Elena exchanged a quick, embarrassed glance.
"Who's watching too many dramas now, huh?" Ethan teased, tickling Alex's sides.
"Nooo! I'm serious!" Alex shrieked in laughter. "You're blushing!"
Ethan looked away, ears turning a little red.
Later that day, Elena was in the kitchen, trying to make soup for Alex. She wasn't exactly the best cook—let's just say she could burn water if left unattended. Ethan stood at the doorway, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
"Is that… supposed to be edible?"
"It's soup! I think."
Ethan walked in, peeked inside the pot, and immediately turned off the stove. "This soup could be used as wall paint."
Elena crossed her arms. "Fine. Then you do it, Masterchef!"
Ethan smirked, rolled up his sleeves, and started preparing something. She watched him, arms still folded, pretending not to be impressed by how effortlessly he moved around the kitchen.
"Why do you know how to cook so well?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Before I became CEO, I used to live alone. Had to survive somehow."
They stood in silence for a moment. The smell of fresh soup filled the kitchen, warm and comforting.
Then Ethan said quietly, "Thank you… for last night."
Elena glanced at him. "For taking care of Alex?"
"No," he replied. "For taking care of me."
Elena blinked. "I didn't—"
"You did," he interrupted gently. "And I… I meant what I said. About not wanting to pretend anymore."
Her breath caught.
Before she could respond, Alex popped in like a bubble of chaos. "Is the soup ready? I'm hungryyyy!"
Elena laughed, using him as the perfect excuse to avoid answering. "Saved by the son," she mumbled.
Ethan smiled—but his eyes were still on her.
As they all sat together at the dining table, with Alex slurping loudly and soup dripping from his chin, Ethan thought maybe—just maybe—he didn't need anything else in the world.
Because this… this felt like the beginning of something real.