Seeing Amara''s rxed response, Elysia felt a sense of relief wash over her.


    On Elysia''s end, after she sent the message to Amara, Dorian leaned in and asked, "What are you up to?"


    Elysia casually switched her screen to a shopping page she had been browsing. "Nothing much, just replying to Ama," she said nonchntly.


    Dorian rested against her, taking in the sight of her in a silk nightgown, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders—a picture of icy allure. He swallowed, then moved closer to hold her, nting a kiss on her hair.


    Elysia frowned slightly, cing a hand on Dorian''s shoulder to push him back.


    "Didn''t we just...?" she murmured, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "It''s been exhausting these days. Let''s just get some sleep."


    Her dismissive tone was a stark contrast to her usual warmth towards him. And before, no matter how tired or stressed, she never turned him down like this.


    Dorian''s eyes lost their warmth, turning cold as he stared at Elysia. "What''s gotten into you these days? Did you take the wrong meds or something?"


    Elysia shot him a surprised nce. "You''re the one who''s off. Don''t you realize how hectic it''s beentely? Aren''t you tired? Let''s just sleep."


    She genuinely felt drained,cking the energy for such activities, especially since they had already been intimate earlier. They weren''t new to this; why the sudden obsession?


    She pulled up the covers andy down.


    Dorian sat on the bed for a long time, staring at her indifferent back, waiting for her to turn around andfort him. When she didn''t, he couldn''t hold back any longer. With clenched teeth, he lunged over and said, "What''s with this attitude? What''s going on with youtely? Do you even want this marriage?"


    "What''s the point of asking now? Haven''t we already tied the knot?" Elysia yawned.


    "Get some sleep. We have things to do early tomorrow."


    With that, she pushed Dorian away, pulled the covers up, and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.


    Dorian stared at her weary face, frustration boiling inside him with nowhere to release it.


    Barefoot, he stepped onto the balcony, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag, watching the night outside the window, silent for a long time.


    1.n


    Around four in the afternoon, Finnian returned from a business trip to a nearby city and entered the CEO''s office. After dealing with some leftover paperwork on his desk he powered up hisputer toget back to work.


    A knock on the door interrupted him, followed by Liliana''s voice. Finnian looked up


    and said, "Come in," and Liliana stepped in with a small handbag.


    "Finn, I''vee up with a few baby names. Tell me what you think," she said,


    cing a paper filled with names on Finnian''s desk.


    Finnian paused, then nced down at the paper.


    It had over a hundred names, most of which were crossed out, leaving a few circled in red pen.


    Liliana leaned on the desk, her eyes bright with excitement.


    "Even though it''s early and we don''t know the baby''s gender yet, I think it''s better to prepare ahead. A name is a big deal for their entire life, don''t think, Finn?"


    You


    Finnian''s eyes remained on the paper, silent.


    After a while, he ced the paper back on the desk and said coolly, "I don''t have


    strong feelings about this. You can handle it however you like."


    Liliana bit her lip, watching Finnian''s expression.


    "Alright, I''ll think of some more then Maybe I''ll even consult someone it''s probably best to leave it to


    fels


    professionals for something this


    important."