PRESTIGE

Edgar woke up. He looked at Elissa, who was still asleep. The man pulled Elissa's blanket to make the woman more comfortable. Edgar also wanted to kiss her forehead. Although Elissa didn't smile at him once, somehow Edgar enjoyed the first day of being Elissa's husband. He felt that the days with Elissa were utterly different from those he had experienced. It's just that he still hoped she would love him someday.

Although Elissa was the most stubborn woman he had ever met, it was just that Edgar felt at home beside her. Their marriage may be the fruit of an arranged marriage, and Edgar also didn't fully love Elissa. His heart was still trapped in the past, with a simple woman he met on a beach. Aside from the fact that Elissa did not want to be touched by Edgar, Edgar also didn't want to feel Elissa until he truly loved her. He would never forgive himself if he dared to touch Elissa before loving her.

After finishing his morning routine, Edgar went to the kitchen. He stopped when he saw the memo on the refrigerator door. It said that Mom and Dad were going abroad for a few days. Their departure was also so that Edgar and Elissa could be alone at home. Desmond also said all the servants and drivers had been sent on leave.

Edgar smiled. His father-in-law and his wife were equally impressive. Edgar taped the memo back to the refrigerator door. He then grabbed some ingredients and started working on them. Today, he wanted to cook something special. Before marrying Elissa, Edgar had learned everything about her. Although it hadn't resulted in feelings of love for Elissa, he could at least build it starting today. Edgar believed that love could come by itself. So, for today, Edgar tried remembering Elissa's favorite foods and started planning a delicious morning menu.

On the other hand, Elissa finally woke up. Her body didn't feel right. After squirming and putting her hair back in a bun, she realized she was not alone in the room. She immediately checked her clothes. After realizing that her pajamas were still on, Elissa was relieved. It turned out that Edgar didn't touch her. For this, Elissa believed that Edgar was indeed a good person.

Elissa got up. She went to the bathroom, washed her face, and did her morning activities. Elissa was on her period. Her explosive emotions from yesterday were apparently due to a strange feeling in her stomach.

"Good morning, Elissa," greeted Edgar gently.

Elissa still needs to reply. Although she felt much better this morning than last night, it didn't change her view of Edgar. Elissa continued her steps. She took a drink of water and then sat at the dining table.

Elissa swept her gaze. She realized something was wrong with the house. No maid was passing by as usual. Her father and mother were nowhere to be seen. Even this house was too quiet. Whereas in the morning, it was always busy. Today was also not a Sunday, so her father should have been getting ready for work while her mother was usually in the kitchen or exercising. But they weren't there.

Edgar served a freshly cooked sandwich. He then approached Elissa and placed the completed sandwich with milk next to the woman.

"If you're looking for mom and dad, they're on vacation abroad," she said as she brought the memo left by her father-in-law to Elissa's side.

Elissa only glanced at it briefly; instead of wanting to check, she focused on her favorite meat-filled sandwich. She swallowed. Her stomach immediately rumbled. Even her saliva began to fill her mouth. Especially seeing that the sandwich was still emitting smoke, it must still be warm and delicious to eat. But again, Elissa's pride prevented her from devouring Edgar's cooking immediately. Instead, she looked away and drank her water again. 

"So your reward for beating me last night is gone?" she said.

Edgar, who was now sitting in front of Elissa, chuckled. "We live in modern times, Lissa. We can still show our affection by contacting your parents, right?" Edgar said.

"Call them, say we're having breakfast together!" suggested Elissa. This word was the only reason she could eat Edgar's cooking immediately.

Edgar shook his head. "Later. We don't know where they went. Who knows, it's still night in that country."

Hearing that, Elissa almost choked. She looked at Edgar sarcastically. Her plan failed. Elissa calmed down. Her stomach was rumbling, and the smell of the sandwich served by Edgar whetted her appetite. It's just that Elissa was too proud to eat directly. She didn't want to look like she wanted to eat Edgar's cooking.

An idea popped into her brain. She put down her glass of water and picked up her cell phone. Without being told by anyone, she immediately dialed her father's number and made a video call.

"We don't know if we don't try," she said.

While waiting to be picked up, Elissa was about to take a sandwich. She took it with a lazy look and a languid hand. Once again, Elissa didn't want to look like she wanted to eat Edgar's sandwich. Before she could take it, the video call was missed.

"There, right! They are still on the plane or in an area with little signal. Not even online," said Edgar.

Elissa also squawked with annoyance. The video call and the opportunity to take a sandwich failed. Elissa didn't give up. She contacted her mother again. Again, it failed.

"If Dad can't be contacted, moreover, Mom. After all, they're in the same place," Edgar chided.

Elissa hissed in annoyance. She wanted to protest, but she knew that Edgar was right. Finally, she tried to contact her parents with a cell phone. Unfortunately, the phone was disconnected even though she had waited for her cold sandwich.

"Alright, if you want to eat, just eat. Don't make excuses for breakfast," Edgar said softly. Her hand took Elissa's cell phone and put it on the table.

"Who's making excuses? I'm not hungry, either. It's not my breakfast time," refused Elissa.

Just as she said that, her stomach rumbled due to the quietness of the house; Edgar could hear it. Edgar returned the sandwich to his wife, smiling as soft as the morning sun.

With an embarrassed face, Elissa took her share of the sandwich. She was starving. Besides not eating last night, she was exhausted from fighting with Edgar. Those two things were the reason why her stomach was rumbling this morning. When Elissa took a bite of Edgar's sandwich, her whole body got goosebumps. Edgar's sandwich was delicious.

"How does it taste?" asked Edgar.

"Delicious," Elissa said honestly. It was just that she said it as flatly as she could. Although she wanted to eat quickly because the sandwich in her hand was so delicious, she resisted with all her might. No matter Edgar's food's deliciousness, it had to be eaten as generally as possible. This plan was also one of the reasons Edgar wanted to sue her for divorce.

"Thanks for the compliment!" replied Edgar. He smiled back at Elissa. And she was speechless. She had never seen a smile more beautiful than her father's.

Elissa closed her eyes. To distract her eyes and mind, she drank some milk. It was not good for her to continuously stare at Edgar's good looks. This day was only their second day together. Elissa didn't want there to be a seed of like, let alone love, planted in his heart. 

"If I may know, why do you want to marry me?" asked Elissa. Her hand was still holding the glass of milk. He still didn't want to lower the glass from her lips even though she hadn't drunk it. Elissa didn't want to be bewitched by Edgar's handsomeness.

Asked like that, Edgar lowered his gaze. He paused by drinking milk, just like Elissa. He couldn't tell her that the only woman he ever loved was married to someone else.

After drinking, Edgar cleared his throat. "Maybe the reason is very cliché. But since I lost my parents, I have no family at all. And it was only your father who warmly welcomed me as his family."

Edgar paused for a moment. He wasn't lying about the reason he had just stated. At 33 years old, he felt very lonely. And when he was left married by the woman he loved, he realized that his heart needed a long time to heal. The only thing that could heal him quickly was to build a new family.

Elissa, who heard Edgar's answer, was silent. She even stopped chewing her sandwich for a while. Her heart trembled slightly. She especially saw Edgar sobbing and went to the back without saying anything. Honestly, there was a little sympathy that began to grow in her. Although she had read the entire file on Edgar, dealing directly with the person who experienced such a tragic story was very different.

Not long after, Edgar returned. Edgar was also holding a teapot filled with milk. His face was wet with water.

"Don't be a strong man!" chided Elissa when Edgar sat back down and refilled his glass of milk.

Edgar chuckled. "Who's pretending to be strong? I'm powerful; in fact, last night I won!" he said as he offered Elissa the milk in his jug.

Elissa's hand raised, she refused. "It's okay. Next week, I will win!"

"Prove it!"

Maybe Elissa didn't realize it. But her lips smiled this time, a heartfelt smile from her heart. And Edgar was amazed to see it.

"He'em," sighed Edgar later. "Want to come with me?"

"Where to?"

"A place a newlywed couple like us should go."

"What?"