Chapter 21

Elias Matthews stood at the edge of his expansive living room, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. His gaze wandered over the empty space where Arjun had once stood, a silence now hanging in the air. The room felt colder without the warmth of Arjun’s presence, and no matter how much Elias tried to focus on other matters, his thoughts kept returning to the one person who seemed to have an undeniable hold on him.

Arjun had left his home that morning after spending the night, and although Elias was well accustomed to keeping tabs on him, the emptiness was far more pronounced when Arjun wasn’t physically there. Elias knew where Arjun was at all times—work, errands, the hospital—but there was something unsettling about the distance, even if it was only temporary. Elias had become used to having Arjun near his sight, to hearing his easy laughter and watching him walk around the house, acting as if he belonged there. But now that he was gone, the absence felt almost too loud.

Back at the hospital, Arjun sat in the break room, his phone lying face-up on the table. He had been scrolling through housing listings for the last hour, but the numbers on the screen blurred together. Rent was sky-high in this city, and Arjun’s nursing salary wasn’t nearly enough to cover a decent place. To make matters worse, he had just received an official notice from his landlord: his apartment was being sold, and he was being asked to move out within the next month.

“Of course,” Arjun muttered to himself. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

He didn’t want to burden anyone with his problems, but he had no choice but to think about what to do next. Moving back to India wasn’t an option either—not with his career taking off here. He could barely afford the basics, let alone a place in this city where every inch of space seemed to come with a sky-high price tag.

His thoughts were interrupted when Sophia entered the break room, her eyes immediately narrowing at the expression on his face.

“Arjun,” she said gently, sitting across from him, “you look like someone just told you your favourite coffee machine broke.”

Arjun let out a dry laugh, but it lacked any real humor. “It’s just... housing stuff. I have to move out. The landlord is selling the apartment. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow. “You can’t be serious. You just got settled here. This city’s not easy on anyone when it comes to rent. Have you found a place?”

Arjun shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve looked, but it’s all too expensive. I don’t know anyone who has room for me. And even if I did, I’m not sure I could afford it on my own.”

Sophia tilted her head, her eyes scanning him with understanding. “Well, if you want, I can ask around for you. Maybe someone I know is looking for a roommate or has a place available. Just don’t try to do this on your own.”

Arjun gave her a small smile, appreciative of her offer. “Thanks, Sophia. I’m just not sure what I’m going to do. It feels like everything is falling apart.”

Sophia patted his arm comfortingly. “We’ll figure something out. You don’t have to face this alone.”

Later that evening, after the day’s chaos had died down, Arjun’s phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was Grace Matthews calling. His stomach twisted a little. He had always felt a sense of warmth when speaking to Elias’s mother, but it felt odd now, with everything hanging in the balance.

“Hello, Grace,” Arjun said, trying to keep his voice light.

“Arjun, darling! I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?” Grace’s voice was as warm as always.

“No, not at all,” Arjun replied. “What’s going on?”

“Well, Sophia and I were talking, and we noticed you haven’t been around lately. You used to stay here with us all the time, and honestly, we miss your company. We were thinking that it might be a good idea for you to stay with us for a while. You know, just until you sort things out. I’m sure we can make room for you here,” Grace said, her tone inviting and sincere.

Arjun’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected this. “Grace, I really appreciate the offer, but... I don’t want to impose. I’m sure I can figure something out. I’ll manage.”

Grace’s voice softened. “Nonsense, Arjun. You’re not imposing. You’re family, and we want to help. We don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in all this. You can stay with us as long as you need. And besides, you’ll be comfortable here. We’ve got that lovely room you stayed in last time, just waiting for you.”

Arjun hesitated, glancing around at his small apartment. He had nowhere else to go, and the thought of staying with the Matthews, with Grace and Elias, was comforting in a way he hadn’t expected.

“Alright,” he said softly, “I’ll take you up on that offer. Thank you.”

Grace’s voice was full of relief. “Wonderful! We’ll be waiting for you, darling. You can come by whenever you’re ready.”

The next day, Arjun found himself at the Matthews’ front door once again, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He stepped inside, feeling both a sense of warmth and hesitation.

Grace greeted him with open arms, and Elias stood quietly off to the side, his eyes observing the exchange with a guarded expression. Arjun couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious under Elias’s gaze, but he didn’t say anything as Grace led him upstairs to his old room.

"Welcome back, Arjun!" Grace said, giving him a beaming smile. "I’m so happy you’re here again."

Arjun smiled faintly, still processing everything. "Thanks again for letting me stay. I really don’t know what I would’ve done."

"You don’t have to thank us," Grace replied, beaming. "You’re part of the family. Now, I’ll show you to your room."

She led him up the stairs and to the same guest room Arjun had stayed in before. As the door opened, Arjun felt a sudden wave of nostalgia wash over him. The room was exactly as he remembered: cozy, comfortable, with soft lighting and a peaceful atmosphere.

Grace smiled warmly at him. “Everything’s just the same. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

Arjun nodded, trying to shake off the sense of unease. "It’s perfect, Grace. Thank you."

"Of course! If you need anything, just let me know," she said, giving him a soft pat on the shoulder before heading back downstairs.

Meanwhile, down in the living room, Elias lingered just out of sight, his back pressed against the wall as he watched the entire scene unfold.

His expression was neutral, but his eyes betrayed the quiet satisfaction brewing inside him. He had orchestrated this moment—ensuring that Arjun would have no other choice but to come back to the Matthews house. The timing, the offer from Grace—it was all part of his plan.

No one else knew what he had done. Not Arjun, not Sophia, not even Grace.

As Elias watched Arjun settle in, a small but satisfied smile tugged at his lips. Everything was unfolding exactly as he had hoped. Arjun was back, under his roof once more. And this time, Elias had no intention of letting him go so easily.

Elias giving stalker vibes ,but he is not a stalker though or is he ?