Elsa got into the car, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. "Phew! Finally, the ceremony is over! It was about time." She settled in while wondering where they were going now.
"Home!" replied Elie with a smile.
"Oh! I almost thought we would go straight to our honeymoon, like in the movies. That reassures me!" she exclaimed, relieved.
"Why? Don't you like the idea of going?" Elie asked, curious.
To which Elsa replied, "It's not that. I have a lot of responsibilities here that I can't leave without further preparation."
"You'll have to prepare by then, in two days, in that case," Elie retorted.
"Why?" she wondered.
"Well, we should have left today, but the flight was canceled due to the situation. We just need to find another place closer to here to do it, and we'll leave in two days."
Elsa nodded: "I see! But are we obliged to leave?"
"Of course! But it won't be long. A week will be enough for that," Elie asserted with determination.
"Alright, since it's my job, I'll find a way to take care of that," Elsa concluded.
Suddenly, the driver announced: "Sir, we have arrived!"
Elsa looked around in wonder: "You live here? This is so cool!" Just then, someone opened the door.
The maid greeted them with a bow: "Welcome, Madam!"
"Thank you!" said Elsa as she got out of the vehicle.
The maid added: "Sir! Your family is waiting for you in the guest room!"
Elie nodded: "Alright, I understand!" He entered the room where his father was already waiting for him.
"Father!" he exclaimed as he approached.
His father looked up at him: "You're finally here! You took your time."
"Sorry for my delay!" Elie replied with slight embarrassment.
"May I have the honor?" his father asked, looking at the young woman next to Elie.
"Here's... who are you again?" Elie stammered, a bit confused.
His father sighed: "You married a woman whose name you don't even know. What absurdity!"
Elsa then intervened: "For your information, we know each other; he just forgot my name. My name is Elsa! I don't like my last name, so just call me Elsa."
Elie's father sighed once more. "If you only knew how much you're embarrassing me right now... I accepted all of this since you're my only son. This woman has the right to stay here as your wife until your operation is over. Once everything is settled, Elodie will return and take her place. Since the marriage was in her name anyway, it won't pose any problem. Don't show yourself too much with her so as not to raise suspicions. That's all I have to say!" And with those words, he left the room.
In the room, silence settled after Mr. SEO's departure. Élie's mother, trying to ease the tense atmosphere, spoke up with a warm smile.
"Hello, I'm delighted to meet you! I am Élie's mother! If you only knew how grateful I am to you for today! Thank you so much!" she said with palpable enthusiasm.
Elsa, a bit embarrassed by so much gratitude, replied, "Oh, you really didn't have to. After all, everyone already knows why I accepted this job! I'm just doing it for the money, that's all."
Élie's mother, with a sincere smile, retorted, "I know, but thank you anyway!"
"You're very kind!" Elsa replied, touched by this kindness.
"And you are wonderful!" added Élie's mother. She paused before continuing, "I apologize for my husband's behavior earlier. He didn't mean it that way."
Elsa, eager to reassure the mother, responded, "Don't worry; I understand perfectly well!"
Clearly relieved, Élie's mother announced, "I'm reassured! And here's Abygael, Élie's sister!"
"Hello!" Elsa greeted with a cheerful smile.
Abygael, absorbed in her phone and staring at the screen without paying attention to the conversation, thought to herself: *What a lovely little family!* Her irritating smile betrayed her inner judgment. *Only the mother is a normal person here.*