Bound by Names and Secrets

Chapter 1

**Chapter 1: You’re Not Complete Anymore (Revised)**
“Aria, from now on, I’ll call you Aria,” Eleanor whispered, her breath warm against Gabriel's ear. Her soft voice wrapped around him, filling the darkness of the room with a tangible weight that made it hard for him to breathe.
“Aria, this will be your new name. Is that okay?”
Gabriel was confused. He already had a name. Why did Eleanor want to give him a new one? Although he remembered her mentioning that his name was a bit awkward when she first saw his ID, he never thought much of it.
He repeated the unfamiliar name in his mind, Aria.
“Is it okay?” Eleanor asked after a pause, frowning when he didn't respond. She pinched him lightly on the side as if to coax an answer from him.
The sudden sharpness made Gabriel gasp, his throat tightening. He couldn't help but say, “Okay.”
Hearing the response she sought, Eleanor let out a relieved sigh. A few droplets of sweat from her forehead fell onto his eyelids.
If the bedroom lights were on, he would have seen her clenched jaw and slightly reddened eyes—filled with a wild eagerness, much like a predator hunting its prey.
“What are the two characters in my new name?” Gabriel asked. “How do you write it?”
“I’ll show you,” Eleanor said, leaning on his back. Her finger traced down his arm, gently squeezing where he was gripping the sheets tightly.
Gabriel loosened his hold, and her fingers glided from his wrist into the palm of his hand. She wrote the character "" in his palm.
“Got it? It’s this character,” she explained.
“Can you write it again for me to see?” Gabriel asked, still trying to grasp this new name.
Eleanor traced the character again slowly, making sure he followed the strokes carefully. “It’s this way,” she said.
“Oh, that’s how it looks…” He breathed out, feeling slightly relieved. “I’ll remember it.”
He spoke, but it felt like each word left a bitter taste in his mouth. Yet, with a new name came a sense of duty to smile. He forced a small grin, “That’s nice. I’ll go by Aria from now on. I’ll listen to you.”
“Good boy…” Eleanor nestled into his shoulder, playfully rubbing against it like a puppy. “You’re the best! Whatever I say, you agree, don’t you? I love how obedient you are. So sweet.”
Gabriel felt warmth in her words, realizing her happiness reflected his. When Eleanor declared him the best, he couldn’t help but think she was remarkable too.
“Eleanor, you’re amazing as well,” he thought, picturing the life they had just stepped into together.
“Now that we’re married, I should call you something different too, right?”
“So what should I call you?” he asked, curious.
“Call me ‘Hubby’…”
“Hubby…” Gabriel repeated, barely managing to pronounce the second syllable clearly.
“Can’t hear you; say it again.”
“Hub…by…”
—
The following afternoon, Gabriel woke up, and the first thing he felt was pain.
Pain was overwhelming, coiling around him like a snake. Each shift of his body sent fresh waves of discomfort through him. He simply rolled over, but the ache intensified, and even his tailbone felt jolted.
He wished there was a way to forget the pain. Nobody enjoyed hurting, least of all him. He had always feared it, and yet, throughout his life, he had endured it countless times. Even though accustomed to suppressing his pain, he involuntarily bit his lip, releasing a soft gasp, and a gentle, familiar scent wafted into his nostrils.
It was Eleanor's fragrance.
Gabriel propped himself up on his arms, blinking away the heaviness in his eyes. It felt like his eyelids were still caught in a thick fog. He blinked several times, feeling the burn as moisture built up, making his lashes stick together.
Eleanor had just come out of the shower, standing by the bed while staring at him, captivated.
This year, Gabriel turned thirty-one, and when he first glimpsed his age on his ID, he couldn’t believe it was real.
Gabriel’s skin was fair, and despite his slender physique, he still had a hint of baby fat on his cheeks. His clear eyes sparkled, the corners slightly angled up, contributing to a youthful appearance that contradicted his true age. He looked more like a college student than a man of thirty-one.

Chapter 2

Gabriel Hawthorne's eyes, strikingly clear yet filled with an innocent confusion, conveyed his ignorance of the world around him. Describing his lack of understanding felt off; it was more about his limited comprehension and communication skills. He resembled a child, and his mental challenges were evident in every moment.
All emotions radiated from those bright eyes—right now, they were painted with a mixture of uncertainty and bewilderment. This was, of course, one of the reasons Eleanor Waverly chose to marry Gabriel. A simple man, oblivious to the complexities of life, was precisely what she desired. She thrived on control and disliked anything that eluded her grasp. Gabriel, in this moment, was her perfect choice.
Eleanor slowly approached the bed. With a delicate bend at the waist, she playfully tugged at Gabriel's open robe, the silky fabric yielding easily, revealing his collarbone, which showcased the remnants of lingering kisses. The skin blossomed with rich, rosy hues as if the memory still clung to him.
"You’re thirty now... that couldn't have been your first time, could it?" she teased, a smirk playing on her lips.
Truth be told, Eleanor was acutely aware of the truth behind Gabriel's response. His hesitant, even scared, reactions from the night before were fresh in her mind. She found sudden amusement in provoking this sweetly naive man, curious about his response.
"I..." Gabriel stammered, caught off guard, his gaze lingering on Eleanor's teasing grin for what felt like an eternity.
After a while, the meaning of her words finally dawned on him. Murmuring softly, he replied, "It was my first time."
Then he turned the question back to her, eyes wide with innocence, "What about you, dear?"
Eleanor momentarily froze at the endearment, taken aback by the way his voice rose with confusion and a hint of rasp. She looked at his water-like eyes and instinctively turned away, suppressing a smile. "Of course not! I've had my share of attention since middle school; boys and girls alike have thrown themselves at me."
With that, Eleanor cleared her throat, turning to remove her robe, revealing her slightly damp skin beneath. As she raised her arms, the sculpted lines of her back appeared almost carved from marble.
She quickly rummaged through her wardrobe for a crisp white blouse. Gabriel, still watching, furrowed his brow. "That means you’re not... whole anymore."
"What? What do you mean by that?" Eleanor shot back incredulously, her brow twitching as she turned to him.
"If it wasn’t your first time, then you're not complete," Gabriel said, his serious expression deepening, his lips pulled tight as he frowned.
Eleanor felt her cheeks heat up and her composure falter. Her fingers clutched at the second button of her blouse, struggling to concentrate. “What a load of nonsense.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel couldn't shake the heaviness in his heart. It bothered him more than he wanted to admit that Eleanor had been intimate with others before him. Just the thought left him with a bitter taste, a discomforting feeling he couldn't quite shake off. It unnerved him; unfamiliar things always did.
Suddenly, a craving for candy hit him—a habit he picked up when he was seven. Back then, a sweet treat from his mother always improved his mood. He often kept a few candies in his pockets, just as he had before the wedding, where he had indulged in three pieces. He was certain there was one piece still left, tucked away in his pants.
But as he fished through his pockets now, disappointment washed over him; they were empty. His clothes lay crumpled where Eleanor had hastily undressed him last night, and his pants hung off the nightstand, unhelpfully far.
Eleanor watched him with a bemused expression, knowing he was searching for his beloved candy. She sighed inwardly, realizing she could only expect such antics from a sweet but clueless man.
Turning back towards the door, her hand grasped the doorknob, twisting it. She caught a glimpse of Gabriel’s flushed cheeks, his adorably frustrated expression as he rummaged through his pockets in vain.
Feeling a soft rush of compassion, Eleanor felt a sudden urge to treat him better on their first day of marriage, to embrace his sweetness rather than tease him.
She shut the door softly behind her, retreating back into the room. From the carpet at the foot of the bed, she picked up the dress she’d worn for the wedding. Reaching into her pocket, she produced a strawberry candy—Gabriel’s favorite, of course, a testament to his picky taste.
Unwrapping the pink paper, she held the sweet treat to his lips. “Here, silly. Have some.”
Gabriel looked up, his dissatisfaction briefly melting into irritation. “Don’t call me silly. It sounds awful.”
His voice was thick, and as he released a slow breath, Eleanor couldn't help but chuckle. She reached over, tousling his hair affectionately. “Alright, I won't call you silly. Now, open up; it's time for candy…”
Gazing at the candy on her fingertip, Gabriel lowered his head, obediently opening his mouth. His tongue brushed gently against her finger, and a quick shock coursed through Eleanor, a faint tingling that left her breathless. Watching his satisfied face as he savored the sweet treat, she couldn’t resist the temptation herself and took a taste.
It was sweet, unmistakably strawberry.

Chapter 3

Ten minutes later, Eleanor Waverly hurried up the stairs, a tube of ointment in hand. Gabriel Hawthorne was still savoring the candy in his mouth. "Gabriel, lie down," Eleanor instructed as she applied the medicine before quickly making her way back downstairs.
Gabriel dressed himself after applying the ointment. The cool sensation felt much better, but he still took a good ten minutes before finally descending.
The dining room was already spread with an array of dishes. Eleanor sat straight-backed at one side of the table, flanked by Madame Zhang and Uncle Theodore.
Hearing footsteps approach, Eleanor patted the chair next to her. "Gabriel, come sit next to me for dinner."
Gabriel was still adjusting to being called that, so he didn’t respond right away. Uncle Theodore, whose hair had turned partially gray, exchanged a look with Gabriel and sighed quietly to himself.
Slowly, Gabriel walked to the table. Uncle Theodore and Madame Zhang nodded slightly to him. "Mr. Hawthorne."
He recognized them from before and smiled back, then moved next to Eleanor.
Eleanor reached out, wrapping her arm around his waist, guiding him into the chair.
As Uncle Theodore and Madame Zhang prepared to step back, Gabriel poked Eleanor. "With so much food, is it just the two of us eating?"
"Why not?" Eleanor replied.
Gabriel glanced at the abundance of dishes. "It's too much; we can't finish it. It'll go to waste."
Eleanor called out to Madame Zhang, "From now on, don't prepare so much. Before you cook, ask Mr. Hawthorne what he’d like to eat."
Madame Zhang nodded, "Understood, Eleanor."
"Uncle Theodore, Madame Zhang, please add two more sets of chopsticks and join us," Eleanor turned to Gabriel with a playful smile, “Is that okay?”
"Uh, Eleanor..." Uncle Theodore looked a bit uncomfortable. They had their own dining space, and today was the first meal after Eleanor's wedding.
"If I invite you, just come," Eleanor said with a warm smile.
"Alright then."
Throughout the meal, Eleanor maintained her customary smile while serving Gabriel, piling food onto his plate until it resembled a small mountain. He hardly spoke.
"You’re too thin; it feels like sleeping next to you would be uncomfortable. You should eat more..."
What was meant to be a flirtatious comment didn’t register with Gabriel. He merely patted his now rounded stomach. "I can't eat any more; there's too much. I'm stuffed."
Anyone watching them would think they were a deeply affectionate newlywed couple.
Uncle Theodore and Madame Zhang quietly continued eating, choosing not to engage in conversation.
The meal felt oddly tense; Uncle Theodore and Madame Zhang finished eating quickly and left, leaving Gabriel oblivious to the atmosphere around him.
Once dinner was over, Eleanor changed into different clothes and headed out, instructing Uncle Theodore and Madame Zhang to look after Gabriel, as she would be back later.
Feeling sleepy, Gabriel stretched a bit before heading upstairs for a nap.
He was still getting used to the softness of the large bed, but it was too comfortable to resist. Just before drifting off, a thought flashed through his mind: he was married now, married to Eleanor.
People said that legally, he and Eleanor were now each other's closest relations.
Half a month ago, Eleanor had waited at his doorstep, holding a bouquet of flowers and a ring. “Gabriel, will you marry me?”
Gabriel didn’t fully grasp what marriage entailed. Though he was no stranger to the concept—his best friend Broderick had long been married.
Broderick had once explained that marriage was about two people who loved each other legally binding themselves together. Once they wed, they were supposed to live together forever.
They’d cook, eat, sleep, travel together, and care for each other in sickness. That person was supposed to be there for life.
That was the extent of Gabriel’s understanding of marriage.
When Eleanor held out the flowers and the ring, seeing him silent, she pinched his cheek. “I’m asking you, will you marry me?”
Gabriel blinked and asked, “After we get married, will we live together?”
“Of course.”
"We'll eat together, sleep together, travel together—everything together?"
"Yes."
Eleanor's features were sharp yet softened by her smile. “So, what’s your answer?”
"I do," Gabriel replied quietly, worried Eleanor might not hear him. He repeated, "I do. I want to marry you. Eleanor is a good person."
Eleanor burst into laughter. "What gives you the idea I'm a good person?"
"You saved me on our first meeting and celebrated my birthday. I haven’t had a birthday party since I turned seven, and you brought me... strawberry candy. I love strawberry candy..."
Gabriel's eyes sparkled as he reminisced, "Anyone who treats me well is a good person. Eleanor treated me well; therefore, Eleanor is a good person."
If someone suggested Eleanor was a ‘good person,’ she might think they were mocking her. ‘Good person’ was never a term she'd accept for herself.
But what Gabriel said was different. His words reflected his thoughts, and ‘good person’ was the highest compliment he could give, overshadowing any other quality.
Eleanor felt unexpectedly pleased.
As night fell, Gabriel awoke to a spacious, dark room, still somewhat shadowy from before. At that moment, his heart felt oddly hollow.
As he sat up, he heard a loud rumble from outside—a thunderclap.
It was about to rain.
Suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly got dressed and raced downstairs, bursting out the door.
Uncle Theodore was in the rear garden, trimming the flourishing trumpet vines. When he saw Gabriel rushing out, he dropped his gardening shears and hurried toward him. "Mr. Hawthorne, where are you off to?"
"I need to go home; there’s something I need to do."
Even though Eleanor and Gabriel had rushed into marriage, Uncle Theodore had gathered some information about Gabriel's past from casual conversations with Eleanor. Gabriel had lost his parents at a young age and had lived with his aunt and uncle since he was seven. After reaching adulthood, his aunt had thrown him out, and he had led a solitary life for over a decade.

Chapter 4

“Mr. Hawthorne, you’re now married to Mr. Waverly, which means this is your home now.”
Gabriel Hawthorne didn’t know how to explain. The more he tried to speak, the clumsier he felt. “I need to go. I haven’t fed my cat. She must be starving. It's about to rain, and she has nowhere to go. I didn’t return home last night. I can’t believe I forgot…”
Two years ago, Gabriel adopted a stray cat. During the day, the little furball roamed freely, but at night, she would be waiting at the door for him to come home.
He felt increasingly anxious, cursing himself for forgetting something so important. His cat had been his companion for over two years.
“But Mr. Waverly made it clear…” Uncle Theodore hesitated, looking troubled.
“I need to go back right now.” Gabriel insisted.
His stubbornness wouldn’t budge for anyone, as he had his own set of rules in life.
Uncle Theodore watched Gabriel’s hurried breaths, noticing the raindrops beginning to fall. He couldn’t help but relent, “Well, I’ll drive you back.”
Gabriel let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Uncle Theodore…”
Before Uncle Theodore could respond, he remembered that Eleanor didn’t like any furry animals. He could only silently pray that the little cat Gabriel cared for would find a better home in the future.
---
The kitten was nowhere to be found, and Gabriel couldn’t locate her.
Gabriel rushed out to search for his cat, while Uncle Theodore found himself unable to track Gabriel down.
Having left his phone at home, Uncle Theodore could not reach him. He wandered up and down the winding streets of Whispering Alley for quite a while, but Gabriel was nowhere to be seen. Eventually, he had no choice but to call Eleanor.
Eleanor left the cocktail party before it ended and made it to Gabriel’s old place within half an hour. This was the third time she had visited since they got married.
The Old Quarter’s rundown, low buildings made it difficult to navigate; she had thought she wouldn’t have to return there anymore.
Gabriel lived in the innermost building, on the fifth floor, which was dirty and cluttered.
The walls were peeling and grimy, the hallway narrow and filthy, with a trash can at the bottom of the stairs exuding sour and fishy odors. Black mud covered the steps, and all the lights in the five-story building were broken.
With each step up, Eleanor felt a tightening in her chest, which only worsened, and she took a deep breath as she pressed on.
Finally arriving at the fifth floor, she found Gabriel’s door tightly shut, and no signs of life within.
Outside, the rain continued to pour, and the fire escape window next to the staircase quickly formed a dark curtain of rain.
Not finding anyone, Eleanor hurried back downstairs, holding her umbrella, calling out Gabriel’s name as she wove through the narrow alleys.
After half an hour, she finally spotted him crouched in the corner of a small market, soaked to the bone, cradling a tiny kitten in his arms.
The kitten had its eyes closed and was curled tight against his chest, purring softly. Gabriel gently stroked the kitten’s head, murmuring soothing words that were clearly meant to calm her.
Suppressing the urge to scold Gabriel, Eleanor held the umbrella over him and said, “What are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
Gabriel glanced up at Eleanor, offering a sheepish smile before returning his focus to the little ball of fur in his arms. “Petal is missing. I came out to find her.”
Eleanor shot an exasperated glance at the muddy kitten clinging to Gabriel, grabbing his wrist and frowning. “Get rid of the kitten and come home with me.”
When she mentioned getting rid of Petal, Gabriel tightened his hold on the kitten, shaking off Eleanor’s grip. “No! I want to take Petal back with me.”
Eleanor struggled to maintain her cool. “You ran out in the middle of the night for that one kitten?”
Gabriel remained silent, his damp hair hanging in his eyes. He swallowed hard, his gaze on Eleanor unwavering but determined. He didn't think he was in the wrong.
“Listen, throw the kitten away, and I’ll take you home. You’ll catch a cold if you stay out in the rain,” Eleanor said, kneeling beside him to wipe the water droplets off his face.
“I won’t! I’m not leaving Petal behind,” Gabriel insisted.
Eleanor’s patience wore thin as she thrust the umbrella into Gabriel's hands. “If you’re bringing the kitten, then don’t expect me to come back with you.”
Her words felt as cold as the rain, constricting Gabriel’s throat and making it hard to swallow.
He lowered his head, gripping the umbrella tightly with one hand while holding Petal securely in the other.
When he found her, she had been rummaging through the trash for food. Upon seeing him, she mewed softly from a distance. Only when he called her did she wag her tail and hurry to his feet.
He had been holding her too tightly; in response to the discomfort, Petal let out a small mew, barely audible.
Gabriel eased up, gently stroking her head and finding his throat constricted, finally saying, “If you don’t agree, I... I’m not coming back with you.”
Once those words left his mouth, he thought about what Broderick had said—getting married didn’t mean they would always be together.
Why was he being so stubborn?
Eleanor found it unbelievable that, on the first day of their marriage, Gabriel wouldn’t come home because of a kitten. He cared more for that cat than for her.
A fire of frustration flared up inside her. Speaking frostily, she asked, “Gabriel, I’ll ask you one more time. Are you sure you want to stay out for a kitten and not come home with me?”
That question crushed Gabriel’s spirit. He couldn’t find the right words to explain the heaviness settling in his chest. After a lengthy silence, he managed to say, “I… I’m not going with you…”
Eleanor clenched her fists at her sides, turned, and walked away quickly.
Gabriel stood there, still holding the kitten, frozen for what felt like an eternity. He waited until Eleanor’s silhouette disappeared before he finally moved. Holding the umbrella in one hand and the kitten in the other, he stepped into the rain, following the path she had taken.
The umbrella tilted, and he couldn’t steady it. Rain pelted his face, and he had no free hand to wipe it away, so he lowered his head, rubbing it against his shoulder.
His clothes were soaked, rainwater dripped down his face, and his eyes stung as his vision blurred more and more.

Chapter 5

Gabriel Hawthorne finally made his way downstairs after what felt like a small eternity, but not before taking a tumble on the way down. He spotted a familiar tall figure waiting at the corridor's entrance; it was Eleanor Waverly.
As he blinked hard against the dim light, a tightening sensation gripped his chest. Eleanor Waverly... he hadn’t left.
A bicycle whizzed past him, the headlights illuminating the scene and highlighting the mud smeared across Gabriel's pants, along with a fresh wound on his ankle. Rainwater mixed with blood continued to trickle down; the edges of the injury had begun to soften in the rain.
Eleanor's expression grew colder, her mind racing with thoughts—she guessed he must have hurt himself while foolishly carrying a little kitten back home, a sudden wave of inexplicable irritation washing over her.
“Eleanor...”
Gabriel’s voice was barely above a whisper, leaving Eleanor to second-guess her own hearing.
He felt warm tears streaming down his face, not wanting Eleanor to witness his weakness. After all, people said crying was a sign of stupidity. He lowered his head, trying to wipe his tears away on his shoulder.
“Fool...” Eleanor stepped closer, bent down, and scooped him up into her arms. “Fool, do you even know what it means to be married?”
“I... I don’t know.” Gabriel rubbed his tears onto her clothing.
“Being married means you’re mine now, and you have to listen to me.”
With Eleanor cradling his form and Gabriel holding onto the kitten, their figures merged under the umbrella before slowly vanishing into the darkened rain.
From now on, we’ll sleep apart.
The air in the closed car felt stifling. Eleanor sat cross-legged in the backseat, radiating a suppressed energy that unsettled the very atmosphere around them.
Meanwhile, Gabriel sat beside her, holding Petal, who had already fallen asleep nestled in his arms.
Uncle Theodore glanced in the rearview mirror, surprised that Eleanor was willing to sit next to Gabriel, especially while he held an animal she despised more than anything.
Eleanor’s expression was grim. Despite Gabriel's inability to read the room's tension, he felt her anger. He sat silently, clutching the kitten while maintaining a respectful distance—just about half an arm's length away from her, not daring to make a move.
The vehicle glided through the rain-soaked streets and stopped at the entrance an hour later. Eleanor didn’t wait another second; she opened the door and stepped out, slamming it shut with a loud bang.
The sudden noise startled Gabriel, causing him to jolt. The loud sound also roused Petal from her slumber, who lifted her head in confusion, mewing softly.
The rain had finally stopped outside, and Gabriel hurriedly exited the car, frantically dashing after Eleanor, trying to catch up with her as she made her way up to the second floor.
Madame Zhang was already in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Hearing the commotion, she came out and was taken aback to see the drenched form of Gabriel standing in the middle of the great hall with a kitten in his arms. Her initial surprise faded quickly, and she simply instructed him to go upstairs to shower while she brewed some ginger tea.
The lights were on in the master bedroom upstairs, but the bathroom door was shut tight. Gabriel knew Eleanor was inside, the sounds of the water flowing through the walls were audible.
He stood awkwardly in the room, still holding Petal, reluctant to put her down. His clothes had soaked through, and mud clung to his pants. He worried about getting the bedroom dirty, so he remained frozen in the middle of the space.
Although Uncle Theodore had told him that after marrying Eleanor, this would also be his home, Gabriel felt it wasn’t entirely true.
When Eleanor finally emerged from the bathroom, she paused at the sight of Gabriel holding the kitten, her expression swiftly shifting back to ice. “Why did you bring it into the bedroom?”
Feeling the panic in Gabriel’s eyes, she felt her agitation rise. “I don’t like cats, including their smell.”
Gabriel remained silent, still clutching the small creature, refusing to budge or respond.

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