6. COOKIES

As she left the condo building, Alina was still lost in thought, her mind swirling with the warmth of the day’s interactions. She didn’t even realize that she had wandered across the street until she found herself standing in front of a large, imposing mansion. The stark contrast between the cozy, familiar condo building and this grand estate was striking.

She hesitated for a moment, the grandeur of the mansion making her feel small and out of place. But then she remembered the last bag of cookies she had brought with her. Without thinking too much about it, she walked up to the front door and rang the bell.

For a few moments, there was silence, and Alina wondered if she had made a mistake. But then, the speaker beside the door crackled to life, and a deep, familiar voice echoed through the intercom.

"Who is it?" the voice asked, its tone cautious but calm.

Alina's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. It was Caelan. She hadn’t expected him to live here, but now that she thought about it, it made sense. The mansion was as mysterious and enigmatic as the man himself.

"Hi, Caelan! It’s Alina," she replied, her voice brightening. "I just moved into the condo across the street, and I wanted to bring you some cookies to say hello."

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, Alina wondered if he would turn her away. But then, she heard the soft click of the door unlocking, followed by Caelan’s voice.

"Come in."

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, her eyes widening as she took in the luxurious interior. The mansion was every bit as grand on the inside as it was on the outside, but there was a certain coldness to it, a sense of emptiness that made Alina shiver slightly.

Caelan appeared at the top of the sweeping staircase, his expression unreadable as he descended to greet her. He was dressed simply, but his presence filled the room in a way that made it impossible to look away.

"Thank you for the cookies," he mumbled as he reached her, his voice steady but with an underlying tension that Alina couldn’t quite place.

She smiled up at him, holding out the bag. "It’s just a small gesture, but I wanted to make sure you knew I was nearby if you ever needed anything."

Caelan took the bag from her, his fingers brushing against hers briefly. The touch was electric, sending a shiver down Alina’s spine. She noticed the way his eyes softened ever so slightly, a flicker of warmth breaking through the cool exterior he so carefully maintained.

For a moment, they stood in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions. Alina couldn’t help but feel drawn to him, captivated by the intensity that radiated from him, even as he tried to keep it under control.

"Would you like to sit down?" Caelan asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Alina nodded, following him into a nearby sitting room. The room was elegant, with high ceilings and large windows that let in the fading evening light. They sat down on opposite ends of a long, plush couch, the space between them both vast and intimate.

As Caelan opened the bag and took out a cookie, Alina couldn’t help but smile. There was something endearing about the way he examined the cookie, as if trying to understand the simple gesture behind it.

"I didn’t expect you to be the baking type," he remarked, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Alina laughed softly. "It’s just a hobby. Something I do when I want to make people happy."

Caelan’s smile faded slightly, and his gaze turned distant, as if lost in a memory. "It’s a good habit," he said after a moment, his voice low. "To want to make people happy."

There was a sadness in his tone that made Alina’s heart ache. She wanted to reach out, to ask him what was on his mind, but she knew better than to push. Instead, she simply sat with him, allowing the silence to stretch between them.

Finally, Caelan looked at her, his eyes softening again. "Thank you, Alina," he said quietly. "For the cookies. And for being... here." He mumbled the last part to himself and treasured the cookies, hugging them to his chest.

Alina smiled warmly at him, her heart swelling with empathy. "You’re welcome, Caelan. Anytime."

As they sat there, the room filled with a quiet understanding, Alina realized that there was more to Caelan than she had initially thought. Beneath the cool exterior and the guarded demeanor was a man who had known deep pain, but who also had the capacity for great kindness.

And in that moment, as she watched him take another bite of the cookie, she felt a connection that went beyond words—an unspoken bond that made her believe that, perhaps, the world was still beautiful after all.