Chapter 3

The man asked, “Are you John Blare’s daughter?”

Elara was shocked that someone actually knew her father. She nodded her head, unable to hide her disbelief.

Then the young man asked, “Dad, do you know her father?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

Then he looked at Elara. “I am Mark Williams. I was a friend to your father. He always mentioned his daughter, showing me her little picture in his wallet…”

Elara looked concerned. It was true her Daddy had that little picture of her in his wallet.

“We went to the military together,” he added calmly, “and he once saved my life. I was deeply sad when he had an accident and died.”

Elara looked hurt, the reminder of her father’s death piercing her heart the only family she had left after her mother’s passing.

“And when I came to visit your old house, you were nowhere to be found! What happened?” the man asked.

Sara sighed, the weight of her life pressing down on her. It had not been kind. Even after she had got married to the man she had grown to love , he had turned his back on her to be with someone he truly loved.

She looked at the man and said, “Because we had shifted… to a new house with my stepmother.”

The man nodded slowly. “Okay. Now, let’s get you to the hospital, and maybe call her… or your other close relatives.”

Elara shook her head lightly. “I have no one… except my baby and me.”

“I have no one… nothing,” she said, tears spiraling in her eyes.

Mark thought for a moment. She is pregnant… who is the father? he wondered silently. Then he said, “Okay… okay! It’s fine.”

He didn’t press further. Instead, he added, “Like I said, I was your father’s friend. Since he once saved my life, I vowed to help him or his family. I don’t live around here… I live in Europe. I had come to visit my son, Julian, and we were driving around on the yacht. That’s when we saw your accident. Would you mind… if you went with me to Europe?”

Elara looked shocked.

He continued, his voice gentle but firm, “Look, I don’t have bad intentions, and you’re free to say no. All I want is to help you. I can even help you from here without you going abroad with me… but please… accept and let me fulfill the debt I owe your father. It has given me sleepless nights for years.”

Elara’s life was already a mess, and yet… the thought of changing everything, leaving this country, moving on felt like a second chance God had sent her.

She nodded slowly, and weakly muttered a “Thank you,” one she genuinely meant.

On the other hand, Victor woke up early , a single thought occupying his mind: he had to ask Elara how she was. Even though their marriage was loveless, he had always made sure to take care of her.

He knocked on her door. No response.

“Elara… I would like to talk to you,” he called again, but still nothing.

Growing concerned, he opened the door. She wasn’t there.

He sighed and turned to a maid. “Have you seen Elara around?”

“No,” she said.

Where could she have possibly gone? Earlier, when he had come downstairs, he noticed her ring on the table. She had left in the night.

The realization hit him hard. He looked as if he felt a pang of guilt or perhaps regret that she had gone…

After all, all he truly wanted was to marry his own love, Serene. But for some reason he wasn’t happy like he expected to be .

He sat quietly, watching the news. He wasn’t going to work that day. His body was still, but his mind restless.

Then the screen changed.

The report spoke of a huge crash that had destroyed the railings of a bridge an accident where a young woman’s car had plunged deep into the water below. Victor’s breath caught. The SUV on the screen… it was the same one he had bought for Elara.

Shock washed over him. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Then the reporter mentioned the details found at the scene: the driving license and personal items of the woman involved.

They belonged to Elara.

That’s when reality hit him , it was truly Elara .

On the other side, Serene was also watching the news with her mother. Unlike Victor, they didn’t look shocked. They looked impressed.

Serene turned slowly to her mother. “I’m so glad your plan worked, Mum. My hands got oily, but at least she’s out of the way.”

Her mother replied coldly, “Let her die like her father did.”

But unbeknownst to them both, Elara was still alive… somewhere.