Chapter 6

The gates of the Hale mansion hovered ahead, familiar yet so foreign. Elara hadn’t seen them open for her in years. And now… she wasn’t sure if today she was coming back as the daughter they’d once loved, or as a woman broken by harsh reality.

Elara sat frozen outside for a second, her fingers tightening around her dress. The estate looked vast, untouched by time. White stone pillars rose toward the sky. The rose bushes along the driveway were in full bloom, their fragrance drifting through the surrounding.

She was familiar with this place for years. And yet, today for a moment, she felt like a stranger.

The car rolled forward and came to a smooth stop beneath the portico. Before Elara could even open the door, two uniformed guards stepped forward.

“Welcome home, young miss.”

The words hit her harder.

Young Miss.

Today she was not Mrs. Blackwood. Not Nathaniel’s wife. Not a woman her in-laws looked down on. Today she was the young miss of Hale family.

Her chest ached remembering all the pain she suffered in these few and. The sad memories lingered in her mind.

The butler hurried forward, his silver hair neatly combed back, eyes widening the moment he saw her face.

“Miss. Elara…” His voice trembled slightly with shock and a wave of warmth. “You’ve finally come back.”

She nodded, without saying a word, unable to trust her voice.

The doors opened, and the warmth of the mansion wrapped around her like a warm embrace. Everything was pristine just as it had been when she left.

When she had walked out three years ago, believing love was enough.

“Elara!”

Footsteps echoed down the hall. A tall figure appeared, moving far too fast for someone who usually carried himself with control and restraint.

Elliott Hale, her brother and the heir of the Hale family stopped in front of her.

He looked sharper and more handsome than she remembered, dressed in a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his expression a mix of anger, relief, and hint of pain.

For a split second, neither of them spoke.

Then Elliott suddenly pulled her into his arms.

“You idiot,” he muttered hoarsely, gripping her like she might disappear again. “Do you have any idea how thin you look? What have you done to yourself?”

Elara laughed weakly, her face pressed against his shoulder. “Hey. Let me breathe first.”

He pulled back, his eyes scanning her pale face. She looked too fragile with shadows beneath her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

His features settled into a hard line.

“You look so thin and weak. Only if you had listened to me in the past.” he said, anger and pain evident in his voice. “I told you not to marry that man.”

The words weren’t cruel. They were burdened with regret and heartache. Elliott regretted not intervening to stop his sister when she left years ago to marry into the Blackwood family; if only he had made her stay. The regret took a firm hold on his chest.

Elara sighed. “It's not your fault. I was too blind to see anything other than him. If only I had not been so stubborn.”

Elliott’s eyes softened a little. Before he could respond, long, calculated footsteps approached from the living room.

Richard Hale, the head of the Hale family, stood there, his posture straight, his expression firm and stern.

Elara saw that her father was still upset with her; why wouldn't he be? He used to be proud of her. His beloved daughter. The daughter, whom he had personally instructed in business strategies, was once regarded as his heir. To be with Nathaniel, however, she left the family and everything behind

He looked at Elara for a long moment.

“So, you are back now," he said, his voice firm and controlled. “So, you are back now. You walked away from everything we built… for him. And now you are back as if you didn't defy us and married him!”

Elara swallowed hard.

“We had warned you, Elara,” Richard continued, his voice laced with a hint of anger.

“We told you that man wasn’t right for you. We told you he doesn't deserve you. Did you finally get your lesson? Did you see the consequences of your actions? Now look at what he’s done.”

The words landed like a slap to her heart.

Elara bowed her head slightly, realising how wrong she had been in the past. “Dad… I—”

Before she could finish, soft footsteps hurried toward her.

“Elara.”

A familiar scent surrounded her. It was her mother, Katherine Hale. She wrapped her arms around her Elara without hesitation, holding her tightly as if afraid to let go.

“Oh, my poor baby,” Katherine whispered, her hand trembling as she cupped Elara’s cheek. “You’ve lost so much weight.”

Elara felt her composure break. For three years, she had swallowed everything alone. From loneliness, humiliation, hope, disappointment, anger. She had told herself she didn’t need anyone.

But the moment her mother’s arms closed around her, it all fell apart.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Elara whispered, tears glistening in her eyes. “I thought… I thought I could make it work. I thought I would make him love me back. I was wrong. So wrong.”

Katherine hugged her tighter. “Oh darling. Love should never cost you heartbreak.”

Elliott turned away slightly, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Do you know how furious Mom was when I told her what happened?”

“I can imagine that,” Elara said softly.

“No,” Elliott replied, his voice serious. “You can’t imagine. Mom wanted to fly out and drag that man back by his collar. How dare that man hurt you—”

Before Elliott could say more, Richard cleared his throat, though his eyes had softened briefly. “This is your home too. No one here will ever make you feel unwanted. You can stay with us but you'll have to prove yourself if you truly understand your mistake.”

Katherine glared at her husband.“Our daughter just came back and you're saying such a thing to her.”

Richard turned his head away and said nothing more to his cherished wife. Although he was furious with Elara, he did care for his daughter above all else.

Elara looked up slowly at her parents.

“Take some rest” Katherine said immediately, her tone leaving no room for refusal. “You don’t have to explain anything. You don’t have to feel alone. You are back home now.”

Elliott nodded. “You’re done sacrificing yourself for those trashy people who don’t deserve it.”

For the first time since everything had collapsed, Elara felt something comforting settle in her chest.

She had lost a husband who never belonged to her. But she had not lost her family.

As the servants quietly moved to prepare her old room, Elara stood surrounded by the people who truly loved her.

***

The next day at the Blackwood estate, Nathaniel tossed his phone onto the desk of his study room.

“Elara will come back within a day,” he said flatly. The words were meant for himself yet a part of him had begun to feel something close to empty.

The house was quiet. No soft footsteps. No clatter from the kitchen. No soft voice asking if he’d eaten.

He loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of water.

Elara had done this before sometimes. Throwing silent protests, trying to distance, giving those wounded looks but she always came back.

She had nowhere else to go. He thought.

His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned.

Rowan Brown. His Legal Counsel

“What is it?” Nathaniel asked firmly.

There was a slight pause on the other end.

“Mr. Blackwood,” Rowan said carefully, “I’m calling regarding the divorce proceedings.”

Nathaniel scoffed. “There are no proceedings.”

The man paused again. And then he said something that made Nathaniel stunned.

“I received the documents this morning,” Rowan continued. “Your wife has already sent them to proceed.”

The glass slipped from Nathaniel’s hand.

***

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Nathaniel just got a major shock.

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