INICIAR SESIÓNEllena had no idea what Edward was thinking. His expression remained unreadable, shrouded in gloom, as though he were weighing some invisible burden. The shadows in the underground parking lot seemed to cling to his face, making his hesitation even more tangible.
She recalled that Stacy was still at home and that Edward’s presence in her life was still shrouded in secrecy. The reason he had not shown himself openly was clear to her now. He did not want anyone to know where he truly was
Ellena had no idea what Edward was thinking. His expression remained unreadable, shrouded in gloom, as though he were weighing some invisible burden. The shadows in the underground parking lot seemed to cling to his face, making his hesitation even more tangible.She recalled that Stacy was still at home and that Edward’s presence in her life was still shrouded in secrecy. The reason he had not shown himself openly was clear to her now. He did not want anyone to know where he truly was. His return was deliberate, concealed, calculated.The thought hardened her tone. She lifted her eyes to meet his, steady and controlled, though there was an unspoken edge to her voice. "You know where I live," she said quietly but firmly. "You can come up in half an hour. If you don’t come… it’s on your own."There was finality in her words. Without waiting for his answer, she pressed the button to close the elevator. The metallic hum filled the small space as the doors slid
Ellena’s voice carried a trace of ridicule as it sliced through the suffocating silence. "Am I tired? The way I handle the Arnoult Group has nothing to do with you."Her words, though calmly spoken, dripped with accusation. They were a shield, a blade, and a declaration of her independence all at once. Yet the moment the words fell, Ellena could feel the air around her shift. The atmosphere in the car, already heavy with unspoken history, grew unbearably oppressive. It was as if the walls of the underground parking lot closed in, leaving the two of them no room to breathe.Then, in a tone that was restrained but unmistakably edged with anger, Edward spoke. "Ellena."Her name rolled off his tongue with a weight that made her chest tighten. He wasn’t yelling. He wasn’t pleading. But the tension embedded in those three syllables was louder than any outburst.Ellena’s composure cracked for a brief instant. She took in a deep breath,
"President Smith!"Paul’s voice echoed from behind, carrying a mix of urgency and resignation. Ellena didn’t even glance back. She simply raised her hand in a dismissive wave, her pace brisk and decisive.Paul paused, staring at her retreating figure for a moment. His eyes drifted downward to the documents scattered across the polished floor. The corners of his mouth tugged down in a sigh, half weary, half helpless. Kneeling, he began gathering the papers one by one, each sheet a reminder of how complicated things had become.By then, Ellena had already left the Arnoult Group. The tall, imposing building disappeared in her rearview mirror as she drove away. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, and though she told herself to stay composed, her foot pressed heavier on the accelerator. The car glided forward swiftly, almost aggressively, as if speed could drown out the storm brewing inside her.When she finally arrived at the old st
Ellena sat at her desk for a long while, the pen still lying near her hand, its presence pulling her thoughts into a deep spiral. When she finally rose and returned to her room, the heaviness in her chest had not lifted.Sleep did not come easily. Even when she drifted off, her mind was restless, caught between half-formed memories and strange fragments of thought. Her dreams were a jumble, scenes that shifted and changed without warning, flowing into each other like frames in an old, flickering film reel. She saw a boy’s shadow, the glint of a pen, Spencer’s cold eyes, Edward’s distant figure… and then the faces blurred, becoming strangers she couldn’t name.When Ellena woke, it was with the sensation that she had not rested at all. Her body felt heavy, as though she had run a marathon in her sleep. She pressed a hand to her forehead for a moment, collecting herself before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.The air was still cool as she padded barefoot
Ellena heard Elaine’s words and paused mid-motion, one shoe halfway into the cabinet. She placed the pair neatly inside before gently closing the door. Her mind, however, was still tangled in the earlier events with Spencer.From the kitchen came the faint clink of dishes being put away. The nanny, Stacy, was tidying up after supper, her sleeves rolled slightly, movements efficient yet unhurried. Hearing the commotion at the door, she turned off the faucet, dried her hands on a towel, and placed the cleaned dishes carefully into the bowl cabinet. Then she stepped out, her face bright with welcome.“Miss Smith, you’re back!” Stacy greeted warmly.Ellena gave her a small smile. “Stacy, thank you for taking care of my daughter.” Her tone softened as she said it.The nanny’s name was Stacy, and she had been with them long enough to know the rhythms of the household. By now, Ellena’s earlier tension had been tucked away, her expression returning to its usual c
Spencer's emotions seemed extremely unstable. Ellena could almost feel the tension radiating off him in waves, like heat shimmering in the summer air. Her own heart was pounding wildly, the sound of it loud in her ears. She clenched her hands slightly, worried that at any moment he would lose control and do something irrational. The way his eyes darted, sharp and unpredictable, only added to her unease."Is this the reason why you hate Edward all this time?" Ellena’s voice was steady, but her gaze flickered between Spencer’s face and the narrow street around them, wary of any sudden move.Spencer had stopped her for so long now that she had lost track of time. Logically, Paul should have realized she was missing by now. He would definitely be looking for her. It should be just about the time for him to appear."Ah!" Spencer sneered, the sound low and mocking, his lips curling into a smirk that held no warmth.At that very moment, footsteps ech
Ellena did not say anything else, but it served her well to say, "Mr. Reed helped me. I am grateful."Vincent was really interested in her. He would not let go of any chance."If Miss Smith is really grateful to me, why don't we have a drink together after the party ends today?" Vincent's voice was ve
Ellena did not speak for a long time. A strange atmosphere lingered between the two of them.Although the two of them were sitting together, they each had their own thoughts.Spencer saying this meant that he had already seen the scene of Vincent hitting on Ellena.Ellena was a little annoyed.She thoug
"If there's a chance, I hope Miss Smith can drink and chat with me." Vincent raised his glass and said, "I have something to do. Excuse me."Ellena smiled and said, "See you."Vincent took a sip of wine and looked deeply at Ellena before he left with a smile. Not long after he left, he turned back and
However, when Natalie entered the room and saw the empty wine bottle on the floor, she could not help but exclaim in surprise, "You've drunk the whole bottle?""Yes." Ellena nodded and pointed at the dark red stain on the carpet and said to Natalie, "No, I spilled some."Compared to the whole bottle o







