Elena's footsteps sounded softly coming down the taxi. Her hair was neatly tied up, her face looked tired but determined. Just as she passed through the glass doors of Nathan's office lobby, a man in a black formal suit approached her with a serious face."Sorry, Miss Elena. I have a meeting outside. Please follow me."Elena was suspicious. But when she saw the shiny black sedan parked out front, she had a bad feeling. The window of the car rolled down slowly. Mrs. Sonia's haughty face appeared behind it."Come in, we need to talk," the woman said flatly, in an unassailable tone.Elena took a deep breath. But she stepped in anyway, opened the door and sat in the rear passenger seat. The door locked automatically. The car was still in place, but the atmosphere felt like it was moving into the abyss."What did Madame want to talk about?" Elena asked quietly, calm despite the rumbling in her chest.Without further ado, Madame Sonia took out a thick white envelope from inside her luxuriou
The sound of heavy rain hitting the glass of the building had been heard since the afternoon. The street lights slowly lit up as the sky grew darker. Elena tucked her drawing tools into her folder, took a deep breath and stared at her office window filled with the shadows of water drops.What a day, she thought. But all the designs are done, all the revisions have been sent, nothing else is pending."Miss Elena, you're not home yet?" asked Mila, wearing a light raincoat and carrying an umbrella.Elena stood up and straightened her bag. "Waiting for a taxi."Mila glanced outside. "It's raining really hard. I'll just wait in the lobby."Elena just smiled. After Mila said goodbye, Elena walked down to the lobby. Her shoes were wet from the puddles on the front steps. Her hair was starting to get damp even though it hadn't really left the canopy roof.Elana stood on the sidewalk, trying to order a taxi from the phone app. But everything was "unavailable"."Geez, not like this," she mutte
Elena entered her apartment with shaky steps. The door closed behind her, isolating her from the outside world. She leaned back for a moment, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. The image of the incident in Nathan's car was still vivid in her mind, making her cheeks heat up."What have I done?" she murmured softly, voice barely audible in the quiet room.Elena opened her eyes, gazing around her simple yet cozy apartment. Without turning on the light, she made her way to the bathroom. Every step felt heavy, as if the weight of her thoughts added to the gravity around her.Arriving at the bathroom, Elena turned on the light and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her normally bright brown eyes now looked dim, filled with doubt and regret."Elena, you have to be stronger," she whispered to herself, trying to be encouraging even though her heart was still in turmoil.Elena took off her clothes one by one, feeling the cold fabric that clung to her skin from the previous rain. Once
The next day. Dusk had fallen and the sky was beginning to turn red on the western horizon when Elena received a message from Tamara. She was sitting in the living room of her modest apartment, staring at her phone screen with a face full of emotion and an irrepressible smile.[Tamara] Elena, you won't believe it! Our new partners have made their payments, and the amount is way beyond expectations] Tamara wrote with a big smile emoji.Elena took a deep breath, feeling both proud and relieved. [Really, Tamara? I didn't expect the results to be this great. All the hard work has finally paid off].It didn't take long for Tamara to reply, [Yes, dear. All the transactions have been completed. Now, you've also completed the tasks at Mr. Nathan's company perfectly]Elena smiled a little while rubbing her cheeks, [Yes, it's true. I think it's time for me to move forward and turn over a new leaf]Elena put down her cell phone and stood near the large window overlooking the city. "I've planned
That morning, Nathan sat in his study with a cup of coffee that hadn't even been touched. He stared blankly at his laptop screen until a soft knock on the door broke his reverie."Come in," he said simply.His assistant entered with a brown folder."Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Nathan," the assistant said carefully. "There's an important letter that just arrived this morning. From Miss Elena."Nathan's eyes immediately sharpened. "Elena?""Yes, sir," Kevin replied as he handed over the folder.Nathan took it quickly and opened the folder. His eyes read it quickly, and instantly his jaw hardened."Resignation?" his voice was low but filled with unsuppressed anger.The assistant gulped. "Yes, sir. The letter is official. He has completed all his duties and-""Without my permission?" cut in Nathan, standing up from his chair. "He thinks he can just leave? How nice of him!"His assistant took half a step back, feeling the pressure of the man's cold aura."Have you tried contacting him?" asked
The International Airport was crowded that afternoon, as usual. People were passing by, welcoming families or rushing to catch flights. However, from among the crowd, a long-haired woman with sunglasses stepped gracefully, accompanied by four children. Behind her glasses, Elena's eyes swept around, breathing in the air she missed so much."Is this where Mommy used to live?" asked Alva, the soon-to-be five-year-old boy, clasping his mother's hand.Elena looked down and smiled, gently touching Alva's head. "Yes, dear. Mommy and your three older sisters used to live here.""Wow, I didn't expect that. I'm going back to this town," exclaimed Olivia, now a teenager, her face looking more and more like Elena.Katty and Delya were busy looking at the big buildings outside the airport. Their faces were enthusiastic."Everything looks different," said Katty."I was only three years old at the time, so I didn't really know the city," Delya continued.Elena just smiled a little. Five years is not
"But I'm still going," Elena said. "Elena..." Nathan let out a long breath. "I know this may sound abrupt. But let me be honest," Nathan said"Just say it, Mr. Nathan.""I love you, Elena."Elena gasped softly. Her gaze darted away, but Nathan didn't let her down. He looked into Elena's face with sincere eyes."Five years I lived with your shadow. Five years I wished you would come back. And now you're in front of my eyes again. I don't want to miss this opportunity."Elena closed her eyes, trying to control her feelings. "Mr. Nathan, I can't return your feelings.""Why not?" Nathan cut in softly. "Is it because of the past? Because of the hurt you got from your ex-husband?"Elena took a deep breath. "I don't want to hurt anyone, including myself. I don't want to open my heart again, Mr. Nathan."Nathan stepped closer, his tone turning softer. "You won't be disappointed if you're with me, Elena. I won't hurt you."Elena looked at Nathan with teary eyes. "You have no idea how hard my
For the past two months, David, the only son of Damian and Isabella, has been hospitalized in the ICU of a renowned Swiss hospital. The five-year-old boy, once born full of hope and luxury, was now battling leukemia."Damian, David has a fever again," Isabella's voice was soft in front of the ICU room. Her hair, which had always been in order, was now pulled into a makeshift bun. Her face was pale, her eyes puffy.Damian stood next to her, wearing a black but rumpled suit. Her eyes had never really closed in the last two months. "I told them not to stop the chemotherapy even though his body is weak," he muttered, more to himself."David is not strong, Damian... his little body is too tired." Isabella hugged her own body, as if protecting her heart that was about to collapse.Damian clenched his fists. "He is the heir to Lancaster. David must be strong."The doctor walked quickly towards them. "Mr. Lancaster, David's condition is deteriorating rapidly. We need to get him into surgery i
Silence filled the room, with only the soft hum of breathing and the quiet ticking of the wall clock. The dim lights created a warm, dimly lit atmosphere, as if enveloping them in a paused embrace of time.Nathan sat on the edge of the bed, his body slightly inclined, one hand gently touching Elena's back. The touch was unhurried, like someone reading poetry directly from the skin of a lover."Elena," Nathan murmured softly."Hm?" she replied softly, her eyes not daring to look directly at him."Thank you... for letting me be your husband tonight. "Elena swallowed, then nodded. "I know, I'm not perfect, I've kept my distance for too long, I've held on to all the hurt for too long. But tonight, I am yours completely. ."Nathan nodded slowly, then leaned closer. His lips gently kissed the back of Elena's neck, making her body tense up instantly. There was a subtle tremor that traveled from the back of her neck to the rest of her body.Elena took a deep breath, then slowly shifted, lyin
Dusk had just fallen when Damian stood in front of Elena's apartment door. He raised his hand, wanting to knock, but then hesitated and lowered it again. It took a few seconds before he braced himself, knocking twice.Soon, the door opened. Elena stood on the threshold in a simple white T-shirt and beige trousers. Her hair was in a simple bun, her face devoid of makeup. But the serenity in her eyes radiated a power that made Damian remember why he loved her in the first place. And why would he betray a woman as beautiful as Elena?"Elena..." his voice was hoarse. "I need a moment. Just five minutes, if you please."Elena nodded slowly. "Come in."Damian stepped in nervously, his eyes sweeping around the room."Would you like something to drink?" asked Elena politely, her voice flat but not cold."No need. I just want to talk."They sat down in the living room. Damian rubbed his sweaty palms together. Elena waited without interrupting."I canceled the custody hearing," Damian said fina
Chapter 89 - Damian Cancels the TrialThe next day.Mr. Charles Lancaster's study was filled with the smell of cigars and old wood. The light from the desk lamp created long shadows on the wall. Damian stood with his back to his parents who sat opposite each other on the sofa, his eyes staring out the large window at the darkening garden. His suit hung loosely on his shoulders, his tie was loose, and his hair was slightly messy."I'm not going to continue the trial for Alva's custody," he said suddenly, his voice calm but firm.Margareth, who had been sipping tea, put down the cup with a loud noise. "What do you mean, Damian?" she asked, her voice rising an octave.Charles gave his son a sharp look. "Are you kidding me? After everything we've prepared-the lawyers, the evidence, the strategy-you suddenly pull out?"Damian slowly turned to face them. His face didn't show the slightest hesitation. "I'm not joking, Dad. I've given it a lot of thought and I realize that Alva is safer with
Chapter 88 - Damian's rageThe sound of a car door closing loudly boomed in the hotel's basement parking lot. Damian pushed Isabella into the back seat of their black SUV. His face was red, his eyes blazing wildly."Shut up! Don't open your mouth one word!" he hissed, breath catching.Isabella staggered into the car, her feet dragging on the floor. As soon as the door closed, Damian entered from the other side, sitting next to her, immediately closing the glass partition between them and the driver."I ask you again, ISABELLA-IS THIS TRUE?!"Isabella twisted her body, her face still wet with tears. "Damian... I can explain...""EXPLAIN?!" Damian shouted so loudly that the window shook. "The whole world saw that video! That's your face! Your body! In a hotel bed with a fucking stranger! You... You've ruined my reputation!"Isabella grabbed Damian's arm. "Please, listen to me first. I'm doing this for you... for our company. We need investors, Damian! You know that! They won't give me m
It's been one month since the video scandal took the world by storm. Elena chose to remain silent without clarifying, she worked quietly to organize legal measures, rebuild her image, and most importantly-prepare her final weapon. The day after tomorrow, the custody battle would begin. But today was the day when Elena, the famous designer with a business empire, would no longer remain silent.That morning, the ballroom at one of Manhattan's five-star hotels was packed. Rows of cameras, microphones and journalists from various countries filled the room. Whispers and speculation filled the air.At 10 o'clock, Nathan entered first, standing next to the podium. Shortly after, Elena emerges from behind the curtain. Dressed in an ivory white suit, hair in a neat bun, her face was calm but her eyes were sharp. The whole room immediately fell silent."Thank you for coming to this press conference," Elena said, her voice clear and steady. "Today, I stand not as a designer, not as an entreprene
In the afternoon, Elena, Nathan and the children returned to the apartment. The children had already gone up to their rooms.Nathan closed the door and took off his tie as he took a deep breath."Wife, would you like some hot tea?" he asked as he headed for the kitchen."Sure," Elena replied from the living room. She slipped off her shoes and sat on the sofa. "I think my neck is a little sore..."Before Nathan could make it to the kitchen, the television automatically turned on-a smart feature that instantly brought up the breaking news from the local channel.Breaking news! A shocking scandalous video has been widely circulated for the past hour. It is strongly suspected that the woman in the video is Elena - the famous designer, Queen Elisabeth.^Nathan immediately stopped walking. Elena looked quickly at the screen.The two-minute video showed a naked woman riding the body of a middle-aged man identified as William Hargrave, 55, Elena's former business partner at the German branch.
A modern room on the third floor of a law firm in Midtown Manhattan. The room contained wooden shelves of law books, thick carpeting, and wide windows overlooking the busy city.Damian Lancaster sat at the end of a long glass-topped desk, his suit perfect without a single wrinkle. Beside him, Isabella looked elegant, but the look in her eyes was sharp. Across from them, Jared Matthews-a lawyer specializing in custody and family cases-is staring intently at the file Damian has just handed him."All the documents are there," Damian said, his tone firm. "DNA test results, records of the Elena scandal."Jared flips through the pages, his brow furrowing occasionally. He doesn't speak right away."Add to that the news that just went viral last week," Isabella interrupted, handing over a cell phone with a link to Elena's scandalous past. "That woman has a bad track record. Not fit to be a mother."Damian gave her a quick glance. "That's what I used as evidence of moral judgment. I don't mean
The next day."Hold on, Mom, my hair is still messed up!" said Olivia, the eldest, as she smoothed her bangs in front of the small mirror in the waiting room of the registry office.Elena smiles and fixes the collar of Delya's shirt, who is standing next to her. Nathan sat in the next chair, holding his youngest, Alva, who looked curiously at the uniformed officer."Are you sure we don't need a party or an invitation?" Nathan whispered softly."Sure. This is enough. I just want the day to go smoothly," Elena replied, looking at her children. "The important thing is that we're officially husband and wife."Nathan nodded. "Okay. But after this, we'll celebrate with them, okay? Whatever you want.""How about some ice cream? But Daddy has to buy all the flavors," Delya said, her eyes narrowing playfully.Nathan laughed. "Sure thing, kiddo. Daddy will buy a whole case if necessary."A uniformed officer approached them. "Mrs. Elena and Mr. Nathan Drake Sebastian?""Yes," Elena and Nathan re
Elena opened her eyes, looking at Nathan who was now parking the car slowly in front of her apartment."But, I've given birth to four children, Nathan. You know that."Nathan looked away, still waiting."Do you... still want to have your own biological children as a descendant of the Sebastian family?" she asked softly.Nathan looked at her with a look that was hard to describe: gentle, calm, and respectful."Elena," he said with a sigh. "I never made children a requirement. I fell in love with you, not because of the possibility that you may or may not give birth again.""But..." Elena bit her lip. "What if you regret it one day?"Nathan smiled, then took Elena's hand, holding it tightly."Your four children are enough for me. They're not just a part of you, they'll be a part of my life too. And if they let me, I'll consider them my children too."Elena was silent. Nathan's words came in like a wave sweeping over her last stronghold."I didn't think you could care that much," she whi