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Chapter 400
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There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 401
The host was clearly more interested in Finnegan and asked, "So, Uncle Finn, have you considered finding a girlfriend?"Finnegan frowned slightly. He didn't want to remain the center of attention and gossip. His gaze swept past the audience and landed precisely on Elara. He saw her lips curve into a warm smile, as if she took pride in his popularity. "Yes, I have."Finnegan answered stiffly, his expression serious, as if delivering a formal report.The mothers in the audience immediately grew excited, many already mentally scanning through eligible unmarried women they knew, eager to introduce them to Finnegan.A flicker of surprise passed through Elara's eyes. Finnegan actually wanted a girlfriend? That was truly unexpected.The next second, Lesley tightly wrapped an arm around Elara's while her gaze toward Finnegan was full of wariness."What's wrong?" Elara asked, somewhat puzzled."I'm protecting our little moon!"Elara chuckled, assuming Lesley had noticed the eager in
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 402
Rosalie's face twisted with fury. "I did no such thing! What apology letter? There was never any such arrangement!"Merida Jones! You've gone too far!" She glared in Elara's direction, stepping forward as if to confront her.Just then, Xavier pulled out his phone, opened an app, and tapped a button.Suddenly, the control screen at the event console switched to a music player interface, and a rousing march blared through the speakers. The children in the audience instinctively began clapping along to the rhythm.The entire auditorium erupted in lively energy as an AI voice announced through the sound system, "Let's give a warm welcome to Rosalie Fisher! Ms. Fisher, please come up to the stage!"Elara burst into laughter and gently ruffled Xavier's hair."Xav, good job!"Now, with all eyes on her, Rosalie had no choiceโif she refused to apologize, there would be no graceful way out.Praise from Elara made Xavier turn to her, his bright eyes shimmering like a sky full of stars. He
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 403
"Apologize to Merida!""Ms. Fisher, you promised! You can't go back on your word!"The children surrounded Rosalie, their voices overlapping as they confronted her. Her stiff expression began to crack under the pressure. Nearby, even the parents raised their phones to record the scene."What did this Fisher woman do to make class 1B's kids block her like this?" someone murmured."You told Merida that if she won the grand prize, you'd let Paisley have snacks with us. Are you breaking that promise too?" one child asked.Paisley stared at Rosalie with red-rimmed eyes. This was an opportunity Elara and Merida had fought hard to secure for herโyet her mother refused to honor it."Daddy..."Clutching Harold's pant leg, Paisley called out softly, hoping for even a shred of his sympathy.Harold frowned in confusion. "What snacks?"Rosalie's face darkened with irritation."Elara made a bet with meโif Merida won first place, not only would I have to apologize publicly, but... They're f
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 404
The moment Harold spotted Harvey, he froze like a mouse cornered by a cat."Rosalie! Get over here now," he hissed under his breath.Rosalie had already reached the exit when she turned to call for Haroldโonly to find Harvey looming over him. Harold frantically widened his eyes at her, jerking his chin toward Harvey.Rosalie pressed her lips into a thin line but had no choice but to walk back.Meanwhile, Harvey stood like a walking freezer, his chilling aura radiating outward. "Go up there and apologize to Elara.""Harvey, how could youโฆ" Rosalie's face twisted in disbelief.Harvey and Elara were already divorcedโwhy was he still taking her side?"I'm your cousin!" she protested."Tch."Lesley, still seated with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow and let out a derisive click of her tongue.She glanced at Theodore and nudged him. "The ex-husband's playing hero. Aren't you going to do something?"Theodore remained relaxed, his gaze never leaving Elara. "This is Elara's battle
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 405
The audience below watched Elara and Merida with rapt attention, eager to learn what Rosalie had done.Harvey stood frozen in place with Beau in his arms. Though barely 30 feet separated him from Elara, an impassable chasm seemed to stretch between themโone he suddenly realized he couldn't bridge.How did this happen?The absurdity of his own thoughts struck him. For years, he'd been the unattainable one, looking down from heights Elara could never reach as she struggled to get closer to him.Shouldn't she have fallen into ruin after their divorce? How had she somehow become this radiant?Stage lights illuminated Elara, yet the glow seemed to emanate from within her. Her complexion resembled polished crystal, and her features were like a masterful painting with lips the color of mountain cherries.For the first time, Harvey truly studied her faceโas if seeing her clearly for the very first time."Daddy, aren't you going to help?" Beau's voice snapped him back."What... could I
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 406
Merida's gaze traveled over the audience and landed on Paisley, who stood timidly beside Harold.A sudden warmth flooded Merida's chest, and she instinctively understood why Elara had negotiated for Paisley's sake when accepting Rosalie's bet.Now that she'd found the courage to stand on stage and expose Rosalie, her mother also wanted herโjust five years oldโto speak up against the injustices she'd witnessed."Ever since I met Paisley, I knew she was vegan. She's not allowed to eat meat, or even drink milk and eggs. She can't share school lunches or snacks with us, and she's always hungryโher tummy growls all the time."I don't want to see Paisley faint for no reason anymore. I want Ms. Fisher to honor our bet and let Paisley eat proper school meals and snacks with us."If Ms. Fisher won't keep her promiseโ""Then we'll hate you!" a child shouted from the audience.Others quickly joined in. "You're a liar! We don't want you at school anymore!""Ms. Fisher shouldn't be PTA pres
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 407
Suddenly, a powerful grip seized Rosalie's arm and yanked her backward."Ack!" Rosalie shrieked in outrage, whirling around to find Harold restraining her."Enough! Do you realize what you're doing? Haven't you humiliated us enough?" Harold roared.Being shouted at only stoked Rosalie's fury. "How dare you take their side?"Her face twisted grotesquely as Harold hissed, "Stop embarrassing us! If you actually hit Merida, not only will the Fishers make your life hellโPaisley and I will suffer too!"While Rosalie raged, Harold remained clear-headed. Seeing Harvey intervene for Elara's sake confirmed what he already knewโeven divorced, Elara wasn't someone Rosalie could trample on.Harold understood Rosalie's burning desire to crush Elara beneath her heel. Like a wild animal invading a manicured garden, the owners would naturally expel the intruder.For seven years, Rosalie's obsession with overpowering Elara had festered. But Harold recognized this public meltdown as disastrous. If
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 408
Merida pulled an orange candy from her pocket, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I thought if I won the grand prize, Ms. Fisher would finally let Paisley have orange candy."Elara gently encouraged her daughter, "You know, there are other ways to get Paisley that candy."Merida lifted her small face. "Mommy, can I go talk to him?"Elara nodded. "You're not enemies."Merida walked toward Harvey and opened her palm, revealing a single orange candy. She stretched her arm up toward him.Harvey's chest tightened, a ripple of emotion crossing his usually impassive eyes as he asked, "For me?"Merida said formally, "Mr. Harvey, could you please give this to Paisley?"The light in Harvey's eyes dimmed momentarily. But the fact that his daughter had come to himโthat she trusted him with this small missionโmade him nod solemnly.He took the candy from her palm. "I'll make sure Paisley gets it."Merida dropped her hands to her sides and gave Harvey a polite bow. "Thank you, Mr. Harve
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There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 478
Theodore was truly a frightening man! Yet Elara didn't find this off-putting.Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing he would do? She had sensed this man's calculated advances from the moment he began appearing frequently in her life.Soon, Cassie left, and Elara sat in her office chair, moving back slightly."You can come out now," she commanded.Her voice had regained its composure. "You should have recovered by now, right, Mr. Snapp?"Theodore emerged from under the desk, which had been relatively cramped for someone of his size. He blinked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement as he asked, "Was that fun?""I almost fell for you," Elara blurted out, her voice carrying a more teasing tone.The man looked slightly disappointed. "So, you didn't fall for me after all?"Persistent, he leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask, "Did it feel good when you touched me earlier?"Elara's bright eyes sparkled with light as she had to admit, "I didn't expect you'd feel so nice to to
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 477
If one word could describe Theodore, it would be "insatiable!"The spasms emanating from Elara's abdomen made her aware of the unusual sensations in her body. In the warm early summer afternoon, even the air in the office seemed to grow heavy and humid.She felt as if an electric current had struck her, sending a tingling sensation up from the base of her spine. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't help but feel an intense curiosity about Theodore."Why would someone like you be interested in someone like me?" Elara's voice fell from above him."Hmm? Someone like me? What kind of person am I?"Theodore looked up at her with an expression that seemed completely vulnerable, as if offering himself to be commanded by her.Seated in her office chair, Elara lowered her gaze. As she looked down at this man, a strange and subtle thrill arose in her chest.She finally understood what it meant to gaze down from a position of power. It felt as though butterflies were dancing wildly i
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 476
Harvey was annoyed by Ethel's interference in his love life. Elara's decision to divorce him undoubtedly had something to do with Ethel's meddling."I recall that Uncle Leonard has been looking after the Shelton family. Didn't the Sheltons' daughter go abroad to study with Uncle Leonard's letter of recommendation?" Harvey asked."That's ancient history," Ethel replied. "I hear she has done quite well for herself in Melcina. She's returned and taken a position at Quantum Tech under Price Nation."Harvey was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a certain phrase from Ethel."What position does Ms. Shelton hold at Quantum Tech?"Ethel was delightedโHarvey was showing interest in Angie.She described enthusiastically, "I heard she's highly regarded by Priscilla. Since she's joined Quantum Tech, she must be in a top position.""Isn't Elara the one in charge?" Harvey thought. He quickly realized this meant Elara's position at Quantum Tech wasn't secure.Harvey re
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 475
Perhaps it was because he had spent recent days shoveling manure for fertilizer, cleaning pigpens, and herding cattle and sheep, but Harvey's germaphobia seemed to have been cured.He crouched down and began searching through the pile of garbage.Seeing Beau standing idly nearby, he sternly commanded, "What are you standing around for? Help me look! If we don't find the stethoscope, you won't be eating dinner!"Beau finally understood the gravity of the situation. With fear and trepidation in his heart, he looked at the garbage scattered on the ground with a miserable expression."Daddy, can I at least have a pair of gloves?""Look!" Harvey roared. "If we don't find it, I'll throw you in the trash can!"For the first time, he had completely lost patience with his son. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes, and the features of his face were tense and sharp.Beau trembled, held his breath, and crouched down. With a disgusted expression, he began searching through the garbage while
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 474
Harvey froze in shock. He pulled back the covers, finding nothing on the bed. He spun around and darted out of his room, leaving a sharp, cold breeze in his wake.Outside his room stood a bodyguard assigned by Leonard. Harvey then grabbed the bodyguard by the collar."Where's my stethoscope? Who told you to touch my stethoscope?" he demanded.The bodyguard was bewildered. He gripped Harvey's hand in displeasure. "Mr. Fisher, please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about."Hostility flashed in Harvey's eyes as he breathed heavily and questioned, "My stethoscope that I put under my pillowโwho took it?"The bodyguard thought for a moment. "I did see Mr. Beau playing with a stethoscope this morning. I'm not sure where he got it from."Harvey's pupils constricted sharply. Beau had entered his room and taken his stethoscope?That little brat!Beau, dressed in a gray monk's robe, was surrounded by visitors who had come to the chapel to pray. These past few days, he had been
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 473
This time, Harvey very clearly saw Elara's face deepen from a light pink to a rich, blooming roseโvisibly, and in real time.Her beauty blossomed like a peony in full bloom. Her long lashes trembled several times, and her dark eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears.She looked as ifโฆ She was lovestruck. The moment that phrase crossed Harvey's mind, he was so stunned that his eyes widened in disbelief.Was Elara suddenly getting shy because of him?A strange flutter rippled through his chest. He sat at his desk, staring at the high-definition monitor in front of him, where every detail of Elara's faceโeven each individual eyelashโwas crystal clear.He shifted his gaze to the upper-left corner of the screen to glance at the small preview of himself.After Leonard had driven him up to the mountains, the priest at Atkina Church had given him a haircut. Since he was neither a monk nor formally ordained, it was just a close-cropped cut, not a full shaving of the head.He looked at h
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 472
Theodore's eyes gleamed like sunlight shimmering over a lake. He looked like a large dog trapped in a cage, gazing at Elara with unwavering intensity. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly like a windmill spinning at full speed.Elara screamed internally. This had gone a little too far! Her eyes then dropped to the tip of her own shoe. The place she had kickedโฆ had grown!"Oh!" She quickly jerked her foot back, only to feel her body tip backward uncontrollably.Just as she was about to fall, Theodore reached out and grabbed her ankle.The moment his fingers touched her skin, her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pulled her back toward the desk.Elara froze in place like a statue. Her entire body was tense, her eyes were wide, and her pupils were unfocused."Elara, what's wrong?"Harvey had seen her suddenly lose her balance and fall backward. It startled him so badly, he looked as if he wanted to jump through the screen.A wave of helplessness washed over him. Luckil
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 471
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screenโan attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"Elโ" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elaraโno, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
There's No Turning Backย ย ย Chapter 470
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her lifeโFinnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi
