019: A Place to Belong

Morning came sooner than Elena expected.

She woke up earlier than usual.

Today was different.

It was her first day helping Damian with his community project, and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Her mind was racing with different thoughts.

What if she wasn't good enough?

What if she disappointed him?

A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.

Mrs. Harper walked in with her usual warm smile.

She immediately noticed the anxious look on Elena's face.

"You don't have to worry so much," she said kindly. "Everything will be alright."

Elena slowly looked up and smiled.

"I hope so."

"You'll do just fine," Mrs. Harper replied confidently.

Her words eased some of Elena's worries.

After Mrs. Harper left, Elena walked to the wardrobe.

She picked out one outfit, then put it back.

She picked another.

Still not satisfied.

After trying several options, she finally chose a simple cream-colored blazer with matching trousers.

It wasn't flashy.

It was elegant.

She wanted to make a good first impression.

Not long afterward, Damian drove Elena to Blackwood Group Headquarters.

The moment they walked through the entrance, conversations came to a halt.

Every eye turned toward them.

The employees exchanged surprised glances.

"Who is she?"

"I've never seen Mr. Blackwood bring a woman here before."

"Could she be his girlfriend?"

The whispers spread across the lobby.

Elena heard them.

She lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Just then, one of the senior executives stepped forward.

"Mr. Blackwood, may I ask why—"

He didn't get to finish.

Damian calmly interrupted him.

"Miss Elena is here because I invited her."

His voice was firm.

"She deserves the same respect as everyone else in this company."

Silence filled the lobby.

No one dared to question him again.

Elena looked at Damian.

For a moment, she forgot about the whispers.

It had been a long time since someone stood up for her without expecting anything in return.

Damian later introduced Elena to the team in charge of the charity project.

She greeted everyone politely before taking her seat.

At first, she simply listened as everyone shared their ideas.

Then she noticed something.

"I have a suggestion," she said carefully.

The room became quiet.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"What if we partner with local schools instead of holding the program only in the city? That way, children in rural communities can benefit too."

The room fell silent.

A few seconds later, one of the managers nodded.

"That's actually a brilliant idea."

"I never thought about that," another added.

Soon, everyone began discussing Elena's suggestion.

Even Damian looked impressed.

A small smile appeared on Elena's face.

For the first time since her divorce, she felt useful again.

Across the city, Adrian sat alone in his office.

Several documents lay open on his desk, but he couldn't focus on any of them.

His thoughts kept drifting back to Elena.

Frustrated, he picked up his phone and called his investigator.

"Any news?" he asked.

The investigator sighed.

"Nothing yet, sir."

"It's like she disappeared without leaving a trace."

Adrian clenched his jaw.

His frustration was beginning to show.

He ended the call and stared out the window.

"Even if it takes forever," he muttered quietly, "I'll find you."

Back at Blackwood Group, the workday had finally come to an end.

Elena walked into Damian's office to return a few documents.

As she waited for him to finish a phone call, her eyes wandered around the room.

Then they stopped on an old framed family photograph sitting on a bookshelf.

She walked closer.

One little girl in the picture looked strangely familiar.

Without thinking, she picked up the frame.

"Who is this little girl?" she asked.

Damian turned around.

The moment he saw the photograph in her hands...

The color drained from his face.