032: Pieces of the Past

The afternoon sun bathed the gardens of Blackwood Mansion in a soft golden glow. The colorful flowers swayed gently in the breeze, filling the air with a sweet fragrance that instantly calmed the mind.

After lunch, Damian left for Blackwood Group to attend an important board meeting, leaving Elena with her grandfather.

Not wanting him to feel lonely in a place that was still unfamiliar, Elena offered to show him around the mansion grounds.

"I hope you don't mind walking," she said with a smile.

Her grandfather chuckled.

"At my age, a slow walk is better than sitting all day."

They strolled along the stone pathway, surrounded by blooming roses and neatly trimmed hedges. Birds chirped from the trees, and the peaceful atmosphere made it easy to forget, if only for a little while, how complicated life had become.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It was the silence of two people trying to reconnect after years of separation.

Finally, her grandfather smiled as he looked around the gardens.

"You always loved flowers."

Elena looked at him curiously.

"I did?"

"Oh, yes," he replied with a laugh.

"You were only seven years old, yet you acted like you owned the entire garden."

She laughed softly.

"I find that hard to believe."

"It's true."

"You insisted that every rose bush be planted in a straight line. When the gardeners ignored you, you marched over with your tiny hands on your waist and told them they were doing it all wrong."

Elena burst into laughter.

"I actually did that?"

"You certainly did."

"They were too amused to argue with you."

For the first time that day, they laughed together without hesitation.

The sound warmed both their hearts.

As they continued walking, they reached a quiet gazebo overlooking a small lake.

Her grandfather slowly sat down on one of the wooden benches and looked out at the water.

"Your parents used to take you to places like this every Sunday," he said quietly.

"They always believed family time was more important than business."

Elena sat beside him.

"I wish I could remember them better."

"They loved you more than anything," he replied.

"You were the center of their world."

A gentle breeze brushed against Elena's face.

She remained silent for a moment before asking the question that had lingered in her mind for years.

"Grandpa..."

"Were we poor after my parents died?"

The old man turned to look at her, clearly surprised.

"What makes you ask that?"

She shrugged lightly.

"I don't know."

"I've always felt like there are missing pieces in my life."

"I remember struggling..."

"I remember trying so hard to make ends meet after marrying Adrian."

"I remember believing that was all I had."

Her grandfather lowered his gaze.

After a long silence, he shook his head.

"No."

"We were never poor."

Elena frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He folded his hands together before answering.

"Your parents built one of the most successful family businesses in the country."

"They worked hard for everything they owned."

"Our family lived comfortably."

He paused before adding,

"Very comfortably."

Elena stared at him in disbelief.

"Then... why did I live the way I did after marrying Adrian?"

A look of sadness crossed her grandfather's face.

"Because you chose to."

"I... chose to?"

He nodded.

"You came to me before your wedding."

"You said you didn't want Adrian to marry you because of your family name or our wealth."

"You wanted a husband who loved Elena... not her inheritance."

Elena listened quietly.

"You refused to touch a single penny of the family fortune."

"You insisted on building a simple life with him."

"You even asked me never to tell anyone who you truly were."

Fragments of memories began surfacing in Elena's mind.

Not complete memories.

Just scattered images.

Signing documents.

Handing over bank cards.

Packing away designer clothes and expensive jewelry.

Locking them inside a storage room.

"I remember..." she whispered.

"Only a little."

Her grandfather smiled gently.

"You always believed love mattered more than money."

"I still believe that," Elena said softly.

She looked down at her hands.

"I just never imagined love alone wouldn't be enough."

The words carried years of disappointment and heartbreak.

Her grandfather reached over and gently held her hand.

"My child..."

"You may have lost your marriage."

"You may have lost people who failed to appreciate you."

"But you've never lost your worth."

His words settled deep inside her heart.

For so long, Elena had measured herself by everything she thought she had failed at.

Perhaps it was finally time to remember the woman she had been before life broke her spirit.

A woman who was kind.

Strong.

And worthy of being loved.

At Blackwood Group, Damian stood beside the large windows of his office, absentmindedly looking over the city skyline.

His thoughts kept drifting back to Elena.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Mrs. Harper.

"Mr. Blackwood," she said cheerfully.

"I thought you'd like to know something."

"What is it?"

"Miss Elena has been smiling all afternoon."

Damian smiled without realizing it.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I haven't seen her this relaxed since she arrived."

A quiet sense of relief settled over him.

"Thank you for telling me."

After ending the call, Damian looked out the window once more.

Seeing Elena heal, little by little, brought him more happiness than closing any business deal ever could.

Across the city, Adrian sat alone in his office.

His investigator entered carrying another file.

"We've confirmed something."

Adrian looked up immediately.

"What is it?"

The investigator hesitated before placing the folder on the desk.

"Before she married you..."

"Elena came from one of the wealthiest families in the country."

Adrian frowned.

"That's impossible."

"It isn't."

"She deliberately kept her identity hidden."

The room fell silent.

Adrian slowly opened the file.

Inside were photographs, newspaper articles, and old business records.

His hands trembled slightly.

The woman he had dismissed as ordinary...

The woman he believed had nothing...

Had willingly given up a life most people could only dream of.

For the first time since their divorce, Adrian realized he had never truly known the woman he married.

And that realization hurt more than he cared to admit.