All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Regret After His Daughter Died: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Elara's POVDamien rushed out, his face cold. “Emma, ice! Isabella twisted her ankle. She needs it now!”I stayed on the couch, just watching him completely unravel for her.He grabbed the ice and hurried back inside. That’s when Isabella's maid, Emma, glared at me. The disdain on her face was a clear message: You’ll never win.The moment she turned, her bitter whisper reached me. “An orphan. No family, no education…nothing compared to our Miss Reed. What gives her the right to be Mrs. Blackwood?”My nails dug into my palms until I felt the sharp bite of pain.Just endure, I told myself. The day I have enough evidence, I'll put her behind bars myself.I could endure this. I had to.The next morning, I called Liam to request temporary leave from his company."I need to work from home for a while," I explained, keeping my voice steady. "To handle some personal matters and maintain better communication with Professor Elliot about the research project.""Of course," Liam said immediately

Elara's POVDamien's phone buzzed in his hand before he could dial."Blackwood," he answered sharply, his attention already shifting away from our conversation.Hope drained out of me. He was gone, lost to the phone call, his back to me as he paced by the window."What do you mean the Singapore contracts are delayed?" he said into the phone, his voice tense with irritation. "I need those signed by tomorrow morning."Isabella reached across the table to refill his wine glass, her movements graceful and attentive. The perfect hostess tending to her man's needs."No, reschedule the board meeting," Damien continued, pacing by the window. "This takes priority."Twenty minutes later, he was still on the call. The moment had passed. Whatever fragile possibility had existed for him to confront reality about Lily had evaporated into corporate logistics and profit margins.Isabella caught my eye across the table, her smile triumphant. She'd won this round without even trying.The next morning,

Elara's POVDamien stared at me."That's... strange," he said slowly. "The same name as yours. What a coincidence."I kept my expression neutral, though my heart was hammering against my ribs."Yes," I said quietly. "What a coincidence."There was no coincidence about it. Professor Elliott's protégé, the brilliant architect threatening to steal his precious project - that was me. But he didn't need to know that. Not yet."The world is full of people with the same names," I replied evenly, fighting to keep my voice steady.Victoria, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension crackling between us, waved her hand dismissively."Oh please, Damien, you're overthinking this. There are probably dozens of Elara Vances scattered across the country. Besides, this woman is described as a cutting-edge researcher with advanced degrees. She's been collaborating with government projects, developing revolutionary architectural theories."She looked at me with barely concealed contempt, her lips curving

Elara's POVI had become a laughing stock.Whispers rippled through the gathering like poison spreading through water. I caught fragments of conversations, each one a needle to my pride."Two identical bracelets...""How embarrassing for her...""The wife always finds out eventually...""Well," I said quietly, my voice cutting through the murmur of whispers, "if there's only one authentic piece, and yours is real, then mine must be fake."I looked directly at Isabella, my eyes never leaving hers as rage built in my chest like a gathering storm."But if something is meant to be permanent," I said, my voice dangerously low, "you can always just cut it off."My fingers found the small jewelry cutting tool I'd kept in my evening clutch since destroying Lily's pendant. The metal felt cold and solid in my palm, promising the kind of decisive action I'd been craving for months.Isabella's eyes widened with genuine alarm as she realized my intention."Elara, no," she said quickly, stepping to

Damien's POVHow dare she?How dare she auction off that ring?The thought hammered in my skull as I sat through the remaining hours of the gala, watching strangers bid on the most meaningful piece of jewelry I'd ever commissioned.The ring I'd designed to celebrate Lily's birth. The ring that had taken three months to create, every detail perfect. The ring that represented the moment I became a father.Gone. Sold to some collector who would never understand its significance.Isabella tried to maintain conversation throughout the evening, but I could barely hear her voice over the roar of rage in my ears.When the gala finally ended, I drove home with white knuckles gripping the steering wheel, my jaw clenched tight.Elara was going to explain this. Tonight.——Elara's POVI had barely made it twenty steps from the hotel entrance when I heard footsteps behind me."Miss Vance?"I turned to find Dr. Gates approaching carefully, his distinguished face creased with concern."I thought tha