บททั้งหมดของ The Barren Ex-Wife's Revenge: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

Elena sat in the taxi with her suitcases, not knowing where to go. She had no family, no money of her own, and no place to call home. Then she remembered Aurora.Aurora Blackwell had been her only friend at the orphanage. They grew up together at Silvermere, sharing the same small room for ten years. Aurora was the only person who had warned Elena not to marry Jack.Elena gave the taxi driver Aurora's address. She hoped Aurora still lived in the same apartment in the Riverside District.The taxi stopped in front of a small but clean building. Elena paid with the little cash she still had and carried her suitcases to the third floor. She stood in front of apartment 3B for a long time before knocking.The door opened and Aurora appeared. She was still beautiful with her long brown hair and warm smile. But when she saw Elena, her face immediately changed to worry."Elena?" Aurora said in shock. "What are you doing here? What happened?"Elena tried to speak but no words came out. Instead,

"Thank you," Elena said quietly. "For not having me thrown out.""You've got guts," he replied. "I respect that."The bartender brought two glasses of whiskey and quickly disappeared again."I'm Zephyr," the man said, raising his glass. "Zephyr Ravenclaw.""Elena," she replied, clinking her glass against his. "Elena Valdris."The whiskey burned her throat but felt good. Stronger than the wine she had been drinking."So Elena Valdris," Zephyr said. "What brings you to this bar on Sunday night, drinking alone and refusing to leave when dangerous men tell you to?"Elena laughed bitterly. "Bad life choices.""Ah," Zephyr nodded. "I know something about those."They drank in comfortable silence for a while. Elena found herself relaxing around this stranger. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was because he didn't seem to judge her."Can I ask you something?" Elena said after her third whiskey."Shoot.""Are you from around here? You don't sound like you're from Vaelthorne City."Zephyr

Elena arrived back at Aurora's apartment around noon, her head pounding from too much alcohol and her heart heavy with guilt. The taxi ride had been quiet, giving her too much time to think about what she had done with Zephyr.She had never acted so recklessly before. Sleeping with a complete stranger was something the old Elena would never do. But maybe the old Elena was gone forever.Elena used her key to enter Aurora's apartment. "Aurora?" she called out. "I'm back."No answer.Elena walked through the small apartment looking for her friend. The bedroom was empty but the bed was ready made. Aurora's purse and keys were gone from their usual spot by the door.There was a note on the kitchen table: "Gone to work early. Be back around six. Hope you're feeling better today. - A"Elena sat down on the couch and looked around the quiet apartment. For the first time in days, she was completely alone with her thoughts.What was she going to do with her life? She had no job prospects becaus

Elena hurried down the hospital corridor, finally finding room 314. She pushed open the door and saw Aurora lying in bed with bandages wrapped around her head, her left arm in a cast, and bruises covering the visible parts of her body."Elena!" Aurora said, relief flooding her voice when she saw her friend. "I was so scared you wouldn't come."Elena rushed to Aurora's bedside and carefully took her uninjured hand. "Of course I came. What happened? Are you okay?"Aurora's eyes immediately filled with tears, and Elena could see it wasn't just from physical pain. There was heartbreak written all over her friend's face."It's a long story," Aurora said, her voice shaking. "And it's worse than just a car accident."Elena pulled the chair closer to Aurora's bed. "Tell me everything. Start from the beginning."Aurora took a shaky breath. "You remember David, my boyfriend? The one I've been dating for eight months?"Elena nodded. Aurora had talked about David constantly. She had been so happy

Margaret Ravenwood lay in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. It had been three hours since the young woman named Elena had walked into her room by mistake, and Margaret couldn't stop thinking about her face.The resemblance to her late daughter was impossible to ignore. The same dark hair, the same shaped eyes, the same gentle way of speaking. Even the same name.Margaret's daughter Elena had died thirty years ago during a difficult pregnancy. Both mother and baby had died on the delivery table, or so the doctors had told her. But seeing this young woman had stirred up feelings Margaret thought she had buried forever.Nurse Patricia entered the room to check Margaret's IV."Any word about the young woman I asked you to find?" Margaret asked hopefully.Patricia sighed. "Mrs. Ravenwood, I left messages for Elena Valdris, but she hasn't responded. She's dealing with her own problems right now."Margaret felt disappointed. "What kind of problems?""Her friend was in a serious car a