All Chapters of The Heiress's Choice : Chapter 131 - Chapter 139

139 Chapters

130. The plant site

Elena's POVThe hard hat was heavier than I expected.I adjusted the strap twice before giving up on getting it comfortable. Patricia looked just as out of place beside me in a safety vest and sensible flats, but she had the decency not to comment.The plant site was loud in a way that got into your chest.The steady rhythm of machinery. Forklifts weaving between sections. Workers moving with practiced efficiency. The air smelled of oil, hot metal and something faintly burnt.I stopped just inside the entrance.It wasn’t polished glass offices or boardrooms anymore.This was where Sterling actually became something people could hold in their hands.I changed into steel toed work boots that morning instead of heels, and I was already glad I had.One of the plant managers was walking beside me, giving me the standard briefing, numbers and percentages and I let him finish before saying,"I'd like to walk the floor first."He paused, blinking in surprise."Of course, though if you'd prefe

131. Always

Elena’s POVThe maintenance supervisor was standing near Patricia’s desk when I arrived at the executive floor, still holding the thick folder I’d asked him to bring.He looked like he wasn't entirely sure he was supposed to be here.The moment he saw me, he straightened instinctively.“You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be,” I said, offering him a reassuring smile.He let out a slow breath.“I’ve never been to a board meeting before.”“You’re not here to impress them,” I said. “Just tell them what you told me.”He nodded once. Together, we walked toward the boardroom.The low conversations inside died the moment I pushed open the doors.Most of the board members were already seated, laptops open, coffee cups within reach, the familiar atmosphere of people expecting another routine meeting.Then they noticed the man walking in beside me.Confused glances moved around the table. One director frowned. Another quietly checked the meeting agenda in front of him as if making sure he

132. Eighty percent

Caleb's POVSaturday morning, and for the first time in weeks, I woke up without dreading practice.My shoulder didn’t ache when I rolled out of bed. That alone felt like progress.By the time I pulled into the facility, I could already feel it. Something was different.Not my shoulder.Me.Coach didn’t let me touch a ball for the first twenty minutes.Conditioning. Footwork. More conditioning.He’d become obsessed with watching how I moved before he cared about how I threw.A month ago, It would’ve annoyed me.Now, I understood why.Every cut. Every pivot. Every stop.He wanted to know if my body trusted itself again before my arm ever got involved.Finally, he tossed a ball.“Let’s see it.”I rolled the laces beneath my fingers, planted my feet and threw. The ball left my hand cleanly in a tight spiral. There was no hesitation and no pain. I barely even watched it reach the receiver.I already knew it was perfect.The second throw felt even better.By the third, something inside m

133. What he needed

Elena’s POVMonday had come too quickly.Yesterday’s game had ended without Caleb ever stepping onto the field.I had watched from home, knowing exactly what it meant when Jordan took the starting position and Caleb remained on the sideline.It hurt to watch.Because I knew how badly he wanted to prove that he was ready to get back out there.I spoke to him afterward and he insisted he was fine, and I didn’t push.He needed to process it.He had always been stubborn about disappointment. He would sit with it, turn it over in his head, get angry with himself for a while, and eventually find a way to move forward.If he needed me, he would call.At least, that was what I told myself.Still, my phone sat face-up beside my coffee as I stole a glance at it again.Nothing.I was just beginning to wonder whether I should text him when Claire reached across the table and stole a fry from my plate.“Earth to Elena” she said, completely unbothered by the fact that she was eating my food. “You w

134. You'll see

Elena's POVBy Thursday afternoon, life had settled back into its usual rhythm.I was halfway back to Sterling when my phone buzzed on the passenger seat. It was Caleb.I answered through the car speaker."Hey.""Hey," he said. He sounded breathless. "What are you doing?""I’m heading back to Sterling. Just finished a meeting across town. Why?"There was a pause that lasted exactly one second too long."How far away are you?" he asked finally.I already knew that tone.“Why?""I need a ride from practice."I looked at the road ahead of me."Caleb…”"What?""You have a car.”"I know.”"So you don't need a ride."He paused another second, before saying sheepishly,"I asked nicely."I laughed despite myself."That is not an explanation.""Practice is almost over," he said. Then after the briefest pause, "You haven't seen me throw in a while."I smiled.There it was. "You could've just asked me to come watch practice.”"Where's the fun in that?" he said and I could hear the grin in his

135. Something to look forward to

Elena’s POVA few days had passed since I picked Caleb up after practice, and somehow, Sunday had arrived faster than I expected.Now I was sitting on Adrian’s private jet with Claire, Jenna and Adrian, somewhere over Europe, on our way to Rome for Caleb’s game.I looked across the cabin just in time to see Jenna pointing accusingly at Adrian.“I was sitting there first.”“You were standing,” Adrian said, completely settled into the seat she was pointing at, his legs stretched out, drink already in hand.“I put my bag there.”“A bag is not a person.”“Adrian…”“Jenna,” he said, in exactly the same tone.Claire was already laughing from the seat across from them.I sat down beside her and decided very quickly that I was not getting involved.The jet had been in the air for about forty minutes, and this argument had been going on for at least twenty of them, which was honestly impressive commitment from both sides.Outside the window, the clouds had long since replaced any view of Denve

136. I was ready

Caleb's POVI moved my shoulder before I even opened my eyes properly.I was testing it, the way I had every morning since the injury, waiting for the familiar resistance or dull ache that usually reminded me how much further I still had to go.But there was nothing.Just my shoulder, moving the way it was supposed to.I sat up slowly, a smile already spreading across my face as I stared at the ceiling.Today was the day. I had spent weeks getting to this exact morning. Every training session. Every physio appointment. Every day of sitting on the sideline watching other people do what I was supposed to be doing.And now, finally, I was back.My shoulder felt good.The game was only a few hours away, and for the first time since the injury, I didn’t have a single doubt about whether my body was ready.I was genuinely, completely ready.There was nothing I was waiting to hear.I was playing today.My phone buzzed on the nightstand.I reached for it and saw Elena’s name.Elena: You rea

137. He's not okay

Elena’s povThe team jogged out onto the field, and my eyes went straight to him.Caleb.Even in the sea of jerseys, I found him first, the way I always did.The stadium in Rome felt different from the ones back home.I had been to two of his games before, both times sitting in the VIP section surrounded by the wives and girlfriends of his teammates.But this felt bigger somehow.The lights were sharper. The crowd seemed louder, their chants rolling through the stadium in waves, most of the words lost on me but the excitement behind them impossible to miss.Flags moved through the stands, people were already on their feet and every few seconds another burst of noise rose from somewhere around us.I looked toward the field again.And there he was.Caleb rolled his shoulder once, shook out his arm and jogged into formation like nothing ever happened to him.I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.“He looks good,” Claire said beside me, leaning forward in her seat.“He does

138. I choose you

Elena’s povI found him near the river, far away from the stadium that the noise had almost disappeared.He was standing with his back to me beneath a row of string lights that were just beginning to flicker on, his hands resting against the stone railing as he stared out at the water.Rome had gone soft around us.The sky was bruised with orange and purple, the last of the daylight fading between the buildings, and the river moved quietly below us.It felt strangely peaceful.Too peaceful for the way my heart was still pounding.“Caleb.”His shoulders tightened.He didn’t turn around."Go back, Elena.”I slowed as I approached him."No."“I’m serious.”“So am I.”He finally turned his head enough to look at me.His face was tired. His eyes were darker than they had been when he walked onto that field.“I’m fine,” he said, looking back at the river.I stopped a few feet away.“You’re not.”"I just need a minute,” he said, running a hand down his face. “I’m fine.”"You’ve said that alr

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