Chapter 491
Chapter 491:
Yelena glanced at Bella and asked, “So, does the Harris family have a rule that no one can eat until everyone’s here? If Dad or Cayson is traveling, does that mean we all have to wait until they get back p>
“That’s not what I meant. I just…” Bella’s voice faltered, her expression filled with helplessness as she glanced at Elianna, silently communicating that she had done her best.
Elianna let out a cold huff and said, “Enough, Bella. Don’t waste your energy.” After a brief pause, she added sternly, “And don’t save her any food. Let her go hungry p>
Elianna expected this to make Yelena relent, but when she looked in Yelena’s direction, she was taken aback. Yelena had pulled out a tablet and was now deeply focused on sketching. Worse, Yelena seemed completely absorbed in her work, oblivious to Elianna’s words.
Bella also observed Yelena, a subtle smile crossing her face as a glint of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.
Unable to rein in Yelena, Elianna shifted her venomous gaze toward Donna, her eyes as sharp as daggers. “She didn’t grow up in this family, so it’s understandable that she’s reckless. But you’re her mother. How is it that you’re just as lost as she is p>
Donna felt the full weight of Elianna’s glare pinning her like a hawk eyeing its prey. Though she longed to retort, years of living under Elianna’s thumb had eroded her courage, leaving her defenseless and meek.
Even if Donna wished to defend herself, the words caught in her throat, and fear shackled her voice.
Just as Donna opened her mouth to respond, Yelena stood abruptly and said, “I apologize for ruining the meal for everyone.” She sat back down at the dinner table and resumed eating, her actions brisk yet deliberate.
Yelena wasn’t incapable of snapping back at Elianna—she knew she could. But unleashing her anger would offer only fleeting satisfaction.
Deep down, she understood that raising a scene now would only make life harder for Donna within the Harris family. So, despite the storm of fury brewing inside her, Yelena chose to keep her head down, her silence a shield against the tempest.
Discover new chapters at
Seeing Yelena back down, a faint, smug smile flickered in Elianna’s eyes, as if she were savoring a small victory. If Yelena had behaved like this earlier, Elianna thought, she wouldn’t have needed to lash out.
Bella, always quick to notice a flicker of intrigue, caught sight of Yelena’s phone lighting up again.
She leaned slightly forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Yelena, it looks like you’ve got another message,” Bella remarked, her voice sweet but deliberately curious. “And it seems to be from a man. Perhaps it’s something important?” Her words hung in the air like bait, and the room’s atmosphere shifted. In an instant, all eyes turned toward Yelena.
Cayson, ever the protective brother, stiffened at the mention of Yelena speaking to a man.
They had only just welcomed her back into the family fold—how could they allow some stranger to swoop in and take her away? No, that simply wouldn’t do.
Despite the heavy gazes fixed on her, Yelena continued eating, her expression serene, as though she hadn’t heard a word. But her calm demeanor only fueled the suspicion that she had something to hide.
After finishing her meal, Yelena placed her fork down gently and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Please enjoy your meal. I’m full p>
Elianna’s tone was sharp as she snapped, “Hold it right there! Bella just addressed you—why didn’t you respond p>
Yelena turned to face Elianna, her expression placid. “Oh, forgive me. I thought that in families of high standing like ours, silence during meals was a mark of good manners. Clearly, I was mistaken. It seems the Harris family’s standards aren’t quite as p>
She let the sentence hang, unfinished yet sharp enough to cut.