Chapter 912
Chapter 912:
Observing Yelena’s bright smile, John scoffed, thinking she and Austin were cut from the same cloth.
“Forget it. I’ll just go somewhere else,” John said, scratching his head in frustration.
Staying at a hotel was out of the question; the second he checked into one, his mother would find out and send Addie after him. Nor could he return to his own place, as his mother knew its location—it would be like walking into a trap.
After some thought, John realized there was one safe haven. This was why he often stayed at Austin’s—though he had a home, it didn’t feel as safe.
“Suit yourself, but you can’t hide forever. If you don’t like it, just say it,” Yelena advised.
Yelena mused why John couldn’t just talk to his mother and Addie and get it over with.
Though John wished he could stand up for himself, he simply couldn’t. Despite telling Addie repeatedly that he wasn’t interested, she seemed not to hear him and kept pestering him.
Reflecting on Addie’s actions made John feel repulsed, as though he had ingested something foul. He had tried explaining this to his family, but they dismissed his concerns, leaving him helpless.
Yelena turned to Cayson and said, “Let’s go p>
John exhaled in relief as he watched Yelena and Cayson depart.
Outside Austin’s house, Yelena’s phone rang. Expecting it to be Austin, she was surprised to hear Erica’s voice instead. “Merry Christmas, Yelena p>
Yelena responded with a smile. “Merry Christmas, Erica p>
Erica continued, “Yelena, my dad’s garden just had a big harvest. I spent all of yesterday helping him at the flower shop. It was exhausting! I saved the most beautiful one for you, but today’s been so hectic I almost forgot. I asked Bernice for your address and I’m nearby now. Can you come out and grab it p>
Yelena hesitated, mindful of the abundance of flowers already at home. However, not wanting to seem rude since Erica was already at her doorstep, she agreed.
As Yelena stepped forward, she spotted Erica, who waved enthusiastically but then paused, looking puzzled.
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“Yelena, did Bernice give me the wrong house number? Why are you coming out of that house p>
“No, she didn’t. That’s just my fiancé’s house,” Yelena clarified. It was a straightforward explanation, yet Erica’s knowing glance suddenly made Yelena feel awkward. “Well… thank you for the flowers p>
Erica smiled warmly. “No problem. You’ve helped me so much. Thanks to you, my thesis was well received, and I got recommended for a postgraduate program right away p>
Erica was well aware that without Yelena’s assistance, her success wouldn’t have come so easily. While Yelena never expected anything in return, Erica felt it was important to show her gratitude.
Encouraged by her parents, Erica brought flowers to express thanks. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re truly beautiful,” Yelena acknowledged.
Erica had shared with Yelena that her family were humble flower farmers, her father passionate about cultivating and experimenting with different blooms.
Thus, receiving flowers from Erica was no surprise to Yelena. The gesture was simple yet thoughtful, especially considering Erica had braved the cold to deliver them.
“What kind of flower is this? How should I care for it?” Yelena inquired.
“It’s a variety of orchids. Just water it when the soil feels dry, and keep it out of direct sunlight. Indirect light will prevent the leaves from burning,” Erica explained.
“Alright. Would you like to come in for some coffee and snacks?” Yelena offered.