Chapter 925
Chapter 925:
Elianna, masking her irritation, inquired gently, “Bella, are you feeling okay p>
While Elianna harbored suspicions about Jarvis and Bella’s actions, her evidence was circumstantial. Besides, she simply couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy seeing Bella in tears.
Bella quickly dabbed at her eyes, feigning composure. “I’m alright, just thinking about Addie’s words earlier p>
Bella hoped her response would elicit sympathy from Elianna, but instead, it unexpectedly hardened Elianna’s expression. Mentioning her orphan status again in Elianna’s presence made the older woman suspect Bella’s true motives. This revelation continually echoed as a painful reminder in Elianna’s heart.
The thought of Bella actually being her granddaughter wasn’t unwelcome, yet circumstances dictated otherwise. Elianna hated to be reminded of it over and over.
Feeling weary from everything that had happened, Elianna said, “We should head home now. Taking the cable car would be best—I really can’t handle the steps p>
Relief washed over everyone quietly as they welcomed Elianna’s decision to take an easier route.
To Yelena, the days that others might dismiss as mundane were exceptionally valuable. Losing Archie had left her without joyous Christmas celebrations until now. And besides her family, she also had Austin, who conversed with her daily, enhancing her days.
Their conversations weren’t always filled with exciting topics, but they shared a comforting silence, whether they were reading quietly or absorbed in separate tasks—there was a calm harmony in their presence.
A few days later, Yelena visited the Herrera family to be there for Karlee’s final treatment. This session promised to fully restore Karlee’s face.
Karlee lit up at the sight of Yelena, a stark contrast to her recent seclusion in her room, too shy to meet anyone’s gaze. The servants had cruelly whispered that she was delusional, her efforts doomed to fail. Stan had previously sought various dermatologists to treat Karlee, yet none succeeded. He had kept her hidden partly out of a desire to protect her from public scrutiny.
Over time, Karlee’s self-esteem had plummeted, making her withdrawn and somber. However, Yelena’s support had recently sparked a new self-assurance in Karlee. Others might view her confidence as pointless, but Karlee felt energized.
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Stan had his doubts. He had not anticipated Yelena’s visit during the holidays. Previously, Yelena was just a member of the Harris family—a family Stan treated with caution. Now, she was known as Austin’s fiancée, and his wariness increased.
“Yelena, you’re here. Why didn’t you let me know ahead of time?” Stan had been eager to partner with the Barton Group, but they had little interest in a company as small as Herrera Group. He had hoped to use Yelena as his link to the Barton family.
Yelena responded to his greeting with a curt nod, her usual reserved acknowledgment.
Stan’s smile froze. Yelena had always treated him like this, making him feel like he was pushing forward only to hit a wall of cold indifference. Still, all he could do was swallow his frustration. He didn’t dare lose his temper in front of her.
“Yelena, you’ve arrived,” Karlee called out, no longer hiding her face.
It was then that Stan noticed Karlee’s complexion looked remarkably clear, nearly flawless. To the uninformed, it might appear she merely had a slight smudge on her skin. Even now, when Stan looked at her, a flicker of disdain crossed his eyes. A beautiful girl, yet flawed. What a disappointment!
Karlee sensed the scorn in her father’s eyes, her expression tightening as she hastened her steps.