Chapter 238
Chapter 238 The Hidden Trauma Buried Deep Inside
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Zora tightly curled her fingers. She was certain this incident was the root of all the sorrow lingering in Leighton’s heart.
She had long been worrying about how to truly help Leighton get back on his feet.
Even if she managed to regulate his physical condition perfectly, his persistent insomnia would sooner or later ruin his health all over again.
Besides, she could not stay by his side forever.
“I don’t know all the details either,” Hallie said softly. “All I’ve heard is that there was a kidnapping case 16 years ago. Both my late aunt and Leighton were taken hostage, and only he survived in the end. When Uncle Garrett brought him back home, he was covered all over in terrible injuries without a single unhurt spot on his body.
“Zora, no one in the family dares to talk about Aunt Vienne’s passing, and very few outsiders know the truth. I was just a one-year-old toddler back then. After what happened, Uncle Garrett issued a strict gag order forbidding anyone from bringing it up.
“Promise me you’ll never ask Leighton about this matter. He loses control of his emotions instantly whenever her name is mentioned. Even his own father never dares to touch this sensitive topic, and he will fly into a rage at anyone who dares to bring it up p>
Hallie was not holding back information on purpose; she truly knew very little, having been far too young when Vienne passed away.
“I understand,” Zora replied quietly.
2
She drifted off to sleep later, her mind still heavy with countless worries.
Beneath his easygoing and bright exterior, Leighton carried such profound hidden pain that no one else could see.
Just thinking about him being the sole survivor of that terrifying kidnapping and suffering severe bodily harm was heartbreaking enough.
She also recalled the awkward, distant atmosphere between Leighton and Garrett. What kind of tragedy could turn once close father and son into mere strangers? She dared not imagine the full truth behind it.
“Zora, hurry up and get ready! Easton has been blowing up the group chat, urging us to head
out p>
Early the next morning, the two girls had barely woken up when Hallie’s phone kept buzzing
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nonstop. She picked it up and saw piles of unread messages popping up on the screen, then sat up straight at once.
They were planning a day trip to the amusement park today, and it was Zora’s first time going, so she was filled with quiet excitement.
“This way,” Hallie called out.
By the time they walked downstairs, Easton and the others had already arrived, and they had also picked up Maya.
They arranged for a driver to bring a spacious van that could fit all five of them comfortably.
“I made breakfast for everyone,” Maya said while handing over the food containers.
“Thanks a ton, Maya! We haven’t had anything to eat yet,” Hallie said gratefully as she took the food.
Zora sat right in the middle between the two girls.
She opened her container, seeing golden ham pepper turnovers, seasoned fries, croissant rolls, mini beef sliders, and yogurt to cut the richness.
“I made this yogurt sugar-free so it’s safe for you to eat,” Maya whispered gently to Zora. “Only the mini beef sliders have meat filling; all the rest are vegetarian p>
“Okay.” A sweet smile bloomed across Zora’s face, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Ever since she started cutting back on sugar, Maya had been thoughtfully preparing suitable homemade treats just for her every morning.
“You are literally our little guardian angel,” Hallie praised cheerfully after taking a bite of the beef slider.
“I’m just glad you all like it.” Maya adjusted her glasses, a faint, warm smile softening her calm
tone.
“We absolutely love them. They taste amazing!” Easton spoke up from the back seat. “You really ought to open a bakery sometime. I’ll be your regular customer every single day. If you need funds to start the business, we can all invest together. Your cooking skills are top-notch; you’ll definitely make good profits p>
They only got to eat Maya’s cooking because of Zora. He really wanted her to open a place.
“I haven’t planned anything like that for now,” Maya laughed and shook her head.
“Hey guys, have you heard the latest gossip?” Easton went on casually. “Evan’s party got completely crashed yesterday, and he’s now locked up in the police station with no way to get
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out. I heard someone ruined him down there. What’s more, more than a dozen small influential families fled the city overnight, clearly having offended someone powerful they couldn’t afford to cross p>
Leighton had tried his best to suppress the news to keep it from spreading widely, yet such drastic moves still made people in their social circle sense that something huge had gone down.
“We were the ones who did it,” Hallie said plainly while munching on croissant rolls.
“What?! What on earth happened?” Easton instantly sat up straight, no longer lazing around scrolling on his phone. “Why didn’t you call us over? We’re supposed to be friends. You can’t leave us out of such things p>
“Zora and I ran into some rude troublemakers while shopping yesterday, so we taught them a lesson,” Hallie briefly recounted what had happened, leaving out those offensive words Evan had said. “You have no idea how cool Zora was! She just waved her hand lightly, and a whole crowd of people dropped to the ground right away p>
“Wow, Hallie, you’re so awesome p>
“They totally deserved that punishment p>
“Zora was absolutely incredible too p>
“Zora, keep more powder on you. Next time we run into idiots, we sprinkle them p>
“You’re just dying to show off how outstanding Zora is,” Felix teased, seeing right through Hallie’s real intention.
“You totally get me!” Hallie leaned forward and playfully patted his arm with a bright grin.
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The Real Heiress s New Family Adored by All
Jane is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.