Chapter 159
Chapter 159:
Brody was lucky she hadn’t slapped him for his theatrics.
Now, here she was, caught in an unexpected twist of fate. If this gift truly was an Oaklyn original, it might actually work in her favor. Yelena knew the work she herself had created, after all.
“Yelena, is something wrong?” Cayson’s voice pulled her back to the present. His perceptive tone betrayed his concern, and she knew her subtle unease hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“No, it’s nothing, really,” Yelena said, her voice calm and steady. “I was just curious. I’ve arrived now, and I’ll deliver the gift soon.” There was no time to hesitate, and doing nothing wasn’t an option either.
“Alright,” Cayson replied, though his concern was evident. “Be careful. Call me if anything comes up p>
Yelena ended the call, her expression hardening as her eyes fell to the note in her hand.
Who in their right mind would write such a hateful thing? Fortunately, she hadn’t delivered it yet.
For a brief moment, a knot formed in her chest as the implications became clear.
Had she unknowingly delivered the gift, the consequences could have been disastrous. Her fingers tightened around the note, her gaze turning cold and calculating.
Who was behind this? Was this an attack aimed at the Harris family, intended to damage their reputation? Or was it something more personal—a deliberate strike against her?
One thing was certain, though—Yelena would have to get to the bottom of it soon.
Guests were arriving in a steady stream, each presenting their thoughtfully wrapped gifts with practiced elegance.
Yelena watched quietly for a moment before steeling herself. She had no choice but to proceed. Taking a steadying breath, she approached the butler stationed near the entrance. With a warm and gracious smile, she said, “I’m so sorry for the inconvenience earlier. I had planned a surprise for the birthday celebrant, but unfortunately, the gift was ruined by an unexpected mishap p>
M𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓃
The butler, an older man who had seen his fair share of hiccups, nodded sympathetically. “It happens. What can I do for you? Let me know, and I’ll assist you however I can p>
Yelena was relieved by his understanding demeanor.
“Thank you. Would it be possible to prepare some ink, a brush, and some paper for me?” Yelena asked.
The butler blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unusual request, but his professionalism kicked in quickly. “Of course. I’ll have them prepared right away p>
Yelena nodded her thanks and let out a soft sigh of relief. With that matter settled, she turned and headed toward the main hall.
The room was already buzzing with elegantly dressed guests exchanging pleasantries.
At the center of the gathering stood Humphrey Sugden, the birthday celebrant.
At eighty years old, he radiated energy and charm, his laughter carrying easily across the room as he greeted his well-wishers. Yelena moved toward him, intending to offer her congratulations, but a deep, magnetic voice called out behind her, halting her steps. “Yelena, you’re here too p>
There was a hint of surprise woven into the voice, subtle enough to be missed but unmistakable to a keen ear.
Yelena turned and immediately spotted Austin.