Chapter 23
Chapter 23:
The idea was laughable, bordering on delusional.
How could Donna possibly be cured by someone like her? “I’ll be waiting eagerly, then,” Bella said, her tone laced with biting sarcasm and thinly veiled doubt.
Yelena glanced at Bella, her expression unreadable, and chose not to dignify the remark with a response. People like Bella didn’t deserve words—they needed proof, and Yelena preferred to let results do the talking.
Under Donna’s watchful and affectionate gaze, Yelena focused on finishing her meal. Each bite of ravioli brought a warmth to her heart that she hadn’t realized she missed.
When Yelena finally set her fork down, Donna smiled, satisfied, and retired to her room to rest.
Bella, too, rose to leave, her mind already racing with plans. She couldn’t wait to rejoin her circle of wealthy friends, eager to reassert her place among the social elite.
Whatever happened with Yelena was inconsequential to her. That country bumpkin would never truly fit in. Her lack of refinement and pedigree would eventually expose her.
As Bella glanced up, she caught sight of Yelena’s silhouette disappearing up the stairs. Her expression darkened, resentment pooling in her chest.
Yelena stepped into her room, her muscles relaxing after the long day.
She headed to the bathroom, letting the warm water of the shower wash away her lingering tension.
Wrapping herself in a robe, she began drying her hair when her phone buzzed.
Glancing at the screen, she saw Brody’s name flash across it. Without much thought, she answered.
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“Yelena, guess what?” Brody’s voice buzzed with excitement on the other end of the line. “There’s a big gun from the Barton family in Kheley offering a fifty-million bounty on the black market for Yancy’s services. Fifty million, Yelena p>
Yelena, unimpressed, kept her tone flat. “Not interested. Decline it p>
She didn’t want anything to do with those big-shot families. They brought more headaches than they were worth, and she was not in the mood.
Brody sputtered in disbelief. “What? Are you kidding me? We’re talking about fifty million! You’re seriously turning that down?” Why was Yelena so hell-bent on refusing such offers?
“I have my reasons,” she replied, her voice dismissive as she moved to wrap up the conversation. “By the way, I found my biological parents p>
The revelation hit Brody like a thunderbolt. “Wait, what? You found them? Already? I just started the search p>
“Yeah,” Yelena said, her tone softening slightly. “Turns out they’re the Harris family here in Eighfast p>
Brody fell silent for a beat before his excitement returned tenfold. “The Harris family? Yelena, they’re insanely rich! This is incredible! So… uh, care to share the love? Maybe send your favorite friend a little something as a gift?” His laughter rang through the phone, cheeky and full of glee.
“Get lost. You’re already swimming in cash,” Yelena said, her tone sharp but teasing.
“One can never have too much money, you know,” Brody said with a playful chuckle, but his tone quickly shifted, carrying a note of warning. “Still, you should know, that Barton guy might be closing in. He seems like the persistent type p>