Chapter 281
Chapter 281:
The sheer extravagance left Elianna stunned.
“Mr. Bowen, this is far too generous. These gifts are exceptionally valuable,” Elianna exclaimed, unable to mask her surprise.
“Mrs. Harris, these gifts are but a small token of appreciation compared to the help Yelena gave me. Please, accept them without hesitation.” John, however, dismissed her concerns with a composed smile.
“You’re far too kind,” Yelena spoke softly.
“Not at all. By the way, you must be exhausted after staying up all night. We won’t intrude any further. But when you have the time, I’d like to host a proper dinner in your honor,” John said with heartfelt gratitude.
“Alright,” Yelena nodded lightly.
Throughout the exchange, she felt the weight of a steady gaze upon her. She knew exactly who it belonged to but couldn’t summon the courage to meet his eyes. Austin’s gaze lingered on Yelena before he finally turned to leave with John.
He had accompanied John to check on Yelena, but what he found left him deeply unsettled.
The news of her being grounded in the meditation room for the entire night filled him with a profound ache, a heaviness he couldn’t shake.
The thought of her enduring such treatment was incomprehensible, stirring emotions he struggled to define.
Once they departed, Yelena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Elianna, still processing everything, turned to Yelena with a conflicted expression. “Yelena, why didn’t you tell me you were helping the Bowen family last night p>
Yelena’s response was calm and measured. “Would you have believed me if I had? So, what would’ve been the point p>
Elianna’s face flushed with a tinge of embarrassment. “Don’t speak like that. Of course, I’d have believed you. Just… be careful when you go out. Now, go get some rest p>
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Though Elianna wasn’t particularly fond of Yelena, the events of the day made her feel a pang of guilt for her earlier harshness.
“Alright, I understand,” Yelena said softly before retreating to her room, leaving Elianna to her thoughts.
Bella stood on the landing, her gaze fixed on the extravagant pile of gifts below. She was utterly bewildered. What on earth was happening? Why would Austin and John shower Yelena with such generosity?
John said that Yelena had helped him, but Bella couldn’t wrap her head around what Yelena could have possibly done to warrant such rewards.
She bit her lip in frustration as curiosity gnawed at her. Yelena’s sudden stroke of luck, forming connections with such influential figures, seemed almost surreal. Bella’s mind raced. If she didn’t act now, Yelena’s relationship with them might grow stronger, leaving Bella further in the shadows.
She resolved to come up with a plan.
Meanwhile, Yelena retreated to her room and sank into a much-needed nap. Despite the ordeal of spending the previous night in the meditation room, she felt a sense of accomplishment from the tasks she’d managed to complete.
At the same time, Austin returned home, only to find Monica waiting for him. She looked up shyly as he entered, her demeanor tinged with awkwardness. Rising to her feet, she offered him a small smile.
“Austin, you’re back. I came to give you these invitations,” she said, pulling three elegantly designed cards from her bag and handing them to him.
Austin hesitated for a moment before accepting them. “Alright, I’ll be there p>
Given her effort to deliver them in person, he felt it would be impolite to refuse. As he glanced at the invitations in his hand, an idea began to take shape in his mind.
Monica couldn’t read Austin’s thoughts, but his quick agreement sent a rush of warmth through her chest. It wasn’t just the gesture—it was the unspoken acknowledgment of how much he valued their bond, rooted in years of shared childhood memories. The thought emboldened her, fueling her confidence as she moved forward with plans for her upcoming concert. Determined to make her solo concert a grand affair, Monica extended invitations to an array of high-society elites.