Chapter 335
Chapter 335:
Because Yelena certainly did.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with her parents, Yelena excused herself and retreated to her room. Inspiration had been flowing freely for her lately, and she’d created several new drawings.
The upcoming semester was an internship term, and she had plans of joining the Harris Group’s design department.
Yelena knew she had to sort these things out to balance her schedule ahead of time.
After breakfast that morning, Donna and the two girls were driven to the church.
Being Sunday, the church was bustling with people—a sea of devotees filling every corner.
Yelena, ever cautious, kept close to Donna, her eyes darting around the crowd. The last thing she wanted was for someone to accidentally jostle her mother in the chaos.
Bella, on the other hand, seemed more curious than devout. She rarely visited the church and had only come along this time to compete for Donna’s attention with Yelena. Otherwise, she would’ve avoided the crowded and uncomfortable outing entirely.
Donna was talking to a priest, which took longer than expected. Meanwhile, Yelena and Bella stayed nearby, passing the time.
The scenery caught Yelena’s eye—a serene contrast to the packed churchyard—and she decided to explore a quiet path leading toward the cliffside.
With their phones in hand, she figured there was little chance of getting separated. Donna could always call her when she was done here.
Bella watched her sister wander off and suddenly hatched an idea.
Quietly, she followed Yelena, keeping just enough distance to avoid suspicion.
𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩸𝖼𝗈𝗺
But Yelena wasn’t so easily fooled. Always alert, she quickly noticed Bella’s shadow trailing her, moving with an air of subtle intent.
But since they were in a public place, Yelena decided not to make a scene. If Bella wanted to follow her, so be it.
She continued climbing the mountain, keeping her focus on the beautiful surroundings rather than the shadow trailing her.
Bella, however, was struggling. As always, she had chosen style over practicality, wearing high heels even for a mountain climb. Her feet ached with every step, but her pride wouldn’t let her stop.
After all, she had to maintain her elegant image, no matter how ridiculous it seemed.
Why would anyone wearing high heels want to climb a mountain?
Soon enough, her resolve faltered.
Bella let out a sharp cry of pain, drawing Yelena’s attention.
Yelena turned to see Bella squatting on the trail, her face twisted in discomfort as she clutched her ankle. It was clear she had sprained it.
“Yelena,” Bella called out pitifully, her voice trembling, “I’ve twisted my ankle. Please, help me p>
Yelena sighed inwardly. She knew Bella’s manipulative tendencies all too well and didn’t trust her sudden vulnerability. But with onlookers nearby, she couldn’t just walk away.
Reluctantly, she approached, her tone indifferent. “What happened p>
“I twisted my ankle,” Bella repeated, her expression full of false innocence. “Please, do something. It hurts p>
Without saying another word, Yelena reached out and helped Bella to her feet.
They had no choice but to head back down the trail. Bella hobbled slowly, genuinely wincing in pain with every step.
As they approached a narrow, crowded slope, Yelena kept a firm grip on Bella, carefully maneuvering through the tight space. Suddenly, Bella stumbled—or so it seemed. She lurched into Yelena with surprising force, catching her off guard.
Yelena teetered on the edge, one foot dangling in midair, barely hanging on. For a moment, it looked like she might plummet off the cliff.