Chapter 432
Chapter 432:
“A packed day, you say? What could she possibly be busy with? Busier than you and your father?” Elianna shot back with a raised eyebrow.
Despite her sharp words, Elianna couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride for Cayson. Donna might not be her favorite person, but Elianna had to give credit where it was due—Donna had raised her son to be exceptional. It was moments like these that had softened Elianna’s once frosty attitude toward Donna over the years.
So, when Elianna addressed Cayson, her tone melted into something warmer, like sunlight breaking through an overcast sky.
Even so, Elianna didn’t appreciate Cayson standing up for Yelena.
Yelena, on the other hand, stood uncomfortably under her grandmother’s scrutiny. Would Elianna ever give her a break? Did Elianna truly believe Yelena was someone to be pushed around?
Sensing the tension rise like a storm about to break, Bella stepped in with her trademark charm.
“Grandma, you’ve been talking for a while now. You must be parched. I made you some honey water—it’ll soothe your throat p>
Elianna turned to Bella, her eyes narrowing in an appraising gaze.
Bella, the one Elianna had doted on since she was little, always knew how to play her cards right. Thoughtful, composed, a breath of fresh air—unlike Yelena, who always seemed to stir the pot.
As Bella guided Elianna upstairs, the weight in the room seemed to lift, and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head to my room,” Yelena said flatly, already on her feet.
“I’ll join you,” Donna added quickly, trailing after her daughter.
Once inside Yelena’s room, Donna tried to mend the cracks left by Elianna’s words. “Yelena, your grandmother means well. She just has a blunt way of showing it. You’ll get used to it with time p>
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Yelena’s smile was tight but kind. “Mom, I’m fine. Honestly. It’s you I’m worried about. You’ve had to put up with so much over the years. You’ve been through the wringer, haven’t you? You’ve worked so hard for this family p>
Donna blinked, taken aback. She had come to comfort Yelena, but instead, it was her daughter’s words that wrapped around her heart like a warm hug.
She clasped Yelena’s hand gently, patting it as if trying to find the right words, but they wouldn’t come.
Yelena caught a whiff of an unfamiliar fragrance lingering around Donna and tilted her head curiously. “Mom, did you switch perfumes p>
Donna shook her head with a faint smile. “No, it’s the same one I’ve always used. Nothing new about it p>
“Really?” Yelena murmured, her brow furrowing slightly. If that was the case, then why did it feel like her mother’s scent had changed?
Yelena had always possessed a sharp sense of smell, especially when it came to distinctive fragrances. It wasn’t the kind of detail she could overlook or misinterpret.
Her curiosity led her to scan Donna more closely, and soon, she spotted the source—a small fragrant pouch hanging delicately around Donna’s neck.
“This pouch… what is in it?” Yelena asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Donna glanced down, her fingers lightly brushing the pouch. “Oh, this?” she said with a soft chuckle. “It’s a little gift from Bella. She bought one for each of us. I put yours in your room earlier too.” Donna touched her pouch before continuing, “Bella said it’s filled with herbs and essential oils—lavender, chamomile, and other calming scents. It’s supposed to help soothe the nerves and improve sleep. I’ve been meaning to place it on my pillow tonight to see if it helps p>
Bella might not have been Donna’s biological daughter, but she was undeniably sweet. Knowing Donna had been struggling with restless nights, Bella had gone out of her way to prepare this small but considerate gift.