Chapter 396
Chapter 396:
Natalie tried to object, her lips parting. “But p>
He interjected gently yet firmly, “Trust me on this. I’ll come back—safe, whole, and in one piece p>
The certainty in his tone left her no room to argue. All she could do was nod in agreement.
Before the conversation could shift, Alden added a request. “Also… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Helena about any of this p>
A soft, sardonic chuckle escaped Natalie. “You think I need reminding?” There was no way she would willingly let her daughter fly halfway across the world into a situation like that. Alden’s plan aligned perfectly with what she had already intended.
Relieved, Alden inclined his head in appreciation. “Then… while I’m gone, I hope you’ll be there for Helena p>
Natalie raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with irony. She still wasn’t over how this man had snatched her daughter away from her. “She’s my daughter. Of course we’ll take care of her. Don’t act like we need prompting p>
“You’re right,” Alden acknowledged without hesitation. “That was careless of me. I meant no disrespect p>
Even in admitting fault, he didn’t lose an ounce of composure—he carried himself with quiet strength and unshaken grace.
Stealing a side glance at him, Natalie found herself quietly approving. It was clear Helena had inherited more than just beauty—she had an excellent eye, too.
But the flicker of approval in Natalie’s gaze was brief—gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Her features soon hardened, and she asked pointedly, “After your surgery, do you still plan on hiding your marriage to Helena from the public p>
Initially, Alden had insisted on secrecy to shield Helena from unwanted scrutiny. Over time, however, it was Helena who chose to keep things quiet. If it were up to Alden, the whole world would have known by now. He had no desire to keep their love under wraps.
Still, he didn’t feel the need to justify himself. Instead, he answered calmly, “As long as she’s comfortable with the attention, I’ll give her the wedding she deserves once I return p>
With a slow, thoughtful nod, Natalie let the matter rest.
𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗴⍺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧸ⅽ𝗈𝗺
For once, the whole house seemed wrapped in a rare peace—no tension, no arguments, just a fleeting sense of calm. Helena savored every second, grateful to be surrounded by both the man she loved and the family she cherished. Yet beneath that joy, something uneasy stirred.
The surgery loomed closer now, and though she had vowed to face it all with Alden, the unknown weighed heavily on her.
Later, as they stepped back into their shared apartment, Helena glanced at Alden and softly suggested, “You must be overwhelmed getting ready for the trip. Maybe I should take my leave and stay with you p>
Every moment with him felt too precious to lose, especially with uncertainty hanging in the air.
After a moment of silence, Alden turned toward her with a warm smile. “And what about your new position p>