Chapter 406
Chapter 406:
Helena opened her mouth, but for a moment, no words came. She struggled to find the right thing to say.
Leonino understood her hesitation and offered a faint smile. “See? Every family has its own set of problems p>
Helena couldn’t argue with that. Indeed, every family has its own set of problems. As she thought about it, she felt an even deeper appreciation for the rare peace in her own family.
That same evening, she made her way back to her parents’ villa. Even though she and Natalie and Kareem had been reunited after years apart, a quiet gap still lingered between them, as if real closeness remained just out of reach.
Helena rarely spent the night at the villa, so Natalie, Kareem, and Albert were caught off guard by a rush of joy. Noticing how healthy and upbeat she appeared, the three of them shared a knowing look before exhaling in silent relief.
Of course, Alden’s situation weighed heaviest on their minds, but none of them dared bring it up. They tiptoed around the subject, steering the conversation toward harmless tidbits about Helena’s work instead. Their almost over-cautious attitude left Helena both troubled and quietly moved.
Helena put on a bright, breezy front, exaggerating her cheerfulness so her parents wouldn’t catch on. But the harder she forced a smile, the stiffer the mood became, each of them tangled in their own pretenses.
The hollow small talk soon wore thin. Sensing the tension closing in, Helena abruptly offered to make dinner, using it as an excuse to change the subject—and maybe impress Natalie and Kareem, who’d never sampled her cooking before.
“Oh, you’ve been working all day, darling. Don’t push yourself,” Natalie said, her voice full of gentle protest.
But Helena was already halfway to the kitchen, using the offer as a graceful retreat from the suffocating atmosphere.
In the living room, Albert, Natalie, and Kareem traded tense, silent looks. At last, Albert rose from the sofa. “Helena’s not acting like herself tonight,” he said quietly. “Since I’ve spent more time with her, I’ll talk to her p>
Natalie and Kareem gave subtle nods, their worried expressions lingering even after Albert walked toward the kitchen.
He said nothing at first, just positioned himself next to his daughter at the marble counter, lending his hands to the task with ease.
𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 ➤ gⱯ︎𝗅︎𝗇︎𝗈︎ν︎𝖊︎𝗅︎𝘀︎⸱ⅽ︎𝗈︎𝗆
After they exchanged a few lighthearted words about what she was cooking, Albert eased into a softer tone. “Helena, if something’s weighing on you, don’t hold it in. No matter how bad it gets, we’re in this together p>
“I’m really okay, Dad.” Helena stayed focused on the fish, her knife moving steadily as she answered in an even, measured tone. “I know what you’re all thinking. I’ve been following Alden’s updates—he’s stable p>
Albert’s shoulders eased slightly at her words, but the tightness around Helena’s mouth didn’t escape him. He opened his mouth again, unable to swallow the urge to press her a little further.
Yet after Helena mentioned Alden, an odd flicker darkened her gaze, and irritation bubbled up from nowhere. Before Albert could say a word, she slammed the knife down hard, cleaving the sea bass straight through with a sharp crack.