Chapter 421
Chapter 421:
Moments later, her phone buzzed again—a video from Leonino.
“Here,” he said with a warm chuckle, trying to lift her spirits. “Watch this and see if you can crack a smile, okay p>
Inside Natalie and Kareem’s villa, Natalie suddenly awoke, her heart racing as she called out, “Helena! Helena p>
She had just awakened from a dream where Helena had walked away again, hurt and angry because of Liliana. In her panic, she bolted upright.
Liliana, seated beside her, wasn’t focused on Natalie at all. Instead, her attention was fixed on the conversation happening in the living room.
The moment she heard that Helena was gone, a smug wave of victory crept through her. But the sound of Natalie crying out for Helena in her sleep made her jaw tighten with frustration. Still, she kept her composure. In front of Natalie, she maintained her flawless act. She reached out and gently patted her back, then said in a low, soothing voice, “It’s alright, Mom. You were dreaming—there’s nothing to be afraid of p>
Natalie took a few deep breaths, slowly returning to reality. When she turned her head to look at Liliana, her eyes held a complicated mix of feelings.
Not long ago, when Liliana had reached out saying she wanted to return, Natalie had tried to gently discourage her. But Liliana had shown up anyway, completely unannounced. Once Liliana was back in Cheson, Natalie had no better choice than to ask her to stay away from Helena for now. She had only just begun reconnecting with her biological daughter and didn’t want to risk stirring more conflict during such a delicate time. But today changed everything.
“Liliana, did you forget the promise you made to me p>
Natalie’s voice remained calm, but the disappointment layered beneath it was unmistakable.
Though resentment brewed inside her, Liliana forced herself to look pitiful, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mom, I didn’t mean for it to happen! Running into Helena today—it was all just an accident p>
“An accident?” Natalie’s gaze hardened. “But that night when Helena joined us for dinner, you saw her through the window p>
“Didn’t you?” Liliana stiffened, her mind scrambling for something to say. “That night—it was dark, and the lights were low. I couldn’t tell what she looked like p>
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Pausing for a second, she rushed to add, “I wasn’t spying, I swear! I was just glad for you and Dad, and I was curious to see what your real daughter looked like p>
Natalie watched her carefully for a long moment. Finally, her face began to soften.
She had raised Liliana herself from the very beginning. Even if Liliana had ulterior motives now, Natalie simply couldn’t bring herself to be too stern. Since her childhood, Liliana had been her treasured daughter. But ever since Helena returned, everything had taken on a different shape. It made perfect sense that Liliana would struggle to come to terms with the shift.
“Oh, Liliana…” Natalie said softly, brushing a hand over her cheek with care. “You’ll always be our daughter. What your father and I have given you in the past, we’ll continue giving you. You don’t have to worry.” For a family as wealthy as theirs, maintaining Liliana’s life of comfort required no effort at all.