Chapter 467
Chapter 467:
That concern grew heavier by the day.
So when the weekend arrived, Natalie saw her chance. She insisted on taking Helena out shopping, hoping the distraction might soften the edges of her sorrow. It was also the perfect excuse to pick out a few things for Helena’s upcoming birthday banquet.
“This is your first birthday since coming back to the family. It should be special,” she said gently, looping her arm through Helena’s as they headed to the mall. “Only you know what you truly like—so let your taste shape everything. The dress, the decor, the guest list. What do you say p>
Natalie didn’t expect Helena to micromanage the event. What she wanted was simple: to keep her daughter busy—busy enough to begin healing.
But Helena had other priorities, and birthday fanfare wasn’t one of them. Without a second thought, she brushed the suggestion aside. “Didn’t we agree to let Liliana handle all that? I trust her—let her take care of it p>
Natalie, mistaking Helena’s disinterest for quiet devastation, felt her chest tighten. Her voice rose, touched with a rare sternness. “Helena, you’re a Harrison. No matter how broken you feel, you must pull yourself together p>
The words had bite, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. By the time they reached the mall, Helena could see just how deeply her mother was affected.
Softly, she began, “Mom… actually, Alden p>
“Oh, don’t bring up Alden anymore!” Natalie blurted out anxiously. “No matter how wonderful he was, he’s gone. And what’s gone won’t come back. You’re still young, Helena. You have your whole life ahead of you. Move on p>
“Mom, I p>
Natalie cut Helena off again. “You have two choices. Either pour your energy into this birthday banquet or start meeting other eligible men. Once you meet someone new, you’ll find it easier to let go p>
Her words were firm, but beneath them pulsed a mother’s desperate hope.
Helena sighed, caught between frustration and amusement. “Alright, alright. I’ll go with the first option p>
They were standing near the racks of a high-end boutique. Helena gave a resigned smile and gestured toward the dresses. “I’ll start by trying some of these on. Will that satisfy you p>
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Natalie exhaled slowly, visibly relieved.
Shaking her head in mild amusement, Helena allowed the store assistant to help her select a dress, then disappeared down the corridor toward the fitting room.
The boutique catered to a high-end clientele, and it showed—plush carpet, gilded lighting, a long, spacious hallway lined with velvet curtains and polished mirrors. Everything about it screamed exclusivity.
Helena wasn’t exactly in the mood to play dress-up, but for her mother’s sake, she went along. With a faint sigh, she stepped into the spacious fitting room and began to change.
She hadn’t even unzipped the back of her dress when the heavy door creaked open behind her.