Chapter 120

Elena's POV

I sat alone in my room, staring at my bleeding palm with vacant eyes. The small crescents where my nails had dug in were still oozing blood, but I barely registered the pain. My mind was stuck in a loop, replaying what had just happened in the garden.

Richard had defended me. Against his father. He'd even kicked Victoria to the ground.

This can't be real.

For six years, I'd built up an image of Richard as someone who hated me, who would always choose Victoria over me. That certainty had been my armor. Now I didn't know what to think.

I finally snapped out of my daze and decided to clean the wound in the bathroom. As I stood up, I heard Max's voice floating through the door.

"Mom's hand is bleeding. Don't you want to take the first aid kit upstairs and help her?"

Richard's deep voice responded, sending a jolt through my system. "She didn't get it herself?"

There was a hint of something in his tone—concern?—that I couldn't quite place. It sounded so foreign coming from him.

I panicked, quickly rushing to the bathroom to rinse the blood away. When I emerged, I found Richard standing in my doorway, his tall frame blocking the exit.

"I—it's nothing serious," I stammered, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor. "Just a small cut. I can handle it."

I didn't want him to notice the wounds were self-inflicted, or he would surely mock me.

Richard's brows furrowed as he studied me. "Max, Lily," he commanded without taking his eyes off me, "go upstairs and bring the first aid kit."

The children scampered away, leaving us in uncomfortable silence.

Richard's POV

I watched Elena fidget nervously, refusing to meet my gaze. This wasn't the woman who had fearlessly faced down Victoria earlier. Where was that fire now?

The scent of her blood still hung in the air, mixed with anxiety and... shame?

When the children returned with the kit, I took it without a word and stepped fully into the room.

"Give me your hand," I ordered, my voice deliberately cold.

She didn't move, just stood there like a statue. I'd expected defiance or at least irritation—not this meek compliance. It was disappointing. The Elena I remembered would have fired back something sharp.

I reached out and seized her wrist, pulling her hand toward me. Her skin was warm against mine.

"Ow!" she cried out, her eyes finally meeting mine, flashing with pain.

"Oh, so you do feel pain?" I sneered. "I thought your nerves were made of steel now."

I looked down at her palm and froze. These marks could only have been made by her own nails digging into her skin. My fingers automatically gentled their grip.

Elena's POV

I watched in bewilderment as Richard's expression shifted. When he examined my palm, the contempt in his eyes softened into something unreadable. His touch, which had been rough a moment ago, became unexpectedly gentle.

My mind struggled to process what was happening. This was... surreal. Richard had never tended to me like this, with such careful attention.

Is this really happening? Or am I dreaming?

He methodically cleaned each wound, his fingers moving with surprising tenderness. I stood frozen, afraid that any movement might break whatever strange spell had fallen over him.

When he finished bandaging my hand, he looked up to find me staring.

"What?" he asked, his voice lacking its usual edge.

I blinked, pulling myself back to reality. "Nothing. I just... why did you come back? Didn't you say you had business at the company today?"

Richard let out a scornful laugh. "Isn't it obvious? I came back specifically to save you."

His words shocked me even more than his actions.

"Elena Winter," he continued, his voice taking on a mocking tone, "aren't you supposed to be so capable? You stand up to me without hesitation, but you cower before her?"

"I wasn't cowering!" I defended myself weakly. "I was going to fight back. I just didn't want to use violence in front of the children."

Richard clearly didn't believe me. He stood up, towering over me again. "Today is a traditional wolf pack holiday. Prepare dinner. I'll be back to eat with the children."

I watched him leave, my mind spinning in confusion.

What the hell just happened? He's acting like a completely different person.

---

The afternoon light bathed Highland Estate in a golden glow. I was still lost in thought when Anna approached me with boxes of decorations.

"Elena, today is the pack's traditional holiday," she explained, opening the first box. "We should decorate the house according to tradition."

She pulled out silver moon ornaments and wolf totems she'd prepared in advance. The children immediately gathered around, eyes wide with excitement.

"I'll hang these moons!" Max volunteered enthusiastically. "I'll make our home look beautiful!"

Lily said happily, "Mommy, I want to help too."

I nodded, and they eagerly began working.

I noticed Kathy hanging back, watching the proceedings with uncertainty.

I walked over to Kathy. "Kathy, could you help Mommy arrange these silver lights?"

Her eyes lit up slightly at being included. "Okay," she said quietly, accepting the string of lights from me.

Anna smiled warmly. "Elena, it's wonderful having you here. Highland Estate feels alive now."

She lowered her voice, glancing around at the bustling room where security team members were even helping decorate the estate. "Before, we never celebrated anything. The house was so quiet. Kathy was always alone in her room, and Mr. Blackwood never participated in these activities."

I smiled silently, picking up some greenery to arrange. The scene around me—children laughing, staff members chatting as they hung decorations—felt almost dreamlike in its normalcy.

This is what a real home should feel like.

Our peaceful moment was shattered by shouting from outside.

"Elena! Come out! Tell them to let me in!"

I recognized Jason's voice immediately.

Thank goodness Richard isn't home.

I signaled for the security to let him in, relieved that Richard wasn't around. He'd always been hostile toward anyone close to me, especially men.

As Jason stormed into the garden, he found me calmly trimming flowers. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"You're gardening? Seriously?" he demanded incredulously.

I frowned. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" he sputtered. "That bastard looked ready to kill you yesterday when he dragged you away! I thought you might be dead, and here you are arranging flowers?"

I poured him a glass of water, trying to defuse his agitation. "I'm fine, Jason. You should go home and take care of yourself."

"You heartless woman!" his anger carried no real threat. "Now that you're safe, you don't care about anyone else? Weren't you going to find the truth and help prove my family's innocence?"

Guilt washed over me. "It's not that. I can't leave Moonhaven right now. Richard would notice, and he's already restricted my movements."

Jason's anger faded. "You don't need to leave. I know who's behind everything now."

"Who?" I asked, suddenly alert.

"Emily," he revealed, his eyes serious.

I gasped. "Emily? Victoria's sister? Are you sure?"

He nodded grimly. "My brother told me that just days before the ceremony, Emily visited my mom."

"After talking with Emily, my mom instructed my brother to specially welcome Victoria at the celebration, and to arrange for her to sit beside Gerald."

The revelation hit me like a physical blow. My thoughts froze, my blood feeling like ice in my veins.

Was she being too bold? Daring to implement such a dangerous plan at the ceremony itself.

I organized my thoughts. My return disrupted her plans for Victoria to unite with Richard. She must hate me to the core.

If her plan had succeeded that day, I would have been doomed.

But one question lingered in my mind. How did they know Richard's secret?