Chapter 168

Chapter 168
Elena's POV

"He agreed to sell?" I asked uncertainly.

My brother nodded, grinning triumphantly. "Bobby was surprisingly amenable. Said he'd been thinking of selling anyway."

Relief flooded through me. The Winter family home—the last tangible connection to my past—would soon be mine again.

"You need to go back to Moonhaven right away," I instructed, already making mental lists of what needed to be done. "Handle the paperwork, make sure everything's legal and proper."

Dennis's smile faltered. "Elena, why don't you come with me? You know the property better than I do."

"Absolutely not," I said firmly. "I have too much work here. I can't possibly get away."

Dennis studied my face. "Is it work that's keeping you, or are you afraid of seeing him?"

I busied myself with the dinner dishes, avoiding his gaze.

"What about your daughters? Aren't they your responsibility too?"

His words stung, but I maintained my composure. "They are well taken care of."

Dennis sighed but didn't press further. "I'll book my flight for tomorrow then."

Later that evening, as I was reviewing some materials, my phone rang showing Mason's number. Hesitantly, I answered.

"Hello?"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he growled with fury.

"Mason?" I sat up straight, papers sliding to the floor. "How did you—"

"Have you completely lost your mind?" he interrupted, his voice crackling with anger. "Abandoning your family for your career? Leaving your children behind?"

His accusations hit like physical blows. "I didn't abandon—"

"Then do you know what's happening to them?"

A chill ran down my spine. "What are you talking about? What's happened?"

"See for yourself," he growled, and hung up.

Seconds later, my phone pinged with a message. My hands trembled as I opened it.

The photo showed Lily, my baby girl, her face swollen and bruised, blood flowing from her mouth where a tooth had fallen out. The room spun around me as I stared at the image, my heart pounding violently in my chest.

"Who did this?" I whispered, though no one could hear me. "WHO DID THIS TO MY CHILD?"

The phone rang again—Mason calling back.

"Who hurt her?" I demanded the instant I answered.

"The future stepmother, according to Lily." His voice was cold. "But why should you care? You've moved on, haven't you?"

My blood turned to ice. "Stepmother? What are you talking about?"

"Richard's getting engaged. They're already living together, and once she has her own children, do you think she'll tolerate your children? If you care at all, you'd better get back here before you're attending a funeral instead of visiting an injured child."

He hung up, leaving me clutching the phone, my entire body shaking.

Dennis found me like that, staring at Lily's photo, tears streaming down my face.

"Elena, what happened?" He rushed to my side.

I showed him the photo. "Lily's hurt."

Dennis's face hardened as he examined the picture. "And Richard? Where was he?"

I shook my head numbly. "Mason said... he said Richard is getting engaged."

The implications hung heavy in the air between us.

"I have to go back," I whispered. "I can't let anyone hurt my children."

"I'll handle everything here," Dennis assured me. "Max will be fine with me."

I nodded absently, my thoughts already in Moonhaven.

---

I boarded a plane in the early morning.

The flight was long, and I spent most of it staring at Lily's photo, rage and guilt warring inside me. I barely noticed when someone took the seat beside me until they spoke.

"Hi there! Long flight ahead, huh?"

I glanced over to see a young woman settling in, juggling a laptop, camera, and several magazines.

"Sorry about the chaos," she said cheerfully. "Just got off the phone with my editor—he's driving me crazy!"

I mustered a polite smile and turned back to the window.

"I'm Jenna, by the way," she continued, undeterred by my lack of enthusiasm. "I work for Elite Life magazine. Have you heard of it?"

She held out a glossy publication. I took it automatically, flipping through pages of luxury homes and society events.

"I see it at newsstands sometimes," I admitted.

"You're heading to Moonhaven too?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied vaguely.

"I'm covering the society event of the year!" She couldn't contain her excitement. "A major engagement announcement between two of the city's most powerful families. My editor will kill me if I don't get exclusive photos."

I nodded politely, not really listening, my thoughts filled with waiting for my daughter.

Hours later, as I walked through the familiar airport with dark sunglasses shielding my eyes, Jenna fell into step beside me.

"So you're from Moonhaven originally?" she asked.

"Yes," I answered simply, scanning the terminal for the exit.

Suddenly, Jenna gasped loudly, grabbing my arm. "Oh my God! Look at that! It's them!"

I followed her gaze automatically, then froze in place.

Spanning the entire wall of the airport terminal was a massive LED display. On it was Richard and Emma, his arm around her. Below the image, elegant script announced: "The engagement of Richard Blackwood and Emma Wells."

"Can you believe it?" Jenna squealed, frantically taking pictures with her phone. "That's Richard Blackwood! God, he's even more handsome in person."

Her voice faded to a distant buzz as I stared at the image, my mind completely blank. A strange, hollow feeling spread through my chest, followed by a wave of nausea so intense I had to lock my knees to remain standing.

My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I stared at the smiling face of the woman who had hurt my daughter.

"Isn't it spectacular?" Jenna exclaimed excitedly beside me. "The Blackwood-Wells wedding is being called the wedding of the century!"

Wedding of the century. The words echoed hollowly in my mind.

Richard and I never had a wedding. No white dress, no floral arrangements, no photographer to capture our "perfect moment." Just the cold signing of documents in Gerald Blackwood's study, with both families watching like prison guards.

"The guest list is insane," Jenna continued, completely oblivious to my distress. "Politicians, celebrities, business tycoons—everyone who matters will be there."

I forced myself to look away, my nails digging so deeply into my palms that I was surprised they weren't bleeding.

"Are you okay?" Jenna asked, finally noticing my rigid posture.

"I'm fine," I managed, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. "Just... jet lag."

I mumbled an excuse about needing to find my luggage and walked away, leaving the chattering reporter behind. My thoughts were spinning, torn between the image on the screen and the bruised face of my daughter.

He has nothing to do with me anymore, I reminded myself sternly.

I picked up my small suitcase from the conveyor belt and headed toward the exit. I needed to get to Mason's house immediately.

My phone rang.

"Hello, Ms. Winter?" Bobby's voice came through. "Hope you haven't forgotten about the property transaction. Looking forward to meeting you."

"Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can," I answered mechanically.

After hanging up, I forced my thoughts back into order.

I hailed a taxi outside the terminal, giving Bobby's address to the driver.

The driver nodded and pulled away from the curb. As we drove through the city, I couldn't escape Richard and Emma's faces. They were everywhere—on digital billboards, on posters, even flashing on screens in the city's public transportation system.

As we passed his company, I saw crowds gathering outside. Women in formal dresses and men in suits were having their names checked against guest lists.

"Looks like quite the grand wedding," the driver observed.

My stomach clenched.

I changed my mind, deciding to visit Mason first. "Take me to Maple Creek instead," I suddenly said.