Chapter 171

Chapter 171
Elena's POV

Jason was making a call. I paced anxiously by the window.

"I'll go get the children now," he said, pocketing his phone.

"You already arranged this?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course," he smirked. "You think this was improvised? This was a planned rescue operation, dummy."

For thirty agonizing minutes, I waited, alternating between staring out the window and checking the clock. When I finally heard the door open, my heart leapt.

"Mom!" Two small voices cried in unison.

Lily and Kathy burst into the room like arrows, launching themselves straight into my arms. Their eyes shimmered with tears as they clung to me.

I embraced them tightly, tears flowing freely down my cheeks as I kissed their foreheads. The feeling of their small bodies against mine was indescribable.

"My babies," I whispered, voice breaking. Suddenly remembering Lily's injuries, I released them and carefully took Lily's face in my hands to examine it closely.

"What happened to your teeth?"

When I saw two missing front teeth, I gasped in horror. White-hot fury surged through me.

"Oh my God! Did Emma knock out your teeth?!" My face flushed with rage.

Kathy bit her lip, looking like she wanted to explain something.

"She got hit? Who the fuck dares to hit her?" Jason exploded, his voice rising with each word. "She's Richard's child, and someone actually had the nerve to hit her? And hit her this hard? Who the hell is this bastard?"

I couldn't hold back anymore. The tears I'd been fighting finally spilled over.

"It's Emma!" I practically shouted, my voice angry and broken. "She's abusing them!"

Jason's face slackened with shock. "What did you say? Emma?"

"That bitch!" Jason growled. "What the hell is Richard thinking? Letting a woman abuse his children? Has he lost his mind? He doesn't even care about his own children?"

My thoughts suddenly became crystal clear. I couldn't rely on Richard anymore—that much was obvious. Every attempt at communication with him had ended in disaster.

"Jason, can you help me one more time? I want to take them away from Moonhaven. Can you help me find a way? Without... Richard finding out?"

Jason turned to me, his expression growing complex. I knew what he was thinking—the last time he helped me escape didn't end well. Richard eventually found me, angrier than ever.

But this time was different. This wasn't just about me; it was about my children's safety.

Jason took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "I'll help you. This time, we'll make sure that bastard never finds you."

He picked up his phone to make calls, preparing to mobilize his connections.

---

Kathy's POV

Lily and I were worried when we heard Mom was planning to escape.

"Mom's going to take us away! This is terrible!" I said.

"If Mom takes us away, Dad will definitely launch a city-wide search," Lily whispered. "And his attitude toward Mom has already turned cold."

We fell silent.

"Lily," I looked at my sister, "I think we need to change our approach."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"We can't let Mom take us away," I explained. "That would only make things worse. Dad would find us, and then he'd be even angrier."

I nodded in agreement. Though Lily was young, sometimes her insight surprised me. "So what's your idea?"

Lily's eyes sparkled: "We should go talk to Jason directly."

We knocked on Jason's door.

"Jason," she said in her sweet voice, "I think we shouldn't leave Moonhaven right now."

Jason's eyebrows shot up. "Why not?"

"Think about it," I began, my voice soft but calm, "who is my father? His network spans the globe. If you take us away now, how can you guarantee he won't find us?"

Jason seemed struck by this simple logic. His expression changed from determination to hesitation.

"Mom made this decision because she saw Lily get hurt. You can't be impulsive like her, or we'll all be caught and brought back, making everything worse."

Lily lowered her head, looking like a wounded little bunny. I knew this was her act—Lily always knew when to appear vulnerable to gain sympathy. Though I wouldn't use such methods, I had to admit they were effective.

I saw Jason's expression completely soften. "What do you suggest we do then?"

In that moment, we knew we had succeeded.

---

Elena's POV

Later, Jason found me. "Listen, Elena, running away isn't the solution. Richard's connections are too extensive—he'd find you eventually, just like last time."

I looked at him, exhausted and desperate. "Then what should we do? I can't just stand by while Emma abuses my children!"

"We're going to the Wells Manor," he said firmly. "Instead of running away, we'll address the problem at its source."

Once we got in the car, Jason repeatedly cautioned me: "When we go in, we won't say anything else, just talk to Emma about the children, understand? Remember to control your emotions."

He analyzed Emma's psychology: "Since this woman doesn't like seeing these two children anyway, I believe she'll agree to convince Richard to give up custody. After all, she wants to be the only mistress of the house."

I nodded, but couldn't help feeling the irony—needing Richard's fiancée to help me gain custody of my own children was absurd. But for my children, I was willing to do anything.

---

We arrived at the Wells Manor—a mansion with architecture blending modern and traditional styles, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and obvious security measures.

Jason approached the guard at the gate. "Excuse me, we're here to see Emma Wells. Is she in?"

The guard eyed us warily, especially my unfamiliar face. "Do you have an appointment? Who should I say is calling?"

Jason lied smoothly: "Yes. Ms. Wells knows we're coming."

The interior, though not as opulent as Blackwood Manor, exuded heritage and taste throughout.

When we were led to a beautiful courtyard, the butler reported to an elegant middle-aged woman: "Mrs. Wells, these are friends of Ms. Wells. They say they have business with her."

The woman looked at us quizzically, clearly doubting her daughter's social circle included people like us.

When she clearly saw my face, her expression immediately changed. "It's you? Richard's ex-wife?"

I asked, confused, "You know me?"

"Of course," her expression soured. "No wonder Richard didn't show up at the engagement ceremony that day. Was it because you returned to Moonhaven?"

I stood there, stunned. Richard had missed his engagement ceremony with Emma? Because of my return? This was completely unexpected information.

"Mrs. Wells, you've misunderstood," I explained calmly, "I did come back that day, but I was immediately locked up. I only escaped today."

"What?" She widened her eyes in disbelief.

I could see her mental calculations—as long as her daughter's marriage wasn't threatened, she could remain polite.

Her tone softened as she asked about my purpose: "In that case, why are you here today?"

I took a deep breath and stated my request directly: "I came to find Emma to ask for a favor."

"What favor?" Wariness flashed in her eyes.

"I want to ask if she can say something to Richard? To give me custody of the two children."

The courtyard fell silent except for the rustling of distant leaves.

Just as she seemed about to agree, an icy male voice came from the other end of the courtyard.

"Ms. Wells, what are you saying? How could you ask my daughter to do such a thing?"

A well-dressed middle-aged man approached, his features resembling Emma's—clearly her father, Walter Wells, the head of the Wells family.

"Are you trying to come between them?" his voice was full of accusation.