Chapter 180 The Ending

Chapter 180 The Ending
Elena's POV

The girls immediately sensed the tension. The perceptive Kathy stood up. "Come on, Lily. Let's go upstairs for a bit."

"But—" Lily began to protest.

"Now," Kathy said firmly, grabbing her sister's hand.

After the children left, the room fell into heavy silence. Richard and I stared at each other.

"You owe me an explanation," I finally said, my voice steadier than I expected.

Richard drew a deep breath, and for the first time since I'd returned, I saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"Yes," he agreed quietly. "I do."

He sat down across from me, his powerful frame somehow seeming less intimidating than usual. "I never lost my memory. Emma's hypnosis failed because of my split personality."

"Then why pretend?" I demanded, anger flaring. "Why put me through all that torment?"

"At first it was anger," Richard admitted, his voice low. "You just left, Elena. You abandoned me and our children."

"I was pursuing my goals!" I shot back defensively. "I had dreams to fulfill!"

Richard nodded slowly. "I know. But why didn't you let me help you?"

I stared at him, taken aback by his sudden concern. It felt wrong, disconcerting. "So tying me up was your way of helping?" I asked sarcastically.

"I was afraid you'd leave again," he confessed, his voice almost a whisper.

I cut him off sharply. "Your behavior only made me feel suffocated and constrained."

Richard's eyes darkened with intensity. "I just wanted to protect you, to keep you from any harm. During your transaction with Pinnacle Engineering Group, do you know what kind of danger you were putting yourself in?"

I froze, a sudden realization dawning on me. "Wait—how do you know about that?"

Richard shifted uncomfortably. "Because I was there. That wasn't Dennis. It was me."

This revelation hit me like a thunderbolt. I thought back to Dennis's strange behavior that day, the familiar feeling I couldn't place.

"What about Dennis?" I asked.

"He was always there, but it was me who appeared by your side when necessary," he answered.

He's been protecting me all along? My mind raced with implications.

Richard's expression softened. "I couldn't stand to see you hurt, Elena. Even at my angriest... you've always been my mate."

"What about Emma?" I challenged him, trying to find something he couldn't explain. "What was your engagement all about?"

"I never intended to marry her," Richard confessed. "I just wanted to see if you would come back because of it, if you still cared about me at all."

As the truth slowly sank in, I felt a complex mixture of emotions.

"So the engagement was just your trap," I said slowly.

Richard nodded. "I was never going to marry her, Elena. There's only you in my heart. Always has been, always will be."

Tears pricked at my eyes as everything began to make sense—his contradictory behavior, the moments of tenderness amid the coldness, the way he'd always appear when I needed him most.

"You could have just told me the truth," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

Richard moved closer, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm a stubborn Alpha, Elena. My pride and anger made me make the wrong decisions."

He took my hand cautiously, as if afraid I might pull away. "I'm sorry for everything—for all the ways I hurt you. I just didn't know how to handle the feeling of losing and finding you again."

I took a deep breath, looking into his eyes that now showed more vulnerability than I'd seen in years.

"Give us a chance to start over, Elena," he pleaded softly. "Not just for the children, but for ourselves."

After a moment's hesitation, I gently squeezed his hand back. "We've both made mistakes... Maybe it's time to move forward, for the children's sake."

Hope flashed in Richard's eyes. "For the children... and for us?"

"For the sake of our children, we can try, but the issues between us... we need to take it slow."

Richard pulled me into his arms, and I allowed myself to melt into his embrace. In that moment, I felt the bond between us—that connection that had never truly broken despite years and distance.

From the staircase came muffled cheers. Kathy and Lily had obviously been eavesdropping.

Kathy and Lily excitedly ran down and hugged me.

"Mommy won't have to leave us anymore," Lily said happily.

"Mommy, shouldn't we bring Max home? We miss him," Kathy asked.

"Mommy will have Uncle Dennis bring Max home," I promised, hugging them. They were a unit.

"I already contacted Dennis last night. They should be home today," Richard said with a smile.

"What?" I was surprised by his words.

Richard smiled at my surprised expression. "I thought it would be a nice surprise. A family should be together, right, sweethearts?"

"Yes, Daddy!" Lily shouted.

---

Later, the doorbell rang. The moment I opened the door, a small figure rushed in and hugged me.

"Oh, dear," I embraced Max, stroking his hair.

"Mommy, I thought you didn't want me anymore after you went back," Max said with hurt in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mommy couldn't come back right away for some reasons. How could I ever not want you?" I comforted him.

Kathy and Lily came running downstairs, shouting excitedly when they saw Max, enveloping him in hugs.

Dennis looked at me with guilty eyes. "Elena, I'm sorry I hid some things from you."

I kicked him in the leg, releasing my anger at his deception. He pretended to fall down in pain.

"Stop acting, Dennis. Your acting skills are terrible," Richard's voice came from behind.

Dennis laughed and got up from the floor.

"Max, come here," I watched as Richard opened his arms, waiting for Max.

I was amazed to see my son run to Richard and embrace him. Richard effortlessly lifted him up, his face showing genuine happiness.

"I'm sorry, Dad apologizes for all his previous behavior," Richard showed the gentle side he always had for the children.

"It's okay. After all, Dad is a fool who always makes Mom angry," Max boldly stated.

There was a moment of silence, followed by everyone's laughter.

Richard and I stood side by side, watching our children reunite, a sense of rightness settling over the scene.

That evening, the five of us gathered around the dinner table. The atmosphere was relaxed and warm, so different from the tension that had defined our interactions since my return.

The children eagerly discussed everything that had happened in their time apart, interrupting each other and laughing freely.

"Now we're finally a complete family!" Max announced happily.

Richard and I exchanged a smile, relief and contentment reflected in both our expressions.

"To our new beginning," Richard proposed, raising his glass.

As I looked around at my family—this once-broken unit now pieced back together—Joy and caution intertwined in my heart. We still had a long way to go, but for the first time in six years, I felt hopeful about our future together.