Chapter 249
Chapter 249
Olivia had always been a woman of action. With Elena and Nora's situation weighing on her mind, it took her only a few days to get everything squared away back home.
Mason's help had been indispensable.
"What project caught your eye this time? Expanding again?"
Over the past five years, their relationship had grown closer and closer, yet it had stalled at a certain point, never quite progressing further.
"It's for Elena." Olivia saw no reason to hide it.
If Elena was coming back for good, running into each other would be inevitable.
"Elena's coming back?" Mason couldn't hide his surprise.
"Yeah."
Olivia double-checked that the properties she'd chosen were perfect.
She'd picked a high-end residential complex not far from Harmony Hospital—tight security, quiet surroundings, convenient for Nora's follow-up checkups and treatments.
The studio space was locked down too, right in the heart of the creative district.
Mason had helped streamline all the permits and renovation contacts. Everything was ready for Elena to hit the ground running the moment she arrived.
Right in front of Mason, Olivia sent Elena a message.
[Everything's set up here. You can come back now.]
Mason pressed his lips together.
Should he tell Kian that Elena was coming back...?
He was still mulling it over when Olivia's death glare landed on him, making him flinch.
It was like she could read his mind. She answered his unspoken question directly.
"If you want to tell Kian about Elena coming back, go ahead."
Mason froze.
The more casual she sounded, the more terrified he became.
He practically raised his hand to swear an oath.
"My lips are sealed. I won't say a word."
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Thirty thousand feet up, the cabin was hushed and still.
Nora was curled up in Elena's lap, her little face ghostly pale, lips drained of color. Even her usually bright eyes looked dim and listless.
The complications from being born premature had left her fragile, and the illness had taken its toll. Long flights made her dizzy, but she didn't cry or fuss—just nestled quietly against Elena's chest.
After a long while, she nuzzled weakly against Elena's neck and asked in a soft voice:
"Mommy, where are we going?"
Elena looked down, her fingertips gently smoothing back Nora's damp, sweaty hair. Her voice was tender.
"Home."
"But isn't our home here?"
Nora was confused. For as long as she could remember, they'd lived in Astoria. That's where her little bed was, her toys, and Linda the nanny.
Elena's chest tightened.
Since Nora was born, she'd never even set foot in Harmony City.
She explained patiently:
"We're from Harmony City. Our real home is there. We're going back to live there now, okay?"
Nora nodded, not quite understanding. But after barely two minutes of silence, she asked in a small voice:
"Then... is Daddy in Harmony City too?"
Elena's whole body went rigid. Her hand froze on Nora's head. She couldn't get a word out.
Five years.
For five years, she'd deliberately avoided every topic related to 'father.' She'd never once brought it up in front of Nora.
And Nora had been so perceptive—watching other kids get picked up by their dads, she'd never once pressed Elena for answers.
Today, she must have been feeling too miserable. When people got sick, they instinctively searched for comfort. That's why she couldn't help but ask.
When Elena didn't respond, Nora immediately understood. She burrowed deeper into Elena's embrace, clutching her mother's shirt tightly, and whispered soothingly:
"Mommy, I won't ask anymore. I don't need a daddy. Having you is enough."
With that, she closed her eyes wearily, her little head resting against Elena's heart. Within moments, she'd drifted off to sleep, her breathing light and slightly labored.
Elena held her daughter's feather-light body, her nose stinging sharply. Tears nearly spilled over.
She pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead, one thought consuming her mind:
No matter what obstacles lay ahead, she would save Nora.
Beside them, Zoe watched the scene unfold, turning away to secretly wipe her eyes.
When the plane touched down in Harmony City, it was mid-afternoon.
Elena carried the still-sleeping Nora at the front, with Olivia and Zoe pushing the luggage behind her.
As they'd just cleared the arrival gate, Elena's steps suddenly halted.
Not far from the exit stood two familiar figures.
Kian wore a charcoal-gray suit, his posture straight and commanding. His features had grown harder over the past five years, his entire presence colder.
Beside him stood Chloe in an elegant dress, following close behind. It looked like they'd just returned from a business trip together.
Almost simultaneously, Chloe spotted Elena too.
Her smile froze instantly. A flash of wariness and hostility crossed her eyes. She instinctively moved closer to Kian, pressing herself against his side as if staking her claim.
As Elena approached, Chloe spoke first, her tone dripping with forced surprise and veiled barbs:
"Well, well, if it isn't Elena. When did you get back?"
"Just you traveling alone with a kid? Felix didn't come back with you?"
She seemed determined to make sure Kian heard every word, shaking her head in mock concern.
"No matter what, he's still the child's father. He shouldn't make you handle everything alone—a woman traveling with a kid. That's just irresponsible."
As she spoke, Chloe shot a pointed glance at Kian, desperate to remind him that this child had 'another father.'
Elena didn't even lift an eyelid. Her hold on Nora remained steady, and a faint smile curved her lips. Her tone was ice-cold:
"My child has a responsible mother. That's all she needs. No need for you to worry yourself, Ms. Hart."
One sentence left Chloe's face chalk-white.
Elena didn't waste another second on her. She turned to leave.
But after just two steps, she stopped again.
She'd come back to find Kian in the first place.
Running into him now actually saved her the trouble of reaching out through intermediaries or waiting for the right moment.
Elena paused and carefully transferred Nora into Zoe's arms, instructing softly:
"Zoe, take Nora back first. Look after her for me."
Zoe quickly took Nora, worry written all over her face. "Elena, are you...?"
"I'm fine."
Elena gave her a slight nod, then turned and walked straight toward Kian.
She stopped in front of him and looked up, her expression calm:
"Mr. Lancaster, do you have time? Let's talk."
Kian went completely still.
The moment he'd seen Elena, his heartbeat had already spiraled out of control.
Five years. He'd only glimpsed fragments of her life through Design Haven's backend, through scraps of information he'd managed to dig up. He'd never imagined she would walk right up to him and ask to 'talk.'
After the shock came an overwhelming rush of joy. He nodded almost immediately, his voice rougher than usual. "I have time."
"Wait!"
Chloe panicked, her voice sharp with alarm.
"Kian, you can't! There's a meeting this afternoon—it was scheduled weeks ago! You can't just cancel it. Don't you remember how important this project is?"
Even as she spoke, she shot Elena a venomous glare.
Five years. She'd finally clawed her way to a position where she could stand legitimately at Kian's side, where everyone assumed she'd be the future Mrs. Lancaster.
And Elena waltzes back, says one sentence, and Kian's ready to cancel a critical meeting?
But Kian didn't even glance at her.
His gaze stayed locked on Elena the entire time, as if looking away for even a second might make her vanish.
When he heard Chloe's objection, he only frowned slightly.
"Cancel it."