Chapter 222 This Is Hope

Chapter 222 This Is Hope

Later, he finally escaped and was brought home by Zander.

He would never forget that moment. Zander crouched down, looking at him with such seriousness—not with condescending pity, not treating him like a burden, but with genuine heartache.

"How old are you? Where's your home?"

It had been so long since anyone had asked him "where's your home." Before that, the question simply didn't exist for him.

From then on, the Mitchell family became his home.

Finnian stood at the nursing home entrance for half an hour before finally turning to leave. For him, everything that needed to end had already come to a close.

After the case wrapped up, Eleanor and Terrence went to the airport to see him off. Finnian handed her an old box containing Zander's favorite pocket watch.

"Keep it safe for me. When I come back, give it back to me."

Eleanor clutched the watch tightly and nodded. Finnian turned and walked into the security checkpoint without looking back.

Before leaving, he also went back to the Mitchell Mansion.

Maya made a whole table of his favorite dishes. The moment Finnian took his first bite of braised ribs, tears started falling.

Maya's eyes turned red. "Silly child, it's good that you're back."

"Mom, I'm sorry for making you worry all these years."

Maya choked up, repeating, "It's good that you're back."

Eleanor sat beside them, watching Finnian cry. Her own tears welled up, but she held them back. She put a piece of fish in Finnian's bowl. "Eat more. When you're abroad, you won't be able to have Mom's cooking."

Finnian nodded, keeping his head down as he ate, his tears falling freely. He didn't stop eating, just swallowed the food along with his grief.

After dinner, Finnian helped Maya clear the dishes, then sat in the living room for a while.

He took the pocket watch from his pocket, looked at it for a long time, then put it away again.

"Mom, when I come back, I'll take good care of you."

Maya patted his hand. "Okay, I'll be waiting."

Before going to the airport, Finnian called Ralph.

"Ralph."

"Finnian." On the other end, Ralph's voice sounded muffled.

"Take care of yourself, stay alive. Wait for me to come back."

Ralph was silent for a few seconds. "You stay alive too. I'll wait for you to come back."

Finnian's voice softened. "I know."

He hung up, took a deep breath, and walked into the security checkpoint.

After seeing Finnian off, Eleanor stood in the airport terminal, watching the crowds come and go, feeling an emptiness inside.

Terrence held her hand. "Let's go back."

Eleanor nodded and followed him out of the airport.

The sunlight outside was brilliant, warming her through.

She remembered a line Finnian had written in his letter: "When I finish what I need to do, I'll come back and kowtow to apologize to you all."

She knew she didn't need him to actually kneel and apologize. She just hoped he would come back safely.

Tom planted a large field of flowers at Rosewood Estate.

When they bloomed, he called Eleanor. "Ms. Mitchell, the flowers are blooming. Would you like to come see?"

Eleanor agreed and went to the estate with Terrence.

Tom had planted roses—red, white, and pink ones spreading out in a vast expanse. When the wind blew, the fragrance filled the air, and petals swirled through the sky, landing on the stone path.

Eleanor stood among the flowers, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"My dad loved flowers the most," she said softly.

Terrence stood beside her. "Then we'll come often."

Eleanor opened her eyes and looked at his gentle expression.

Tom stood far away by the flower bed, watching their silhouettes, wiping his eyes.

He remembered when Zander was still alive, he would often stand by the window, looking at the flowers in the garden.

Back then, Tom didn't understand why a grown man would care so much about flowers.

Later, after Zander passed away, he stayed alone at the estate taking care of these flowers. Over time, he finally understood. Flowers don't scheme against people, and they don't lie. Compared to people, flowers bring more peace of mind.

Tom turned back to the greenhouse and continued working with his flowers.

He had already decided to stay at the estate long-term. There was a place to live, food to eat, work to do, and a whole garden of flowers.

This was much better than the rundown rental room he used to live in.

Terralena Studio's business kept getting better, with orders booked through next year.

Lily and Gavin got together, and the two of them exchanged glances at the studio every day. Eleanor just smiled and shook her head when she noticed.

Jenna had also grown, now able to complete design drafts independently, becoming Eleanor's reliable assistant.

Tom worked as a gardener at Rosewood Estate, planting flowers, pruning, and watering every day, living a stable and simple life.

Ralph's condition had improved significantly. He would occasionally call Eleanor to chat about everyday things.

Every time Eleanor received his calls, Finnian's shadow would flash through her mind.

She often wondered how he was doing abroad.

One day, Eleanor received a postcard from Finnian sent from overseas.

The postcard showed a snow-capped mountain with a brilliant blue sky, low clouds, and thick snow covering the peaks. On the back were just a few lines: [Eleanor, it's beautiful here. Next time I'll bring you and Mom to see it. I'm doing well, don't worry.]

Eleanor pinned the postcard to the divider in front of her desk and stared at it quietly for a long time.

Lily came in to deliver documents and, seeing the postcard, asked curiously, "Ms. Mitchell, who sent this?"

"My brother."

"You have a brother?"

Eleanor smiled, her eyes very gentle. "Yes, my brother is wonderful."

She used to almost never mention Finnian because that period of her life was always connected with betrayal and hurt.

Now it was different. She understood that Finnian had never betrayed her. She could say openly that she had a brother.

Her brother was wonderful, and he truly loved her.

In early March, the studio took on a charity project to design school uniforms for children in impoverished mountain areas.

Eleanor personally led the team, taking Lily and Jenna on a trip to the mountains.

The school there was very run-down. Some classroom windows had broken glass covered with cardboard. The playground was a dirt field that turned into mud puddles when it rained.

But the children's eyes were bright when they looked at people, filled with hope for the future.

A little girl pulled Eleanor's hand. "Miss, are you here to make us new clothes?"

Eleanor crouched down to her eye level. "Yes."

The little girl smiled happily, showing a gap-toothed grin. "That's great. I've never worn new clothes before."

Eleanor felt her nose sting and almost cried on the spot.

After returning to the city, she stayed up late drawing designs. She added many practical details to each uniform and tried to make the fabric comfortable to wear. Finally, she embroidered a small flower on the corner of each garment.

"This is hope," she told her team.

The day the uniforms were delivered, the children put on their new clothes and ran around the playground, their laughter echoing far through the empty valley.

Eleanor stood to the side, watching those running figures, feeling especially grounded. She knew this was why she wanted to do design in the first place. Not for fame, not for profit, but to give people who wore her designs even just a little bit more happiness.

Time moved forward quickly. Before long, it was Donald's eightieth birthday, and the Thornton family's old mansion was decorated with lights and flowers.

This was Eleanor's first time meeting Donald. No matter what she did beforehand, she couldn't suppress the nervousness in her heart.

Donald sat in the main seat, his hair gray but looking quite spirited. Though his eyes were somewhat cloudy, his gaze remained clear and sharp.