Chapter 98 Butterflies
As the car glided through Melbourne's streets, Lena's phone lit up with a call. Penny. Her smile bloomed instantly, she answered quickly, warmth flooding her voice. Penelope had been her lifeline through every twist of this journey. From Paris to the smallest details of Margarete and Sophie, Lena had told her everything. And Penny, with her endless excitement, had soaked it all in as though she were living it herself.
They had practically grown up as sisters, sharing secrets, dreams, and even the ache of loneliness. With her father gone, Penelope had often felt like the closest thing Lena ever had to both a sister and a mother. Hearing her voice now was like slipping into something safe and familiar.
To Penny, this entire story still felt unreal, almost like a fairytale being told in pieces over the phone. She couldn't fully grasp it, Lena in mansions, traveling in private jets, being waited on hand and foot. Sometimes she teased that Lena must have stolen someone else's life.
Penelope's cheerful voice filled the car. "How was the flight?"
Lena laughed softly. "Long... but too comfortable for me to complain."
"Of course," Penny teased. "You were in a VIP suite."
Lena chuckled, shaking her head. "Honestly, I didn't even know planes had such compartments. It wasn't like anything I've ever seen, it was more like a little hotel room in the sky. There was a bed that stretched out fully, not those stiff reclining seats I'm used to. The lighting was soft and warm, the kind that makes you forget you're even flying. They brought me real food on porcelain plates, not those tiny foil trays. And the privacy... that was the strangest part. Just me in a quiet little cabin, with the city lights falling away beneath us. For once, I didn't feel like a passenger at all. I felt... important."
"Yes, Lena, I love when you're so detailed," Penelope said with a mock-dramatic sigh. "Because when you first told me you were booked in a VIP suite, I didn't know what to think. I even had to Google it just to have an idea of what you were saying."
They both burst out laughing at her sarcasm.
"Alright, alright," Lena said between giggles.
"No, I mean it," Penelope pressed playfully. "Keep giving me details like that. I want to picture it as if I'm there with you."
"Okay, okay," Lena replied, still smiling. "I'll try not to leave anything out."
"Good," Penelope said with satisfaction, then softened. "So... have you gotten home yet?"
"Not yet," Lena answered. "We just landed a little while ago."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, laughter trailing between them, before Lena finally ended the call. As the line went silent, she leaned back against the seat, her smile lingering warmed by the thought that no matter how far her world seemed to drift, Penny was still the one who kept her grounded.
The car suddenly took a familiar turn, and Lena's heart gave a small leap. She was finally home. The wheels rolled smoothly over the driveway until the car came to a gentle stop at the front of the house.
Lena stepped out, not sparing a thought for her luggage, she didn't have to. Staff and maids were already in motion, each one pausing briefly to greet her as she strolled past, their warmth making the grand house feel just a little less intimidating.
On her way upstairs, she glanced at a maid standing nearby. "Has Ethan come home yet?"
The maid bowed her head slightly. "No, madam."
Her room welcomed her with quiet perfection clean, well-organized, and waiting as though she had never left. Lena sank onto the bed, the soft mattress pulling her in until she could no longer resist. Just then, two maids slipped in, moving with quiet efficiency as they began to prepare a bath for her.
A sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. Ahh... this really was a beautiful life, she thought.
Ethan felt like his days were growing heavier, each one pressing harder than the last. He had been unusually irritable all day, snapping over the smallest things, and for no real reason he could put his finger on. Still, deep down he knew what was gnawing at him, Lena. Her call from Paris the previous day had left a sharper mark than he cared to admit. The fact that she had chosen to prolong her stay had unsettled him more than it should have.
The staff had sensed it too. Everyone at the office had tread carefully around him these past few days, as if the air itself carried his sour mood. By late afternoon, Ethan was more than ready to call it a day and head home.
Just as he reached for his jacket, his head of security entered with his usual briskness. "Sir, I just received word. Mrs. Sinclair has returned. She arrived home safely not long ago."
For a moment, Ethan stilled. The words caught him off guard, drawing his eyes up sharply. She's home? A flicker of warmth stirred in his chest before he quickly brushed it aside. "Noted," he said curtly, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand.
Left alone again, Ethan leaned against his desk, the corner of his mouth tightening. Was she trying to prank me? To return without a word?The thought was ridiculous, yet strangely endearing. He found it almost... cute.
He reached for the scattered files on his desk, fumbling more than usual. His movements betrayed him, too rushed, too eager. He stopped midway, realizing his own haste, and forced himself to slow down. What's gotten into me?
He took a steadying breath, straightened his suit, and schooled his features back into the calm mask he was known for. Yet, beneath it all, the truth was undeniable he was eager to see her. And that... was something new.
Composed once again, Ethan walked out of his office and into the waiting car.
Lena had just slipped into that sweet spot between sleep and waking when a soft knock tapped against her door. At first, she ignored it, too cozy under the covers. But the knocking persisted, gentle yet insistent, until she finally stirred and called out groggily, "Come in."
The door cracked open, and a maid peeked in, a new face, not one of the regulars Lena was used to seeing. Her voice was polite, almost careful, as she said, "Madam, fresh flowers were sent to you from Sir Ethan. He wanted them here to welcome you home."
Lena blinked, propping herself up on one elbow. Flowers? From Ethan? The corners of her lips twitched into a small, disbelieving smile. So he found out I'm back already. She nearly laughed at the thought but only gave a reluctant little wave for the maid to enter fully.
The door swung open, and suddenly the quiet of her room was filled with movement. One by one, maids walked in, their arms full of breathtaking arrangements, lush red roses, pale pink peonies, delicate carnations, and sprigs of baby's breath that softened the bouquets with their airy charm. The colors bloomed against the elegant vases as though her entire room was being transformed into a secret garden.
Lena sat upright, her nap forgotten. For a moment she could only stare, stunned by the sheer beauty of it all. Her chest fluttered with a strange warmth she didn't want to name.