Chapter 20 Memories
1386 Words
Elara’s POV
It took me a few minutes to fully gather myself after that encounter in the hallway, but eventually, I forced my thoughts to settle and made my way back to the hospital room.
Even then, my mind refused to stay quiet.
Because what unsettled me wasn’t the fact that I had just run into another well-known billionaire today but I was the fact that he knew me.
Me.
The thought alone felt absurd.
He hadn’t explained how or where we had met, and yet, the way he looked at me... like he had just found something he had been searching for... made it impossible to dismiss.
And the worst part?
That wasn’t even the first time today.
A quiet scoff escaped my lips as I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Both of them…
Both him and that insufferable, egoistic jerk—Jayden Bryes—had looked at me the same way.
Like I was someone important.
Like I was someone they knew.
It didn’t make sense.
Because there was no way I could have known someone like Jayden Bryes. If I did, the Ashfords would have milked that connection dry long before I ever had the chance to leave.
But this one... Maurice Lanfield.
His name didn't sound at all familiar to her, but maybe I had met him before.
I had been to handful of events when I was the an Ashford, maybe it was then.
My brows pulled together slightly as I walked further into the room, contemplating where and how I knew the man.
Just like the Bryes, the Lanfields were among the most powerful families in the country.
Men like him didn’t just “know” people like me... At least, not the me that I was now.
So where…?
“Mummy, what took you so long?”
Jake’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts instantly.
“Hm?” I blinked, looking up. I had wandered into the room and now stood not too far from the bed. Leo was staring at me, while Jake had stood up and was standing right in front of me.
I looked down to see his serious face... Which was rare for him. .
“You went to get me water,” he reminded me, his small face scrunched up in mild accusation.
Oh.... I blinked again.
Right.
The water.
“I... yeah,” I said quickly, brushing a hand through my hair as I tried to recover. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just got a little carried away.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not convinced.
“Okay… so where is the water?”
I froze for half a second.
Then sighed.
“Right. I’ll go get it now.” I gave Leo who had slightly titled his head as he watched me an apologetic smile, and before his brother could say anything else, I turned and walked out again, this time actually heading toward the nurse’s station.
“Good day,” a nurse greeted as I approached. “How is our patient doing?”
“He’s fine,” I replied with a small nod.
“You must be his guardian.”
I hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering.
“His mother,” I said simply. “Elara Reyes.”
...
By the time we got back to Helene’s place later that evening, exhaustion had already started settling deep into my bones.
The kids had fallen asleep not long after dinner, completely drained from the day’s events, leaving the house unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
I stood in the living room for a moment, staring at nothing in particular before finally pouring myself a glass of wine and sinking into the couch.
The silence gave my thoughts too much space.
And unfortunately…
They all led back to the same place... The events that happened today... Most especially, my talk with Jayden Bryes.
After finding out that Leo was at the hospital, the last patience I had for that man snapped, and I spoke about out of line.
Now I wasn't sure if I still had a job anymore.
“Hey…” I heard someone suddenly say behind me.
I looked up at the sound of Helene’s voice as she stepped into the living room, already dressed comfortably for the night.
“Hey,” I replied, lifting the glass slightly.
She glanced at it, then back at me.
“What are you doing?”
“Drinking,” I said, then paused before adding, “and thinking.”
She let out a small hum, nodding as she walked further in. “Oh… those things.”
“Yeah,” I muttered.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening slightly around the glass.
Helene poured herself a glass to, and then grabbed the entire bottle before coming to seat next to me. She dropped the bottle of the table before leaning into the couch, balancing the glass in her hands.
I watched her with a faint smile on my cheeks.
Helene Carter...
I watched the way her brown shoulder length hair gently swayed in the light breeze, and the little spark in her eyes which was still bright despite the fact that it was late.
It's been a while since we had been alone together like this.
“Helene…” I started, my voice quieter now. As soon as I called her name, she stopped to look at me, her expression was slightly confused. “I never really apologized for what I did to you.”
I swallowed, staring into those dark brown eyes of hers.
I could hear the loud sound of my heart beating faster in my ears. Every ounce of my body didn't want to have this conversation, but I needed to get this out. “I let Polmira get into my head,” I continued, forcing the words out. “And I pushed you away because of it.”
The memory still left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I wish I could pick the memories I didn't want to remember, but my head didn't work that way. It was only short time memories of people I had only met once or twice that didn't stay. The betrayal took longer than a day or two... How could I possibly forget it?
“You were both my best friends,” I added, shaking my head slightly. “And I couldn’t even figure out who to trust.”
A humorless laugh slipped past my lips. “I messed up.”
Helene confusion was replayed with a knowing look now as she stared back at me. She studied me for a few seconds before nodding slowly.
“You did,” she said bluntly, turning to look in front of her, staring her nothing. “You messed up big time, Elara.”I could hear the slight trembling of her voice.
She remembered.
“I know,” I replied immediately, my voice low.
And I did.
“I’m sorry.”
In the past, I had betrayed her. I listened to Polly, and I ruined our friendship. Yet when I showed up at her doorstep few days ago, she didn't ask questions.
Not about the twins or where I had been all this while... She didn't say anything.
She just let us in.
That wasn't something anyone could just do, but I knew deep down that she would. Maybe that was why her place was the first place that came to my mind aftee the hotel reservation got canceled.
Even when we had talked before, it was brief. I only said a few basic things, but she didn't question it.
I heard Helene take a deep breath, she dropped the wine glass at the arm of the couch.
Her gaze softened slightly, but she didn’t let me off that easily.
“I mean, how could you even think I would get together with that i***t?” she asked, folding her arms, before turning to look at me. “Apart from the fact that he was your boyfriend, I never even liked him.” her tone had a slight accusation edge to it.
“I know,” I said again, more quietly this time. “But my head wasn’t in the right place back then.”
- Writer
