Chapter 9

That single sheet of paper-Sebastian had read every word on it over and over again, until his eyes felt sore and dry. And just like that, he got it. He finally understood Elaria's pain... and her tears. It hit him-why that night in the parking lot, she completely lost it at him, shouting, "Sebastian, why won't you even give me five minutes? Are you still the man I married?" His Elaria... couldn't have kids anymore. He didn't love her, not in the way people talk about love, but she mattered. Deeply. She had been there for him for four full years, through the darkest parts of his life, standing beside him when he was still clawing his way to the top. They'd made a promise when they got married-to have two kids. "Ryan and Isabella." He slowly sank down on the edge of the bed. The man who always looked sharp and in control now seemed... worn out. There was a rare slump in his shoulders, his confidence dimmed. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with a click of his lighter, and took a long drag. The cigarette burned while shadows curved along his tired, hollow cheeks. There was a certain roughness to him in that moment, the kind that drew eyes even in his silence. At the bedroom door, the housekeeper hesitated, then said carefully, "Ms. Woods is here." Sebastian didn't respond. Ms. Woods had rushed over from the hospital. The shards of glass all over the floor left her completely speechless for a second. The boss... had been dumped. But Ms. Woods was a seasoned workaholic. She pulled herself together fast, professionalism kicking in. "Mr. Richards, how would you like to handle this moving forward?" A haze of pale smoke curled around his profile. His voice was low, unreadable. "Bury it. Do whatever it takes-no word about the separation gets out." Ms. Woods nodded. "Understood." She glanced at him again and couldn't help but wonder. Weren't they supposed to be business partners more than anything? Then why did the boss look like a man who just found out he couldn't be a man anymore? Was he really not in love with Mrs. Richards? ***** Elaria moved into a new apartment. It wasn't huge-probably around 120 square meters-but the location was prime, and the design was tasteful. From the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see half the city at night. The next day, she went to visit her grandmother. Her grandmother wasn't aware of what had happened between her and Sebastian. She just asked kindly, "Is life treating you well, dear?" Elaria smiled, not wanting her to worry. "It's all good. Sebastian's been treating me well." Divorce or not, life had to go on. Elaria decided it was time to go back to something she used to love-painting. In just one week, she'd turned her apartment into a mini studio, pouring herself into her canvases. She hadn't felt this relaxed in years. On a whim, she even brought home a dog-not a fancy breed, but all fluffy and white. Elaria instantly adored him and named him Snowball. Over the weekend, she headed to an art exhibition. There were hundreds of paintings displayed. Elaria's favorite piece was a floral work titled "Twins." She was just about to ask for the price when she noticed the artist's name: Clarence. Bianca's father. Her mood shifted instantly. Right then, a soft female voice beside her said, "You're drawn to this one too, huh?" Elaria turned and saw an elegant woman standing beside her. Her style was tasteful, her features well-maintained, flanked by two assistants who looked sharp and capable. One look told you she came from a big-name family and wasn't just some trophy wife. The woman smiled. "My husband's last name is Harmon." Something clicked in Elaria's mind-this was Mrs. Harmon, the wife of Mr. Harmon from Aurvista Group. She remembered meeting her once before. Mr. Harmon usually handled business down south, so she'd only briefly run into his wife. Noticing the recognition in Elaria's eyes, Mrs. Harmon's smile deepened. "I spotted you as soon as I arrived-Sebastian's wife, right?" The Harmons ruled the South; the Richards dominated the North.. Her deliberate use of "Sebastian" showed how close the Harmons and Halden & Co. were-clearly, the business relationship between the two men ran deep. Elaria didn't care about all that. She and Mrs. Harmon had a surprisingly genuine connection. They didn't talk deals. Just art and technique. The conversation flowed so naturally that Mrs. Harmon ended up inviting her for coffee. Elaria agreed without hesitation. Inside the bright café, Mrs. Harmon stirred her coffee with a silver spoon, her smile calm and composed as she said, "That Mr. Clarence's paintings are quite good, but the man himself? Not so much. Honestly, not worth buying." Elaria gave a small, polite smile. She was about to say something when she noticed a shadow cross Mrs. Harmon's face-just a flicker, like she had drifted into memory. Her assistant leaned over gently and said, "Please don't dwell on sad things, ma'am. If you get sick again, Mr. Harmon will be worried sick." Mrs. Harmon gave Elaria an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry to speak of such things in front of you, Mrs. Richards... It's just something lodged in my heart for years. When I was younger, I loved someone who didn't love me back. I had his child, but then... I was hurt by others. When I woke up, my five-year-old little girl was gone. Just vanished. Thankfully, I later met my husband, and he's been searching with me ever since. We've looked everywhere, but there's still no trace of my daughter." Her voice cracked at the end, and tears welled up in her eyes. She remembered clearly-her daughter had a small reddish mole near her waist. Mrs. Harmon believed that if she ever saw it again, she would know, without a doubt, that the girl was hers. Elaria, an orphan herself, felt a deep ache for her. She reached over and gently held her hand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Mrs. Harmon took comfort in her presence. "I feel like I've known you forever. That must be why I'm saying all this. Please don't mind my rambling." Elaria replied softly, "Not at all. I really believe that fate is strong between a mother and daughter. You'll find her again." Mrs. Harmon smiled through tears. "I hope you're right." Then, as if remembering something important, she pulled out a business card and handed it to Elaria. "We're having a little party at our villa soon. I'd love for you to come. I know you're ambitious-I'll introduce you to some helpful people." Elaria, not wanting to turn her down, accepted the card with a nod. When they were saying goodbye, Mrs. Harmon stood beside her luxury car, looking reluctant to part. It had been a long time since she'd felt such warmth talking to someone-this moment reminded her of the days with her little girl. Her assistant quietly reminded her of the time. Only then did Mrs. Harmon release her hand. "Let's catch up again very soon." Elaria stood there, watching the sleek car drive away. She thought about Mr. Harmon-he must really love his wife to give her such care and comfort, and never asked for children of their own all these years. The thought left her emotions tangled. ***** By 9 p.m., Elaria finished the last stroke of paint and leaned back, stretching. Snowball wagged his tail like crazy beside her. She filled up his bowl and tossed in a bit of chicken sausage-he devoured it happily. After petting him for a bit, she went to grab a robe for her shower, but the damp weather had left everything on the balcony still wet and clammy to the touch. With a sigh, she opened her closet to find a shirt she could use instead. Under the warm lights, her pale fingers trailed along the fabric until they stopped on a black shirt. It was Sebastian's. Somehow, it had ended up in her luggage when she moved out. She paused, then pulled it out. He wouldn't even notice. Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the shower wearing the oversized black shirt. Her wet hair dripped over her shoulders as she reached for the blow dryer-but just then, the doorbell rang. Figuring it was Annie, she didn't think too much and went to open the door. The moment she did, she froze. Sebastian stood there, tall and silent. His frame blocked most of the light from the hallway. Elaria couldn't quite read his expression, and had no clue why he'd shown up now, so late in the evening. It had been a whole week. Not a single word exchanged. She was sure he'd received the court notice. What was he here for? Sebastian's eyes stayed locked on her. Elaria was wearing nothing but an oversized black dress shirt-barely buttoned, barely decent. The thin fabric clung to her skin, and below the hem, a sliver of pale, exposed thigh caught the light like a silent provocation.