Chapter 144
Leonard’s gaze was deep, unreadable. “You need to shine
the Technology Creation and Sharing Summit.”
Elara didn’t bother pretending to be polite. “So, Mr. Fisher re you paying for all this?”
Isisa chuckled. “Ms. Jones, plek whatever you like. Mr. Fisher instructed us to bring in the entire Aziona collection for you no budget restrictions.”
Elara felt a flutter in her chest–so Leonard had actually considered bringing her into Dragonheart.
He wanted to prepare her, to make sure she could hold her own at the summit and achieve something meaningful. This was yet another test from Leonard.
“Mr. Leonard, thank you for this gift,” she said, flashing him a dazzling smile. “I promise I’ll pay you back a thousand times over! You won’t regret investing in me.
Her radiant expression was pure and unwavering. If Leonard was willing to bet on her, she was determined to bring him a massive return on his Investment.
Elara picked out a few gowns before heading into a private room to change.
When she stepped out, Merida, sitting on the sofa, gasped in awe.
“Wow!”
It was the first time she had ever seen Elara in a fully embellished gown, glittering with hand–sewn crystals.
Elara walked forward, the hem of her dress flowing behind her like rippling stardust.
“Mommy, you look like a fairy!” Merida beamed, giving her a thumbs–up.
“Come here.”
Leonard’s voice called her over.
Elara knelt down in front of him, the long skirt pooling around her like a soft tide. It almost looked as if she were bowing before him.
“Does it look good?” she asked.
Leonard reached out and took a pearl necklace from the ornate jewelry box Oliver was holding.
Without hesitation, he fastened the necklace around her neck. His fingers, cool against her skin, brushed against the nape of her neck as he adjusted the clasp.
It was the lightest touch, but it sent a ripple through Elara’s chest.
She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes.
The look she gave him was unwavering–like someone ready to prove herself.
Meanwhile, Merida, completely oblivious to the atmosphere between them, took a quick photo with her smartwatch.
Right then, she noticed a message from Theodore. He had sent her a picture of a capybara plushie, knowing she had been obsessed with them lately.
Merida excitedly sent him back the picture she had just taken.
Chapter 144
“Mommy, you’re absolutely gorgeous today!”
+25 BONUS
Back at the law firm, Theodore sat at his desk, scrolling through his phone when the picture came in.
The moment he saw it, his lips curled into an unconscious anile.
Elara, elegant and unadorned–she had always been effortlessly beautiful. But as he was about to lean back and admire the photo, his gaze caught something near the edge of the frame.
Whose pant leg was that? Theodore got so furious that he wanted to kill someone.
Theodore zoomed in, analyzing every detail.
From the angle and proportion, the pant leg belonged to a man about six feet two inches tall.
His fingers quickly tapped out a message.
He asked Merida, “Merida, where are you and Mommy at?
Merida replied, “At a teacher’s house.”
Theodore frowned. What kind of ‘teacher‘ would invite a mother and daughter to his house?
His legal brain was already drafting an ethical misconduct complaint.
Then Merida followed up with another text. “Mommy’s teacher is also my granduncle!”
Theodore blinked.
Did that mean the guy in the picture was Leonard? The legendary genius, once–in–a–century prodigy, and his father’s all–time favorite kid since childhood?
The Leonard who had been held up as an unreachable standard his entire life?
Theodore leaned his elbow on his knee, staring at the photo.
The way Elara looked at Leonard, her gaze was unwavering, almost reverent.
Slowly, the gleam in Theodore’s usually sharp eyes dimmed. His tongue grazed the inside of his cheek, tasting bitterness.
Elara had never looked at him like that.
That wasn’t admiration. It was the kind of devotion one reserved for something untouchable.
Finally, he sent a message to Tobias.
He said, “I think I was born to be the other guy in someone’s story.”
Tobias, who had been casually sipping tea with a group of old scholars, nearly spat out his drink.
