Chapter 169
Elara didn’t think too much about it and simply bragged to Merida about her brother. “Your Uncle Finn’s lunch boxes are legendary!
“They’re not just delicious–they’re a work of art. When you open the lid, the aroma alone can travel for miles!”
Finnegan seemed to recall something and let out a sigh of regret. “Unfortunately, your mom and I are going to be really busy soon. I probably won’t have time to make one.”
Merida immediately slid off her chair and bolted to her room. Within moments, she came running back while clutching a stack of papers.
“Uncle Finn, can you come with Mommy and me to the sclical’s parent–child outing?
Finnegan took the document from her hands, glancing down thoughtfully.
Worried he might say no, Merida quickly added, “Uncle Finn! Please, please!
“It’s okay if you scate the other kids! It’s okay if you don’t understand the game rules! I don’t care about winning the Perfect Family! I just want you and Mommy to go with me!”
Finnegan was somewhat baffled. Did this child have some sort of misunderstanding about him?
Finnegan gave her a nod. “I happen to be free that day.”
He tumed to Elara, who simply smiled and said, “Then let’s go together!”
Later, after dropping Merida off at school, Elara stood outside the gates, watching her daughter disappear into the
crowd.
She glanced at her phone, and she discovered that the person had responded to her email!
Lyla wrote: “Do you still need me?”
The moment Elara read the message, her eyes immediately turned red. She raised a hand, covering her mouth. Last night, she had repeatedly opened and refreshed her inbox after sending the email, hoping for a reply.
But as time passed, her heart had slowly sunk. Now, it started beating wildly again in an instant.
She tapped on her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed the familiar number. Her vision blurred with tears, but the digits were engraved in her memory. It was like she could type them blindfolded.
Once the full number was in, she pressed the call button. She closed her eyes while lifting the phone to her ears. Her long lashes were already wet.
After an agonizingly long dial tone, the call connected.
“Hello?” A voice, cool and crisp like iced mint, sounded in her ear.
Hot tears spilled from her lashes. Elara whispered in a choked voice, “I’ve missed you.”
A quiet reply came from the other end of the line, “Me too.
Elara sat in the car, wiping at her tears, but they wouldn’t stop no matter how much she tried. On the other end of the line was the one person who had witnessed her reckless and passionate youth
They had once promised to walk side by side, growing into better versions of themselves. But life had thrown them onto different paths. They had parted ways, yet somehow, they had never truly lost each other.
Chapter 160
Hearing Elara struggling to hold back her sobs, the voice on the phone teased, “You should cry more. Pay me bark for all the tears I shed for yout.”
Elara let out a choked sob before breaking into full–on crying Lyla Lupone was her best friend–her childhood companion.
The day Elara followed Leonard to Capitol, Lyla had run up to her and said, “Take me with you.”
Many people in their village shared the surmaine Lloyd, but byla had never liked it. At 18, she officially changed Lloyd to Lupone,
While Lyla worked in Capitol, Elara studied diligently under Fisher Corp’s sponsorship. By the time Elara achieved financial freedom through stock trading, Lyla’s career had also begun to take off.
Once money was no longer a worry, they built a racing team together, tearing through tracks side by side. But later, Elara sold the Corona and gave every cent from the auction to Lyla.
With that money, Lyla left. She headed to Melcina to chase the dream they once shared but never fully realized
Elara always knew Lyla was doing well. The last time she saw her was on the cover of a business magazine’s Person of the Year” issue.
“I don’t know if I can compete in the International Racing Championship,” Elara admitted. “But if I do… I want you there with me.”
Lyla didn’t hesitate for a second. “I’m coming back.”
+25 BONUS
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Chapter 170
