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Chapter 25
Justin took the bouquet from the waiter, then stood and walked to Elena, holding the flowers out to her.
“Lena, don’t be upset anymore. Let’s be good to each other, okay?”
It was a massive bouquet of vivid red roses.
Elena suddenly remembered the time Justin had confessed his feelings to her years ago, holding a bouquet of red roses just like this.
Back then, his eyes had shone so brightly, as if she were the only one in his heart and in his world.
Elena thought of how he could be so hypocritical, and the realization filled her with disgust. It was
sickening.
“Lena?”
Justin stood there for a long while, waiting for her to take the bouquet, but Elena never reached to take
them.
Just then, his phone began to ring.
He had no choice but to set the bouquet aside and answer. “Mom? You’re here already? Lena and I are
out for dinner… Alright, we’ll come home right away.”
When the call ended, he turned to Elena. “My mom’s at the house now. She wants us to head back.”
Josephine lived out at the Riggs residence on the outskirts of Slushire, far from the city center. Every so
often, she would come by to visit them.
Elena opened her mouth to respond, but Justin cut her off. “Lena, no matter what’s going on between us, let’s not make my mom worry. You know her health isn’t great.”
“Then you go back by yourself,” Elena said.
Justin’s tone softened. “My mom just told me she misses you. If you don’t come with me, how disappointed do you think she’ll be?”
His words made Elena hesitate.
Josephine had always treated her with genuine kindness. She was a gentle and gracious woman whose
warmth gave Elena the comfort she had craved ever since losing her own mother.
And if she ever found out the truth-that her son and her adopted daughter she had raised as her own, were entangled in that way… It would break her.
With her frail health, Elena couldn’t bring herself to put her through such a shock.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Chapter 25
2/2
Seeing her relent, Justin’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. He assumed Elena was finally calming down.
He knew it-if he just coaxed her a little, Elena would always come back to him.
Meanwhile, Nadine was sitting at home, clinging to her mother, Josephine, with a playful pout.
“Mom, we haven’t seen each other in years, and the first thing you ask about is Elena? Don’t you miss me
at all?”
Josephine gave her hand a gentle pat. “Of course I’ve missed you. I just saw that your brother and your sister-in-law weren’t home, so I assumed they were working late again. That’s why I asked.”
Nadine’s expression darkened. “Sister-in-law? She’s not my…”
“Nadine!” Josephine cut her off sharply. “Elena is your sister-in-law, and you need to remember that!”
Her words ended with a sudden fit of coughing. Nadine quickly reached over to pat her back, concern flashing across her face.
“Alright, Mom, I get it. Don’t get yourself worked up like this,” she said hurriedly.
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