Chapter 81
“At that moment, Elena was in her room, talking to a very drunk Camila on the phone.
Lena! Did you see the gift I prepared for you? It’s pretty, right? Do you like it?” Camila asked.
“I love it.” Elena was admiring a complete set of diamond jewelry displayed before her. “It’s really shiny.”
“Hic-of course! How could it match up to your beauty if it wasn’t shiny? Actually…”
“Yes?”
. “Oh, no… Nothing! I feel as light as a bird…” Camila mumbled. She was clearly as drunk as a skunk.
Elena could hear Mia’s exasperated voice as the latter scolded Camila over the phone. It was obvious
how much of a headache Mia must be having right now.
In fact, Camila had originally prepared a dance costume for Elena as a gift.
She had commissioned a famous fashion designer overseas to have it custom made. It took three whole months: Camila intended to give it to Elena when she returned to the country. However, she had learned
that Elena could no longer dance.
Wouldn’t that be rubbing salt into the wound if she gave Elena a dance costume now?
So Camila had hastily rushed out to buy a set of jewelry instead.
After a bout of drunken nonsense, Camila asked again, “Lena, did Zachary give you a gift? What did he
give you?”
After saying that, she realized she must have accidentally pressed the wrong button. The call cut off
before Elena could answer the question.
Knowing how drunk Camila was, Elena decided against calling back. Her gaze landed on the pile of gifts neatly placed in a corner. The guests who attended today’s welcome party had presented her with many gifts. The hotel arranged for delivery and had them all brought to Elena’s house.
Elena picked up the gift bag from Zachary and opened it. There was a velvet box inside. She opened the box and found a painting inside. Unrolling the canvas, she realized it was an oil painting of a young lady
smiling while seated amidst blooming flowers.
The scene in the painting was so vivid. For a moment, Elena suddenly felt as though she had travelled
back in time to when she was 18 years old. Sure enough, the young lady in the painting looked very much
like her at 18.
The signature on the painting was Zachary’s. Clearly, he had painted this personally.
Elena stared at the young lady’s smile in the oil painting. At 18 years old, she hadn’t yet been with Justin, and her legs were still uninjured. Back then, Camila used to secretly place soft pads in her ballet shoes.
.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed twice. Elena snapped back to reality and saw that it was a message from Alexander. “I’m outside your front gates.”
Elena was taken aback. Hadn’t he left earlier? Or had he gone and returned?
Before she could figure it out, Alexander sent her another message. “I’ve thought about it carefully, but I really can’t think of any friends I should bring along to dinner. After much consideration, I think I should still ask you about this in person.”
There was a hint of helplessness in his message.
Elena pursed her lips. Then, she stood up and went outside.
- Since Alexander had put it that way, she had no reason to hesitate any longer. Besides, he was already waiting outside. She might as well go out and directly clear things up with him.
Alexander was leaning against his car under the night sky. A faint smile crossed his eyes when he saw Elena walking out of the Miller residence’s gates.
“Ms. Miller.”
