Chapter 4

Eighteen Months Later

New York International Airport

“The car is ready, ma’am.” Betty Adams told Elena, as she stepped out of the airport and glanced around the familiar city.

New York had been her home for more than a decade, but after Richard’s betrayal and the accident that shattered her once-perfect life into millions of painful pieces, she couldn’t stay any longer. She needed a break. A change in the scenery. And so did Caleb. The boy had lost his mother and had almost lost his father, too, if not for Elena who refused to pull the plug.

Elena nodded and adjusted the sunglasses on her face.

She was tired, jetlagged, and hungry.

After spending a year and a half in Milan, Italy, she was finally back home.

Betty, her trusted personal assistant, led the way towards the awaiting car.

Elena followed her, her mind drifting to everything that had happened over the past year and a half.

It was still hard to believe that her brother had been in a coma for so long. She thought he would wake up after a few days, but it had been much longer than that. And now, he was still unconscious, stuck in a never-ending sleep.

The doctors said it was unlikely that he would ever wake up, but Elena refused to give up hope. She was determined to keep fighting, to stay strong for her nephew. The only thing that kept her sane all these years. Caleb needed her more than ever now, and she was going to be there for him. She had promised him that much.

Elena climbed into the car and settled down in the back seat.

Betty got in beside her, her tablet in hand.

“Did Caleb have a good flight?” Elena asked, glancing at the woman.

Betty nodded. “Yes, ma’am. He slept most of the way.”

Elena was relieved to hear that.

She had been worried about him. Because of the unfortunate delay in wrapping up her company’s project in Milan, she couldn’t accompany her nephew when he returned to New York three days ago.

If it weren’t for his new school’s strict rules to return a week before the commencement, Elena would have kept him with her. Caleb loved Milan, and she thought he would enjoy staying there with her, but the kid missed home.

“Do you want me to stop anywhere for lunch, Ma’am?” Betty asked, glancing at Elena.

“No, thank you,” Elena replied, shaking her head. “I’d like to go straight home.”

“Of course,” Betty said, tapping something on her tablet.

Elena leaned back in her seat, letting out a sigh.

She was glad to be back in New York. She had missed it. But not as much as she hated it.

She knew coming back would mean facing all the memories she had tried so hard to forget. But that was no reason not to come back home and be there for her brother. The time spent in Milan had been wonderful. It gave her the pleasant distraction she needed to pull herself together and shoulder the responsibilities waiting for her.

That’s when Elena threw herself into work and made it her life. It took her a while to understand the intricate business world, but she had always been a quick learner. And now, after a year and a half of working non-stop, she was one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the United States.

Elena was proud of what she had achieved.

“How is my brother?” Elena asked, wondering if there had been any change in the man’s condition.

Betty gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m afraid nothing’s changed, ma’am. He’s still in a coma.”

Elena’s chest tightened at the news. It was always hard to hear.

In the beginning, Elena had tried to visit as much as she could, hoping one day she would open the door and there he would be, awake and smiling. But as time passed, it became harder to face the reality. There was no improvement in her brother’s condition, and the doctors were starting to lose hope. Elena refused to give up, though. She believed he would wake up someday, that he would come back to her.

Maybe not now, but soon. She had to hold onto that hope.

“Have you checked on Caleb?” Elena asked, changing the subject.

Betty nodded. “Yes, ma’am. He’s doing well. The tutor I hired for him seems to be working out fine. And the housekeeper says he’s eating well.”

Elena was glad to hear that.

She had been worried about her nephew. He had suffered so much already. She wanted him to be happy, to feel safe and secure.

When the car pulled up outside the impressive white mansion, Elena took a moment to admire the place. She had forgotten how beautiful it was. The perfectly manicured lawns, the marble fountain, the lush greenery; it was all so breathtaking.

The mansion was built in the Neo-Gothic style, with tall windows and pointed arches. It was truly magnificent.

Betty got out first, opening the door for Elena.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw a figure running towards her.

Caleb.

Elena’s heart swelled at the sight of him. She had missed him so much.

He crashed into her, hugging her tightly. “Auntie!” he exclaimed, beaming up at her.

“Caleb,” Elena smiled, kissing his forehead.

“Did you bring me presents?”

Elena laughed.

“Always straight to the point.”

“Well, did you?” Caleb pressed, looking up at her expectantly.

“Hmm, maybe,” Elena teased, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small T-rex figurine.

“What the hell? That thing’s amazing!” Caleb shouted in excitement and grabbed it, giving his aunt a hug.

Elena smiled, glad to see the gift had gone over well. Caleb had always been easy to please. The boy never gave her a hard time.

“Alright,” she said, pushing Caleb to the side gently. “Go inside and wash up. We’ll have lunch together.”

Caleb nodded and scampered away towards the front doors, still clutching the toy in his hands.

Elena watched him go, feeling her heart break all over again. How could anyone take that light away from the world? The little boy’s energy made her miss Josh all the more.

She felt tears forming, but she fought them back. She couldn’t show that kind of weakness. She had a long battle ahead of her.

This was just the beginning.

With her shoulders straightened, Elena turned towards her home.

“Let’s get to work.”