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Chapter 23
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There's No Turning Back Chapter 24
Elara chuckled and said, "I've thrown away plenty of trash. Take your time picking it up."Even if Niamh stripped naked and lay in Harvey's bed, it wouldn't spark a shred of anger in Elara. She would only watch with amusement as Niamh brought about her own downfall.Upon learning that the bracelet was a gift from Harvey, Abel seemed relieved. It confirmed to him that Niamh still held a firm grip on Harvey's heart.Abel shifted his anger toward Elara at the dining table."You must have done something to upset Mr. Fisher that led to the divorce! I'm telling you right now that you ought to go and patch things up with him!"The Jones family are against divorces! Aren't you embarrassed? You're a 30-year-old single mom! Who would want you after this?"Elara ate calmly, occasionally checking on Bambi to ensure she was eating well. She asked, "Dad, aren't you going to ask me why I divorced Harvey?""Why bother? You couldn't even keep a man! Do you know how hard I worked to arrange the m
There's No Turning Back Chapter 25
"Ahhh!" Daphne let out a piercing scream, startled by the sudden chaos.As the round table flipped, Abel scooped Daphne into his arms and stumbled several steps back in panic.Elara seized the moment, rushing forward to pick up Bambi and running toward the nearest kitchen."Abel, I'm so scared!" Daphne whimpered while clinging tightly to Abel's neck.Abel gently patted her shoulder. "Don't be afraid, Daffy. I'll give them both a good slap, and they'll behave!"Daphne shuddered at his words.Niamh, on the other hand, wore a gleeful smile. Elara hadn't faced Abel's wrath since returning to the Jones family. Watching Abel discipline his daughter and granddaughter? Now that would be entertaining!"Elara! Come out here!" Abel shouted, striding toward the kitchen as he loosened the buckle on his belt. He pulled it free, wielding it like a seasoned warden.Then Elara appeared at the kitchen doorway with a sharp knife in her hand. She had Bambi stay behind her in the kitchen while she
There's No Turning Back Chapter 26
"Mommy, was I wrong for doing that just now? I shouldn't have flipped the table, right?" Bambi's voice was small, yet burdened by guilt. She was still so young and thought that by flipping the table, she had caused them to be kicked out of the Jones residence.Elara asked gently, "If you had the chance to do it over, would you still flip the table?"Bambi nodded without hesitation. "I wanted to protect you, Mommy."Elara's smile softened. "Bambi, you did what you could, and you're my hero.""Mommy is my hero!" Bambi said as she nestled into Elara's embrace.Hearing her mother's praise made her eyes shine with pride. Yet, a hint of shyness crept in as she added, "But… I used so much strength. It wasn't very ladylike.""You were born a girl, but girls can be anything they want to be. No one gets to define what a girl should look like or how she should act," Elara said while pulling Bambi close."You were born strong, with the ability to protect yourself. That makes me happy and pr
There's No Turning Back Chapter 27
Harvey sank into the bathtub with a dark expression, enduring the scorching water. He had reminded the maids countless times—104.5 degrees Fahrenheit was his preferred temperature.The scented incense was supposed to be lit ten minutes before he entered the bathroom, but the subtle fragrance was missing. Leaning back against the leather cushion at the edge of the tub, Harvey noticed the lighting wasn't adjusted properly either."Ridiculous." Elara never once got these simple tasks wrong in their seven years of marriage.Taking a deep breath, Harvey told himself to wait a few more days. Elara would be back soon enough.…The next morning, Elara picked up her phone and saw a message from August."Ms. Jones, are you sure you want to invest all 60 million into the stock market?"Elara replied confidently, "I'm sure. Execute the purchase as soon as the market opens.""Understood," August responded, followed by a warning, "Just don't regret it later."Elara turned on her computer an
There's No Turning Back Chapter 28
"Harvey?" Niamh called out.She noticed Harvey's ears turning red. His expression was something she'd never seen before."What did Elara yell at you about over the phone?"His expression was hard to decipher. "She's still picking a fight with me."Harvey found himself doubting whether the person who had just yelled at him was truly Elara."Elara might be going through menopause," Niamh said with a laugh. "They say women do age faster after having kids."…Elara hung up after her outburst and handed the phone back to Frank. He simply stood frozen in place, utterly petrified.With a small wave of her hand, Elara signaled him to take the phone. Frank then bolted as though lingering another second might earn him the same wrath.Elara was eager to leave Azure Shores, and she turned to Bambi with a suggestion. "Want to go with Mommy to visit her mentor?""Yes!" Bambi replied enthusiastically.Elara called Theodore before heading to the Snapp residence. She stopped by a florist to
There's No Turning Back Chapter 29
It felt as though an invisible rope had tightened around Elara's neck, stealing her breath. Tobias stood before her, wearing a deep navy cotton-linen robe.His frame was thin and frail, his hair was now entirely white, and his back was slightly hunched.Elara opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to call out to him, but the word caught in her throat. She no longer deserved to call his name. She wasn't worthy.Her vision immediately blurred with tears."Hello, sir!" Bambi's childish voice broke through the tension like a gentle spring rain."Are you the wise and brilliant Dr. Tobias Snapp my mom always talks about? She says you're a great educator and an outstanding mathematician!"Tobias' stern expression softened as he gazed at the adorable, round-faced Bambi."Your daughter?" he asked.Elara nodded quickly. "Yes, my daughter, Bambi."One of the young men nearby chimed in excitedly, "Dr. Snapp, she solved the problem you wrote!"Tobias paused for a moment before heading to
There's No Turning Back Chapter 30
Tobias frowned deeply, the phrase "shameless spectacle" nearly escaping his lips."What did you do to yourself?" he asked.Theodore was dressed, technically, but his appearance seemed even more suggestive than if he hadn't been. Tobias' thick eyebrows twitched furiously."I got caught in the rain," Theodore replied nonchalantly as he casually brushed his soaked hair back.From Elara's perspective, Theodore's profile was breathtakingly symmetrical, embodying the golden ratio. His high-bridged nose curved gracefully like a slide, mesmerizing in its perfection.On the side of his face that faced Elara, his dimples deepened, making him all the more captivating.Tobias, who was now leaning on Theodore for support, raised a hand to shield his eyes. He needed sunglasses—his son's radiant aura was too blinding!"Let me help you to bed, Dad. Don't push yourself too hard," Theodore said."What do you mean, push myself?" Tobias snapped.He continued thinking to himself, "You're the one p
There's No Turning Back Chapter 31
"Dad, go easy on me!" Theodore didn't dodge and took the hit from Tobias' cane head-on.Tobias poked at Theodore's damp shirt that was clinging to his waist. "Can't you have a little dignity? You're a disgrace! Are you possessed by something?"You… You… Why… Why are you even trying to seduce her?""Shh! Keep your voice down!" Theodore quickly hushed him."Oh, right, I should be quieter. Because this is such an honorable thing to be overheard?" Tobias scoffed, feeling like his old face was about to lose all credibility.Theodore, however, smirked as he said, "If someone hears, how am I supposed to keep seducing her?"Tobias rolled his eyes so hard he nearly passed out from sheer exasperation.…Elara found a few comic books for Bambi and borrowed some paper and colored pencils from a housekeeper.Bambi was incredibly focused and could sit quietly for hours reading and drawing.Once she was settled, Elara approached Tobias' students. "Hello, Dr. Snapp asked me to complete one o
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There's No Turning Back Chapter 458
Elara sat in the chair beside the bed and noticed the dried blood caked beneath Leonard's fingernails.In Leonard's current condition, he couldn't bathe himself. The hospital would have assigned caregivers, but for someone as proud as him, it would take considerable mental preparation to accept being touched by strangers.Elara then stood and fetched a basin of water from the bathroom. She placed it on the bedside table, wrung out a damp cotton pad, and lifted one of Leonard's hands. She began cleaning him with gentle strokes.Leonard's eyes widened. His brain screamed to pull away, but his limbs refused to obey. Trapped in his useless body, he could only watch as Elara bent over his hand with quiet determination."Let me do that," Oliver offered hastily, jumping to his feet.To Oliver, Leonard's survival alone seemed miraculous—his cleanliness was the least of their concern."Get me some cotton swabs and toothpicks," Elara instructed instead.After a glance at Leonard, Oliver g
There's No Turning Back Chapter 457
The next day, Elara lay on the bed as the psychiatrist conducted her postnatal psychological evaluation in the hospital room."After assessment, Ms. Jones, we've diagnosed you with postpartum depression. The Fisher family has assembled a 30-member medical team to help you through this period."When Elara woke, she learned she'd been unconscious all night. The doctor explained she'd experienced postnatal hypoglycemia."Does my husband know I fainted?" Elara asked."Madam Foster prefers Mr. Fisher not be troubled with such matters."The doctor's phrasing was diplomatic—Ethel's actual words were to keep Harvey uninformed so he wouldn't be bothered. After all these days Elara had spent in the hospital, no doctor had seen Harvey visit.Just then, the baby girl in the bassinet began whimpering.Elara's heart clenched. "Why is her voice hoarse?""She cried continuously after you collapsed," the doctor explained."Let me hold her." Despite foreseeing their inevitable separation, Elara
There's No Turning Back Chapter 456
"You're delusional! Do you think the Fisher family is somewhere you can come and go as you please?"Ethel's face twisted instantly with rage. Zachary, playing the confused peacemaker, asked, "Elara, you just gave birth—why this sudden talk of divorce?"As if illuminated by some grotesque light, Elara stared at the couple who always played good cop, bad cop."Where was Harvey when I was in labor? I sent countless messages, made endless calls, yet they all vanished into thin air!""Why were you bothering him with so many calls?" Ethel shrieked, chastising her for being unreasonable."The Fisher family has provided you with the finest care—you delivered in a Fisher Corp hospital! Do you know how much this VIP suite costs? With your private nurses, you're burning through 10 grand a day!"Ethel jabbed a finger toward the window. "Look at this view, this location! Elara Jones, what more could you possibly want?"Zachary maintained his mediator's tone. "Elara, postpartum hormones are a
There's No Turning Back Chapter 455
Oliver opened his mouth to ask Elara something, then thought better of it. He pressed his lips together.With detached calm, Elara took the divorce papers and walked away.When she returned to her hospital room, she found Ethel and Zachary standing by the bassinet. Zachary cradled a small bundle while Ethel cooed at the baby in his arms."My precious grandson is so adorable! Look at his nose and mouth. He looks just like his father."Zachary couldn't take his eyes off the swaddled infant. "I finally have a grandson."Elara drifted in like a ghost—ten months of pregnancy had turned her heart to ashes.The babies' birth brought no maternal joy. With her surgical wound split open, she moved like a bleeding zombie.Ethel's smile vanished when she noticed Elara. "Where have you been? You were wandering around while Beau's starving!"Ethel exchanged a satisfied glance with Zachary, clearly reveling in the choice. "It means handsome, you know—refined, noble. A name worthy of carrying
There's No Turning Back Chapter 454
Elara's entire body turned cold, all surrounding sounds fading away as she stared blankly at the glowing "In Surgery" sign. Her heart hung suspended by an invisible thread.Leonard's assistant emerged from the elevator and noticed the scattered papers on the floor. Spotting Elara's name on the documents, Oliver crouched down and picked up the divorce agreement.When he looked up, he saw Elara standing motionless outside the operating room. "Ms. Jones?"Oliver approached quickly, urging her, "You just had a C-section. Please return to your room and rest."Elara's eyes were vacant, her dark hair cascading over shoulders that framed her bloodless face."Tell me," her pale lips trembled."What really happened to Leonard? His legs..."Just imagining the state of Leonard's legs made bile rise in her throat."Six months ago, several Dragonheart researchers developed mysterious illnesses with no discernible cause. Their families blamed the institute and went to the media."The pressur
There's No Turning Back Chapter 453
Elara wandered the hospital corridors in a loose pale blue dress, like a lost ghost. She'd called Leonard multiple times, but no one answered.Finally, she reached Leonard's assistant."Where's Leonard? I can't reach his nephew, and now even he won't take my calls?"She wanted to divorce Harvey, but she'd just given birth. Though her in-laws disliked her, they'd never allow a divorce at this time.A divorce after she had given birth would damage Harvey's reputation, so the entire Fisher family would prevent it from happening.Only Leonard could intervene. As the Fisher family's most authoritative figure, his word could make her divorce possible."Ms. Jones, my apologies. Mr. Fisher has been hospitalized. When... When he wakes up, I'll inform him you're looking for him."Elara froze. She heard Oliver's voice trembling. "What happened to Leonard?"A terrible premonition settled over her as Oliver replied mechanically, "I'm afraid that's classified information."Elara pressed, "W
There's No Turning Back Chapter 452
"Mr. Fisher, are you essentially handing Dragonheart over to me?" Elara asked.Leonard replied, "I want Dragonheart to enter a new era."He explained to Elara, "I've led Dragonheart for seven years. During that time, it operated quietly behind the scenes, but I've realized the world isn't the same as it once was."I'm not suited for the spotlight. So, I want to entrust Dragonheart to you."Ms. Jones, I'm counting on you to put Dragonheart on the map. I need you to bring more researchers into the limelight—to make them seen and celebrated!"A spring breeze seemed to sweep through the room, rippling across the lake-like depths of Elara's eyes."Mr. Fisher, your vision aligns perfectly with mine!"She tightened her grip on the contract. "What's the average salary for a regular researcher at Dragonheart?""Around 100 grand per year. Last year's average annual pay was roughly 180 grand when adding up various state subsidies."Elara responded, "Priscilla's Quantum Tech offers new gr
There's No Turning Back Chapter 451
Leonard's eyes showed no emotion, and his tone was indifferent. "Don't think so."Seeing that Leonard didn't recognize the lady in the journal, Elara didn't press further."Maybe good-looking people just look alike." She offered herself a reasonable explanation.Leonard watched her, then brought up another matter. "I've already assigned people to keep strict watch over Harvey. He's sleeping in a communal bunk now and getting monitored day and night."Elara asked, "Is Harvey at Atkina Church?"Leonard nodded and handed her his iPad.On the screen was a video sent by Harvey's guards. In it, Harvey wore gray work clothes and black rubber boots, carrying a large plastic bucket in each hand. Upon closer look, he even had labor gloves on.He was hauling the heavy buckets toward the vegetable patch."He's…" Elara gasped."Fertilizing the garden."She fell silent for a few seconds, then peered at the iPad again, as if doubting her own eyes. This was unbelievable!This was a man who
There's No Turning Back Chapter 450
Harvey avoided the cameras when he snuck into the ward, causing the security guards to not instantly notice his tracks.Only after Elara brushed her teeth did her mouth feel fresh. She asked a security guard, "Did you guys catch Harvey yet?"The security guard replied, "We've caught him. Prof. Fisher has instructed that if anyone bothers you, we should first lock him up. Once it's morning, we'll report this incident to Prof. Fisher."Elara nodded and thanked them. "Thank you for your hard work. All of you may head out."Once the security guards had left, Elara and Lesley remained together.Lesley put her hand behind Elara's head. She kept glancing at Elara. This time, she dared not close her eyes easily."Do you want to go to Melcina with me?" asked Lesley out of the blue.Elara asked in return, "You want to return to Melcina?"Lesley looked down. "If you plan to return to Melcina, then I'll go with you."Elara replied, "When I was 18, I had the chance to choose whether I shou
