"Elara!"Just then, several parents approached, surrounding Elara."We've unanimously decided to remove Rosalie Fisher as PTA president. We'd like to nominate you for Class 1B's PTA leadership. What do you say?"These were all parents who got along well with Elara—none from Rosalie's usual socialite circle."I barely have enough energy for my daughter as is. I appreciate your confidence in me." Elara declined politely.When Merida and Beau first enrolled, Elara had considered running for PTA office, believing it would help her contribute more meaningfully.She'd even prepared a PowerPoint campaign with great enthusiasm, until Harvey informed her that Ethel wanted Rosalie as PTA president."Give your presentation materials to Rosalie," he had said to her back then."Why? I'm just as qualified as Rosalie—"The moment she protested, his frown deepened. Sensing his irritation, Elara immediately held her breath."You're the Fisher heir's mother. Your sole focus should be raising B
"Is this Ms. Rosalie Fisher? This is Isaac Donovan from Angel International Talent Agency. I just saw your daughter's performance, and we're interested in signing her as a child model."The voice continued, "I wanted to discuss this at school, but..."Isaac had watched helplessly as Fisher family staff escorted Rosalie, Harold, and Paisley away earlier. He'd had to obtain Rosalie's number through connections.Rosalie suddenly straightened her posture as she gripped her phone with both hands. "Angel International? You want my daughter?"Instant euphoria flooded through her. She'd often considered increasing Paisley's visibility, but lacked video skills and couldn't stomach personally approaching agencies.As a Fisher, actively pushing Paisley into show business would draw family criticism. Yet Rosalie knew exactly how lucrative child stardom could be. After all, Paisley's fame would reflect gloriously on her too.She could already picture herself giving interviews as "the mother o
Xavier's body collapsed like a sandbag, hitting the floor with a dull thud. His eyes remained shut, face pale as frost-wilted grass, as all of his vitality was drained away.The room fell deathly silent. Beau's hands trembled around the rod, his childish features flashing with a maturity and ruthlessness far beyond his years. The Fisher family's innate selfishness and coldness ran deep in his bones.Xavier lay motionless on the ground, frozen in time's crevice. It was a heartbreaking sight.Yet Beau's pitch-black eyes resembled bottomless abysses. Like a child untouched by moral understanding, he showed no remorse for his actions.Setting down the rod, Beau reached for Xavier's wristwatch.While they were friends, Xavier had shared a secret with Beau. His watch contained satellite tracking, but he'd modified it for when he wanted to disappear.Beau pressed the specific button Xavier had shown him—the one that disabled satellite tracking, making him invisible to Fisher family guar
"It's the fire alarm!" someone shouted"Is there a fire? Where is it?""Something smells awful! Like something's burning!" Some parents covered their noses.The teachers present called out, "Children, don't panic! Everyone, line up and evacuate quickly!"As the teachers were shouting, the blaring alarm sounded like a death knell. Parents grabbed their children and stampeded for the exits.Chairs toppled in the auditorium as children wailed in the chaos. Several kids tumbling down the stairs fell in the rush.The Fisher bodyguards instinctively scooped up the fallen children. One checked his phone and said, "Mr. Xavier's GPS signal just disappeared!""Maybe he already left? If he found Ms. Merida, he might've turned off tracking so we wouldn't disturb them..."The guards hesitated—with a fire emergency, they couldn't find Xavier, but couldn't abandon the danger zone either."Mr. Xavier is intelligent. He would definitely leave the auditorium immediately upon discovering the fir
"Elara!" Harvey shouted.The moment Elara sprinted away, he felt as if an immense magnetic force radiated from her body, pulling his heart out after her. Harvey began to chase after Elara without hesitation."Wait! Mr. Fisher!"Ralph also ran after them, his face etched with anxiety as he wiped sweat from his brow and stared toward the auditorium. His heart pounded with unease.Two weeks earlier, Beau had ordered them to survey the school auditorium."I want a fire to break out in the auditorium! Then you'll tell Daddy and Mommy I'm trapped inside and can't escape."If Mommy truly loves me, she'll rush in to save me without regard for her own safety!"At the time, the assistant assigned by Harvey to care for Beau broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this plan."Mr. Beau, this is far too dangerous! We absolutely cannot allow you to be in an actual fire!""That's why I'm asking you to figure out a way to make it less dangerous!" Beau said as he stood before him, emanating an a
"If Mommy doesn't rush into the fire to protect me, I won't let Daddy blame you either—because you helped me see how heartless Mommy really is toward me!" Beau declared.Ralph still hesitated, so Beau delivered his ultimatum, "If you don't do as I say, I'll fire you on the spot!"Hearing Beau's final warning, Ralph's legs instantly turned to jelly. He couldn't afford to lose such a lucrative position in this tough job market.Besides, he actually did know how to start fires safely. During his previous job at a fire station, he'd been the one responsible for controlled burns during building fire drills.…Meanwhile, Finnegan pulled out his phone and called Theodore. The gala performance had ended, and they were all preparing to leave.Theodore sat in his sports car, watching as Finnegan's off-road vehicle came to an abrupt stop nearby, and Elara suddenly came sprinting out. He was just about to exit his vehicle when his phone rang.Theodore answered the call, and Finnegan's voice
Theodore said, "If Beau went looking for Merida, he's probably on the second floor."The second floor served as the students' backstage changing area.Elara kept the call connected as she slipped her phone into her pants pocket. She removed her backpack and took out the insulated water bottle inside.After soaking a handkerchief with water from the bottle, she asked Theodore, "How long do you think I can stay on the second floor with just this wet cloth over my nose and mouth?""If the fire remains uncontrolled—56 seconds maximum," Theodore replied.He had already calculated that after 56 seconds, the carbon monoxide concentration on the second floor would reach lethal levels. Any longer, and Elara risked losing consciousness from poisoning."Alright, then I'm counting on you to time me!"She entrusted her life completely to Theodore, who remained safely outside the auditorium. Though physically separated, they functioned as one—back-to-back against unseen dangers.With the dam
Beau stared blankly at Elara as she desperately sawed at the ropes binding Xavier. Xavier couldn't possibly escape the closet without cutting them.Xavier began coughing uncontrollably. Elara immediately stripped off her outer layer and poured the remaining water from her thermos onto the fabric.She wrapped the soaked garment around Xavier's head, covering his nose and mouth. The cloth obscured half his face, leaving only his wide, panicked eyes visible as he watched Elara struggle with the ropes."Elara, you need to evacuate now!" Theodore's voice came through the phone's speaker, laced with uncharacteristic agitation.With no cameras in the second-floor rooms, Theodore could only monitor the hallway footage from his car. He pieced together Elara's situation solely through the phone conversation between her and Beau.Even as he spoke, his slender fingers flew across the keyboard. The surveillance system itself remained intact, and the missing footage resulted from someone disabl
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
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
"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
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
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
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
"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
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
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