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Chapter 440
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There's No Turning Back Chapter 441
The instant after her warning to Harvey, Beau's voice burst through the phone, his childlike cry rooting Elara to the spot."Mommy!"Harvey angled the camera, bringing Beau's face into view on her screen.The boy had grown alarmingly gaunt overnight. His sunken eye sockets made his dark pupils resemble bottomless voids. He wore only a thin hoodie, and the oversized neckline exposed his sharp collarbones.No Fisher employee would ever allow Beau outside so underdressed in this weather. Red windburn patches mottled his cheeks as he stared wide-eyed at Elara's image. Raw longing flooded his expression.Such was a child's fickle heart—yesterday's resentment was now replaced by desperate need. All he wanted was to bury himself in her arms, recounting every hardship he had endured."Mommy, Daddy and I are at Atkina Church. Grandfather shaved both our heads."He bowed to show his bare scalp. A finger-length scar bisected the right side, and the sight made Elara's left eyelid twitch vio
There's No Turning Back Chapter 442
"Elara, is someone with you? Who's there?"Harvey's rapid-fire questions instantly smothered the emotions clogging Elara's chest."Since when do you have jurisdiction over my life?" she countered.Harvey's voice sharpened. "Beau's right here, yet you're with another man? Have you no consideration for his feelings?"Elara rolled her eyes with practiced elegance. "When you draped yourself over your 'bro,' wasn't Beau present too?"Beau piped up, "Does Mommy mean it's her guy-best friend?""There's no such thing as guy-bestfriends!" Harvey exploded, fury erupting like a geyser.A thousand powder kegs detonated in his chest.His mind raced through possibilities—Finnegan's darker complexion ruled him out. That hand caressing Elara's face could only belong to Theodore or Lesley!The angle suggested that the man sat right on her hospital bed. How dare she let another man perch there!When Harvey checked again, the call had ended. His face darkened like smoke billowing from a wildfir
There's No Turning Back Chapter 443
Theodore was acting as if he and Elara had been doing something illicit in this hospital room! Calling Theodore out from under the bed now would make the situation even more awkward in front of Leonard!Elara still cared about maintaining some dignity around Leonard—she needed to preserve her respectable image! Thanks to Theodore's antics, she hastily stuffed the abandoned stethoscope under the blankets.Now she genuinely looked like someone hiding an affair.The motorized wheelchair carried Leonard toward her while Fisher bodyguards remained stationed outside. Xavier followed behind, clutching a bouquet of pale pink tulips. His entire face lit up seeing Elara awake.He scampered to the bedside, his pale features blooming with a honey-sweet smile."Xav!"Elara pulled him into a half-hug, making the boy blush furiously. He bowed his head and raised the tulips with both hands."Are these for me?"At Xavier's vigorous nod, she accepted the flowers. "Thank you, Xavier. I love them.
There's No Turning Back Chapter 444
Leonard's eyelid twitched. His lower vantage point from the wheelchair gave him a clear view of Theodore hiding under the bed the moment he moved away.Their eyes met. The man sprawled beneath the mattress even had the audacity to wave at him.Leonard's expression remained impassive—the kind of unshakable calm he'd maintain even if discovering a naked man under the bed.He watched wordlessly as Theodore pulled out his phone. Moments later, Leonard's device buzzed with incoming messages."Don't misinterpret this, Leo. I was already in Elara's bed before you arrived. Just sparing you the shock."Can't help being faster than you."You mad?"This is our foreplay! Wouldn't expect the elderly to understand Hehe."Leonard closed his eyes, instinctively holding his breath as if he had been assaulted by overwhelming pretentiousness."Mm?" Xavier tilted his head at Leonard's sudden stillness.First, he'd been reluctant to leave; now Leonard was the one refusing to go?"Mr. Fisher, are
There's No Turning Back Chapter 445
Elara gently touched the twin braids on either side of Merida's head. "Did Uncle Finn do your hair?""Mhm!" Merida nodded vigorously. "Uncle Finn said he used to braid your hair too!"A soft smile graced Elara's lips as she looked at Finnegan with deep gratitude.Merida asked with concern, "Mommy, have you eaten lunch? Are you hungry?"She held up the thermal container. "Uncle Finn made you a special chicken soup. It's made with love!""Tch!" A scoff came from under the bed as Theodore ground his molars in disdain. But with Merida talking, no one clearly heard it.Finnegan's sharp ears caught the sound. His gaze instinctively swept behind him, landing on Leonard's impassive face.Though Elara hadn't eaten since waking, the medication left her with little appetite. Yet seeing Merida's eager expression, she warmly said, "I'm starving!""Wait a minute, Mommy!"Merida practically glowed at being needed. She unscrewed the thermos, portioning the steaming soup into a bowl with caref
There's No Turning Back Chapter 446
"Mr. Fisher! Don't! Please don't call!"Elara urgently cut Leonard off mid-sentence. It was an uncharacteristic outburst from someone who usually treated him with utmost respect.Leonard froze, his hand hovering over his phone as his cool gaze settled on her.Elara's panic stemmed from one terrifying possibility: Leonard's call would make Theodore's phone ring beneath the bed.Her loud interruption was actually buying Theodore time to silence his device. But to Finnegan's ears, her vehement protest sounded like she wanted nothing to do with Theodore anymore."Theodore's fake relationship with Elara is over," Finnegan said smugly. "If you need him, Prof. Fisher, contact him after leaving the hospital."Leonard gave Finnegan a look usually reserved for idiots. He thought, "If only you knew how thoroughly Theodore is winning right now."Choosing to remove himself from this farce, Leonard prepared to leave with Xavier."Come to Oakread estate after your discharge," he instructed El
There's No Turning Back Chapter 447
"What?" Elara asked Theodore."Didn't you hear my heart shouting its love for you when you used the stethoscope to listen to my heart?"A nurse entered the room to deliver Elara's blood test report and was surprised to see yet another incredibly handsome man in the room.Gathering her courage, the nurse spoke up. "Visiting hours are over. Please come back tomorrow."Theodore braced one hand against the bedsheet and used the other to pull out the hair tie securing Elara's hair. Her long, black hair spilled down like a waterfall.He spread his fingers, causing the hair tie to slip through them and roll onto his pale wrist."Rest well," Theodore said before leaving.Elara held the blood test report in her hand, but for the first time, she couldn't focus on the words on the page.She vaguely heard the nurse say that she needed to stay for further observation. Once the nurse left, Elara burrowed under the blanket. She pulled out the stethoscope from under the blanket before recallin
There's No Turning Back Chapter 448
Harvey's eyes went out of focus when he was being strangled. There was a height difference between him and Elara, so in order to gain the upper hand, Elara subconsciously stood on her tiptoes.Her breath landed on his face, rapid and uneven from the nervousness and exertion.As he caught Elara's scent, his body felt like a dry field receiving rain. Every pore on Harvey's body opened, wanting to absorb her presence.His neck was trapped, so he instinctively retreated backward. Elara kicked him hard in the thigh. Each jolt of pain she inflicted on him sped up his heart rate wildly. He felt so good. Did he really like being kicked and beaten by Elara this much? The more pain she inflicted, the more excited he felt.His large hands enveloped Elara's fingers, which were still wrapped around the stethoscope. Although he was being strangled, he was still stronger than Elara.He lifted Elara off the ground, spun around, and slammed her against the wall.Her back collided with the wal
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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
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"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
