Chapter 142: Elias took Elena to his favorite place.
After meeting Evelyn, Elena couldn’t settle down.
No matter how hard she tried, Evelyn’s cold refusal kept echoing in her mind.
’There is no need. We’ve learned to live without him.’
She lowered her eyes to the report spread across her desk.
Usually, she could finish a report like this in less than an hour. The figures, charts, and projections would make perfect sense to her.
Today, however, the words blurred together.
She turned one page after another, yet not a single sentence registered in her mind.
The mountain of data before her suddenly seemed impossible to analyze.
With an irritated sigh, she dropped the pen onto the desk.
"Get a grip, Elena," she muttered under her breath. "She is Leo’s mother. She has every right to decide what’s best for him. I shouldn’t let this bother me so much."
She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on the report once again.
Five minutes passed, then ten. She still hadn’t read a single page.
Just then, her phone rang.
The moment she saw Elias’s name flashing across the screen, she answered the call.
"Hello?"
The moment he heard her voice, his brows furrowed. "You sound exhausted."
There was a brief silence.
"What happened?" he asked gently. "Who upset you?"
Elena rested her forehead against her hand. She had no desire to hide her feelings from him.
"I’m feeling depressed. Can you take me somewhere?"
Silence lingered on the other end of the line for several seconds.
Finally, Elias spoke. "Give me one hour."
...
An hour later...
Elias drove far beyond the bustling streets until the city gradually disappeared behind them.
The car stopped beside a narrow woodland path.
He led her along the trail, weaving through towering trees. The air grew cooler with every step. The scent of damp earth, wildflowers, and pine drifted through the breeze.
As they rounded a bend, the view opened before them.
A crystal-clear stream wound its way through the valley, dancing around smooth grey boulders. Sunlight sparkled across the rippling water like scattered diamonds.
The current rushed over the rocks with a gentle, rhythmic murmur, filling the air with a soothing melody.
Wildflowers of white, yellow, and violet bloomed along the riverbank, while graceful willow branches swayed lazily above the water. Birds chirped from the treetops, and dragonflies skimmed across the stream before disappearing into the tall grass.
Elena stood frozen. Her eyes slowly wandered across the breathtaking scenery. The weight pressing on her heart seemed to dissolve with every passing second.
A bright smile finally spread across her face.
"This is beautiful," she whispered in amazement. "So peaceful."
Elias looked around with quiet affection. His gaze drifted toward the flowing stream.
"I used to come here whenever life became too overwhelming," he said quietly. "I’d sit here for hours, listening to the water."
Then he looked at her. "It always helped. It’ll help you too."
Elena stared at him. Her heart skipped a beat.
He hadn’t simply brought her somewhere beautiful. He had brought her to the place where he had once hidden his own pain, a place he treasured, a place he had never shared with anyone else.
Warmth flooded her heart.
"It already worked." Her eyes sparkled. "I love this place."
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Elias smiled softly and slipped his arms around her. "Anything for you."
They walked over to a broad, sun-warmed rock by the riverbank and sat down together.
Elena watched the stream rush between the rocks, the water bubbling and splashing as it continued its endless journey downstream. The gentle gurgling echoed through the valley like a calming lullaby.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the cool breeze brush across her face.
For the first time that day, she felt at peace. She had almost forgotten what had been troubling her all the time.
Elias, however, hadn’t forgotten. He turned to look at her.
"What was troubling you?"
His quiet question pulled Elena back to reality. The conversation with Evelyn resurfaced in her mind.
The smile on her face faded. She looked up at him.
"Ian wants to take Leo to the amusement park this weekend."
Elias listened silently.
"Leo is so excited about it," she continued. "But Evelyn refused. She doesn’t want him to go with Ian."
Elias remained silent, allowing her to finish.
"Evelyn said Ian might get an emergency call from the hospital and leave Leo behind." Elena sighed. "She doesn’t want Leo to experience that disappointment again."
Her voice softened. "But Leo is so excited."
She looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes. "Can you talk to Evelyn?"
Elias looked at her quietly.
"I know Ian hurt Evelyn," Elena continued. "He failed her and Leo when they needed him most. But he’s still Leo’s father. If they both want to spend time together, no one should stand in their way... not even Evelyn."
She paused before adding earnestly, "For Leo’s sake... please convince her to let him go."
A long silence followed.
"If Evelyn has already made up her mind," he said finally, "I’m afraid no one can change it. I understand why you are worried about Leo. But Evelyn is his mother. She is trying to protect her son in the only way she knows how. If she doesn’t want Ian taking him, we shouldn’t pressure her."
Elena’s shoulders slumped. She had hoped Elias would help persuade his sister. Instead, he respected Evelyn’s decision.
Disappointment flickered across her face as she lowered her eyes.
Seeing her crestfallen expression, Elias smiled faintly. "But Leo can still go to the amusement park."
She immediately looked up. Confusion gave way to hope.
"We’ll take him ourselves," Elias said. "That way, Leo won’t miss out, and Evelyn won’t have to worry about Ian breaking another promise."
A bright smile spread across Elena’s face. "That’s perfect."
Then, almost as quickly, her smile faltered. "But... Ian will be hurt."
She frowned slightly. "That wouldn’t be fair to him."
Elias’s expression remained calm, though his voice turned noticeably colder.
"Perhaps. But he also needs to understand what it feels like to be left behind."
Elena didn’t argue.
Some mistakes left scars that couldn’t be erased with a few good intentions. Sometimes, by the time regret arrived, it was already too late.
She let out a quiet breath before resting her head against his shoulder. She was content with the solution Elias had found.