New Connections and Old Shadows
Two days later, in Westmere's quieter town of Rosefield, Fiona slipped into a small diner where truckers and locals gathered. Her hoodie shielded most of her features, but her eyes stayed alert. She had managed to secure a job washing dishes in the back of the diner—enough to blend in, enough to stay hidden.
But Fiona was a woman of habit, and habits were dangerous. She couldn't stop herself from listening to gossip, from watching the local news, from wondering how far the Hart family's reach extended. The feeling of being hunted remained etched in her chest.
At a corner booth, a well-dressed man ordered a coffee and kept an eye on Fiona. He worked quietly, unnoticed—a private investigator hired by Carmen Rivas, following a long trail of breadcrumbs Fiona believed she had erased.
---
Back in Oakridge City, in a bustling café not far from Hart Corporation, Elena met with Carmen. They chose a secluded corner, shielding their conversation from prying eyes.
"Fiona's trail appeared cold, but we found her," Carmen said quietly. "She's in Rosefield, barely scraping by. One push and she'll talk."
Elena nodded slowly. "Not yet. Let them feel safe a little longer. I want the Moore family to believe they've won. When they get comfortable, we strike."
Carmen's lips curved. "I underestimated you, Elena. You're more dangerous than anyone in Oakridge realizes...their view of you is that of a dimwit who onlyknow glitter and cartoons"
Elena sipped her tea, her smile faint but sharp. "Let them keep underestimating me. It makes it easier for me to strike my enemies."
---
At Hart Mansion, Sebastian noticed the change in himself before he could deny it. He found excuses to have lunch at home, to observe Elena's calm composure. He even caught himself asking her opinion on insignificant matters—things he never would have bothered with before.
"I've booked a meeting with the Shanghai investors," he said one morning over breakfast.
Elena looked up briefly, eyebrows raised. "Then you'll need to take softer colors in your wardrobe. The Shanghai board hates bold colors; they read them as aggression."
Sebastian stared, a grin tugging at his lips before he could stop it. "Since when do you know international boardroom politics?"
"I read," Elena replied simply, returning to her toast.
Sebastian left the dining room with a strange sense of ease, his mind unusually clearer.
---
In the Moore estate, Julia glowed in false security. She had gone back to visiting elite clubs, networking with up-and-coming CEOs, believing the danger had passed.
Victor, however, remained cautious. "Julia, keep your distance from anything Hart-related. We don't provoke lions when we've barely escaped a bite."
Julia rolled her eyes. "Relax, father. Elena can't touch us...even if she has now turned smart. We erased the trail."
But in the quiet hours, when Julia stared into her vanity mirror, doubts lingered. Her instincts whispered that the storm hadn't passed—it had just gone quiet.
But alas, she decided to ignore the bad feeling.
---
Sebastian returned home that night earlier than usual. As he passed by the music room, he paused to listen to the soft melody Elena played, her fingers dancing effortlessly over the keys.
For the first time in a long while, Sebastian didn't see a woman he was forced to marry. He saw a woman who had endured, who carried mystery and elegance.
Something stirred quietly inside him—respect, curiosity… and perhaps the earliest seed of something deeper.
---
Far away in Rosefield, Fiona lay on her rented cot, staring up at the cracked ceiling. Her heart told her to run again, but a voice in her head whispered: maybe it's time to tell the truth.
Because some shadows… no matter how far you ran… always followed.
But she couldn't decide...if she hands her self in maybe she might get a lighter punishment...or she runs until they find her and give her a heavier punishment, but it's also possible that she might be able to successfully hide herself until the matter is forgotten.
"What do I do ? " Fiona muttered under her breath.