Chapter 1518:

“That is a question for Miss Harper. I am only tasked with delivering the documents.”

The matter of how Elena had secured Lucian’s concession—exchanging Lyla’s safety for shares—remained unspoken, a secret Gervase was unwilling to betray.

Having witnessed Elena’s resolve before, Gervase addressed her with evident respect.

“Miss Harper, please sign here.”

Without hesitation, Elena inscribed her name, unwilling to waste precious moments.

Once the task was complete, Gervase exhaled quietly, bowing once more.

“My work here is done. I shall not intrude further.”

As soon as he departed, the Harper family gathered in a flurry of questions.

Alexander, his tone heavy with doubt, spoke first.

“Elena, what truly lies behind this?”

Jeffry’s expression darkened with concern, his gaze sharpening on Elena.

“Elena, Lucian isn’t the kind of man who allows himself to be taken advantage of. There must be a hidden agenda behind his gifting you precious shares for free.” His chest tightened with uneasiness, fearful that Elena might have endured some form of coercion.

Elena pressed her lips into a small curve, her tone light.

“There’s no reason for alarm. What he gave me was of his own volition.” She carefully concealed the truth about Lyla taking bodyguards to deal with her, merely saying, “I did him a favor, and this is what he chose to return.”

Before anyone from the Harper family could probe further, Louis’ voice carried from the doorway, cutting off their questions.

The proposal unfolded flawlessly. The instant Kiera accepted the ring, a cascade of petals drifted down as fireworks burst overhead.

Every member of the Harper family had prepared gifts. Elena presented Kiera with a bracelet of her own design, and Kiera received it with delight.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: ⳑ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀⸱𝖼𝗈𝗆

To celebrate, the Harpers had arranged a banquet at Peak Hotel, where both the Harper and Johnson families gathered together at the long table.

Alexander and Marlon, bound by years of acquaintance, shared warm satisfaction now that their children’s marriage united them even closer.

Around the dining table, the parents of Louis and Kiera conversed cheerfully, wine flowing freely between them. Jeffry and Malcolm spoke quietly at one side, Louis lingered at Kiera’s shoulder with playful words, while Elena and Ellis sat detached from the rest.

Elena turned to Ellis gently.

“How long are you staying at home this time?”

The demands of the research institute never relented, and Ellis seldom stayed home more than two days. For that reason, whenever he returned, the Harper family avoided imposing on him, giving him peace to rest well.

Though it was a simple inquiry, Ellis lingered in silence far too long.

Believing he had missed her words, Elena asked softly again, “Ellis, how long will you remain at home this visit?”

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