Chapter 3 Returned To Her Real Family

Yelena cast a cursory glance at the men sprawled on the ground before shifting her gaze to the injured man.

His sharp features were striking-eyes dark and cold, his expression distant and stoic, as if carved from stone.

Despite his pallor and obvious pain, he exuded an air of quiet resilience.

She had every intention of walking away, leaving this chaotic scene behind her. Yet something in her hesitated. One of her weaknesses-her soft-heartedness-held her back.

With a resigned sigh, she knelt beside the man and examined his wounds.

"Thank you," Austin said, his voice low but carrying a sincere note of gratitude.

"It's nothing," she replied, her tone detached, though her actions suggested otherwise.

As she checked his pulse, her brows knitted together.

The bleeding, while severe, wasn't the most pressing concern. His pulse was weak and erratic-a telltale sign of poison coursing through his veins.

Yelena opened her bag and retrieved a small porcelain bottle. Uncorking it, she sprinkled a fine medicinal powder over his bleeding wounds. Almost instantly, the bleeding slowed, and a soothing coolness replaced the sting of pain.

She then produced a small pill and handed it to him, her voice steady.

"Take this. It will counteract the poison. Without timely treatment, you won't make it much longer," Yelena said, her tone cool and matter-of-fact.

Austin hesitated, his sharp eyes studying her as if trying to gauge her intentions.

Yelena continued her work, efficiently bandaging his wounds. Just as she finished, the sound of footsteps reached them. She turned her head to see another group of people approaching. "Mr. Barton..."

"They're with me," Austin said, exhaling in relief. His shoulders relaxed slightly, his posture easing.

Yelena stood up. "Since your men are here now, I'll be on my way," she said briskly, already turning to leave.

"Miss," Austin called after her, his tone softer now. "At least tell me your name, so I can repay your kindness."

"That won't be necessary," Yelena replied curtly, her voice cool but final.

Before he could utter another word, she was already gone. Trouble was a luxury she couldn't afford.

After being saved, Austin's sharp gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a spark of intrigue lighting up his otherwise steely expression.

How had she pinpointed the poison merely by taking his pulse?

Her precision, her unshaken calm, and her evident expertise-it all defied belief.

One thing was certain though-as long as she remained in Eighfast, he would find her again.

Yelena walked away without a glance behind her, her focus already shifting to the next step in her journey.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft hum of an approaching car. A sleek, custom-built extended Rolls-Royce rolled to a stop in front of her, its polished exterior gleaming even under the dim streetlights. Yelena froze momentarily, as she'd only ever seen such extravagance in magazines and on television.

The door opened with precise smoothness, and a middle-aged man stepped out. His movements were deliberate, his posture immaculate, and his expression carried a quiet reverence. "Miss Harris, we've finally found you! I am Sebastian Holden, the Harris family's butler. At the request of Mr. and Mrs. Harris, I am here to escort you home."

"Me? Miss Harris?" Yelena asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. What was he talking about?

The Roberts family had mentioned her biological parents were impoverished villagers from the remote region of Phurg.

Yet here stood a man whose demeanor and the car he emerged from spoke of nothing but wealth and privilege.

"Yes, you!" Sebastian confirmed, his tone measured yet warm. "You are the eldest daughter of the Harris family. Your mother got emotional and almost fainted when she learned of your existence, and your father instructed me to personally ensure your safe return. Please, come with me."

Sebastian, his expression composed yet filled with deference, stepped forward and held the car door open for her.

Yelena's mind raced. Could the Roberts family's investigation have been wrong-or deliberately misleading?

Her bewilderment gave way to resolve. She had always intended to find her biological parents. If someone had come to take her to them, why hesitate?

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the car. The door clicked shut with a reassuring softness, and the vehicle glided away from the curb.

The Elite Villas was the pinnacle of prestige in Eighfast, an exclusive enclave of just twelve luxurious residences, each home to the city's most powerful and influential figures.

As the car glided through the winding private roads leading to the exclusive villa district, Sebastian's voice brimmed with reverent enthusiasm. "Miss Harris, you have an older brother, Cayson Harris, and a younger adopted sister, Bella Harris. Your parents have missed you deeply. For years, they've scoured the country, sparing no effort to find you."

He paused, his tone softening as he continued. "Mr. Harris' roots are in Phurg. Decades ago, he and Mrs. Harris returned there to pay respects to their ancestors. It was during that trip that you were born in a local hospital. But tragedy struck-circumstances beyond their control led to your disappearance shortly after birth. Mr. Harris searched tirelessly, but when the trail ran cold, they were forced to return to Eighfast. Though their hearts were broken, they buried their grief and channeled their energy into building their legacy."

A flicker of pride entered his voice. "And what a legacy it is! Over the years, the Harris family has created an empire, becoming the wealthiest family in Eighfast. Their achievements are remarkable, but they never stopped hoping to bring you home."

Yelena remained silent, her mind swirling as Sebastian's words unearthed pieces of a past she had never known.

Soon, the car slowed, pulling up to a sprawling villa that seemed to rise out of the landscape like a vision.

As the door opened, Yelena stepped out, her gaze sweeping over the scene. Two figures emerged from the grand entrance, their faces illuminated by emotions too profound to be hidden.

The man carried himself with a refined air, his sharp features softened by an understated grace. Beside him, the woman exuded elegance, her every movement deliberate, her poise unmistakable.

The moment Donna Harris laid eyes on Yelena, her composure dissolved. Tears welled up as she rushed forward, enveloping Yelena in a fierce, heartfelt embrace. "Yelena, my dearest daughter," Donna whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "We've found you at last. All these years... the pain you must have endured. It's our fault. We failed to protect you."

As she held Yelena close, Donna's gaze swept over her face, struck by the undeniable resemblance. In that instant, Donna silently vowed that her daughter would never again suffer the hardships she had faced.

Yelena stiffened, unaccustomed to such an outpouring of affection. The weight of Donna's embrace felt foreign, almost overwhelming. But there was something in the raw, unfiltered warmth that slowly began to chip away at her defenses, leaving her still but no longer tense.

"I'm fine, really," Yelena murmured, the words more of a balm for Donna's emotions than a reflection of her own.

Donna reluctantly pulled away, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Yelena, I promise you this: from now on, nothing and no one will ever hurt you again."

Callum Harris stood nearby, his usual composed demeanor betrayed by the glisten of unshed tears in his eyes. He cleared his throat, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "You're home now, Yelena. That's all that matters. Come-let's go inside."

The three of them stepped into the villa.

Standing just inside the doorway, Bella watched the reunion unfold, her gaze lowered as a flicker of coldness flashed briefly in her eyes before she masked it.

Composing herself quickly, Bella plastered on a polite smile, though a slight tremor betrayed her effort. "Yelena, welcome home," she said, her voice carefully measured. "I'm Bella."

The moment Bella saw Yelena, the uncanny resemblance between her and Donna told Bella everything she needed to know-Yelena was definitely a Harris.

As Bella's eyes briefly flicked to Yelena's face, there was something there-a flicker of resentment.

Donna, regaining her composure, took over the introductions with a warm smile. "Yelena, this is Bella, our adopted daughter. From now on, she's your younger sister. Your brother, Cayson, is overseas on business, but he'll be back soon. And your grandmother is on a retreat and will be returning at the end of the month."

Yelena nodded subtly, her expression calm but inscrutable. A family of this stature was bound to come with tangled relationships and hidden agendas-she was under no illusions about that. Quietly, she resolved to have Brody delve deeper into the Harris family's history when the moment allowed.

"Oh, Yelena, there's something I've been meaning to give you," Donna said suddenly, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. With practiced elegance, Donna unfastened an emerald bracelet from her wrist.

"This bracelet has always been with me, and now I want you to have it."

Donna could not quite recall the details, but she knew it had been given to her by someone significant, and she had cherished it ever since.

Yelena hesitated, the weight of the moment catching her off guard. The bracelet wasn't just beautiful-it was easily worth millions. Its value wasn't lost on her.

"This is too much," she murmured, her voice cautious. "I can't accept something so precious."

"Dear, everything I have will one day be yours. This is only a token of what's to come."

Before Yelena could protest again, the bracelet was already secured around her wrist. The vibrant emerald stood out against her skin, its brilliance almost overwhelming.

From across the room, Bella's smile froze in place. Her fingers twitched before curling into tight fists, her nails biting into her palms until the sting blurred into numbness.

How blatantly unfair!