"If your mother hadn’t been thinking of you, she would never have married Robert, who was then just a fervent suitor with nothing to his name," Eric murmured, his voice soft as he kissed her lashes. "Marrying a man like that, she likely thought one day he might learn you weren’t his biological daughter. But because of family bonds, he wouldn’t mistreat you."
Ella’s eyes sparkled with emotion. "You’re right. It’s sad, though... Even after she had me, my mother probably never felt she’d earned the love she deserved. So she dedicated herself to building the business with Robert, only for him to cheat as soon as they got things running."
Robert had never been well-liked, and Ella’s grandmother had disapproved of him from the start. When Ella’s mother chose Robert, the Carter family had cut ties with her, especially as the Carter Group’s fortunes grew.
"A marriage that lacks a family’s support rarely has a happy ending," Ella sighed.
Eric stroked her silken hair gently. "Right now, our first priority is preparing for Hannah’s return. When she comes back to Country S, it’ll be with a grand entrance. Second, we keep searching for your father."
Ella pressed her lips together. Her biological father? She’d never held out hope of meeting him. After all, he’d never appeared in her life, so why would he acknowledge her now?
"The Miller family," Eric mused, "is involved in big business, and their strongest industry is entertainment. Hannah could return as a business partner or even as a celebrity."
Eric’s brow furrowed. "Then again... maybe Hannah won’t use her real identity. Back in S City, she’s infamous—a promiscuous woman with a reputation that could haunt her return."
Ella nodded. "You’re right. Even if she’s not particularly clever, the Miller family would certainly help her erase those stains on her reputation."
The only way to erase her past would be to completely reinvent herself.
"I wonder... when she’ll return?"
Ella’s gaze turned cold, her eyes sharp with determination.
"Within two years," Eric replied.
Ella nodded. Two years, added to the year she’d already been away, would mean three years in total.
Three years was enough time for someone to change dramatically, especially with professional training. By the time Hannah returned, Ella imagined she might be unrecognizable.
"Don’t think about it too much," Eric comforted, gently patting her back. "I’ll make sure we’re prepared. Get some rest; we’ve got work tomorrow."
Ella’s mood lightened. She’d suspected this was coming. The day Hannah had disappeared, she’d known that someone powerful must have whisked her away quietly.
But was the Miller family’s reason purely because of Hannah’s resemblance to their deceased daughter? Or... was this somehow meant to target her?
That seemed impossible. She’d never been to Country W or done anything that could provoke someone there.
Ella’s eyes held a misty depth, and Eric continued to stroke her back soothingly.
"Alright, I’ll stop thinking about it," Ella said, smiling faintly. "But if anything, this gives me even more drive to work hard. Whatever face Hannah wears when she returns, I won’t—ever—let her beat me."
"That’s the spirit," Eric said, his gentle voice calming her. "So rest up. Tomorrow, you can give it everything."
With her head resting on his arm, Ella finally felt at peace and drifted into a deep sleep.
Ella woke up in a surprisingly good mood after a restful night. Mrs. Harris had taken another day off to care for her aging mother, who was increasingly falling ill. So, Ella prepared a simple breakfast herself, steaming two eggs. Though it was just a plain meal, Eric appreciated it deeply. For him, this unadorned morning routine evoked the peaceful happiness of childhood.
As she arrived at school, just as she was about to enter her classroom, a voice called her from behind. It was the male teacher who had wrongly accused her once before.
Ella turned, curious. Ever since that incident, they had barely crossed paths. "What do you need, sir?" she asked, noticing a glint of sarcasm in his gaze.
The teacher looked at her coldly. While he couldn’t deny her good looks, his opinion of her had soured since their last encounter. Secretly, he might have entertained the idea of "playing" with her—if only she weren’t Eric’s woman.
"Did you write these love letters to me?" he sneered, waving a handful of letters. "Didn’t expect you to be so young yet so skilled at seduction."
A hush fell over the nearby students, who were taken aback. Most of them doubted that Ella would have any interest in this teacher and suspected he might be trying to frame her instead.
Ella glanced briefly at the letters. "I didn’t write those, sir," she replied coolly. "Think about it; it’s full of obvious flaws. In this digital age, if someone admired you, they wouldn’t send handwritten notes. They’d email you or send a direct message on social media. And if the handwriting looks like mine, it’s likely someone is imitating it on purpose."
The teacher, though not fond of her, had to admit a slight admiration for her composure.
"Wrong. Handwritten love letters have a certain romance to them, don’t they?" he said, eyeing her suspiciously. "Are you sure these aren’t from you?"
This teacher seemed to have an inflated sense of self, as if every girl on campus must be in love with him.
Ella fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Of course not, sir. First, school rules prohibit student-teacher relationships. Second... I’m married, to the best man in the world. Why would I need to ’stray’?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Since the previous incident, most students didn’t care for this teacher. He was a new physical education instructor, known for his short temper and abrasive demeanor, which had won him few friends.
The teacher flushed slightly, clearly embarrassed but still defiant. "Cheaters never admit to cheating," he muttered. "A woman who spends her days..."
"Sir, are you questioning my character based on these fake letters?" Ella’s voice turned icy. "Are you challenging my integrity over this? Do you remember what I told you last time?"
As if she’d ever be interested in this teacher. The thought alone was repulsive.
The teacher stammered, "I... I didn’t mean it that way!"
He felt uncomfortable under the students’ scrutinizing gazes. He’d made a mistake last time and had already been reprimanded by the principal. If he didn’t handle this situation carefully...
"Why don’t you give me one of the letters, sir?" Ella said, her tone calm and controlled. "I’ll have the handwriting analyzed to clear my name."