Elena's car was immediately recognized by the security system as she pulled up to Brandon's gates. ARIA's voice came through the intercom before Elena even reached for the call button.
"Good evening, Ms. Pryse. Please proceed."
The guards waved her through, and Elena parked near the main entrance. "ARIA, where's Brandon?"
"He's currently in the guest wing, third door on the right from the main staircase."
Elena made her way through the mansion, still impressed by its scale despite having visited several times. She knocked softly on the guest room door.
Brandon opened it, stepping into the hallway and closing the door quietly behind him. "Elena? What are you doing here?"
"Isaac called. He said you left Texas pretty abruptly and seemed worried about something. Is everything okay?"
Brandon ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's Margaret—you remember I mentioned her? She's staying here now. She finally left Richard, but he showed up this morning drunk, trying to force her to come back. The security team handled it, but..."
"But she's still shaken up," Elena finished.
"Exactly. And until she actually files for divorce, Richard's going to keep trying. He thinks he still has some claim on her."
"It's not easy leaving a marriage, even a terrible one."
"I know. I just wish I could do more to help her see that she deserves better."
Elena touched his arm gently. "You're already doing more than anyone else would. Don't apologize for caring about people."
Brandon looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. "I'm sorry for making you worry. You should be enjoying your time off, not checking on me."
Elena felt her cheeks warm and quickly turned away. "It's fine. That's what partners do."
"Why don't you stay the night? It's late, and you drove all the way out here."
Elena hesitated only briefly. "Yeah, okay. I might as well."
---
The next morning, Brandon prepared breakfast as usual and carried it to Margaret's room. She was already awake, sitting by the window looking out at the gardens.
"Feeling better today?" he asked, setting the tray down.
"Yeah, I think so. Thank you."
"I have a meeting in China—some manufacturing contracts that need my attention. But I don't want to leave you alone, especially after yesterday."
"Brandon, I'll be fine. You can't put your life on hold for me."
Brandon wasn't sure. Richard's behavior was escalating, and leaving Margaret felt wrong even with the security team present.
"He doesn't have to worry."
Brandon turned to see Elena standing in the doorway, wearing pajamas and looking surprisingly comfortable for someone in his guest house. "I'll look after Margaret while you're gone. I've got a few days off, so it's perfect timing."
"Elena, you don't have to—"
"We'll go shopping," Elena continued, walking into the room. "Margaret probably needs a new wardrobe anyway, right?"
Margaret looked between them, clearly touched. "That's very kind, but—"
"It's settled then," Elena said with finality. "Brandon, go to your meeting. Margaret and I will have a girls' day."
Brandon felt relief wash over him. "Okay. But call me if there's any problem. And Margaret, use that card I gave you. Don't worry about the cost."
---
Richard walked into Carter Technologies looking like he'd been hit by a truck. His clothes were wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot, and he moved with the unsteady gait of someone who'd been drinking since morning.
Patrick intercepted him before he could reach the boardroom. "Richard, it's best if you don't come in today. Or for the next week, actually."
"What? Why?"
"After the mess you caused yesterday—getting arrested at Brandon's property—you'll only bring more trouble. The board is already asking questions."
"That's not my fault! It's Brandon's fault! He kidnapped my wife!"
"I don't want to hear it," Patrick said coldly. "Leave now, or I'll have security escort you out."
Richard stared at his younger brother with impotent rage before finally turning and storming out of the building. His own company—the company he'd helped build—was now kicking him out.
---
Elena's private jet touched down in Singapore just after noon local time. Margaret had been amazed by the jet itself—leather seats, a conference area, and a bedroom with an actual king-sized bed.
Now, as they pulled up to the Marina Bay Sands, Margaret could barely process what she was seeing. The mall was attached to one of the world's most iconic hotels, a temple of luxury that made even high-end American shopping seem modest.
"This is incredible," Margaret whispered as they entered.
Elena smiled, remembering her first visit to this mall a few years ago. She'd been rich before becoming a billionaire, but that transition had opened up an entirely new world. She'd walked through these halls with the same amazed expression Margaret wore now.
They moved through boutiques—Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada. Well-dressed attendants followed them with shopping bags that multiplied with each store. Margaret tried to resist buying too much, but Elena kept insisting, and the salespeople were extraordinarily persuasive.
What Margaret didn't know was that four members of Brandon's security team were positioned throughout the mall, dressed as ordinary shoppers but maintaining constant vigilance. The Singapore branch had been alerted the moment Elena's jet left Seattle.
After hours of shopping, they settled into a private dining area on the top floor with panoramic views of Singapore's skyline. The space was reserved exclusively for them, offering privacy and spectacular vistas.
"Thank you for bringing me here," Margaret said as they were seated. "I never imagined I'd experience something like this."
"No need to thank me. Any friend of Brandon's is a friend of mine. Plus, he would probably bring you eventually anyway."
Margaret looked down at her hands. "Brandon's done so much for me. I don't feel like I deserve all this."
"On the contrary, Brandon feels very differently. He thinks highly of you. You were a mother to him when he had none. You supported him when he wanted to escape that terrible marriage."
"I should have done more to stop him from marrying Victoria in the first place," Margaret said sadly. "Most mothers wouldn't say that about their own daughter, but Victoria is... something else. I still hold out hope that she'll change someday."
Elena chose her words carefully. "Margaret, people like Victoria rarely change. And when they do, it's usually because their entire world has shattered and they have no other option. The same goes for Richard."
She leaned forward slightly. "I'm going to be honest with you—you should let go of him. He's in a spiral, and he's going to drag everyone around him down. If not for yourself, do it for Brandon. Otherwise he'll constantly worry about whether you'll go back."
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"You should take the opportunity Brandon's giving you," Elena continued gently. "Because it's huge. Most people never get a chance to completely restart their lives."
Margaret looked down, guilt evident on her face.
Elena reached across and placed her hand over Margaret's. "I understand your struggle. Twenty-four years of marriage isn't easy to walk away from, even when it was terrible. But I also know you have the strength to face this. You already took the hardest step by asking for help."
"Thank you," Margaret whispered. "For understanding. For not judging me."
Just then, servers began bringing out their first course. The aroma was intoxicating—fresh seafood prepared with techniques Margaret had only seen on cooking shows.
As she looked around at the luxury surrounding her, at the kindness of the woman across from her, at the opportunity she'd been given, Margaret felt something she hadn't experienced in decades: hope.
Maybe Elena was right. Maybe it was time to let go of the past and embrace this new life. Not because she deserved it, but because staying trapped in misery helped no one.
"You know what?" Margaret said, picking up her wine glass. "You're right. I'm going to file for divorce as soon as we get back."
Elena raised her own glass with a smile. "To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," Margaret echoed, and for the first time in twenty-four years, she truly believed better days might actually be ahead.