Melissa showed up at the small house early in the morning. Her hair was messy, and she still wore her night slippers. She didn't even greet the neighbors. She rushed straight to the door and knocked hard.
David opened the door slowly. His eyes were red like someone who didn't sleep.
"David, where is Elena?" Melissa asked at once. "She didn't pick my calls. I even went to the bakery, and they said she didn't come. Did something happen?"
David looked away. He scratched the back of his head and sighed. "She… she's inside. She hasn't even eaten."
Melissa pushed the door open and walked in. "What is going on? Is she sick? Did your mother cause trouble again?"
David did not answer. He just walked to a chair and sat down. His legs were shaking.
Melissa turned and saw him shaking. "David, talk to me. You're scaring me."
He took a deep breath and finally said, "Elena met her father."
Melissa froze. "Her what?"
"Her father," David repeated softly. "She found him yesterday."
Melissa blinked and touched her chest. "You mean… after twenty-five years? How? Who is he?"
David rubbed his eyes again. "It's… Damon Steele."
Melissa's mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.
"Damon Steele? The billionaire? The one with those big companies? The same man who has security at every corner?" she asked slowly.
David nodded weakly. "Yes. Him."
Melissa placed both hands on her head. "Jesus… Elena? Our Elena? Damon Steele's daughter? Are you serious?"
David nodded again, this time even slower.
Melissa sat on the small stool near the old table. "What did he say? Did he accept her?"
"He accepted her," David said. "And he wants her to move into his house next week."
Melissa stood again. "Ah! This is big! This is huge! So… wait… does that mean Elena is—"
"A billionaire's heiress," David finished with a weak voice.
Melissa jumped like someone touched her with electricity. "What! Why didn't she tell me? Where is she?"
"In her room," David said. "She locked herself in since we returned."
Melissa walked fast to the room and pushed the door open without knocking.
Elena was sitting on the floor with her back to the bed. Her hair was loose and messy, and her eyes were swollen from crying. She hugged her knees tightly.
"Elena!" Melissa rushed to her and knelt beside her. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you call me? I was worried sick."
Elena didn't talk at first. She just wiped her nose with her hand.
Melissa brushed Elena's hair back. "I know you're scared. But talk to me so I can understand."
Elena finally lifted her head. "Mel… everything happened so fast. I don't even know how to feel."
Melissa sat beside her and held her hand. "Start from the beginning."
Elena nodded slowly. "Okay. Yesterday… we went to the company because of the letter. I thought it was some mistake. I thought maybe they wanted information about Mom. I never thought they were calling me because of… him."
Melissa swallowed. "And how did he react when he saw you?"
"He looked at me like… like I was someone he didn't plan for," Elena said. "He didn't smile. He didn't hug me. He just kept staring at my face."
Melissa squeezed Elena's hand. "Did he reject you?"
"No," Elena said. "He accepted me. But not with love. He accepted me like a business decision. Like he didn't want a scandal."
"What did he say exactly?" Melissa asked softly.
Elena sighed deeply. "He asked me a lot of rude questions. He said I looked miserable. He asked about my life. He asked if I went to school or not. He asked if Mom ruined me."
Melissa frowned. "Ah! That man is too proud."
Elena nodded. "He said I should move into his house next week. He said I have to learn about the company. He said I am his daughter, so I must act like it."
Melissa gasped. "Just like that? No choice?"
"I told him I have the right to decide," Elena said. "But he just laughed like I said something funny."
Melissa shook her head. "That man does not know how to talk to people."
Elena looked at the window quietly. "Mel… I'm scared."
Melissa pulled her close and hugged her. "Of course you are. Anybody will be scared. This is a big change."
Elena swallowed hard. "I don't know how to live with a man like that. He looks strict. His voice alone can make someone freeze."
Melissa smiled a little. "But look at the bright side. You will no longer suffer. You and David will be safe."
At that moment, David walked in. His eyes were already filled with tears. He sat on the floor beside them.
"Elena," he whispered, "are you really going to leave next week?"
Elena touched his cheek. "David…"
He sniffed loudly. "Who will cook for me? Who will wake me up? Who will remind me to take my medicine? Who will tell me to study? You are everything to me. How do I stay here without you?"
Melissa wiped her tears too. "Don't cry, David. She's not dying. She's just moving to a rich house."
David shook his head. "It's not the same, Mel. She has been my mother, my sister, and my father. Even when Mom abandoned us… Elena stayed. She worked so hard. She carried the whole world on her back. Now I don't want to lose her too."
Elena finally broke. Tears rushed down her face. She hugged David so tightly he almost choked.
"David, listen to me," she said with a shaky voice. "I am not leaving you forever. I will visit. I will call you every day. And when things calm down, I will bring you to live with me."
David cried even harder. "But what if that man refuses? What if he tells you to forget me?"
Elena shook her head quickly. "No one can make me forget you. Not even a billionaire. You are my brother. Nothing will change that."
David held her tighter. "I don't want you to go."
Elena wiped his tears with her thumb. "I know. But this is a chance for us. A big one. If I learn about the company… maybe I can help you later. Maybe I can bring you out of this life. Maybe we can finally be free from everything."
Melissa nodded. "She's right, David. This is a blessing. A painful one, yes. But still a blessing."
David sniffed again. "I will miss you."
Elena hugged him again. "I will miss you more."
They stayed like that for a long time. The small room was quiet except for their soft crying.
After some minutes, Melissa stood. "Elena, what about your job? Will you still go to the bakery tomorrow?"
Elena shook her head. "No. Damon said I should stop immediately. He said I can't be working there if I am his daughter."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "That man is too controlling."
Elena gave a tired smile. "He even sent someone to check on me later. Just to make sure I was home."
David's eyes widened. "Already?"
"Yes," Elena said. "He is serious about this."
Melissa placed her hands on her waist. "So what happens next?"
Elena looked at the clock on the wall. The time was moving, but her life felt stuck.
"I guess… the next thing is to pack," she said softly. "Everything is happening fast. Too fast."
David turned away and wiped more tears. "I hate this."
Elena stood and pulled both of them into a hug. "No matter where I go, the two of you will always be my family. That will never change."
The three of them stayed in that warm, tight hug for a long time.
But suddenly—
A loud knock hit the door.
They all turned sharply.
Melissa whispered, "Who is that?"
David wiped his face. "Maybe the landlord?"
Another knock came. This time louder.
Elena's heart jumped. Something didn't feel right.
She walked slowly to the door and opened it just a little.
Her eyes widened.
Three men in black suits stood in front of the house.
The one in front said in a cold voice:
"Miss Elena Grey?
Mr. Damon Steele sent us."
Elena's breath caught.
The change she feared had just arrived at her door.