All Chapters of His Loss: Divorced Heiress is now on top: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Elara's phone rang from the night stand making her groan. 'Allistar must have plugged it,' she said cleaning her eyes as the bright morning light stung her vision. She reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed the device from the nightstand. When she saw the name Ethan flashing on the caller ID, a genuine smile appeared on her face.She slid the bar to answer, but she didn't speak right away. She just held the phone to her ear, letting the quiet hum of the connection settle her nerves."Hello, Elara?" Ethan’s voice was always so warm and gentle. She let out a soft, intentional breath into the receiver so he would know she was on the line."Good morning, Lara," he said, and she could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I just wanted to inform you that I've landed in Vanguard City and I’m properly settled in. I actually called you several times last night, but you weren't reachable. I was getting a bit worried about you.""But wait—" Elara started to say, wanting to explain her absen

"I'm so sorry, Ethan," Elara said, her face flushing with embarrassment as she grabbed her clutch."It’s no problem, Lara," Ethan replied with a calm, easy smile. "I always knew you were a workaholic. We’ll reschedule.""Thank you for being so understanding," she said, feeling a wave of relief.Ethan gestured to the menu. "At least let me get you some take-out to go. You shouldn't work on an empty stomach.""Okay, thank you," she agreed. She waited for him to stand up and walk her to the door, but he stayed rooted in his seat. He gave her a polite wave but didn't move an inch toward the exit.'Is he avoiding Alex? But why?' The thought flickered in her mind, but her entire train of thought was derailed the moment she stepped onto the sidewalk.Alexander was there, leaning against his black Mercedes Maybach. The streetlights caught the sharp lines of his suit and the dark intensity in his eyes. Her heart got caught in her throat. He looked like a dream—a perfect, handsome dream—and it

Vivienne let out a laugh that sounded like glass breaking. "By the way, how’s your husband? Or boyfriend?" she asked, leaning back into the velvet cushions. "I honestly don't know who is who anymore. You seem to have so many men in your rotation, Lara."Elara summoned every bit of self-control she had left. Her fingers were still digging into her palms. 'Are Alex and his little whore obsessed with me?' she wondered. It felt like they were both constantly trying to trip her up, to make her look like the villain.Elara inhaled deeply, refusing to give Vivienne the satisfaction of a shouting match. She turned her head away from the snake on the sofa and looked directly at Evelyn. "I think that’s enough shopping for today, Auntie. I really need to get back to work. There are files I need to finish."She saw Vivienne’s smug expression out of the corner of her eye. Vivienne thought she had won. She thought she had embarrassed Elara in front of the one woman whose opinion still mattered to h

"Sister?" Alex asked, his voice cracking as he stood there completely flabbergasted. "I didn't know—" He trailed off, looking between them as the gears finally turned. "Wait, Lara... is he...?"Elara nodded, her expression weary under the weight of the lobby's gaze. "He’s my brother. Alistair Vance.""So," Alex continued, his brain still struggling to catch up, "you guys are...""Siblings," Elara completed the sentence sharply. "Now, can we go home?"Alex’s eyes widened further as a memory clicked into place. "That's why Lyra called him uncle. That means..." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, urgent whisper that ignored the crowd. "That means you found your mum? You found your family?"By now, Elara was fed up with the interrogation. The vulnerability of her past was being picked apart in a room full of strangers. "I think we're ready to leave now," she said, her voice hard."Wait," Alex said, reaching out instinctively. "I—I just—""You have no right to ask me things abo

Elara pulled her car into the drop-off lane and The Sterling Academy. It was the most prestigious school in the district—safest, most advanced. The irony burned. The only thing that made her feel better was that it was managed by Evelyn, Alexander's mother. "Okay, my little lions," Elara said, turning around to face the backseat.Leo was already adjusting his tiny blazer, looking exactly like a miniature version of Alexander. Lyra, meanwhile, was busy stuffing a drawing into her backpack."Mom, do I have to go? I wanted to finish my painting," Lyra pouted, her big eyes searching Elara's."You can finish it in art class, Lyra," Elara smiled, reaching back to tuck a stray hair behind her daughter's ear. "Think of all the new friends you'll make. And Leo, remember what we talked about?""Protect Lyra, don't talk to strangers, and do my math first," Leo recited with a serious nod.Elara’s heart squeezed. He was so much like Alexander it was terrifying—the same focus, the same protective