Pampered By Power: The True Heiress Returns

Chapter 281

Henry couldn’t hide his smile, and his voice was full of joy. He’d been the butler for years, and the tension between Olliver and Elena had always worried him. Thankfully, their relationship was finally improving, giving him a glimmer of hope.

After Henry left, the cleaning staff also cleared out, leaving only a few people in the living room. The atmosphere grew

tense.

Olliver clasped his hands together, looking like he wanted to say something. He opened his mouth but still didn’t speak.

Elena watched him, feeling a mix of emotions. The father she remembered was a stern man of few words, rarely showing that side of himself.

Just as she was about to say something to lighten the mood, a female voice, tinged with sobs, echoed through the living room. “Elena!”

Everyone turned to see a tired–looking woman standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was messy, her face pale, and she wore a shawl draped over her slender frame.

Elena’s eyes showed a hint of surprise when she saw Lydia, her mother. It had been a year since she last saw Lydia, who used to have a pretty and refined face. She hadn’t expected Lydia to look so much older in just one year.

A pang hit Elena, and without hesitation, she quickly moved forward to support Lydia.

Just then, a maid caught up and, seeing Elena, spoke excitedly, “Ms. Shelton, is it really you? Have you really come back?”

Tears started to fall as she spoke, “Just now, Mrs. Shelton heard you were back and rushed out without even changing her clothes. We’ve been so worried, but now that you’re here to comfort her, she’ll definitely get better soon.”

Elena focused on the last sentence and looked at the maid, asking, “Is Mom sick?”

“You didn’t know?”

Olliver shot a warning glance, saying, “Alright, don’t talk nonsense in front

of turn, the

then looked at Olliver. But it was just a quick look before she turned away, sensing they were keeping

sharp, stabbing pain made Elena’s eyebrows twitch. She wasn’t a good daughter, too focused on her

Feeling the warmth of those teardrops, Lydia’s heart tightened as she looked at Elena with worry in her eyes. “Elena,

that it made Lydia’s heart ache. Lydia often wished Elena didn’t have to be so strong and could cry when upset, instead of

made Lydia feel more pain. ‘How much better would it have been if she hadn’t been

hand to wipe Elena’s tears away. “Elena, don’t cry.”

flowed even harder, dropping one after another. She bit her lip, trying hard to control them. But the tears seemed determined to

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and Ava looked at Elena, who rarely smiled and always had a cool and distant demeanor, yet her heart was softer than anyone else’s. She was a top student, the student union president, and recognized by everyone as

child. In fact, she was still too young to need to

mature.

watched as Elena’s tears flowed endlessly, feeling very anxious. She reached out to gently pat Elena’s back, wanted to comfort her, but found words to be

but it made his heart ache to see her tears. He wondered, ‘If I remember correctly,

a child, she wouldn’t shed a tear even if she

was about to stand up, Elysia and Ava, beside

up at her, and

reached out to wipe away Elena’s tears. “Who says you can’t cry?

must look awful now.”

and put her arm around her. She continued, her

she was sitting on the couch earlier. Lydia looked