Elena's and Xavier's gazes met. The unofficial staring contest was won by Xavier because Elena then lowered her face.
She put down the cleaning rag and immediately arranged the flowers Xavier had asked for. Not long after, she gave a very beautiful flower arrangement to Xavier along with the keys to his house.
"Thanks for letting me stay at your house," she said quietly. "I don't need it anymore."
Xavier was about to take out his money to pay for the flowers, but Elena immediately stopped him.
"No need to pay for this one. It's my way of paying back your kindness," she whispered after she made sure her aunt didn't hear her. "Thank you."
Since she looked so adamant, Xavier didn't want to argue. He received the flowers and his keys and then immediately left Elena. There was a feeling of discomfort in his chest when he found out that the girl didn't want to stay at his house anymore.
Last night Xavier came home and felt happy when he knew the girl was at his house. Elena didn't know Xavier came home past midnight and left again before the sun rose and she woke up.
Xavier brought a bouquet of flowers from the shop and walked over to Elleard's wheelchair.
"What's Fabio's offer?" Elleard asked his brother.
"He wants the North territory, in exchange, he will let our weapons cross for free. I said no," answered Xavier with a shrug.
Elleard exhaled softly at his brother's answer. Xavier's decision was good, giving up territory was the same as being a tiger losing its fangs.
"As a result, the security needs to be tightened. Fabio can corner us if the weapons pass through his territory," said Elleard.
There were several mafia families who controlled gun trades in the region, and they kept fighting over territory to gain more control.
After the massacre of their parents four years ago, their enemies were all trying to get rid of the Osbart family's influence and take over some of their territories, but fortunately, Xavier managed to save them. Still, the enemies kept trying.
Xavier unwrapped a gum and chew it nonchalantly. "Our weapons will still be able to pass safely. I will create a mess that will take their whole focus."
"Do you want to do that, X?" Elleard turned to Xavier. He seemed to be able to read his brother's plans. In the past. They often played this game to outwit their bodyguards when they were much younger, so that the two of them could escape and play unsupervised.
Xavier nodded. "Well, just leave it to me, L. Don't worry."
The two of them spoke in low voices, discussing Xavier's plans. After Elleard heard Xavier's plan and agreed to it, the younger man then said goodbye to execute his plans.
Elleard spent a little more time at their parents' graves before he decided to go home. As he was about to get into the car, from across the street Elleard saw Elena being chased by her aunt.
When the frail girl was caught, Ursula grabbed Elena's arm and slapped her on the cheek twice. The girl looked in pain and was trying not to cry.
Elleard could only faintly hear what her aunt was saying to Elena. Something about Elena stealing the shop's money by giving flowers for free.
Elleard was stunned to see the beautiful girl fall to her knees, crying. Ursula then dragged her back into the shop because she didn't want the sight of Elena crying to embarrass their family.
The man took a deep breath and his expression turned cold. Elleard returned to the car but instead of leaving, he kept an eye on Elena's interactions in his shop. His driver just started the car and the AC, not daring to ask why they didn't leave right away.
After a while, Elleard finally got out of the car and crossed the street. Two bodyguards accompanied him. One of them carried a black suitcase.
"Good day," said Elleard.
Ursula who saw his presence immediately remembered that Elleard was the one who had bought all Elena's flowers the other day. She immediately approached Elleard with a sweet smile.
"Yes, sir. How can I help you? You must want to buy some beautiful flowers, don't you? Don't worry, we have very nice and fresh flower arrangements for you."
Elleard didn't listen to Ursula's chatter. He only focused his gaze on Elena standing in the corner of the room dejectedly.
Elleard's bodyguard placed the black briefcase on the table. The confused Ursula just stood looking at him, not knowing what to say, while Elleard was still staring at Elena who was downcast, not wanting to show how pathetic she looked today.
CLICK!
Elleard's bodyguard unlocked the black briefcase and then turned it to face Ursula so that the woman could see its contents clearly.
Ursula's eyes went wide when she saw so many stacks of money neatly arranged. Her mouth was agape, then she swallowed her saliva.
"This… is this… real money?" In all her life, Ursula had never seen that kind of money. She stammered. Her hand slowly wanted to touch it, but before her finger touched the stack of banknotes, the suitcase was immediately closed tightly by Elleard's bodyguard.
"What do you need, sir? Do you want to buy all our flowers? Or... maybe you want to buy this shop?"
"Yeah, I want to buy something," said Elleard calmly. He pointed to the corner of the room behind Ursula. "I want to buy the girl!"
Elleard's words made Elena raise her head in surprise. She looked at Elleard questioningly. Was that man insulting her because she refused to marry Elleard?
Ursula reflexively turned her head and found Elena in the direction Elleard pointed to. The middle-aged woman looked back at Elleard with a confused expression. "You want to buy… the girl?
"I don't like repeating myself," said Elleard coldly. "You have ears, right?"
Ursula was still racking her brains for thought. "You mean, Elena? You want to buy… Elena?"
Elleard nodded firmly. Ursula was even more taken aback. She covered her mouth and her eyes widened. There was silence for a while.
Then Ursula laughed loudly.
"You are really good at finding a hidden gem, sir. She is really good. She can do whatever you want her to do." Ursula laughed again. "So you really want to buy her?"
Ah, this guy is rich, Ursula thought to herself. She assumed Elleard wanted Elena as his sex slave. Well... being this man's sex slave didn't seem so bad, did it? He was a crippled, and it's not like he could hurt Elena. He would probably need her to fulfill some sex fantasies of his.
Besides, Ursula had lost so much money taking care of Elena and raising her after her parents died. It was only fair that Elena to return the favor and pay all the expenses Ursula had incurred for her.
Meanwhile, Elena's mind was filled with painful feelings. She thought that Elleard had deliberately come here to buy her because of Elena's rejection of his proposal yesterday.
"Yes, I want to buy that girl! If this money is not enough, you can tell my people."
Not only was Ursula flabbergasted, but this time Elena also looked at Elleard with a confused expression.
"You want to give me more money? Yes, she is worth much more than this!" Ursula said with a beaming expression. She then asked impatiently, "You can take her and I'll take this money, what about the rest?"
"Auntie," Elena called her aunt in a pleading tone. "Please..."
"We are not related by blood, don't call me that! Let's go get the rest of the money." Ursula hugged the suitcase containing the money tightly leaving Elena who was standing, looking dumbfounded at her aunt's actions.
After Ursula left, Elena took a few steps toward Elleard. She asked him bitterly, "Are you satisfied now? Since you have so much money, you think you can buy me."
A single tear rolled down Elena's cheek.
Elleard stepped forward in his wheelchair and gently pulled Elena's hand into his lap.
"You have to see how those around you treat you. I came with an offer to make you live a better life, Elena." said the man softly.
Elena's tears flowed even harder. She didn't know if Elleard's warm grip would truly save her and gave her a better life, or send her into a deep abyss.
She barely knew this man.