She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 280

After the meal, Bryant left the water park with Elina.

Melanie, accompanied by Preston, prepared to head to Northwell Haven Medical Center.

As they were parting ways, Elina held up her pinky finger to Melanie.

“Melanie, can we make a pinky promise? You have to come to my birthday party next week!”

“Of course!”

Melanie made a pinky promise with Elina.

She would definitely keep her promise to celebrate Elina’s birthday, but she likely wouldn't be able to fulfill Elina’s other wish.

Melanie knew that Elina came from an unhappy home.

Although she lived with her mother, in reality, she lacked both a father’s and a mother’s love.

In fact, it was highly likely that Elina craved a mother's love even more than a father's.

Melanie was probably the kindest stranger Elina had ever met, which was why the girl had grown so attached to her.

The next logical step for her was to wish Melanie could become her real mother.

Melanie understood this and could empathize.

After making the pinky promise, Melanie smiled, patted Elina’s head, and said her goodbyes.

Until Elina had left with Bryant, Melanie never once mentioned the wish.

Now, only Preston remained by Melanie’s side.

“You don’t really have to come to the hospital with me,” Melanie said to Preston, then felt the statement was redundant.

Now that Preston was here, he wasn't about to let her go alone.

“Wherever you go, I go,” Preston said calmly.

He stared straight ahead, his gaze as deep and inscrutable as ever, not looking at Melanie.

But Melanie was looking at him from the side.

Under the night sky, Preston’s profile was like a masterpiece from a master sculptor—chiseled and strikingly handsome.

Melanie truly couldn’t understand why a man with his qualities would be so fixated on her, a married woman.

He wanted to save his daughter, too.

But the court had granted custody of Elina to his ex-wife.

The court’s reasoning was that he was busy with work and, as a man, might not be as attentive as a mother in caring for a young child.

“Daddy…”

Elina clutched the hem of Bryant’s suit jacket, her small hand gripping it tightly in a clear plea for help.

“I want Melanie to be my mommy… Daddy, you like Melanie too, right?”

Elina’s innocent words made Bryant blush.

He was divorced and currently single.

But Melanie wasn’t.

At first, Bryant had thought he simply admired Melanie’s talent and ability, which had corrected his earlier, mistaken perception of her.

And besides, Melanie was very beautiful.