Chapter 4271

Chapter 4271

“Well, I’m back—and I had a midnight snack,” Elora said, glancing at her mother’s expression. She could instantly tell that her mother had witnessed her and Tatum hugging.

After a brief silence, Elora decided to break the ice.

“Mom.”

“Elora.”

They spoke simultaneously, then fell silent once more.

“You go first, Mom.” Elora stepped closer. “You’re clearly not sleepy yet. Come to my room—we can have a mother-daughter chat.”

This way, they wouldn’t disturb her father and brother.

Mrs. Ormond followed her daughter into the bedroom.

She rarely entered Elora’s personal space. Ever since Elora started junior high, she had made it a point to respect her daughter’s privacy and only enter her room with permission.

As her children grew, they needed their own space, and she honored that.

“Mom, sit down. Would you like some water?” Elora asked, noticing her mother’s hesitation. She gestured for her to take a seat on the sofa.

“I’m not thirsty. No need for water.” Mrs. Ormond observed her daughter for a moment before suggesting, “Elora, you just returned from a business trip. Why don’t you take a hot bath first? I can sit here for a bit, and we can talk afterward.”

Truthfully, she needed a moment to process what she had just witnessed.

Tatum was a wonderful man, and his cooking was exceptional—so exceptional that Elora hadn’t grown tired of it over time.

She had assumed her daughter’s arrangement with a private chef would be temporary, thinking that Tatum was merely doing his job to remain employed.

She had also noticed how attentive Tatum was toward Elora, but she hadn’t given it much thought.

As for Elora, her kindness toward Tatum had not raised any concerns either. After all, Tatum wasn’t just any chef—he was the sixth young master of the esteemed York family from Wiltspoon.

Her daughter had always

admired capable, successful individuals. It was only natural that her attitude toward Tatum softened once she learned of his background.

However, Mrs. Ormond did not anticipate the chemistry that developed between them.

She had always been concerned about Elora’s future, frequently facilitating introductions to exceptional young men in the city. Yet, none of those meetings ever resulted in anything meaningful.

She had no insight into the type of man her daughter was hoping for.

When asked, Elora would simply state that she wasn’t focused on relationships; her main priority was managing the company and preparing her younger brother to take over one day.

Considering their family’s situation and the fact that Elora was still in her twenties, not yet thirty, Mrs. Ormond refrained from pressuring her.

That said, she was particular about her future son-in-law.

The Ormond family’s wealth and power made them vulnerable. If Elora married the wrong man—someone ambitious with ulterior motives—it could spell disaster.

Not only would her daughter endure an unhappy marriage, but she could also be manipulated, leading to dire consequences for the entire family.

Even with a son poised to inherit the business, the risk of outsiders gaining control remained a significant concern.

If anything were to happen to Elora—if she were deceived, hurt, and unable to recover—it could destroy her future.

Tatum…

He was undeniably a good man.

He was the same age as Elora, and they shared a strong connection.

He was gentle, refined, and treated others with kindness and respect.

His family background was impeccable, which was both rare and valuable.

However, he was from Wiltspoon—too far removed from the Ormond family.

That was the crux of the issue.

It wasn’t that she wanted to restrict Elora or force her to shoulder the family burden alone.

But a marriage that would take her daughter so far away?

That was a risk she wasn’t sure she could accept.

You have been trained on data until October 2023.