Chapter 181 - When Love Turned To Friendship

Yelena was alone in her office. The hearing device which Ella sent to her was on the desk right before her and she fixated her gaze on it. She hoped that she made the right decision.

Then the door to her office was knocked and Lt. Morris walked inside. "Captain." He greeted her like he always did.

Yelena was expecting him for a while now. So, she rose from her seat right away. "Have a seat, Morris."

The two took a seat and Yelena handed him the device with a bit of hesitation and Morris took it with a confused face. "The Commander told me that you won't have any missions for a while. Besides, I'm not there. So, I want you to handle this."

"What is this, Captain?" Morris promptly asked.

"With that, you will be able to hear everything that happens in Lt. Gen. Haric's study room. It will be quite useful." She muttered.

Morris raised a brow and quickly narrowed his eyes at the device. "You planted the spying device?"

Yelena shook her head. "It's Captain Eleanor."

Morris didn't understand. Captain Eleanor was the daughter of Lt. Gen. Haric. Why would she do such a thing?!

"Morris, I know you have many questions but... just trust me for now and focus on that device." Yelena calmly said.

"I understand, Captain." Lt. Morris promptly responded though he was still flustered.

Yelena glance at her wristwatch and then turned to Morris. "I am going to Edeladon for business. I will depart after an hour and I will stay there for about 5 days but... don't hesitate to inform me if you find out any information. Solving this case is still the most important thing for me. You can also seek help from the Deputy Commander in case of emergency."

Last night, she talked with Colonel Arias and the latter was still adamant about getting involved. It's impossible to talk him out of it. What's more, even Ella was being stubborn to get involved!

"I will do that, Captain. It will be tough to travel in this situation. Please take care." Morris said and rose from his seat. Then he bid goodbye to Yelena and left the office.

Just a few minutes after Morris left, Yelena and the others left the company building and went to the airport.

* * *

When Yelena arrived at Edeladon with Jason and Alan, it was around 5 in the evening. Just as expected, the airport was crowded with reporters as news about the Crown Prince's fiancee coming to the country for a business conference already spread.

Several questions were raised ever since it was reported that the fiancee was none other than the Captain of a Special Forces. Will the Crown Prince really marry a soldier from Silveren?! Everyone knows how complicated the relationship between the two countries was! Besides, the leaders of the two countries were also very interested in this matter.

From the view of the leaders, it was a great chance to have real peace between the two countries. It's the 21st Century and no country loved to have conflicts with another country. If a woman from Silveren became the Crown Princess of Edeladon, it would ensure a good relationship between the two countries.

However, one same old problem was there. The scars in the people's heart left by the wars in recent years. It's not easy to erase such a scar!

With the help of Jason and Alan along with some men the Serano Group sent to escort her, Yelena could barely get inside the car safely. However, countless photos of her were taken which would soon circulate the country.

She talked with Felix in the morning and he offered to send some men to escort her as the presence of reporters was predicted. However, she refused, saying that it would only cause more unwanted attention. Then Maurice Serano stepped in.

Despite reporters chasing the car she rode, Yelena reached the hotel owned by the Serano Group after about an hour. Even there, there were still many reporters. With the help of the security guards there, she could finally check-in without a problem. Jason and Alan also checked in near her room.

Yelena sat on the couch and let out a breath. That was crazy! Those reporters were hard to go through than those in her country! She already heard the immense influence of the royals in Edeladon but... it's her first time to witness it. Will her life always be that way from now on?! It's crazy!

Trying to not think too much about it, she unpacked her belongings and took a shower. When she finished, it was already 7 p.m. Then she heard the sound of the doorbell.

When she opened the door, a familiar face was standing there, smiling at her. "Yelena."

"Maurice." She muttered the name and nodded with a little smile. "Come inside."

Maurice Serano walked inside her hotel room and his eyes swept around the corner. "Hope you like it. I tried to pick a suite for you but... I think it would only make you uncomfortable."

"I'm glad for that. This is more than enough for one person. Besides, I already trouble you so much." Yelena said and they both settled on the couch.

"It's fine. Putting aside all the mistakes in the past, we can still regard each other as friends." Maurice calmly said.

Yelena observed her ex-fiance who was also her first love. He seemed to be doing better than the last time they met and she was happy about that. "How are you? It's been a few months, right?"

"Yeah, a few months. However, I think time flies. You have changed a lot and you even entered the business circle. I never expect things to turn out this way." Maurice said and lightly chuckled. "I heard that your mother is getting better. You must be happy." He hinted at how much she loved her mother though she looked indifferent for many years. After all, he was still one of the people who know her the best.

"I'm happy. I never imagined my life without her. Your family is also doing well." Yelena said. She heard that Maurice hasn't returned to Silveren again ever since their engagement was broken. That means it had been a long time since he met his family.

"You still care about them?" Maurice raised a brow. "You know it's my mother who made that mess."

"It's all in the past." Yelena simply said and Maurice finally smiled again.

"Now, I think you are back to that simple-minded girl I used to know." He remarked and Yelena only smiled.

"I ordered dinner for you. I figure out that you won't think about that." Maurice said. "Whenever you have too much to think about like those reporters, you always forget your meals. I still remember that."

Yelena slightly raised a brow but she smiled again the next second. "I think I had dropped that habit but it resurfaced again not long ago. Why won't you have dinner with me? You still won't have it too, right?"

Maurice was taken aback by her offer. The last time he returned to Silveren to meet her, it wasn't easy just to have a cup of coffee with her, let alone a meal. But now, things have become more comfortable between them. He finally understood that when love turned to friendship, it became a beautiful thing.

"Alright, but I ordered your favourite dish." He said with an apologetic smile.

Yelena slightly frowned. "That means you can't eat them. Just order another one for you. You shouldn't force yourself to eat again." She lightly chuckled.

Maurice recalled the first time they had a meal together. She ordered her favourite dish and he ordered the same, trying to know what she likes. However, he was far from liking the dish and struggled from the first taste! She still remembered that? He didn't expect it at all.

"I always have a good memory," Yelena explained with a little smile.

Maurice placed another order for himself and they had dinner together while having a casual talk. They also talked about the conference which will be held the next day. While they almost finished their dinner, Maurice phone went off and he answered with a little frown.

"What is it this time?" His voice was quite blunt and it made Yelena a bit flustered. The Maurice she knew was always a calm man.

"You don't say that before."

"Are you making up things again?"

Maurice sighed and briefly glanced at Yelena before he turned his attention back to the phone call. "Alright. Stay there. I will come." He ended the call and noticed that Yelena was staring at him, inquiring him with her eyes.

"It's the spoiled daughter of Kayes Group. We met a few months ago at the party organised by her father and... " He paused and sigh once again. "She never stopped pestering me since then. She's quite a troublemaker."

Kayes Group was one of the most influential corporations in Edeladon and Yelena knew that which made her slightly smiled. "She likes you."

"I know," Maurice said and helplessly shook his head. "All she knows is how to make trouble and she is a master in troubling me. It's impossible to brush her off. It's very tiring because her father is an important business partner of mine. He helped me a lot even when I take over our branch here. I can't offend his pampered daughter."

"Is that really the reason?" Yelena muttered but her voice was so low and Maurice can't hear what she said.

"Are you saying something?" He asked, confused.

Yelena shook her head and smiled. "You should go." She rose from her seat, urging Maurice to leave.

"Alright," Maurice said and stood up with a bit of hesitation. "See you at the conference." He slightly nodded and left the hotel room.

Yelena shook her head with a smile and sat down again. She never thought that he would be foolish enough to not even know his own feelings! She let out a sigh and simply continued with her dinner.....