Chapter 49: The 'Omnipotent' Miss Elena

Ronan only had the phone numbers of Lucas and Theo’s families, but none for Elena. Since they had given such a substantial gift, it wouldn’t be appropriate to send thanks through someone else, so she decided to thank him in person.

Moreover, upon reflection, this was already the second time she had “helped” Ronan. The stall at Mena Village was also arranged through Elena’s connections in Provence.

Combining the two, she had no choice but to make the trip.

Without the adornment of refined makeup or expensive jewelry, Elena felt quite out of place. She kept turning sideways toward Ronan, as if posing for a magazine shoot.

“You don’t need to go out of your way to thank me; it was just a small favor,” Elena said lightly.

Ronan nodded slightly and took a sip of his tea.

But that was no “small favor”—not even sixteen hands could have lifted that thing!

“I didn’t come just to express my thanks,” Ronan said, pulling a wad of cash from his pocket. “Payment for the table.”

Elena slowly turned her head away, her expression complex as she looked at Ronan.

Before she could ask, Ronan explained, “I appreciate your kindness, truly, but accepting your things without cause... it might lead to misunderstandings.”

Elena calmly rested her hand on her knee, meeting Ronan’s gaze with a warm smile.

“Maybe it’s not a misunderstanding?” she teased.

That little guy... don’t you understand my feelings yet? Hurry up and obediently give it to me—

“I can’t accept it then,” Ronan pushed the money forward again, as if it were a hot potato.

Elena had plenty of experience confessing proactively, but had never been rejected before.

Those men, upon seeing her generosity, would come running before she even beckoned.

Ronan’s “polite” refusal struck her heart like a lightning bolt.

She couldn’t hear a word he said afterward, only wanting to scream wildly, break things, or hide in the darkness to lick her bleeding wounds... But what she needed most at this moment was to salvage her fragile pride.

Suddenly, she burst into laughter, bending forward and back with the force of it.

“Are you even French? You really don’t get humor. You don’t actually think I’m interested in you, do you?”

The awkwardness shifted to Ronan’s face.

“I...”

“All right, all right,” Elena lightly tossed the money back. “This means nothing to me. I just consider you a friend, like my brothers. Haven’t Lucas and Theo ever given you gifts? It’s very normal in my family.”

Lucas hadn’t given Ronan much, but Theo often sent him cheap trinkets.

So, was it all in my head?

Elena caressed her long hair.

“I’m someone of standing in Loulmaran—you could ask around and find out... You’re not my type.”

Ronan felt even more awkward.

“Sorry, I was too forward.”

Elena shifted back into her “actress” mode.

“It’s natural for you to overthink. Often, the friendliness people show has ‘other motives’, various agendas... When you reach our level, you’ll understand. What you call ‘kindness’ might just be a mere wave of the hand to us.”

Ronan was deeply shocked.

He gained a new respect for the power of the Lucas family!

“And don’t feel burdened,” Elena continued generously. “I am me, Lucas is Lucas. What happens between you and me has nothing to do with your truffle business.”

Ronan’s worries lifted entirely.

That was precisely another concern of his.

He was still too lowly ranked... completely not on the same level as a noble lady like Elena.

Then he spoke frankly.

“Miss Elena, I’ve run into another problem. I want to renovate my house—a big project. I’ve heard it’s hard to find skilled craftsmen in Provence... Do you happen to know any?”

“That’s easy. I’ll contact the craftsmen my family has long worked with,” Elena replied, crossing her legs with graceful poise.

“Thank you so much!” Ronan clenched his fist excitedly.

I knew Miss Elena, who seems to do everything, would have a solution!

...

“He doesn’t like me! He rejected me! He’s not interested—I was just imagining everything!”

Elena buried her face in the quilt, wailing in agony, completely bereft of her earlier “lady” demeanor.

After Ronan left, Elena cried for two hours straight. Their mother, worried she might faint, called Lucas home to “discipline” his sister.

In the past, even with the door closed, they could still hear Lucas loudly scolding Elena inside.

But after Lucas had been inside for a minute, all that could be heard was Elena’s sobbing—nothing else.

Had Lucas changed his “discipline” method?

...

Inside the room.

Lucas stood far from Elena, his tone and expression calm.

“Ronan is a lion living on the prairie. You can’t tame him with the usual methods you’d use for a cat. Even if you do, it will be temporary. Sooner or later, he’ll leave you.”

He understood Elena’s heartbreak.

He had tried to “tame” Ronan once, but Ronan ran off before even entering his palm.

During those days, he drowned himself in drink every night.

In this matter, the siblings shared a bond of fate.

“I like him! I’ve never liked anyone this much!” Elena shouted louder.

“Crying won’t help. To get what’s beyond reach, first you have to change your mindset. Maybe if you tried a different approach or method, the outcome would be different.”

Lucas had already begun preliminary preparations this week for “artificial truffle cultivation,” no longer waiting for Ronan.

But that didn’t mean he had given up.

Ronan could never find a business more profitable than truffles.

Once he made some progress here, there would be ways to attract Ronan.

So he didn’t want Elena to give up either; this was an important way to win Ronan over.

“Change your mindset?” Elena asked, her voice thick with a nasal tone.

“I told you before, money won’t work on Ronan. Do you really think he can’t afford a table? He earns more than me each month,” Lucas said with a bitter smile.

Elena was first shocked.

Ronan was that wealthy?

Then a wave of happiness flooded her.

Ronan was amazing—a man who could refuse me.

“What should I do then?” Elena stopped crying and bit the quilt, asking.

Lucas spread his hands flat.

“I’m no love expert, but from a man’s perspective, I want my partner to care for me, understand me, admire me, and truly accept me from the heart.”

Elena repeated Lucas’s words softly.

“In short, you need to understand what Ronan truly needs,” Lucas said, feeling his job was nearly done. “I’ll leave it to another lady to give you ‘love’ guidance. Don’t give up; I’ll support you.”

With that, he got up and left.

“Ronan needs a group of skilled craftsmen now,” Elena whispered. “Ideally, they can start immediately.”

“What did you say?” Lucas turned his head, frowning deeply.

“Ronan wants to renovate his house, and he needs a team of craftsmen. It seems urgent, so I agreed...” Elena’s voice trailed off.

“Haven’t I warned you not to make random ‘promises’ anymore?” Lucas raised his voice, as if he could swallow her whole.

“You said you’d support me! This is exactly what Ronan needs!” Elena began crying again.

“Elena!” Lucas roared in anger.

Outside, those who had been eavesdropping finally left with relief.

Yes, now it felt right.