Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me?

Chapter 721 Side Story: Efforts in Pursuing Her 3

Regrettably, the man facing Yelena had already steered the conversation to this point, leaving her no

option but to suppress her pride and reluctantly concede. "Yes, Ms. Balkan. Sweet and sour salmon

sounds good." I'll deal with you later, Hank! She reprimanded him silently within her thoughts.

Simone's face brightened upon hearing this, and she took a step closer, gently clasping Yelena's hand

with a cheerful smile. "I knew you would like that blend of sweet and sour. Hank mentioned your

fondness for sweets. Initially, I assumed someone in the film industry would have strict control over

sugary indulgences, but then I realized that a young girl like you deserves to treat herself a little more.

A touch of sweetness won't do any harm."

Then, Yelena's eyes reddened slightly as memories flowed in, reminding her of Simone's enduring care

—a motherly figure who always had her best interests at heart. This unwavering concern was precisely

why Yelena found it arduous to turn down Simone's wishes, thus yielding to Hank's persistence. "Ms.

Balkan, I'm not a child anymore. I'm already 25."

Simone playfully rolled her eyes and gave her hand a reassuring pat. "What are you talking about?

You're still so young. Being just 25 still makes you a child, okay? Anyway, hurry up and wash your

hands. Let's eat."

She then turned around and headed toward the kitchen to attend to her tasks. The moment she saw

Hank casually take his seat at the table, she clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Go grab a bottle of

juice for Yelena. It's on the second shelf in the fridge. I bought peach-flavored juice specifically for her.

Can you please think of others for a change? It's not all about you."

Since Hank had always been more inclined to listen to his mother promptly stood up and walked

toward the refrigerator.

In the past, Yelena would have joined Simone in scolding him. However, their current relationship made

such exchanges feel slightly intimate and awkward. So, Yelena could only sit helplessly in her seat,

absentmindedly prodding her salad with a fork and avoiding eye contact.

Through the course of the meal, her mind was clearly elsewhere. She barely touched her food,

prompting Simone to express concern. "What's the matter? You've hardly eaten anything today. Is the

food not to your liking, or did something happen?"

Startled by the question, Yelena looked up and shook her head. "No, Ms. Balkan. Your cooking is

always delicious, and today's dishes are to my liking. It's just..."

"Just what?" Simone inquired, her concern deepening.

The words teetered on the edge of Yelena's tongue, yet in Simone's hopeful and caring gaze, she

found herself incapable of uttering them. She understood the potential hurt or unease those words

could inflict upon Simone.

"It's okay, dear. You can always share your thoughts with me. I won't judge." Simone's life experience,

spanning more than two decades beyond Yelena's, allowed her to decipher much of the situation from

Yelena's expressions. "Young couples often argue and misunderstand each other, but remember, you

mustn't shatter what you have. Once a relationship fractures, repairing it becomes a daunting task."

Nevertheless, Yelena's mood grew even graver, causing Simone to rethink her words and swiftly

change the subject. "Alright, let's not dwell on these somber matters. How about we turn our thoughts

to your marriage? Both of you are at that right age, and your careers are thriving. Yelena, if things are

steady on your end, have you considered marriage?"

With an awkward smile, Yelena replied, "Ms. Balkan, I think—"

"I know what you're worried about, but don't worry; once you're married and living with us, Hank will be

at your beck and call," Simone interjected as she placed a slice of roast pork onto her plate. "As for me,

you need not worry either. I won't meddle in your married life. I'll do my utmost to be a supportive

mother-in-law. Do you think I would mistreat you?"

After hearing this, Yelena clenched her teeth and blurted, "Ms. Balkan, actually… Hank and I haven't

been in a relationship these past few years."

Simone was taken aback upon hearing this. "What are you saying? You two haven't been together?

Then, why do you come over for meals whenever I ask?"

"That's the problem. Your kind intentions, Ms. Balkan, made it hard for me to decline, so I agreed to

accompany him home for a meal," Yelena confessed as her gaze fixed on the ground, apprehensive

about facing Simone's potentially dismayed expression.

Yet, after a prolonged silence, Simone's response wasn't one of judgment. Instead, a perplexing

display of affection caught Yelena off guard when she finally dared to lift her head.

"Tell me, Yelena, has someone been bullying you?" Simone inquired softly, her attempt at consolation

evident. As her attention shifted to Hank, a reproachful glare was directed his way—a silent accusation

of unsettling her daughter-in-law again.

In response, he shrugged, indicating that he wasn't the cause this time.

Meanwhile, Yelena's heart tugged slightly, yet she persevered in clarifying, "Ms. Balkan, it's not his

fault. This decision was mutual, and it's been a long time coming. I'm not sure if we can…"

"Why? Weren't you two fine together before? And now, all of a sudden, everything's changed. I'm sure

it's because of this little rascal. I'll straighten him out today," Simone declared, her hand reaching for a

feather duster nearby.

When Yelena saw that, she couldn't help but chuckle in helplessness. "It's not what you think, Ms.

Balkan. We will solve the issues between us, but I'm not sure how things will turn out."

"If this Hank has done something that hurt you, you must tell me. I'll give him a piece of my mind, but

I'm having a tough time coming to terms with this breakup," Simone said, her hand resting on her chest

as she looked genuinely distressed. "This situation is truly distressing me, and it feels like my heart

might give out."

Yelena hurriedly patted her chest and could only offer verbal reassurance. "Please don't get so worked

up, Ms. Balkan. I didn't say we were breaking up…"

Instantly, Simone's expression softened visibly. "Really? You two haven't actually broken up?"

"You can't really say that."

"Oh my…"

Simone's brow furrowed again, a hint of pain in her expression. When Yelena observed her distress,

she sighed helplessly. "Ms. Balkan, I genuinely appreciate your concern, but the reality is that we can't

continue our relationship. Forcing it might not bring happiness to either of us."

With the conversation having reached an impasse, Simone abandoned any pretense. Slowly, she

lowered her hand. "Yelena, I genuinely like you and hope you can be with Hank. Please don't rush to

conclusions. Take some time to think about it, okay?"