Chapter 4: The Bond That Chose Them

The birth of the Bennet Family's only princess shook the entire upper society.

For decades, the Bennet Clan had stood at the peak of power. Their influence stretched across industries, politics, finance, technology, healthcare, and even military contracts. The arrival of a new member, especially the only girl of her generation, was enough to attract the attention of every influential family in the country.

While the newborn rested peacefully in the hospital, representatives from various powerful families arrived one after another. Officially, they came to offer congratulations.

Unofficially, they came to strengthen relationships and seek opportunities for future cooperation with the Bennet Family.

Among those families was the Hayes Clan.

After much discussion, the person chosen to represent the Hayes Family was Vincent Hayes and his wife Valerie Hayes. To everyone's surprise, they decided to bring their ten-year-old son, Lucian Hayes, with them.

The decision was not random.

Six months earlier, during a charity event jointly organized by several powerful families, a dangerous fire had broken out in one of the storage buildings. While adults panicked and security scrambled to control the situation, Lucian had calmly noticed that several important financial documents belonging to the Bennet Family were still inside.

Without hesitation, he informed the security team about a safer access route that nobody else had noticed. His quick thinking helped recover documents worth billions and prevented a major crisis.

Since then, the Bennet Family had held a very favorable impression of the quiet boy.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Vincent and Valerie joined the other guests in offering their congratulations.

They soon learned that Seraphina Bennet had already delivered a healthy baby girl and was resting comfortably.

Lucian silently followed his parents into the private hospital suite.

The moment he stepped inside, his attention was immediately drawn elsewhere.

A large crib stood beside the hospital bed.

Inside lay a tiny baby wrapped in a soft pink blanket.

She looked impossibly small.

Her tiny chest rose and fell gently as she slept peacefully.

For some reason, Lucian found himself unable to look away.

Something warm stirred within his chest.

His heart, which had always felt strangely distant from everything around him, softened without him realizing it.

Of course, even if he had noticed the feeling, he would not have understood it.

He was also still a child.

There were still many emotions he had yet to learn.

Almost unconsciously, Lucian walked toward the crib.

He carefully reached out his hand toward the sleeping baby.

Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

What if he woke her?

What if he bothered her?

As he began pulling his hand back, something unexpected happened.

A tiny hand shot out and wrapped around his finger.

Lucian froze.

The baby's grip was surprisingly strong.

It was as if she refused to let go.

As if she had chosen him.

The little girl opened her eyes.

Large round eyes blinked sleepily before landing directly on him.

Then she let out a soft coo.

A tiny chuckle followed.

The sound was so innocent and pure that it completely erased the remaining hesitation in his heart.

For the first time that day, a small smile appeared on Lucian's face.

The baby seemed delighted by his reaction.

She waved her little arms excitedly while continuing to hold his finger.

Watching the interaction from her hospital bed, Seraphina couldn't help smiling.

"It looks like our little princess already has a favorite person."

Alexander Bennet and Cassian Bennet both looked offended.

Since Elara's birth, neither her father nor her older brother had managed to receive such a reaction from her.

The two suddenly felt a little regretful.

Lucian ignored their expressions.

His attention remained fixed on the baby.

After a moment, he quietly asked,

"What is her name?"

Seraphina's smile widened.

"Her name is Elara."

She looked lovingly toward the crib.

"Elara Bennet."

Lucian lowered his gaze toward the little girl.

Elara.

He silently repeated the name in his mind.

Elara Bennet.

For some reason, he felt like it suited her perfectly.

Meanwhile, Vincent and Valerie had already left to join discussions with other influential families regarding future business partnerships.

That left only Lucian, Seraphina, and baby Elara in the room.

Hours passed.

Neither Lucian nor Elara seemed eager to part.

Eventually, however, it was time for the Hayes Family to leave.

A servant entered the room and informed Lucian that his parents were waiting in the parking garage.

Lucian nodded.

Slowly, he stood from his chair.

Then he attempted to pull his finger away.

The moment he did, Elara tightened her grip.

Lucian paused.

He tried again.

The tiny hand stubbornly refused to let go.

Alexander stepped forward to help.

Even Cassian joined him.

Together, they carefully pried Elara's little fingers away from Lucian's hand.

The second they succeeded, the hospital room erupted with cries.

Elara burst into tears.

Loud, heartbroken tears.

Her tiny face turned red from crying.

The sound pierced directly through the hearts of her parents.

Seraphina immediately picked her up.

Alexander tried comforting her.

Cassian made funny faces.

Nothing worked.

Meanwhile, Lucian stood frozen by the door.

For reasons he couldn't explain, hearing her cry made his chest hurt.

The feeling was unfamiliar.

Painful.

Strange.

Yet he didn't understand it.

Eventually, Vincent called him again.

This time, Lucian forced himself to leave.

As he walked down the hallway, Elara's cries echoed behind him.

The sound followed him all the way to the elevator.

Only after nearly an hour of comforting, rocking, and coaxing did Elara finally fall asleep.

The exhausted Bennet Family believed the matter had ended there.

They couldn't have been more wrong.

Because none of them knew that this brief encounter would become the beginning of something neither family could stop.

They would separate countless times in the years ahead.

Fate, however, would always bring them back together.

And one day, not even the most powerful families in the country would be able to keep them apart.

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