“What happened here?” A woman’s voice floated in from the door.

Linda rolled into the room in her wheelchair, eyes glittering with cruel satisfaction.

She glanced at the wreckage and let out a quiet, knowing chuckle. “She turned you down again, didn’t she? No wonder you’re in such a foul mood.”

Ernest said nothing. His face was unreadable, his eyes dark.

He stood up in silence and made his way toward the door.

“Ernest!” Linda called out sharply.

He paused but didn’t turn.

“Wake up!” Linda’s smirk faded, and her tone turned icy. She rolled closer. “She’s right, and you know it. You don’t actually love her. You just feel obligated because she gave birth to Locke.” ? ? ? ?s, ?s? s ?ovelFind.net

Quietly, Ernest turned slowly and looked down at her, his mouth drawn tight. “I know how I feel.”

“Do you?” Her expression twisted into something between disbelief and bitterness. “So what—you’re not giving up?”

Ernest didn’t respond. He wasn’t the type to argue. He simply turned and walked away.

“Ernest!” Linda gripped the sides of her wheelchair tightly, fury rising in her chest. She glared at his back as he disappeared down the hall. “Keep lying to yourself!” she shouted. “She doesn’t love you either! The two of you will never work!”

But Ernest didn’t stop. His figure grew smaller and smaller.

“Ha!” Linda let out a brittle laugh. “Still so stubborn? Fine. Let’s see who ends up laughing in the end—me or the two of you.”

That night, Elissa lay in bed.

In the dark, she suddenly sat up, her hands feeling around the mattress as if searching for something.

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After a few tense seconds, her fingers closed around her pillow.

A long breath escaped her lips, and she clutched the pillow to her chest like it was the only thing anchoring her.

“There, there… My sweetest little one… It’s OK…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Still hugging it tightly, she began pacing slowly around the room.

Then, out of nowhere, she walked straight into the clothes rack. The edge smacked her forehead hard.

Elissa froze, eyes vacant. After a few silent seconds, her eyelids drooped. She didn’t even let go of the pillow as her knees gave way and she crumpled to the floor.

At breakfast, Eric popped a piece of candied fruit into his mouth right after finishing his usual herbal remedy, a faint grimace on his face. Then he turned to Hadley. “Are all the documents ready?”

“Mm-hmm.” Hadley nodded with her usual calm.

He was referring to the paperwork that would officially make Joy part of their family—essential for her to be enrolled in the elite private school. After much back-and-forth over the past few days, Hadley had finally decided to move forward.

They couldn’t delay it any longer. If they did, it might affect Joy’s admission.

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