“Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you so much, Ernest!” Her voice lit up with relief, tinged with tears. “When can I go home?”

“Give me a few days,” he replied. “I need time to arrange everything.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll wait.”

After hanging up, Ernest sat in silence, worry carved deep into his face.

He truly did need time—not just for the arrangements, but because of Elissa and Locke.

Closing his eyes, he leaned forward, resting his forehead against his hand.

The thought of hurting Elissa troubled him more than he wanted to admit.

Later that evening, he wrapped up work around nine and drove straight to Lion Bay.

Elissa greeted him at the door with a small smile. “I just got back myself. Come in.”

As he stepped inside, she caught the faint scent of whiskey on him. She nodded toward the kitchen. “Have you been drinking? Want some tea to sober up?”

“Yes, please.”

“Come sit in the dining room.” Ernest followed her in.

Elissa moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, pulled out a box of assorted teabags, boiled some water, and set a steaming cup in front of him. “Careful, it’s hot.”

“Okay.”

He nodded, lifting the cup, blowing gently before taking a sip. Then, slowly, he spoke up. “Elissa… are you and Locke visiting Hadley this weekend?”

“This weekend?”

She didn’t think much of the question at first. Her weekends with Locke were usually spent with Hadley and Joy these days—either at Hadley’s place, the Flynn Mansion, or somewhere else entirely.

Find what you love at g?lnσν?s?

“I haven’t talked to Hadley yet,” she said, shaking her head. “We haven’t decided where we’re going.”

Ernest rotated the cup in his hands, eyes fixed on the swirling tea. “Take Locke to Hadley’s. Or maybe go out somewhere with him. Just for the weekend.”

Elissa looked at him closely, her smile fading a little. Something about his tone made her uneasy.

Was he asking her to leave the Flynn Mansion temporarily?

Was something going on?

Her mind jumped to the most likely answer. “Does this have to do with Linda?”

Ernest didn’t answer right away. But her guess had landed right on target.

He had come tonight knowing this conversation needed to happen. He didn’t want to lie to her anymore.

Taking a breath, he met her gaze and said, carefully, “I didn’t tell you earlier because I didn’t want to upset you… but Linda’s condition has worsened.” He paused, the weight of it pressing on him. “A few days ago, she was diagnosed with bone tumors.”

Elissa froze, the news hitting her harder than she expected. Her lips parted slightly as she asked, “Bone… tumors?”

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