“Got it.”

After gently settling Locke in and closing the bedroom door behind her, Elissa returned downstairs, where Hadley looped her arm through hers. “Come on. Let’s grab some breakfast first.”

“Sounds good.”

They headed into the dining room and took their seats at the table.

“So,” Hadley said, pouring some coffee. “What brought you here so early?”

Although they saw each other nearly every weekend, this was one of the rare times Elissa had arrived so early.

“It’s because…” Elissa tugged at the corner of her lips, forcing a wry smile. “We need to make space—for Linda.”

She went on to explain what Ernest had told her.

Hadley blinked, taken aback. “He actually told you?”

“He did,” Elissa replied, her voice edged with quiet sarcasm. “But if Linda hadn’t insisted on coming back to the Flynn Mansion, I doubt he would’ve said a word.”

Hadley hesitated, unsure of what to say. “And… how do you feel about it?”

“What can I feel?” Elissa let out a breath that was more exhale than answer. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Resignation weighed on her shoulders as she leaned back slightly.

“Ernest comes off as kind. Gentle, even. But if you’ve ever tried to go against him… you’d know. He doesn’t tolerate it,” Elissa murmured. “From the very beginning, it’s—”

“Been his rhythm I’ve had to follow. There’s no room for rebellion. No space for choices that don’t fit the plan he’s already made.”

“I’m done.” Elissa dabbed at her lips with a napkin and rose from her seat. “I’ve got to meet a client today.”

L?tt chαpt?rs ιn glnov?l.m

There wasn’t any room to reschedule. The client was only available that weekend.

“Can I ask you for a favor, Hadley? When Locke wakes up, could you watch him for me? I’ll be back before noon so we can all have lunch together.”

Hadley nodded without a second thought. “Of course. Don’t worry about it.”

She stood up and walked Elissa to the door.

Once Elissa got into the car and reached for her backpack, she suddenly froze. “Oh no…”

Her drawings were missing. They weren’t in the car.

She was certain she had placed the drawings in the car along with her backpack, but now, only the backpack remained. She could still picture it vividly—leaving Lion Bay with her backpack slung over one shoulder and a drawing storage tube on the other.

Had she left it at the Flynn Mansion while picking Locke up?

“Sebastian, we need to go back to the Flynn Mansion!” Elissa said urgently.

During the ride, she kept glancing at the time. She silently hoped Ernest and Linda wouldn’t arrive too soon. The last thing she wanted was to run into them right now.

But as the car passed through the gates of the Flynn Mansion, Ernest’s car was already parked outside the main building.

.

.

.