Her lack of protest served as tacit agreement.
A glance at her watch prompted her to urge Eric, “It’s nearly ten o’clock. You really should get to the office.”
She had already monopolized far too much of his time.
Eric truly couldn’t linger any longer—a mountain of responsibilities awaited him at the office. “I’ll head out then. Contact me the moment anything develops, alright?”
“Of course.” Hadley’s nod conveyed her understanding.
She remained perfectly fine—it was Elissa who was enduring the real crisis.
“Take care of yourself.”
“You as well.”
Once Eric disappeared down the corridor, Hadley settled onto the bench positioned outside the room, preparing for what might be a lengthy wait. The private ward’s superior soundproofing made it impossible for her to catch even the faintest whisper of the conversation taking place behind the closed door.
Inside the room,
Elissa remained conscious against the stark white pillows, her complexion still ashen from the effects of the injection.
As Ernest moved toward her bedside, she managed a weak smile. “So you came.”
A slight frown creased Ernest’s brow as he acknowledged her with a curt nod.
“Please, sit down.” Elissa’s hand moved weakly toward the nearby chair.
“Very well.” Ernest dragged the chair closer before settling into it, his features maintaining their carefully neutral mask.
Whatever thoughts occupied his mind remained buried so deeply that no external observer could hope to decipher his true emotions.
“Ernest…” A profound sigh escaped Elissa’s lips as she studied his aristocratic features. “I believe this will be our final conversation of this nature. If either of us has something that needs saying, we should speak freely now. Please, you go first.”
Their final conversation of this nature? What was that supposed to mean?
Something flickered across Ernest’s mouth—a barely perceptible movement. “Nothing at all to share?”
Mild surprise colored Elissa’s voice before she paused briefly. “In that case, I’ll begin.”
Weakness continued to plague her, forcing each word to emerge at a measured pace.
“There’s something crucial we must discuss… Locke’s custody arrangements.” Her voice grew steadier as she continued. “I realize that obtaining full custody of Locke from you is likely impossible. However, during your honeymoon phase with Linda, would you consider allowing Locke to remain with me?”
Ernest’s gaze sharpened as he looked directly at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Continue.”
Could he actually be weighing her proposal?
Hope flickered to life in Elissa’s chest, encouraging her to press forward. “Circumstances have changed dramatically. You’ll undoubtedly need to invest considerable time and energy into consoling Linda and nurturing your relationship, so…”
.
.
.