Once they put some distance between them and Elissa’s room, he let go but kept her wrist in his hand to check it. “Did I hurt you?”

Irritated, Hadley shot back with a question of her own. “Why did you stop me?”

“Why?” Eric chuckled, shaking his head as if she should already know. “Because I know what you wanted to say. You were trying to talk sense into Ernest. But believe me, if even Grandma can’t change his mind, you definitely won’t.”

Hadley said nothing because she knew Eric was right.

As long as no one crossed Ernest’s bottom line, he stayed easygoing. Detached, but politely so. Because most things didn’t matter to him.

But Elissa did.

She was the one person he couldn’t afford to lose. Hadley let out a quiet sigh. Her eyes drifted toward the hospital room door, uncertain of what was unfolding on the other side.

“Come on. I’ll take you home,” said Eric.

“Okay.”

Inside the private hospital room—

“Elissa.” Ernest sat at her bedside, his hand gently enclosed in hers. “This was my fault.”

He should never have let Linda get that close to Elissa.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken to Quentin. It won’t happen again,” he added.

“Humph.” Elissa didn’t pull away. She let him hold her hand, but her laugh was cold. “Nothing is certain in this world. If she managed to find her way here once, she’ll do it again. If she fails, she’ll keep trying. This isn’t over.”

She stared up at the ceiling, her voice hollow. “The worst part is… as your mistress, I just have to take it. Her insults, her judgment. I have no right to fight back.”

“It won’t happen again.” Ernest gripped her hand tighter. Her face was pale, her exhaustion clear. The sight of it weighed on him. “Just rest for now. Once you’re feeling better, I’ll move you somewhere quiet. A place to clear your mind.”

?@? @t?è íń .

Elissa stiffened. Her eyes widened. “Move me? Where are you taking me?”

Ernest hesitated. “You don’t want to go?”

“Of course not!” she snapped. “Clear my mind? Is that what you’re calling it? Be honest. You’re just ashamed of me. You want me out of sight.”

“That’s not what I meant.” His brow creased. “Why do you always think the worst of me?”

“Oh, am I wrong?” Her voice shook, edged with bitterness. “Then send her away. Make Linda leave Srixby.”

He went quiet.

“Say something! Why won’t you answer? You can’t, can you?”

Elissa laughed, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “She’s your fiancée. She’s about to marry you. How could you possibly send her away? So instead, you have to send me away.”

“Elissa…”

“Ernest!” She yanked her hand from his, turning her face away from him.

Then she glared at him, trembling with rage. “Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? What did I do to deserve this? God…”

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