She needed to relax?

Helplessness swept through her. “What more do you want me to say so you’ll finally believe I’m not angry? I honestly think you should check on her.”

Ernest’s face clouded over. He saw now that she really meant what she said.

Why would she encourage him to visit Linda? She should’ve held him back, right?

Suspicion crept into his voice as his eyes narrowed. “Are you thinking about running off again?”

Confused and faintly amused, Elissa raised her brows.

“Run away? Do you really think I’m in any shape for that?”

“I’m not sure.” A shake of Ernest’s head showed his doubt. His gaze sharpened. “Last time, Eric helped you. I never saw it coming.”

Maybe she had come up with something new this time. He couldn’t let that happen again.

When she vanished before, it had left him hollow, and he never wanted to feel that again.

Elissa found herself at a loss for words. What else could she possibly say?

If he had already made up his mind, she had no argument left.

“Suit yourself.” She let the matter drop.

With a casual shrug, Elissa said, “It makes no difference to me if you go or stay.”

Why should Linda’s problems have anything to do with her?

“But honestly, aren’t you worried she’ll stir up trouble if you don’t show up?” Elissa spoke with an easy indifference.

Linda’s talent for making a mess of things was something she had witnessed more than once.

“Don’t worry.” Picking up on what troubled her, Ernest offered reassurance. “I’ll have Quentin send someone to watch over her. She won’t be able to bother you or Locke at Lion Bay.”

With that settled, Elissa had nothing left to worry about. “Then do whatever you want.”

R ov.o

She reached for her soup.

Ernest moved faster, saying, “I’ll take care of it.”

Later that evening, Elissa lay down for the night while Ernest remained in the study, still working.

As her eyes drifted shut, she figured he would end up heading to the Flynn Mansion after all.

A relationship lasting more than ten years was not so easily ignored. That thought lingered for a moment before she let it go.

A yawn escaped Elissa, and before long, she drifted off to sleep.

The following morning arrived.

Elissa walked Locke to the car as he got ready to head back to school, just as Ernest had requested. Elissa had no reason to .

Once Locke had left, Elissa decided she would visit Addy in the hospital.

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